The English Football Belt · season
The 1896–97 season
30 belt games · 13 title changesEverton carried the belt into the 1896–97 season. It changed hands 13 times among 11 franchises, and Aston Villa finished the season with it. Most defenses: Aston Villa, 6.
Who held it, in order
EvertonAston VillaEvertonBurnleyForestPrestonStokeBuryLiverpoolDerbyBlackburnSheffield UtdForestAston Villa
Every belt game
| Belt game | Date | Result | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 217 | Sep 5, 1896 | Everton beat Sheffield Wednesday 2–1 | Defense |
| 218 | Sep 12, 1896 | Everton beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 1–0 | Defense |
| 219 | Sep 19, 1896 | Aston Villa beat Everton 3–2 | Title change |
| 220 | Sep 26, 1896 | Everton beat Aston Villa 2–1 | Title change |
| 221 | Oct 3, 1896 | Everton beat Liverpool 2–1 | Defense |
| 222 | Oct 10, 1896 | Burnley beat Everton 2–1 | Title change |
| 223 | Oct 17, 1896 | Burnley and Preston North End tied 2–2 | Tie · defense |
| 224 | Oct 24, 1896 | Nottingham Forest beat Burnley 4–1 | Title change |
| 225 | Oct 31, 1896 | Nottingham Forest and Sheffield Wednesday tied 2–2 | Tie · defense |
| 226 | Nov 7, 1896 | Preston North End beat Nottingham Forest 3–2 | Title change |
| 227 | Nov 9, 1896 | Stoke City beat Preston North End 2–1 | Title change |
| 228 | Nov 14, 1896 | Bury beat Stoke City 4–2 | Title change |
| 229 | Nov 21, 1896 | Bury and Sheffield United tied 2–2 | Tie · defense |
| 230 | Nov 28, 1896 | Bury beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–2 | Defense |
| 231 | Dec 12, 1896 | Liverpool beat Bury 3–1 | Title change |
| 232 | Dec 19, 1896 | Derby County beat Liverpool 3–2 | Title change |
| 233 | Dec 25, 1896 | Derby County beat West Bromwich Albion 8–1 | Defense |
| 234 | Dec 26, 1896 | Derby County beat Bolton Wanderers 1–0 | Defense |
| 235 | Jan 2, 1897 | Derby County beat Sunderland 2–1 | Defense |
| 236 | Jan 9, 1897 | Derby County beat Sheffield Wednesday 2–1 | Defense |
| 237 | Jan 16, 1897 | Blackburn Rovers beat Derby County 5–2 | Title change |
| 238 | Feb 6, 1897 | Sheffield United beat Blackburn Rovers 3–1 | Title change |
| 239 | Feb 20, 1897 | Nottingham Forest beat Sheffield United 3–0 | Title change |
| 240 | Mar 6, 1897 | Aston Villa beat Nottingham Forest 4–2 | Title change |
| 241 | Mar 13, 1897 | Aston Villa and Liverpool tied 0–0 | Tie · defense |
| 242 | Mar 22, 1897 | Aston Villa beat Bolton Wanderers 6–2 | Defense |
| 243 | Mar 27, 1897 | Aston Villa beat Bolton Wanderers 2–1 | Defense |
| 244 | Apr 17, 1897 | Aston Villa beat Blackburn Rovers 3–0 | Defense |
| 245 | Apr 19, 1897 | Aston Villa beat Wolverhampton Wanderers 5–0 | Defense |
| 246 | Apr 26, 1897 | Aston Villa beat Preston North End 1–0 | Defense |