The Combination: Difference between revisions
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{{About||the feature film of the same name|The Combination (film)|the |
{{About||the feature film of the same name|The Combination (film)|the organised crime group|Murder, Inc.|other uses|Combination (disambiguation)}} |
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{{EngvarB|date=March 2022}} |
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{{Infobox football league |
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'''The Combination''' was a minor [[sports league|league]] during the early days of [[Football in England|English football]]. It had two incarnations; the first ran only for the [[1888–89 in English football|1888–89]] season for teams across the [[Northern England]] and the [[English Midlands|Midlands]], and was wound up before completion. The second was created for the 1890–91 season, but disbanded in 1911. The league comprised teams primarily from [[North West England]] and later [[Wales]]. |
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|name = The Combination |
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|image = |
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|pixels = |
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|organiser = [[The Football Association|FA]] |
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|founded = 1888 <small>(first incarnation)</small><br>1890 <small>(second incarnation)</small> |
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|first = 1888-89 |
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|folded = 5 April 1889 <small> (first incarnation)</small><br>1911 <small>(second incarnation)</small> |
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|country = [[England]]<br>[[Wales]] |
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|other countries= |
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|confed = |
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|divisions = |
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|teams = 20 |
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|feeds = |
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|promotion = |
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|relegation = |
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|levels = |
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|domest_cup = [[FA Cup]] |
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|league_cup = |
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|overseas_tournament= |
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|confed_cup = |
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|champions = [[Whitchurch F.C.]] (3rd title) |
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|season = |
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|premiers = |
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|prem_season = |
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|mlscupchamps = |
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|mlscupseason = |
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|shieldchamps = |
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|shieldseason = |
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|shieldtitle = |
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|shield = |
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|most_champs = [[Everton F.C.|Everton reserves]] (6 titles) |
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|most_prems = |
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|most_mlscups = |
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|most_shields = |
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|most_caps = |
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|top_goalscorer = |
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|tv = |
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|sponsor = |
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|website = |
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|current = |
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}} |
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'''The Combination''' was a [[sports league|league]] during the early days of [[Football in England|English football]]. It had two incarnations; the first ran only for the [[1888–89 in English football|1888–89]] season for teams across [[Northern England]] and the [[English Midlands|Midlands]], and was disbanded before completion. The second was created for the 1890–91 season, but persisted until it was defunct in 1911. The league comprised teams primarily from [[North West England]] and later [[Wales]]. |
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The league should not be confused with the |
The league should not be confused with the other former [[The Football Combination|Football Combination]], a competition for reserve teams from the South of England, or with the [[Lancashire Combination]], another minor league running around the same time. |
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==First incarnation== |
==First incarnation== |
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[[File:Newton Heath - Jack Powell - First Incarnation.jpg|thumb|Sharpe's Card c 1890 depicting [[Jack Powell (footballer, born 1860)|Jack Powell]] as captain of Newton Heath<ref>{{cite web|title=Sharpe's Card c 1890 depicting Jack Powell as captain of Newton Heath|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/manchesterunitedman1/3404774297/in/set-72157625684721070|publisher=Flickr|access-date=2023-05-03|archive-date=2023-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230503141035/https://www.flickr.com/photos/manchesterunitedman1/3404774297/in/set-72157625684721070|url-status=live}}</ref>]] |
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The first Combination was set up in 1888, the same year [[the Football League]] was founded. It was established by clubs who had been excluded from the Football League, initiated by [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]] secretary J. G. Hall, and was announced at the Royal Hotel in [[Crewe]]. The clubs in attendance were [[Birmingham City F.C.|Small Heath Alliance]], [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall Town Swifts]], [[Derby Midland F.C.|Derby Midland]], [[Notts Rangers F.C.|Notts Rangers]], [[Port Vale F.C.|Burslem Port Vale]], [[Leek F.C.|Leek]], [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]], [[Manchester United F.C.|Newton Heath]], [[Witton F.C.|Witton]], and [[Blackburn Olympic]]; three other clubs, [[Birmingham St George's F.C.|Mitchell St George's]], [[Halliwell F.C.|Halliwell]], and [[Derby Junction F.C.|Derby Junction]], all wrote to pledge acceptance of all decisions, and [[Northwich Victoria]] also wrote requesting membership. The meeting was chaired by A. M. Sloane, the chairman of [[Bootle F.C.|Bootle]]. The clubs agreed that there would be no more than 20 members and each would play at least 8 matches home and away.<ref>{{cite journal |title=Another Football League |journal=Birmingham Daily Post |date=28 April 1888 |page=7}}</ref> [[Harry Mitchell (brewer)|Harry Mitchell]] of St George's was elected president. |
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However, while the Football League quickly proved a success, the Combination lacked central organisation, with poor planning and unfulfilled fixtures; as early as October the media were complaining about the difficulties in following the competition<ref>{{cite journal |title=Notes on Sports |journal=Derby Mercury |date=3 October 1888 |page=8}}</ref> and by January 1889 the media were commenting that "it is becoming the exception rather than the rule to keep a Combination fixture".<ref>{{cite journal |title=Football notes |journal=Birmingham Mail |date=21 January 1889 |page=2}}</ref> The Combination therefore failed to complete its first season, finishing in April 1889 without a winner.<ref name="Whittle">{{cite news |last1=Whittle |first1=Paul |title=The Football Alliance: Teams Who Didn’t Make the League |url=https://the1888letter.com/the-football-alliance-teams-who-didnt-make-the-league/ |access-date=30 November 2021 |work=THE 1888 LETTER: Football Then And Now |date=4 April 2020 |archive-date=30 November 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130144219/https://the1888letter.com/the-football-alliance-teams-who-didnt-make-the-league/ |url-status=live }}</ref> |
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The first Combination was set up in 1888, the same year [[the Football League]] was founded. It consisted of 20 teams, although this proved too many teams for each one to play the other once, let alone twice. Instead each club was to play eight others home and away, making 16 games in total. However unlike the League the Combination was not centrally organised, but left to individual clubs; as a result confusion ensued, as it was not clear whether many matches between clubs were friendlies or Combination matches. Many fixtures were left unfulfilled, and the Combination was wound up in April 1889.<ref>{{cite book |last=Shury |first=Alan |coauthors=Brian Landamore |others=with Allen Kristensen and Tony Brown |title=The Definitive Newton Heath F.C. |origyear=2002 |edition=2nd edition |series='Definitive' Club Histories |year=2005 |publisher=SoccerData |location=Nottingham |isbn=1-899468-16-1 |chapter=History of Newton Heath F.C. |page=11 }}</ref> |
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Fixtures were left to individual clubs, which resulted in confusion, as it was unclear whether many matches between clubs were friendlies or Combination matches.<ref>{{cite book |last=Shury |first=Alan |author2=Brian Landamore |others=with Allen Kristensen and Tony Brown |title=The Definitive Newton Heath F.C. |orig-year=2002 |edition=2nd |series='Definitive' Club Histories |year=2005 |publisher=SoccerData |location=Nottingham |isbn=1-899468-16-1 |chapter=History of Newton Heath F.C. |page=11 }}</ref> The Combination was finally wound up at a board meeting on 5 April 1889. The meeting was over in 25 minutes, the motion to dissolve the Combination being passed unanimously, after which those present enjoyed cold beef and pickles; the meeting was so quick that the [[Darwen F.C. (1870)|Darwen]] representative, who had missed his train, arrived too late. However, a dozen of the representatives had another meeting afterwards, which formed the basis of the [[Football Alliance]].<ref>{{cite journal |title=Football Notes |journal=Birmingham Mail |date=8 April 1889 |page=4}}</ref> |
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Participating teams included [[Manchester United F.C.|Newton Heath]], [[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby Town]], [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]], [[Port Vale F.C.|Burslem Port Vale]], [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]], [[Bootle F.C.|Bootle]], [[Birmingham City F.C.|Small Heath]] and [[Blackburn Olympic F.C.|Blackburn Olympic]]. Newton Heath, Grimsby, Crewe, Bootle and Small Heath went on to co-found the [[Football Alliance]] the following year. |
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Participating teams included [[Bootle F.C. (1879)|Bootle]], [[Blackburn Olympic F.C.|Blackburn Olympic]], [[Port Vale F.C.|Burslem Port Vale]], [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]], [[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby Town]], [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]], [[Manchester United F.C.|Newton Heath]], [[Birmingham City F.C.|Small Heath]] and [[South Shore F.C.|South Shore]]. Bootle, Crewe, Grimsby, Newton Heath and Small Heath went on to co-found the [[Football Alliance]] the following year. |
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[[File:Newton Heath - Jack Powell - First Incarnation.jpg|thumb|Sharpe's Card c 1890 depicting Jack Powell as captain of Newton Heath]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Sharpe's Card c 1890 depicting Jack Powell as captain of Newton Heath|url=http://www.flickr.com/photos/manchesterunitedman1/3404774297/in/set-72157625684721070|work=Sharpe's Card c 1890 depicting Jack Powell as captain of Newton Heath}}</ref> |
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==Second incarnation== |
==Second incarnation== |
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The second incarnation was founded in 1890. The twelve founder members were:<ref name="rsssf">{{cite web | url= |
The second incarnation was founded in 1890. The twelve founder members were:<ref name="rsssf">{{cite web | url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engcombinationhist.html | title=England - The Combination | work=RSSSF | access-date=2023-05-03 | archive-date=2022-10-15 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221015224716/https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engcombinationhist.html | url-status=live }}</ref> |
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*[[Burton Swifts F.C.|Burton Swifts]] |
*[[Burton Swifts F.C.|Burton Swifts]] |
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*[[Hyde F.C.|Hyde]] |
*[[Hyde F.C.|Hyde]] |
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*[[Leek F.C.|Leek]] (not related to the current [[Leek Town F.C.|Leek Town]]) |
*[[Leek F.C.|Leek]] (not related to the current [[Leek Town F.C.|Leek Town]]) |
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*[[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield |
*[[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield]] |
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*[[Northwich Victoria F.C.|Northwich Victoria]] |
*[[Northwich Victoria F.C.|Northwich Victoria]] |
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*[[Stafford County F.C.|Stafford County]] |
*[[Stafford County F.C.|Stafford County]] (not related to the current [[Stafford Rangers F.C.|Stafford Rangers]]) |
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*[[Witton A.F.C.|Witton]] ( |
*[[Witton A.F.C.|Witton]] (from Blackburn, not to be confused with [[Witton Albion F.C.|Witton Albion]] from Northwich) |
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*[[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]] |
*[[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]] |
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Five of the founding teams would eventually go on to play in [[the Football League]], although in the case of Macclesfield, this would not happen until [[1997–98 in English football|1997–98]]. [[Glossop North End A.F.C.|Glossop North End]], who joined in 1894, were also elected to the League (in 1898). |
Five of the founding teams would eventually go on to play in [[the Football League]], although in the case of Macclesfield, this would not happen until [[1997–98 in English football|1997–98]]. [[Glossop North End A.F.C.|Glossop North End]], who joined in 1894, were also elected to the League (in 1898), as were another later member team, [[Tranmere Rovers]]. |
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As the competition evolved, the nature of the teams changed, with many more Welsh teams being involved, as well as the reserve teams of [[the Football League]] clubs such as [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] and [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]]. By the time the competition folded in 1911 none of the original members still participated, with the exception of [[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]], who fielded their reserve team. It was succeeded by the [[Cheshire County League]] and later by the [[North West Counties Football League]]. |
As the competition evolved, the nature of the teams changed, with many more Welsh teams being involved, as well as the reserve teams of [[the Football League]] clubs such as [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] and [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]]. By the time the competition folded in 1911 none of the original members still participated, with the exception of [[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]], who fielded their reserve team. It was succeeded by the [[Cheshire County League]] and later by the [[North West Counties Football League]]. |
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!Season |
!Season |
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!Champions |
!Champions |
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!Runners-up |
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!Third |
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|1890–91|| [[Gorton Villa F.C. |
|1890–91|| [[Gorton Villa F.C.]] |
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|[[Macclesfield Town F.C.|Macclesfield]] |
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|Chester |
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|1891–92|| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] Reserves |
|1891–92|| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] Reserves |
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|[[Northwich Victoria F.C.|Northwich Victoria]] |
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|Macclesfield |
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|- |
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|1892–93|| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] Reserves |
|1892–93|| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] Reserves |
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|[[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke Swifts]] |
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|Chester |
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|- |
|- |
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|1893–94|| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] Reserves |
|1893–94|| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] Reserves |
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|Stoke Swifts |
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|[[Leek F.C.|Leek]] |
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|- |
|- |
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|1894–95|| [[Ashton North End F.C.|Ashton North End]] |
|1894–95|| [[Ashton North End F.C.|Ashton North End]] |
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|[[Glossop North End A.F.C.|Glossop North End]] |
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|Chester |
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|- |
|- |
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|1895–96|| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] Reserves |
|1895–96|| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] Reserves |
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|Macclesfield |
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|Glossop North End |
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|- |
|- |
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|1896–97|| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] Reserves |
|1896–97|| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] Reserves |
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|Rock Ferry |
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|Chester |
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|- |
|- |
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|1897–98|| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] Reserves |
|1897–98|| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] Reserves |
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|Crewe Alexandra |
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|Chirk |
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|- |
|- |
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|1898–99|| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] Reserves |
|1898–99|| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] Reserves |
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|[[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] Reserves |
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|Tranmere Rovers |
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|- |
|- |
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|1899–1900|| [[Chirk AAA F.C.|Chirk AAA]] |
|1899–1900|| [[Chirk AAA F.C.|Chirk AAA]] |
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|Wrexham |
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|[[Druids F.C.|Druids]] |
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|- |
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|1900–01|| [[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]] |
|1900–01|| [[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]] |
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|[[Rhyl F.C.|Rhyl]] |
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|[[Bangor City F.C.|Bangor]] |
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|- |
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|1901–02|| [[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]] |
|1901–02|| [[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]] |
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|Burslem [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]] Reserves |
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|Oswestry United |
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|- |
|- |
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|1902–03|| [[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]] |
|1902–03|| [[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]] |
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|[[Nantwich Town F.C.|Nantwich]] |
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|Birkenhead |
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|- |
|- |
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|1903–04|| [[Birkenhead F.C.|Birkenhead]] |
|1903–04|| [[Birkenhead F.C.|Birkenhead]] |
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|Chester |
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|[[Nantwich Town F.C.|Nantwich]] |
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|- |
|- |
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|1904–05|| [[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]] |
|1904–05|| [[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]] |
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|Chester |
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|[[Broughton United FC|Broughton United]] |
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|- |
|- |
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|1905–06|| [[Whitchurch F.C.|Whitchurch]] |
|1905–06|| [[Whitchurch F.C.|Whitchurch]] |
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|Chester |
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|Glossop Reserves |
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|- |
|- |
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|1906–07|| [[Whitchurch F.C.|Whitchurch]] |
|1906–07|| [[Whitchurch F.C.|Whitchurch]] |
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|Chester |
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|[[Wigan Town A.F.C.|Wigan Town]] |
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|- |
|- |
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|1907–08|| [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] |
|1907–08|| [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] |
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|Chester |
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|Oswestry United |
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|- |
|- |
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|1908–09|| [[Chester City F.C.|Chester]] |
|1908–09|| [[Chester City F.C.|Chester]] |
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|Saltney |
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|Tranmere Rovers |
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|- |
|- |
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|1909–10|| [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]] Reserves |
|1909–10|| [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]] Reserves |
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|Saltney |
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|Chester |
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|- |
|- |
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|1910–11|| [[Whitchurch F.C.|Whitchurch]] |
|1910–11|| [[Whitchurch F.C.|Whitchurch]] |
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|Bangor |
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|Oswestry United |
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|} |
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{{Reflist}} |
{{Reflist}} |
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[[Category:The Combination| ]] |
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[[Category:Defunct football leagues in England|Combination, The]] |
[[Category:Defunct football leagues in England|Combination, The]] |
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[[Category:Sports leagues established in 1888]] |
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[[Category:Football leagues in Wales]] |
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[[ru:Комбинация (футбольная лига)]] |
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[[zh:英格蘭足球聯盟]] |
Latest revision as of 17:56, 25 August 2024
Organising body | FA |
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Founded | 1888 (first incarnation) 1890 (second incarnation) |
First season | 1888-89 |
Folded | 5 April 1889 (first incarnation) 1911 (second incarnation) |
Country | England Wales |
Number of teams | 20 |
Domestic cup(s) | FA Cup |
Last champions | Whitchurch F.C. (3rd title) |
Most championships | Everton reserves (6 titles) |
The Combination was a league during the early days of English football. It had two incarnations; the first ran only for the 1888–89 season for teams across Northern England and the Midlands, and was disbanded before completion. The second was created for the 1890–91 season, but persisted until it was defunct in 1911. The league comprised teams primarily from North West England and later Wales.
The league should not be confused with the other former Football Combination, a competition for reserve teams from the South of England, or with the Lancashire Combination, another minor league running around the same time.
First incarnation
[edit]The first Combination was set up in 1888, the same year the Football League was founded. It was established by clubs who had been excluded from the Football League, initiated by Crewe Alexandra secretary J. G. Hall, and was announced at the Royal Hotel in Crewe. The clubs in attendance were Small Heath Alliance, Walsall Town Swifts, Derby Midland, Notts Rangers, Burslem Port Vale, Leek, Crewe Alexandra, Newton Heath, Witton, and Blackburn Olympic; three other clubs, Mitchell St George's, Halliwell, and Derby Junction, all wrote to pledge acceptance of all decisions, and Northwich Victoria also wrote requesting membership. The meeting was chaired by A. M. Sloane, the chairman of Bootle. The clubs agreed that there would be no more than 20 members and each would play at least 8 matches home and away.[2] Harry Mitchell of St George's was elected president.
However, while the Football League quickly proved a success, the Combination lacked central organisation, with poor planning and unfulfilled fixtures; as early as October the media were complaining about the difficulties in following the competition[3] and by January 1889 the media were commenting that "it is becoming the exception rather than the rule to keep a Combination fixture".[4] The Combination therefore failed to complete its first season, finishing in April 1889 without a winner.[5]
Fixtures were left to individual clubs, which resulted in confusion, as it was unclear whether many matches between clubs were friendlies or Combination matches.[6] The Combination was finally wound up at a board meeting on 5 April 1889. The meeting was over in 25 minutes, the motion to dissolve the Combination being passed unanimously, after which those present enjoyed cold beef and pickles; the meeting was so quick that the Darwen representative, who had missed his train, arrived too late. However, a dozen of the representatives had another meeting afterwards, which formed the basis of the Football Alliance.[7]
Participating teams included Bootle, Blackburn Olympic, Burslem Port Vale, Crewe Alexandra, Grimsby Town, Lincoln City, Newton Heath, Small Heath and South Shore. Bootle, Crewe, Grimsby, Newton Heath and Small Heath went on to co-found the Football Alliance the following year.
Second incarnation
[edit]The second incarnation was founded in 1890. The twelve founder members were:[8]
- Burton Swifts
- Chester
- Denton
- Derby St Luke's
- Gorton Villa
- Hyde
- Leek (not related to the current Leek Town)
- Macclesfield
- Northwich Victoria
- Stafford County (not related to the current Stafford Rangers)
- Witton (from Blackburn, not to be confused with Witton Albion from Northwich)
- Wrexham
Five of the founding teams would eventually go on to play in the Football League, although in the case of Macclesfield, this would not happen until 1997–98. Glossop North End, who joined in 1894, were also elected to the League (in 1898), as were another later member team, Tranmere Rovers.
As the competition evolved, the nature of the teams changed, with many more Welsh teams being involved, as well as the reserve teams of the Football League clubs such as Everton and Crewe Alexandra. By the time the competition folded in 1911 none of the original members still participated, with the exception of Wrexham, who fielded their reserve team. It was succeeded by the Cheshire County League and later by the North West Counties Football League.
Champions
[edit]The champions of the league were as follows:[8]
Season | Champions | Runners-up | Third |
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1890–91 | Gorton Villa F.C. | Macclesfield | Chester |
1891–92 | Everton Reserves | Northwich Victoria | Macclesfield |
1892–93 | Everton Reserves | Stoke Swifts | Chester |
1893–94 | Everton Reserves | Stoke Swifts | Leek |
1894–95 | Ashton North End | Glossop North End | Chester |
1895–96 | Everton Reserves | Macclesfield | Glossop North End |
1896–97 | Everton Reserves | Rock Ferry | Chester |
1897–98 | Everton Reserves | Crewe Alexandra | Chirk |
1898–99 | Everton Reserves | Liverpool Reserves | Tranmere Rovers |
1899–1900 | Chirk AAA | Wrexham | Druids |
1900–01 | Wrexham | Rhyl | Bangor |
1901–02 | Wrexham | Burslem Port Vale Reserves | Oswestry United |
1902–03 | Wrexham | Nantwich | Birkenhead |
1903–04 | Birkenhead | Chester | Nantwich |
1904–05 | Wrexham | Chester | Broughton United |
1905–06 | Whitchurch | Chester | Glossop Reserves |
1906–07 | Whitchurch | Chester | Wigan Town |
1907–08 | Tranmere Rovers | Chester | Oswestry United |
1908–09 | Chester | Saltney | Tranmere Rovers |
1909–10 | Crewe Alexandra Reserves | Saltney | Chester |
1910–11 | Whitchurch | Bangor | Oswestry United |
References
[edit]- ^ "Sharpe's Card c 1890 depicting Jack Powell as captain of Newton Heath". Flickr. Archived from the original on 2023-05-03. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- ^ "Another Football League". Birmingham Daily Post: 7. 28 April 1888.
- ^ "Notes on Sports". Derby Mercury: 8. 3 October 1888.
- ^ "Football notes". Birmingham Mail: 2. 21 January 1889.
- ^ Whittle, Paul (4 April 2020). "The Football Alliance: Teams Who Didn't Make the League". THE 1888 LETTER: Football Then And Now. Archived from the original on 30 November 2021. Retrieved 30 November 2021.
- ^ Shury, Alan; Brian Landamore (2005) [2002]. "History of Newton Heath F.C.". The Definitive Newton Heath F.C. 'Definitive' Club Histories. with Allen Kristensen and Tony Brown (2nd ed.). Nottingham: SoccerData. p. 11. ISBN 1-899468-16-1.
- ^ "Football Notes". Birmingham Mail: 4. 8 April 1889.
- ^ a b "England - The Combination". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2022-10-15. Retrieved 2023-05-03.