The English Football Belt · season
The 1888–89 season
22 belt games · 10 title changesDerby County carried the belt into the 1888–89 season. It changed hands 10 times among 7 franchises, and Everton finished the season with it. Most defenses: Aston Villa, 5.
Who held it, in order
DerbyWest BromBlackburnAston VillaBlackburnStokeBurnleyAston VillaBurnleyBlackburnEverton
Every belt game
| Belt game | Date | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sep 8, 1888 | Derby County beat Bolton Wanderers 6–3 in the first game | First holder |
| 2 | Sep 15, 1888 | West Bromwich Albion beat Derby County 2–1 | Title change |
| 3 | Sep 22, 1888 | Blackburn Rovers beat West Bromwich Albion 6–2 | Title change |
| 4 | Sep 29, 1888 | Blackburn Rovers and Wolverhampton Wanderers tied 2–2 | Tie · defense |
| 5 | Oct 6, 1888 | Blackburn Rovers and Notts County tied 3–3 | Tie · defense |
| 6 | Oct 13, 1888 | Aston Villa beat Blackburn Rovers 6–1 | Title change |
| 7 | Oct 20, 1888 | Aston Villa beat Bolton Wanderers 3–2 | Defense |
| 8 | Oct 27, 1888 | Aston Villa beat Accrington F.C. 4–3 | Defense |
| 9 | Nov 3, 1888 | Aston Villa and Stoke City tied 1–1 | Tie · defense |
| 10 | Nov 10, 1888 | Aston Villa and Preston North End tied 1–1 | Tie · defense |
| 11 | Nov 17, 1888 | Blackburn Rovers beat Aston Villa 5–1 | Title change |
| 12 | Nov 24, 1888 | Blackburn Rovers beat Derby County 2–0 | Defense |
| 13 | Dec 1, 1888 | Stoke City beat Blackburn Rovers 2–1 | Title change |
| 14 | Dec 8, 1888 | Burnley beat Stoke City 2–1 | Title change |
| 15 | Dec 15, 1888 | Burnley and Preston North End tied 2–2 | Tie · defense |
| 16 | Dec 22, 1888 | Aston Villa beat Burnley 4–2 | Title change |
| 17 | Dec 29, 1888 | Aston Villa beat Derby County 4–2 | Defense |
| 18 | Jan 5, 1889 | Burnley beat Aston Villa 4–0 | Title change |
| 19 | Jan 12, 1889 | Burnley and Accrington F.C. tied 2–2 | Tie · defense |
| 20 | Jan 19, 1889 | Burnley beat Derby County 1–0 | Defense |
| 21 | Feb 4, 1889 | Blackburn Rovers beat Burnley 4–2 | Title change |
| 22 | Mar 30, 1889 | Everton beat Blackburn Rovers 3–1 | Title change |