| Season: | 1888–89 |
| Manager: | None[1] [2] |
| Chairman: | Henry Jackson/Edward W. Heelis[3] [4] |
| League Result: | 6th |
| Cup1 Result: | Semi-final |
| League Topscorer: | Billy Bassett, Tom Pearson (11) |
| Season Topscorer: | Billy Bassett (14) |
| Pattern La1: | _blue_stripes4 |
| Pattern B1: | _west_bromwich_albion_88_89 |
| Pattern Ra1: | _blue_stripes4 |
| Socks1: | 000066 |
| Nextseason: | 1889–90 |
The 1888–89 season was the 11th season in the history of West Bromwich Albion, as well as their first season in the newly formed Football League, of which they were a founder member. They finished in 6th position with 22 points.
West Bromwich Albion's score comes first
| Win | Draw | Loss |
See main article: 1888–89 Football League.
| Match | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 8 September 1888 | Stoke | A | 2–0 | 4,500 | Wilson, Woodhall | |
| 2 | 15 September 1888 | Derby County | A | 2–1 | 3,000 | Bassett, Pearson | |
| 3 | 22 September 1888 | Blackburn Rovers | A | 2–6 | 8,000 | Bayliss, Pearson | |
| 4 | 29 September 1888 | Burnley | H | 4–3 | 2,100 | Perry, Bassett, Hendry, Shaw | |
| 5 | 6 October 1888 | Derby County | H | 5–0 | 2,100 | Perry, Bassett, Pearson (3) | |
| 6 | 13 October 1888 | Preston North End | A | 0–3 | 10,000 | ||
| 7 | 20 October 1888 | Notts County | H | 4–2 | 2,000 | Pearson (2), Wilson, Woodhall | |
| 8 | 3 November 1888 | Accrington | H | 2–2 | 1,000 | Wilson, Bassett | |
| 9 | 5 November 1888 | Bolton Wanderers | H | 1–5 | 4,000 | Bassett | |
| 10 | 10 November 1888 | Burnley | A | 0–2 | 5,000 | ||
| 11 | 17 November 1888 | Bolton Wanderers | A | 2–1 | 3,500 | Hendry, Pearson | |
| 12 | 24 November 1888 | Accrington | A | 1–2 | 2,000 | Perry | |
| 13 | 1 December 1888 | Everton | H | 4–1 | 5,000 | Perry, Bassett (2), Hendry | |
| 14 | 15 December 1888 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | A | 1–2 | 3,000 | Pearson | |
| 15 | 22 December 1888 | Blackburn Rovers | H | 2–1 | 1,000 | Pearson, Bassett | |
| 16 | 26 December 1888 | Preston North End | H | 0–5 | 5,150 | ||
| 17 | 29 December 1888 | Stoke | H | 2–0 | 4,900 | Bassett, Wilson | |
| 18 | 5 January 1889 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | H | 1–3 | 4,000 | Woodhall | |
| 19 | 12 January 1889 | Notts County | A | 1–2 | 2,000 | Bassett | |
| 20 | 19 January 1889 | Aston Villa | A | 0–2 | 10,000 | ||
| 21 | 26 January 1889 | Aston Villa | H | 3–3 | 8,515 | Bassett, Pearson (2) | |
| 22 | 23 February 1889 | Everton | H | 1–0 | 8,000 | Crabtree |
See main article: 1888–89 FA Cup.
| Round | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result | Attendance | Scorers | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R1 | 2 February 1889 | Small Heath | A | 3–2 | 3,034 | Perry, Wilson, Pearson | |
| R2 | 16 February 1889 | Burnley | H | 5–1 | 5,104 | Perry (3), Wilson, Bayliss | |
| R3 | 2 March 1889 | Chatham | A | 10–1 | 17,000 | Bassett (2), Perry, Wilson (3), Bayliss (2), Timmins, Own Goal | |
| Semi final | 16 March 1889 | Preston North End | N | 0–1 | 22,688 |
| Pos. | Name | League | FA Cup | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| FW | Billy Bassett | 21 | 11 | 4 | 2 | 25 | 13 |
| U | Jem Bayliss | 21 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 25 | 3 |
| FW | Fredrick Crabtree | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| FB | Harry Green | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| FW | George Haynes | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| FW | Billy Hendry | 16 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 4 |
| HB | Ezra Horton | 8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| FB | Jack Horton | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 0 |
| HB | Albert Millard | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FB | Harold Oliver | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| FW | Tom Pearson | 22 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 26 | 12 |
| HB | Charlie Perry | 20 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 24 | 0 |
| FW | Walter Perry | 9 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 10 |
| FB | Alexander Ramsey | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| GK | Bob Roberts | 22 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 26 | 0 |
| FW | Charlie Shaw | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| HB | George Timmins | 22 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 26 | 1 |
| FB | Luther Walker | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| FW | Joe Wilson | 20 | 4 | 4 | 5 | 24 | 9 |
| FW | George Woodhall | 10 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 3 |