Aston Villa won the second English championship in the club's history by four points ahead of pursuers Derby County . Last year's promoted FC Bury could get the class; Instead, after further test games, the table penultimate Small Heath had to relegate . This club should replace Liverpool FC in the following season .
A total of 358 players were used, with Derby County with 16 the fewest and Small Heath and Sheffield United with 30 the most players in league games. 130 newcomers faced 127 footballers who last came into play in the 1895/96 season. 27 players were able to play all 30 league games of their club.
The following list lists all players who played in a league game for Aston Villa during the 1895/96 season. It must be noted that in English football a minimum number of games is usually required in order to receive the official championship medal. Since there was uncertainty about the specific regulation before the introduction of the Premier League, all players who presumably did not receive a championship medal due to their low contribution were marked with an asterisk (*). The number of missions and the goals scored are given in brackets.
Before the automatic promotion and relegation rule between the first-class First Division and the second-rate Second Division, which first came into effect at the end of the 1898/99 season, potential promoters from the Second Division had to prove themselves in play-off- like “test games”. Participation in the game was also dependent on an election procedure of the league association, which had to decide whether a club might participate. Also in the season 1895/96 there were test matches between the two first division clubs Small Heath and West Bromwich Albion as well as the second division clubs Liverpool and Manchester City, from which Liverpool FC and West Bromwich Albion emerged as the sporting winners and then the majority of the votes of the League Association.
John Campbell
Steve Bloomer
