| Relegated: | none |
| Continentalcup1: | New Club in League |
| Nextseason: | 1898–99 |
The 1897–98 season was the tenth season of The Football League.
Beginning in the 1894–95 season, clubs finishing level on points were separated according to goal average (goals scored divided by goals conceded). In case one or more teams had the same goal difference, this system favoured those teams who had scored fewer goals. The goal average system was eventually scrapped beginning with the 1976–77 season.
During the first six seasons of the league, (up to the 1893–94 season), re-election process concerned the clubs which finished in the bottom four of the league. From the 1894–95 season and until the 1920–21 season the re-election process was required of the clubs which finished in the bottom three of the league.
| Competition: | First Division |
| Season: | 1897–98 |
| Winners: | Sheffield United 1st English title |
| League Topscorer: | Fred Wheldon (21 goals) |
| Biggest Home Win: | (27 November 1897) (11 April 1898) (16 April 1898) |
| Biggest Away Win: | (5 February 1898) |
| Highest Scoring: | (1 January 1898) |
| Matches: | 240 |
| Total Goals: | 724 |
| Longest Wins: | 7 matches Sunderland |
| Longest Unbeaten: | 14 matches Sheffield United |
| Longest Losses: | 5 matches Stoke |
| Highest Attendance: | 50,000 (15 January 1898) |
| Lowest Attendance: | 1,000 (13 November 1897) |
| Average Attendance: | 9,396 |
| Prevseason: | 1896–97 |
| Nextseason: | 1898–99 |
| Competition: | Second Division |
| Season: | 1897–98 |
| Winners: | Burnley |
| Promoted: | Burnley Newcastle United |
| League Topscorer: | Henry Boyd (23 goals)[1] |
| Biggest Home Win: | (16 April 1898) |
| Biggest Away Win: | (5 February 1898) |
| Highest Scoring: | (18 December 1897) (28 March 1898) |
| Matches: | 240 |
| Total Goals: | 860 |
| Longest Wins: | 7 matches Manchester City |
| Longest Unbeaten: | 16 matches Burnley |
| Longest Losses: | 11 matches Darwen Loughborough |
| Prevseason: | 1896–97 |
| Nextseason: | 1898–99 |
The Football League test matches were a set of play-offs, in which the bottom First Division teams faced the top Second Division teams. Each First Division team plays both Second Division teams in a mini league format, the top two finishers would then be considered for election for First Division membership whilst the bottom two finishers would be invited to play in the Second Division.
The First Division teams, if finishing in the top two, would retain their places in the division. If a Second Division team does so, it would be considered for First Division membership through an election process. Bottom-two Second Division teams would stay in the Second Division.
Reference works, such Encyclopedia of British Football,[2] and Association Football[3] present the following table with the heading given above.
Burnley and Stoke City entered the last match needing a draw for promotion (or in Stoke's case to retain their First Division place). A 0–0 draw ensued, reportedly 'The Match without a shot at goal' and the League immediately withdrew the Test Match system in favour of automatic promotion and relegation. Ironically, the League also decided to expand the top division to 18 teams after the Test Match series of 1897–98 and the other two teams, Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United were elected into the top division for the following season,[4] negating the effect of Burnley and Stoke's reputed collusion. In the end, the test matches and their results seem to have served no particular purpose. After this season the test matches were scrapped in favour of direct promotion and relegation.