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1892-93 in English football


The 1892–93 season was the 22nd season of competitive football in England.

The Football League and the Football Alliance formally merged, and so the Football League Second Division was formed, consisting mostly of Football Alliance clubs. The existing League clubs, minus Darwen (who were relegated) plus three of the strongest Alliance clubs (Nottingham Forest, Newton Heath and The Wednesday, who would later be renamed Sheffield Wednesday), comprised the Football League First Division.

The Second Division comprised the remaining Football Alliance teams, plus Northwich Victoria, Burslem Port Vale and Sheffield United.

Liverpool, formed in March 1892 by Anfield landlord John Houlding after Everton's exit to Goodison Park, join the Lancashire League. They would be elected to the Football League Second Division after one season in the Lancashire League.

England's opening international game of the season took place in Birmingham on 25 February against Ireland, with the selectors choosing a team consisting mainly of players with connections to the Corinthians, of which seven were making their England débuts. Chris Charsley of Small Heath, who later went on to be Chief Constable of Coventry, made his solitary England appearance in goal. Alban Harrison (Old Westminsters) and Fred Pelly (Old Foresters) made their débuts as the two full-backs and Norman Cooper (Cambridge University) made his solitary appearance at centre-half. Robert Topham, an amateur player with Wolverhampton Wanderers, who had previously declined an invitation to play for Wales following his selection in 1885, made the first of his two appearances at outside right, with Walter Gilliat of Old Carthusians making his solitary appearance at inside right. Gilliat, an excellent dribbler of the ball, would probably have made more England appearances but for his religious beliefs, and went on to become the vicar of Iver and the rector of Sevenoaks.


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