1888 in Sports - Association Football

Association Football

England

• FA Cup final – West Bromwich Albion 2–1 Preston North End at The Oval
• Walsall Town and Walsall Swifts merge to form Walsall Football Club. The club initially plays under the name of Walsall Town Swifts.
• Small Heath, later Birmingham City, is the first football club to form a limited company
• 7 April — Tinsley Lindley scores in his ninth consecutive England game, a record that still stands.

Origin of the Football League

• One of the problems facing professionalism is the lack of competitive matches, especially for teams that have been knocked out of the FA Cup. It is self–evident that crowds for friendly fixtures are much lower, which means a reduction in revenue and consequent struggle to pay wages.
• Aston Villa's Scottish director William McGregor seeks a solution by asking other professional clubs to arrange annual home and away fixtures on a competitive basis, with points to be awarded for winning and drawing. Following a conference between club directors on 23 March, the English Football League is founded on 17 April as one division of twelve clubs.
• The founder members are: Accrington FC (1888–1893), Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Derby County, Everton, Notts County, Preston North End, Stoke FC, West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

India

• Durand Cup instituted by Mortimer Durand as recreation for British troops stationed in India. It is the oldest tournament in India and the third oldest in the world.

Scotland

• Scottish Cup final – Renton 6–1 Cambuslang
• Celtic Football Club is founded by members of the Marist Order, a teaching institute, as a way of raising money for a poor children’s charity. The club's first ground is a piece of rented land not far from the present Celtic Park. Celtic's first recorded match is a home "friendly" against Rangers; Celtic win 5–2 in what is therefore the inaugural "Old Firm Game".