Football League Test Matches
From 1893 to 1898 promotion and relegation between the Football League Division 1 and Division 2 was decided by Test Matches between the bottom teams in Division 1 and the top teams in Division 2. The system was abandoned when Stoke and Burnley, realising that a draw in their final game would see Burnley promoted and Stoke retain their place, played out a shot-less 0-0 draw. Instead all four teams were elected to an extended Division 1 and a system of automatic promotion and relegation was introduced.
Test Matches 1892-93
| Newton Heath | 1/5 | Small Heath | 1/2 |
| Notts CountyR | 2 | DarwenP | 3 |
| AccringtonX | 0 | Sheffield UnitedP | 1 |
|
X Accrington resigned after losing Test Match |
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Test Matches 1893-94
| Newton HeathR | 0 | LiverpoolP | 2 |
| DarwenR | 1 | Small HeathP | 3 |
| Preston North End | 4 | Notts County | 0 |
Test Matches 1894-95
| LiverpoolR | 0 | BuryP | 1 |
| Derby County | 2 | Notts County | 1 |
| Stoke | 3 | Newton Heath | 0 |
Test Matches 1895-96
| Small Heath | 0/0 | Liverpool | 4/0 |
| West Bromwich A | 1/6 | Manchester City | 1/1 |
| Small Heath | 0/8 | Manchester City | 3/0 |
| West Bromwich A | 0/2 | Liverpool | 2/0 |
Final Table 1895-96
| PL | W | D | L | GF | GA | GF/A | PTS | ||
| 1 | LiverpoolP | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 3.000 | 5 |
| 2 | West Bromwich A | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 9 | 4 | 2.250 | 5 |
| 3 | Small HeathR | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 8 | 7 | 1.143 | 3 |
| 4 | Manchester City | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 15 | 0.333 | 3 |
Test Matches 1896-97
| Burnley | 2/0 | Newton Heath | 0/2 |
| Sunderland | 0/0 | Notts County | 1/0 |
| Burnley | 0/1 | Notts County | 1/1 |
| Sunderland | 1/2 | Newton Heath | 1/0 |
Final Table 1896-97
| PL | W | D | L | GF | GA | GF/A | PTS | ||
| 1 | Notts CountyP | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3.000 | 6 |
| 2 | Sunderland | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1.500 | 4 |
| 3 | BurnleyR | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 0.750 | 3 |
| 4 | Newton Heath | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0.600 | 3 |
Test Matches 1897-98
| Blackburn Rovers | 1/0 | Burnley | 3/2 |
| Stoke | 1/1 | Newcastle United | 2/0 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 4/0 | Newcastle United | 3/4 |
| Stoke | 2/0 | Burnley | 0/0 |
Final Table 1897-98
| PL | W | D | L | GF | GA | GF/A | PTS | ||
| 1 | Stoke | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 2.000 | 5 |
| 2 | BurnleyP | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1.667 | 5 |
| 3 | Newcastle United | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 1.500 | 4 |
| 4 | Blackburn RoversR | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 12 | 0.417 | 2 |
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1 all four teams elected to extended Division 1 |
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