Football League Second Division 1897/98
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GA | Pts | Notes |
| 1st | Burnley | 30 | 20 | 8 | 2 | 80 | 24 | 3.333 | 48 | ▲Champions |
| 2nd | Newcastle United | 30 | 21 | 3 | 6 | 64 | 32 | 2.000 | 45 | ▲Runners Up |
| 3rd | Manchester City | 30 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 66 | 36 | 1.833 | 39 | - |
| 4th |  Newton
Heath |
30 | 16 | 6 | 8 | 64 | 35 | 1.829 | 38 | - |
| 5th | Woolwich Arsenal | 30 | 16 | 5 | 9 | 69 | 49 | 1.408 | 37 | - |
| 6th | Small Heath | 30 | 16 | 4 | 10 | 58 | 50 | 1.160 | 36 | - |
| 7th | Leicester Fosse | 30 | 13 | 7 | 10 | 46 | 35 | 1.314 | 33 | - |
| 8th | Luton Town | 30 | 13 | 4 | 13 | 68 | 50 | 1.360 | 30 | - |
| 9th | Gainsborough Trinity | 30 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 50 | 54 | 0.926 | 30 | - |
| 10th | Walsall | 30 | 12 | 5 | 13 | 58 | 58 | 1.000 | 29 | - |
| 11th | Blackpool | 30 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 49 | 61 | 0.803 | 25 | - |
| 12th | Grimsby Town | 30 | 10 | 4 | 16 | 52 | 62 | 0.839 | 24 | - |
| 13th | Burton Swifts | 30 | 8 | 5 | 17 | 38 | 69 | 0.551 | 21 | - |
| 14th | Lincoln City | 30 | 6 | 5 | 19 | 43 | 82 | 0.524 | 17 | Re Elected |
| 15th | Darwen | 30 | 6 | 2 | 22 | 31 | 76 | 0.408 | 14 | Re Elected |
| 16th | Loughborough | 30 | 6 | 2 | 22 | 24 | 87 | 0.276 | 14 | Re Elected |
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Football League Test Match Series |
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- Competing Clubs, First Division: Blackburn Rovers and Stoke, Second Division: Burnley and Newcastle United |
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| Date | Home | Score | Away |
| 20/04/1898 | Newcastle United | 2-1 | Stoke |
| 21/04/1898 | Blackburn Rovers | 1-3 | Burnley |
| 23/04/1898 | Burnley | 2-0 | Blackburn Rovers |
| 23/04/1898 | Stoke | 1-0 | Newcastle United |
| 26/04/1898 | Burnley | 0-2 | Stoke |
| 28/04/1898 | Blackburn Rovers | 4-3 | Newcastle United |
| 30/04/1898 | Newcastle United | 4-0 | Blackburn Rovers |
| 30/04/1898 | Stoke | 0-0 | Burnley |
Football League Test Match Series Standings
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | Pts | Outcome |
| 1st | Stoke | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 5 | Retained First Division Status |
| 2nd | Burnley | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 5 | ▲Promoted to First Division |
| 3rd | Newcastle United | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 4 | Remained in Second Division |
| 4th | Blackburn Rovers | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 2 | Relegated from First Division |
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Election for First Division Status |
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| Following the end of the Test Series and the controversial 'fixed' play-off match between Stoke and Burnley it was agreed that each division would increase by two places. This was achieved by two more clubs moving from the Second to First Divisions and four new places being added to the Second Division. A vote was taken to decide which addition two clubs would move to the First Division. | ||
| Votes | Club | End Result |
| 27 | Blackburn Rovers | ▲Voted into First Division |
| 18 | Newcastle United | ▲Voted into First Division |
| 10 | Manchester City | Remained in Second Division |
| 4 | Small Heath | Remained in Second Division |
| 3 | Newton Heath | Remained in Second Division |
| 2 | Woolwich Arsenal | Remained in Second Division |
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Election for League Membership |
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| The three bottom clubs were required to seek re-election to the League. They were joined in the vote for League membership by 4 non-league clubs. | ||
| Votes | Club | End Result |
| 21 | Lincoln City | Re Elected to the League |
| 18 | Burslem Port Vale | ▲Elected to the League |
| 16 | Loughborough | Re Elected to the League |
| 15 | Darwen | ▼Not Re-Elected to the League |
| 13 | New Brighton Tower | Not Elected to the League |
| 3 | Nelson | Not Elected to the League |
| 1 | Bristol City | Not Elected to the League |
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Election for League Membership |
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| Subsequent to the above vote four new places became available in the Second Division with the re-organisation of the League. No vote was taken and the following was decided: | ||
| Votes | Club | End Result |
| n/a | Darwen | Now Re Elected to the League |
| n/a | Barnsley | ▲Elected to the League |
| n/a | Glossop North End | ▲Elected to the League |
| n/a | New Brighton Tower | ▲Elected to the League |
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End of Season Notes |
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▲Burnley were Promoted to the Football League First Division |
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▲Newcastle United were Elected to the Football League First Division |
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- Lincoln City were Re-Elected to the Football League |
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- Loughborough were Re-Elected to the Football League |
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▲Burslem Port Vale were Elected to the Football League |
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- The Second Division was extended to 18 clubs for the start of the 1898/99 Season |
| - The Test Match Series was scrapped and automatic promotion and relegation was introduced. |
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- Darwen were Re-Elected to the Football League |
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▲Barnsley were Elected to the Football League |
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▲Glossop North End were Elected to the Football League |
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▲New Brighton Tower were Elected to the Football League |