Accrington FC
Founded: 1876
Joined League: 1888
Left League: 1893
Folded: 1896
The only original Football League club no longer in existence, Accrington were at the heart of the burgeoning Lancashire football scene of the 1880s. They were expelled from the FA Cup for professionalism in 1883 and were a part of The British Football Association movement that threatened to break away from the FA on the issue of paying players.
In 1891 Accrington became the first League club to field a foreign player (Walter Bowman).
Finishing 15th in 1892-93 Accrington lost the play off (test match) against Sheffield United and resigned from the League rather than play in Division 2.
Financial difficulties overtook the club as they fell behind their neighbours and local rivals. Extinction came in 1896.
Season
|
League
|
FA Cup
|
|
1888–89
|
7
|
R1
|
Founder members of the League
|
1889–90
|
6
|
R2
|
|
1890–91
|
10
|
R2
|
|
1891–92
|
11
|
R2
|
|
1892–93
|
Div1. 15
|
R2
|
Would have been relegated to
Division 2 but resigned instead.
|
