List of Walsall F.C. seasons

Last updated

The Walsall team of 1893 WalsallFC1893.jpg
The Walsall team of 1893

Walsall Football Club was formed in 1888 when Walsall Town and Walsall Swifts amalgamated. They joined the Football League in 1892, as founder members of the new Second Division.

Contents

The table below details the club's achievements in all national competitions and records their average attendance and top goalscorer for each completed league season.

Key

Seasons

SeasonLeague [1] [2] FA
Cup
[1] [2]
League
Cup
[1] [2]
Other
Cup [1] [2] [lower-alpha 1]
Average
att. [1] [3] [lower-alpha 2]
Top goalscorer [1] [2] [lower-alpha 3]
TierDivisionPWDLFAPtsPosNameGls
1888–89 Midland Association [lower-alpha 4] 14824283218R2 [lower-alpha 5] R21,643Sammy Holmes7
1889–90 Football Alliance [lower-alpha 6] 2283114459199th4QSF2,100Sammy Holmes12
1890–91 Football Alliance2293103461217th4QR13,090Sammy Holmes11
1891–92 Football Alliance22631333591511th2QR12,636Sammy Holmes9
1892–93 2 Division 2 [lower-alpha 7] 225314377513 12th [lower-alpha 8] 3QR11,310Norman Forsyth7
Sammy Holmes
Joe Turner
1893–94 2Division 22810315516123 10th 3QR13,100Walt McWhinnie11
1894–95 2Division 23010020479220 14th [lower-alpha 9] 1QR12,200 Will Devey 7
1895–96 Midland League 2817659248403rd3QR21,736 David Copeland 21
1896–97 2Division 2 [lower-alpha 10] 3011415536926 12th 4QW [lower-alpha 11] 3,950Alf Griffin12
1897–98 2Division 23012513585829 10th R1W [lower-alpha 12] 2,900 Jack Aston 12
George Johnson
1898–99 2Division 23415127793642 6th [lower-alpha 13] 3QR33,710 Jack Aston 16
Tommy Vail
1899–1900 2Division 23412814505532 12th R1R23,200Jim Moffatt13
1900–01 2Division 23471314405627 16th [lower-alpha 14] IRSF3,015Alfred Dean11
1901–02 Midland League2814775137355thR2R11,750Alf Green12
1902–03 Midland League [lower-alpha 15] 32127135248319th2QSF1,450Reg Bastock8
1903–04 B'ham DL 341171645652913th5QDNE1,306 Laurie Pember 10
1904–05 B'ham DL341161744772814thQ2PR [lower-alpha 16] 1,318Jimmy Ellard9
1905–06 B'ham DL34762142892016th4Q1,741Tommy Holt13
1906–07 B'ham DL341441658793213th1Q1,820Alfred Hunt14
1907–08 B'ham DL341531667723310th1Q2,550Gilbert Bytheway16
1908–09 B'ham DL341081647562815th1Q2,835Sid Francis12
1909–10 B'ham DL3418796644435thPR3,294Billy Caddick18
1910–11 B'ham DL
SL Div 2 [lower-alpha 17]
34
22
20
7
6
4
8
11
60
37
44
41
46
18
3rd
9th
1Q2,959Hubert Parsonage13
1911–12 B'ham DL
SL Div 2 [lower-alpha 18]
34
26 [lower-alpha 19]
17
14
7
1
10
11
56
44
34
41
41
27
4th
6th
R12,640W. Freeman18
1912–13 B'ham DL34155146054357th5Q2,356Amos Baddeley16
1913–14 B'ham DL341381348613410th1Q2,582C. Crossley16
1914–15 B'ham DL3421586644473rd5Q2,494Arthur Campey20
The Football League and FA Cup were suspended until after the First World War.
1919–20 B'ham DL341161753622816th5Q3,673Jack Radford12
1920–21 B'ham DL [lower-alpha 20] 34186106847425th1Q7,512Ernie Edwards21
1921–22 3 Division 3 (N) [lower-alpha 21] 3818317666539 8th R17,400Paddy Reid21
1922–23 3Division 3 (N)3819811514446 3rd 6Q6,440 Teddy Groves 13
1923–24 3Division 3 (N)4214820445936 17th 6Q5,075 Teddy Groves 11
1924–25 3Division 3 (N)42131118445337 19th 5Q4,810Fred Burrill14
1925–26 3Division 3 (N)42106265810726 21st [lower-alpha 22] R13,368 Harry Crockford 17
1926–27 3Division 3 (N)42141018688138 14th R34,728 Bert White 24
1927–28 3 Division 3 (S) 42129217510133 18th R16,580 Moses Lane 36
1928–29 3Division 3 (S)42131217737938 14th R36,527 Moses Lane 15
1929–30 3Division 3 (S)4213821717834 17th R45,607Albert Walters25
1930–31 3Division 3 (S)4214919789537 17th R35,091 Johnny Eyres 16
1931–32 3Division 3 (N)4016321578535 16th R13,490 Gilbert Alsop 15
1932–33 3Division 3 (N)42191013755848 5th R45,279 Gilbert Alsop 28
1933–34 3Division 3 (N)4223712976053 4th R26,228 Gilbert Alsop 39
1934–35 3Division 3 (N)42131019817236 14th R3F [lower-alpha 23] 5,645 Gilbert Alsop 39
1935–36 3Division 3 (N)4216917795941 10th R3R26,551Bill Evans24
1936–37 3Division 3 (S)42131019638536 17th R4R15,672Bill Evans15
1937–38 3Division 3 (S)4211724528829 21st [lower-alpha 24] R2R24,564Bill Evans9
1938–39 3Division 3 (S)42111120686933 21st [lower-alpha 25] R5R17,364 Gilbert Alsop 23
1939–40 [lower-alpha 26] 3Division 3 (S)3111333
The Football League and FA Cup were suspended until after the Second World War.
1945–46 N/AR1 [lower-alpha 27] F [lower-alpha 28]
1946–47 3Division 3 (S)42171213745946 5th R311,173 Dennis Wilshaw 18
1947–48 3Division 3 (S)4221912704051 3rd R315,711 Dave Massart 23
1948–49 3Division 3 (S)4215819566438 14th R410,772Phil Chapman25
1949–50 3Division 3 (S)4291617616234 19th R110,099Johnny Devlin22
1950–51 3Division 3 (S)46151021526240 15th R18,788 Don Dearson 10
Jack Winter
1951–52 3Division 3 (S)4613528559431 24th [lower-alpha 29] R17,084 Hugh Evans 12
Billy O'Neill
1952–53 3Division 3 (S)46710295611824 24th [lower-alpha 30] R15,992Jack Bridgett10
1953–54 3Division 3 (S)469829408726 24th [lower-alpha 31] R39,278George Dean10
Fred Morris
1954–55 3Division 3 (S)46101422758634 23rd [lower-alpha 32] R311,201 Tony Richards 22
1955–56 3Division 3 (S)4615823688438 20th R312,644 Tony Richards 15
1956–57 3Division 3 (S)46161218807444 15th R111,347 Don Dorman 18
1957–58 3Division 3 (S)4614923617537 20th R18,802 Tony Richards 21
1958–59 4 Division 4 [lower-alpha 33] 46211015956452 6th R19,050 Tony Richards 28
1959–60 4Division 44628991026065 1st R211,157 Tony Richards 24
1960–61 3Division 34628612986062 2nd R1R2 [lower-alpha 34] 10,827 Tony Richards 36
1961–62 2Division 242141117707539 14th R4R212,703 Colin Taylor 17
1962–63 2Division 24211922538931 21st R3R29,824 Colin Taylor 10
1963–64 3Division 346131419597640 19th R1R37,308 Graham Matthews 15
1964–65 3Division 34615724558037 19th R1R16,754 Allan Clarke 23
1965–66 3Division 346201016776450 9th R4R29,297 Allan Clarke 18
1966–67 3Division 346181018657246 12th R3R48,594 Alan Baker 13
Colin Taylor
1967–68 3Division 346191215746150 7th R4R29,119 Jimmy Murray 11
Colin Taylor
1968–69 3Division 346141616504944 13th R3R25,867 Geoff Morris 9
Dave Wilson
1969–70 3Division 346171217546746 12th R3R15,428 Colin Taylor 9
1970–71 3Division 346141121515739 20th R2R25,212 Colin Taylor 13
1971–72 3Division 346151813625748 9th R4R15,445 Geoff Morris 11
1972–73 3Division 34618721566643 17th R2R14,803 Chris Jones 11
1973–74 3Division 346161317574845 15th R2R24,789 Alan Buckley 21
1974–75 3Division 346181315675249 8th R5R16,268 Alan Buckley 21
1975–76 3Division 346181414746150 7th R1R15,618 Alan Buckley 34
1976–77 3Division 346131518576541 15th R3R25,498 Alan Buckley 20
1977–78 3Division 346181711615053 6th R5R35,317 Alan Buckley 24
1978–79 3Division 346101224567132 22nd R1R24,047 Terry Austin 13
1979–80 4Division 44623185754764 2nd R2R15,549 Don Penn 25
1980–81 3Division 346131518597441 20th R2R14,265 Alan Buckley 11
1981–82 3Division 346131419515553 20th R2R13,744 Don Penn 14
1982–83 3Division 346171316646364 10th R3R13,243 Alan Buckley 13
1983–84 3Division 34622915686175 6th R1SFAR2 [lower-alpha 35] 5,017 Alistair Brown 13
1984–85 3Division 346181315585267 11th R3R3AQF4,812 Richard O'Kelly 16
1985–86 3Division 34622915906475 6th R3R2PR4,891 Nicky Cross 21
1986–87 3Division 34622915806775 8th R5R2AR15,313 David Kelly 23
1987–88 3Division 346231310685082 3rd [lower-alpha 36] R2R2AR15,598 David Kelly 20
1988–89 2Division 24651625418031 24th R3R26,108 Stuart Rimmer 8
1989–90 3Division 34691423407241 24th R3R1ASF4,077 Stuart Rimmer 10
1990–91 4Division 446121717485153 16th R2R2AR14,149 Stuart Rimmer 13
1991–92 4Division 442121317485849 15th R1R1AQF3,367 Rod McDonald 17
1992–93 4Division 3 [lower-alpha 37] 4222713766173 5th [lower-alpha 38] R1R2AR23,628 Wayne Clarke 21
1993–94 4Division 34217916485360 10th R2R1AR14,237 Kyle Lightbourne 7
1994–95 4Division 34224117754083 2nd R3R2AR14,071 Kyle Lightbourne 23
1995–96 3Division 246191215604569 11th R4R1AR23,982 Kyle Lightbourne 15
Kevin Wilson
1996–97 3Division 246191017545367 12th R2R1AR23,892 Kyle Lightbourne 20
1997–98 3Division 246141220435254 19th R4R4AF4,062 Roger Boli 12
1998–99 3Division 24626911634787 2nd R2R1AF5,457 Andy Rammell 18
1999–2000 2 Division 1 46111322527746 22nd R3R26,779 Michael Ricketts 11
2000–01 3Division 246231211795081 4th [lower-alpha 39] R3R2AQF5,632 Jorge Leitão 18
2001–02 2Division 146131221517151 18th R5R26,832 Jorge Leitão 8
2002–03 2Division 14615922576954 17th R5R36,978 José Júnior 15
2003–04 2Division 146131221456551 22nd R3R27,853 Jorge Leitão 7
2004–05 3 League 1 [lower-alpha 40] 46161218656960 14th R1R1AQF6,108 Matty Fryatt 15
2005–06 3League 146111421477047 24th R4R1ASF5,392 Matty Fryatt 11
2006–07 4 League 2 4625147663489 1st R1R2AR15,716 Dean Keates 13
2007–08 3League 146161614524664 12th R3R1AR15,620 Tommy Mooney 11
2008–09 3League 146171019616661 13th R1R1AQF4,572 Michael Ricketts 12
2009–10 3League 146161416606362 10th R2R1AR14,029 Troy Deeney 14
2010–11 3League 146121222567548 20th R2R1AR13,846 Julian Gray 10
2011–12 3League 146102016515750 19th R2R1AR24,274 Jon Macken 7
Alex Nicholls
2012–13 3League 146171712655868 9th R1R2AR24,234 Will Grigg 19
2013–14 3League 146141616494958 13th R2R2AR14,807 Craig Westcarr 14
2014–15 3League 146141715505459 14th R1R2 F [lower-alpha 41] 4,392 Tom Bradshaw 17
2015–16 3League 146241210714984 3rd [lower-alpha 42] R4R3AR15,382 Tom Bradshaw 17
2016–17 3League 146141616515858 14th R1R1R25,072 Erhun Öztumer 15
2017–18 3League 146131320536652 19th R1R1R24,760 Erhun Öztumer 15
2018–19 3League 146121123497147 22nd R3R2R24,927 Andy Cook 13
2019–20 4League 236 [lower-alpha 43] 13815404947 12th [lower-alpha 44] R2R1R34,664 Josh Gordon 9
2020–21 4League 246112015455353 19th R1R1Grp0 [lower-alpha 45] Elijah Adebayo 10
2021–22 4League 246141220476054 16th R2R1R24,979 George Miller 12
2022–23 4League 246121915464955 16th R4R2Grp5,540 Danny Johnson 12
2023–24 4League 246181117697365 11th R3R1Grp5,618 Isaac Hutchinson 12

Overall

Correct up to end of 2023–24 season.

Notes

  1. Birmingham Senior Cup 1888–1905, Third Division North Cup 1934–36, Third Division South Cup 1936–46 and EFL Trophy (under various names) 1983–present.
  2. Average attendance taken from league matches only.
  3. Top goalscorer statistics include goals scored in league matches only.
  4. In the same year an attempt was made to set up a league called The Combination involving clubs not invited to join The Football League. Lack of proper organisation meant it materialised into a series of friendly matches without proper league structure and wound up in April 1889. [4]
  5. Walsall have competed in the FA Cup every season since their formation in 1888. Both preceding clubs, Walsall Town and Walsall Swifts, also both competed in each season from 1882–83 until the amalgamation. [1]
  6. The Football Alliance was formed in 1889 by 12 clubs as an alternative to the Football League. Walsall Town Swifts were founder members.
  7. The Second Division was formed in 1892 largely by clubs who had been competing in the Football Alliance. Walsall Town Swifts were founder members.
  8. Having finished in last place, Walsall Town Swifts had to reapply for their place in the league. They were re-elected and following expansion to 16 teams, joined in the Second Division by Liverpool, Newcastle United and Woolwich Arsenal. [5]
  9. Having finished in the bottom four, Walsall Town Swifts again had to reapply for their place in the league. They were not re-elected and replaced in the league by Loughborough Town. [5]
  10. Walsall (having dropped the Town Swifts in their name) elected back to the Football League for the 1896–97 season, joining Blackpool and Gainsborough Trinity in replacing Burslem Port Vale, Crewe Alexandra and Rotherham Town. [5]
  11. Walsall beat Wolves 2–1 in the final of the Birmingham Senior Cup.
  12. Retained the Birmingham Senior Cup by beating Wolves 3–0 in the final.
  13. Highest ever league position. With 18 teams in the First Division, Walsall were placed 24th nationally – the equivalent of 4th place in the modern day Championship.
  14. Having finished in the bottom three, Walsall had to reapply to the Football League. They were not re-elected and replaced in the league by Bristol City. This would begin the club's twenty year absence from league football. [5]
  15. Reapplied for a place in the Football League in 1902–03 but were not elected. [5]
  16. From 1905 the larger clubs in the region, including Walsall and other Football League clubs, were allowed to enter their reserve sides in the Birmingham Senior Cup and invariably did so. Therefore, results beyond this year are not included in the seasons records.
  17. Elected to the Southern League Division 2 in 1910–11 but continued to play in the Birmingham & District League.
  18. Left the Southern League at end of the 1911–12 season and continued to play in only the Birmingham & District League.
  19. Home match against Cwm Albion in April 1912 was not played as Cwm could not complete their fixtures. Walsall were awarded the win.
  20. Applied for a place in the Football League in 1920–21 but were not elected. [5]
  21. The Third Division North was formed in 1921 from several regional leagues including the Birmingham & District League. Walsall were founder members and re-joined the Football League after a twenty year absence.
  22. Forced to reapply to the Football League for the 1926–27 season but were comfortably re-elected with 33 votes. [5]
  23. Reached the final of the Third Division North Cup, losing 2–0 to Stockport County at Maine Road.
  24. Forced to reapply to the Football League for the 1938–39 season but were re-elected with 34 votes. [5]
  25. Forced to reapply to the Football League for the 1939–40 season and were re-elected with 36 votes. [5]
  26. 1939–40 season was abandoned after 3 league matches due to the Second World War and all results were annulled.
  27. The FA Cup was contested in 1945–46 but the Football League did not resume until the following season.
  28. The Third Division North and South Cup was revived in 1946. In each regional section 11 teams played on a league basis, with the first two places in each region then contesting the semi-finals of a knockout competition. Walsall reached the final where they lost 1–0 to Bournemouth at Stamford Bridge. [6]
  29. Forced to reapply to the Football League for the 1952–53 season and were re-elected with 45 votes. [5]
  30. For the second season in a row, Walsall were forced to reapply to the Football League and were re-elected with 41 votes. [5]
  31. For the third season in a row, Walsall were forced to reapply to the Football League and were re-elected with 32 votes. [5]
  32. Walsall were forced to reapply to the Football League for the fourth season in a row ahead of the 1955–56 season and were re-elected with 33 votes. This was the tenth and final election the club had to face. [5]
  33. The Fourth Division was created in 1958 by merging the regionalised Third Division North and South. The 12 best teams of each regional league in 1957–58 remained in the nationalised Third Division and the rest, including Walsall, became founder members of the Fourth Division. This gave Walsall the distinction of being founder members of Second, Third and Fourth tiers in the Football League.
  34. The League Cup was introduced in the 1960–61 season specifically as a mid-week floodlit tournament, to replace the Southern Professional Floodlit Cup. [7]
  35. Associate Members' Cup introduced for third and fourth tier teams for the 1983–84 season. In 1992 it was renamed the Football League Trophy and renamed again as the EFL Trophy in 2016.
  36. Won promotion by beating Bristol City 4–0 in a replayed play-off final at Fellows Park. The original tie was played over two legs and ended 3–3 with a penalty shootout to decide the venue of the replay, which Walsall won.
  37. The Fourth Division was renamed the Third Division after the Premier League was formed and broke away from the Football League.
  38. Lost 3–9 on aggregate to Crewe in the play-off semi-final.
  39. Won promotion by beating Reading 3–2 after extra-time in the play-off final at the Millennium Stadium in Cardiff. [8] It was the first year the play-off finals were held in Cardiff following the closure of Wembley Stadium for redevelopment.
  40. The Second Division was renamed and rebranded League 1 from the start of the 2004–05 season, along with the Championship and League 2. [9]
  41. Walsall reached the final of the Football League Trophy, losing 2–0 to Bristol City at Wembley Stadium. [10] It was the club's first appearance at the National Stadium in their 127-year history. [11]
  42. Lost 1–6 on aggregate to Barnsley in the play-off semi-final.
  43. The League Two season was delayed on 13 March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. [12] League Two clubs voted by an overwhelming majority to formally end the 2019–20 season on 9 June 2020, with the final standings to be determined by point-per-game ratios. [13]
  44. With an overall PPG of 1.31, Walsall finished in 12th place. [13]
  45. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic all matches were played behind closed doors with no spectators.

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References

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  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Walsall Results". soccerbase.com.
  3. "Walsall FC". european-football-statistics.co.uk.
  4. Shury, Alan; Landamore, Brian (2005). The Definitive Newton Heath F.C. SoccerData. p. 11. ISBN   1-899468-16-1.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 "A History of Admission to the Football League". nonleaguematters.co.uk. Retrieved 1 February 2020.
  6. Rollin, Jack (2005). Soccer at War 1939–45. pp. 246, 259. ISBN   0-7553-1431-X.
  7. "The Southern Professional Floodlit Cup 1955–1960". Footysphere. 22 September 2009. Retrieved 11 November 2012.
  8. "Walsall break Reading hearts". BBC Sport. 27 May 2001. Retrieved 5 July 2008.
  9. "League gets revamp". BBC Sport. 10 June 2004. Retrieved 16 March 2010.
  10. "Bristol City tick off their first objective with comfortable win over Walsall". The Guardian. 22 March 2015. Retrieved 11 August 2019.
  11. "Walsall's Wembley near-misses". The Football League. 28 January 2015. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
  12. "Premier League, Football League and WSL suspended until April". The Guardian. 13 March 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  13. 1 2 "League Two opts to curtail". English Football League. 9 June 2020. Retrieved 9 June 2020.