Preston North End's record breaking first ever game in detail

Saturday, September 8, 1888 was a day which will forever be remembered in the annals of football history.

On that day the first ever fixtures were played in the Football League. The league consisted of five of Lancashire’s finest sides and seven club’s from the Midlands.

The initial round of fixtures featured two Lancashire derby matches and an all Midland’s encounter.

At Pike Lane, Bolton Wanderers entertained Derby County in front of 3,000 spectators. The match kicked off at 3.40pm on a glorious afternoon and within ten minutes the Wanderers led by 3-0. Alas, the Bolton joy was short lived with Derby replying quickly and by the interval being ahead by 4-3. The Derby side continued with their brilliant dashing game after the break and two more goals were added in the second period.

Everton began their search for league points at home to the Reds of Accrington. The weather was delightful and 10,000 fanslined their enclosures. The Merseysiders just about had the edge on their visitors and gained a 2-1 victory.

Wolverhampton Wanderers played hosts to Aston Villa and by half time both sides had a single goal to their credit. A tense second half failed to provide any further scoring and spoils were shared 1-1.

The highly rated West Bromwich Albion had to visit Stoke City and 5,000 spectators viewed their contest. Stoke managed to deny the visitors in the first period, but two second half goals clinched a 2-0 victory for the visitors.

Back in Lancashire the other local derby featured Preston North End managed by William Sudell (pictured inset) and Burnley at the Deepdale enclosure where 6,000 spectators lined the enclosure.

Line ups:

Preston North End

Goal - Trainer

Full backs - Howarth, Holmes

Half backs - Robertson, Graham W, Graham J

Forwards - Gordon, Ross, Goodall, Dewhurst, Drummond.

Bolton Wanderers.

Goal - Smith.

Full backs - Lang, Bury.

Half backs - Abrams, Friel, Keenan.

Forwards - Brady, Tait, Polard, Gallagher, Yates.

Skipper Fred Dewhurst lost the toss and North End played against the wind, but with the sun at their back. Dewhurst at once got possession and after a mazy dribble shot past the upright.

Burnley were next to threaten and Yates put in a shot that Bob Holmes cleared down field. A neat piece of footwork by John Goodall enabled Jimmy Ross to provide a chance for Dewhurst, which he converted for the Deepdale side after three minutes play.

From the restart the North End pressed forward again and a splendid rising drive from John Gordon passed under the crossbar for Preston’s second goal. The pressure on the visitors defence was intense and both John Gordon and Ross went close with grand shots. The North End passing was perfection and the Burnley defence was continually stretched.

Alex Robertson with a long shot caused the visitor’s goalkeeper some anxiety, but the ball grazed the upright and passed out. Yates and Gallagher combined well on the Burnley left to create a chance for Tait, but Bob Holmes intercepted the ball and cleared the danger.

An attack down the right by Preston ended with a magnificent cross from Gordon which was met by Goodall, whose goal bound shot struck the legs of Smith and rebounded into play.

The Burnley defence was yet again under siege and both Gordon and Dewhurst went close with attempts for goal number three.

With the midway point of the half approaching Burnley launched one of their rare attacks. Both Howarth and Holmes had chance to clear the danger but failed and Keenan put in a shot which Jimmy Trainer could not grasp and the ball ran to Gallagher who slotted it home.

Within a minute Gallagher almost equalised from a long shot which Trainer fisted out and Holmes diverted for a corner. The corner was a tame one and Preston raced down to the other end where Gordon had a half chance.

Ross was next to test the Burnley defence and his shot was deflected over the crossbar by Smith. Shortly afterwards a centre from Gordon was met by the head of Dewhurst whose effort crossed the line, but was disallowed for an earlier infringement.

After their narrow escapes the Burnley side began to play with a little more composure and for the remainder of the half they had an equal share of the attacking play, although they didn’t come close to scoring.

Half-time: Preston North End 2 Burnley 1

After the restart Burnley opened well, but Ross was the first man to have a shot at goal, the leather passing just outside the upright. A certain amount of roughness seemed to creep in to the play and Poland had free kicks given against him after tripping Dewhurst and pulling down Ross.

Although Preston continued to raid the Burnley territory openings were rare and the Burnley backs were playing a grand game with timely interceptions. At length a magnificent cross from the home left enabled Ross, who was well forward, to pounce on the ball and notch the third goal for his side. The strike was followed by more Preston pressure with chances for Drummond and then Ross going begging.

From the latter Smith conceded a corner which came to nothing. A minute later Gordon had a grand chance but he headed over from close range.The Burnley forwards were next to create an opening as they outwitted Howarth, but Trainer saved a hot shot from Poland. The whole of the Preston forwards then went up field in a rush, and from a cross by Dewhurst, Ross notched the fourth goal with a screw shot.

Burnley then got moving up front and Tait, after a free kick for hands, shot high over the goals. Again the visitors came to the attack and Brady gave Trainer a fast shot to save, which he did at the expense of a corner. This was well placed but the danger was cleared.

In the time that remained play was quite even and both sides managed another goal before the close. Firstly, Dewhurst got the home side’s fifth after a goalmouth scrimmage that left goalkeeper Smith stranded and then Poland with a fine header got the visitors second goal.

Result: Preston North End 5 Burnley 2

The attendances at the five league fixtures pleased the organisers with 29,000 spectators having watched the matches. Everton recording the highest gate of 10,000 and Preston second best with 6,000 paying customers. With admission charges of three pence or more per head it was reckoned that close to £400 had been taken in gate money.

Blackburn Rovers did not make their league debut until the following Saturday when Accrington visited the Leamington Road ground. The match was a high scoring one, Accrington led 4-3 at the interval and only a late rally enabled the Rovers to share the points in a 5-5 draw.

If we concluded by moving fast forward to the first Saturday of January 1889 Preston North End entertained Notts County in a Football League match on a murky and foggy afternoon.

The unbeaten North End side were sitting at the top of the Football League and their visitors were struggling near the bottom. A Deepdale crowd of more than 4,000 saw PNE claim a 4-1 victory.

Later that afternoon news filtered through from Turf Moor where Preston’s closest challengers Aston Villa were playing. A 4-0 victory for Burnley ending the Villa hopes of catching North End so with three games to play Preston North End became the first Football League champions.

They remained undefeated in their last three league fixtures all away from home. Drawing at Blackburn and winning at both Everton and Aston Villa to prove they had no equals.

Before March was out they had been to the Kennington Oval and won the FA Challenge Cup without conceding a goal as they beat Wolverhampton Wanders by 3-0 to complete a memorable double and earn their ‘Invincibles’ title.