WHEN FOOTBALL BEGAN

  GOODALL, JOHN (PRESTON NORTH END) Season: 1888/1889 Goals scored: 20 (out of 74); 12 home, 8 away Percentage: 27 per cent Runner-up: Jimmy Ross (Preston North End), 19 goals Preston were League Champions and FA Cup winners The top scorer in the inaugural Football League season was Preston North End ’ s John Goodall, who in a race to the very end, finished with a goal more than his colleague Jimmy Ross. Not surprisingly, in a League in which each team played only twenty-two games, Preston ran away with the title, remaining unbeaten and drawing just four times. Formed in 1881, Preston was the possibly first club to become wholly professional. Secretary Major William Sudell had drawn on the example of sides north of the border. England and Scotland had first faced each other internationally in 1872, and the former even became the first winners with a 4-2 victory in 1873. After that, the Scots reigned supreme by deploying their players in a more balanced f...

  Sunderland’s record defeat was on 25 February 1884 in Bolton when they faced a Great Lever side packed with many players who were, in defiance of the rules at time, being paid for their efforts. On 25 February 1884 the Bolton side Great Lever’s advertised opponents on a Woodside pitch almost devoid of grass were a combined Durham side. This was clearly an attempt to attract a decent crowd as in reality the visiting side were Sunderland AFC, formed in September 1880 and yet to make a name in football. Both sides played a 2-3-5 formation and Sunderland were assisted by Robinson of PNE. John Goodall, who had moved only weeks before from Kilmarnock Athletic to Lancashire and who was to go on to become of the all-time greats, was unfortunate when his shot got stuck in the mud but long before the close the travelling team were well beaten and the final score was 11-0 with the Great Lever centre scoring at least two and playing a role in another four. The result remains Sunderland’s...