Football League – goals and statistics

The history of football has contained many high-scoring games from one-sided thrashings to last-minute winners and equalisers. The early years of English football saw a plethora of amazing high-scoring games. From the inaugural season of 1888-89 through to the final season before the First World War, there were 25,236 goals in 7960 games at an average of 3.17 goals per game, during the 27 seasons of the first division of English football. The more recent years of English football has seen a dip in the number of goals per game. So far, the 29 seasons of the Premier League have produced 29,917 goals in 11,266 matches, at average of 2.65 goals per game (as at end of 2020-21 season).

Total goals for each season - the early years

1888-89: 586 goals in 132 matches, at an average of 4.43 goals per game
1889-90: 611 goals in 132 matches, at 4.62 goals per game
1890-91: 554 goals in 132 matches, at 4.19 goals per game
1891-92: 777 goals in 182 matches, at 4.26 goals per game
1892-93: 936 goals in 240 matches, at 3.90 goals per game
1893-94: 939 goals in 240 matches, at 3.91 goals per game
1894-95: 917 goals in 240 matches, at 3.82 goals per game
1895-96: 807 goals in 240 matches, at 3.36 goals per game
1896-97: 751 goals in 240 matches, at 3.12 goals per game
1897-98: 724 goals in 240 matches, at 3.01 goals per game
1898-99: 868 goals in 306 matches, at 2.83 goals per game
1899-00: 856 goals in 306 matches, at 2.79 goals per game
1900-01: 855 goals in 306 matches, at 2.79 goals per game
1901-02: 840 goals in 306 matches, at 2.74 goals per game
1902-03: 885 goals in 306 matches, at 2.89 goals per game
1903-04: 939 goals in 306 matches, at 3.06 goals per game
1904-05: 904 goals in 306 matches, at 2.95 goals per game
1905-06: 1242 goals in 380 matches, at 3.26 goals per game
1906-07: 1148 goals in 380 matches, at 3.02 goals per game
1907-08: 1176 goals in 380 matches, at 3.09 goals per game
1908-09: 1185 goals in 380 matches, at 3.11 goals per game
1909-10: 1194 goals in 380 matches, at 3.14 goals per game
1910-11: 1028 goals in 380 matches, at 2.70 goals per game
1911-12: 1057 goals in 380 matches, at 2.78 goals per game
1912-13: 1153 goals in 380 matches, at 3.03 goals per game
1913-14: 1103 goals in 380 matches, at 2.90 goals per game
1914-15: 1201 goals in 380 matches, at 3.16 goals per game

Highest scoring games in each season

The staggering amount of goals were due to some incredible match scores over the seasons, with the following showing some of the highest scoring games in each season.

1888-89: Derby County 6-3 vs Bolton Wanderers
Blackburn Rovers 5-5 vs Accrington
Blackburn Rovers 6-2 vs West Bromwich Albion
Aston Villa 9-1 vs Notts County
Bolton Wanderers 6-2 vs Everton
Accrington 4-4 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Accrington 6-2 vs Derby County
Everton 6-2 vs Derby County
Blackburn Rovers 7-1 vs Burnley
Blackburn Rovers 4-4 vs Bolton Wanderers
Aston Villa 6-2 vs Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers 7-3 vs Notts County
Derby County 5-3 vs Notts County

1889-90: Preston North End 10-0 vs Stoke
Aston Villa 5-3 vs Preston North End
Aston Villa 6-2 vs Burnley
Preston North End 6-2 vs Bolton Wanderers
Aston Villa 7-1 vs Derby County
Notts County 8-1 vs Accrington
Blackburn Rovers 7-1 vs Burnley
Everton 8-0 vs Stoke
West Bromwich Albion 6-3 vs Bolton Wanderers
Blackburn Rovers 9-1 vs Notts County
Bolton Wanderers 7-1 vs Derby County
Wolverhampton Wanderers 9-1 vs Burnley
Everton 5-3 vs Notts County
Blackburn Rovers 7-1 vs Bolton Wanderers
Accrington 6-3 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Blackburn Rovers 8-0 v Stoke
Bolton Wanderers 5-3 vs Notts County
Accrington 5-3 vs Everton
Stoke 7-1 vs Accrington

1890-91: Derby County 8-5 vs Blackburn Rovers
Derby County 5-4 vs Aston Villa
Aston Villa 4-4 vs Burnley
Notts County 7-1 vs Aston Villa
Burnley 5-4 vs West Bromwich Albion
Everton 6-2 vs Derby County
Everton 7-3 vs Burnley
Blackburn Rovers 8-0 vs Derby County
Derby County 9-0 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Burnley 6-2 vs Preston North End
Bolton Wanderers 7-1 vs West Bromwich Albion
Notts County 7-1 vs Blackburn Rovers
Aston Villa 6-2 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

1891-92: Everton 5-3 vs Darwen
Blackburn Rovers 5-4 vs Notts County
Aston Villa 5-3 vs Sunderland
Darwen 9-3 vs Stoke
Blackburn Rovers 5-3 vs Darwen
Sunderland 7-1 vs Derby County
Notts County 9-0 vs Accrington
Burnley 9-0 vs Darwen
Sunderland 5-3 vs Accrington
Aston Villa 12-2 vs Accrington
Blackburn Rovers 5-3 vs Stoke
Burnley 6-2 vs Darwen
West Bromwich Albion 12-0 vs Darwen
Wolverhampton Wanderers 6-3 vs Aston Villa
Sunderland 7-1 vs Darwen

1892-93: Newton Heath 10-1 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers 4-4 vs Stoke
Notts County 5-4 vs Derby County
Sunderland 8-1 vs West Bromwich Albion
Newton Heath 4-4 vs Blackburn Rovers
Aston Villa 5-4 vs Nottingham Forest
Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-3 vs Accrington
Notts County 8-1 vs West Bromwich Albion
The Wednesday 5-3 vs Everton
The Wednesday 5-3 vs Aston Villa
Accrington 5-4 vs West Bromwich Albion
Newton Heath 7-1 vs Derby County
Stoke 7-1 vs Newton Heath
West Bromwich Albion 7-1 vs Burnley
Aston Villa 6-4 vs Accrington

1893-94: Nottingham Forest 7-1 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Derby County 7-3 vs Everton
Everton 7-1 vs Sunderland
Everton 8-1 vs Darwen
Aston Villa 6-3 vs West Bromwich Albion
Everton 8-1 vs The Wednesday
Aston Villa 9-0 vs Darwen
West Bromwich Albion 8-0 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Everton 7-1 vs West Bromwich Albion
Sunderland 6-3 vs Preston North End
Derby County 6-2 vs Newton Heath
Newton Heath 6-2 vs Stoke
Aston Villa 6-3 vs Burnley
Everton 6-2 vs Stoke

1894-95: Sunderland 8-0 vs Derby County
Small Heath 4-4 vs Preston North End
Small Heath 4-4 vs Everton
Sunderland 7-1 vs Small Heath
Nottingham Forest 5-3 vs West Bromwich Albion
Sunderland 4-4 vs Aston Villa
Blackburn Rovers 9-1 vs Small Heath
Preston North End 5-4 vs West Bromwich Albion
Bolton Wanderers 6-2 vs Sheffield United
Derby County 5-3 vs Small Heath

1895-96: Aston Villa 7-3 vs Small Heath
Everton 6-2 vs Nottingham Forest
The Wednesday 5-3 vs West Bromwich Albion
Small Heath 5-4 vs Bury
Derby County 8-0 vs Small Heath
Everton 7-2 vs Stoke
Wolverhampton Wanderers 7-2 vs Small Heath
Sunderland 7-1 vs West Bromwich Albion
Bury 5-3 vs Aston Villa
Sheffield United 8-0 vs Bury

1896-97: Preston North End 5-3 vs Sunderland
Derby County 7-2 vs Bury
Preston North End 5-3 vs Burnley
Derby County 8-1 vs West Bromwich Albion
Aston Villa 6-2 vs Bolton Wanderers
Everton 6-3 vs West Bromwich Albion

1897-98: Nottingham Forest 6-3 vs The Wednesday

1898-99: Derby County 5-5 vs Everton
Aston Villa 7-1 vs Derby County
Notts County 5-3 vs Blackburn Rovers
Derby County 9-0 vs The Wednesday
West Bromwich Albion 6-2 vs Blackburn Rovers
Derby County 6-2 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Aston Villa 7-1 vs West Bromwich Albion

1899-00: Aston Villa 9-0 vs Glossop
Aston Villa 6-2 vs Notts County
West Bromwich Albion 8-0 vs Nottingham Forest

1900-01: Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-4 vs Derby County
Aston Villa 7-1 vs Manchester City
West Bromwich Albion 7-2 vs Bolton Wanderers
Sunderland 7-2 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Preston North End 5-3 vs Newcastle United

1901-02: Newcastle United 8-0 vs Notts County
Notts County 5-3 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

1902-03: West Bromwich Albion 5-3 vs Blackburn Rovers
Liverpool 9-2 vs Grimsby Town
Sheffield United 7-1 vs Bolton Wanderers

1903-04: Sheffield United 7-2 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Stoke 6-2 vs Blackburn Rovers
Nottingham Forest 6-2 vs Derby County
Derby County 7-2 vs Sunderland
Manchester City 6-3 vs West Bromwich Albion
Aston Villa 7-3 vs Nottingham Forest
Sheffield United 5-3 vs Manchester City
Sheffield United 5-3 vs Derby County

1904-05: Bury 7-1 vs Sheffield United
The Wednesday 5-5 vs Everton
Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-3 vs Middlesbrough
Newcastle United 6-2 vs The Wednesday

1905-06: Everton 6-2 vs Notts County
Newcastle United 8-0 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers
Middlesbrough 4-4 vs Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers 6-2 vs Sunderland
Sunderland 7-2 vs Wolverhampton Wanderers

1906-07: Everton 9-1 vs Manchester City
Liverpool 5-4 vs Manchester City
Middlesbrough 5-3 vs Woolwich Arsenal
Sunderland 5-5 vs Liverpool
Aston Villa 8-1 vs The Wednesday
Bury 5-3 vs Sunderland

1907-08: Bury 6-3 vs Bolton Wanderers
The Wednesday 5-3 vs Bristol City
Aston Villa 4-4 vs Bristol City
Sheffield United 5-3 vs Sunderland
Newcastle United 8-0 vs Birmingham
Sunderland 6-2 vs Bury
Sunderland 7-2 vs Nottingham Forest
Liverpool 7-4 vs Manchester United

1908-09: Manchester United 6-3 vs Middlesbrough
Everton 6-3 vs Manchester City
Everton 4-4 vs Blackburn Rovers
Sunderland 9-1 vs Newcastle United
The Wednesday 6-2 vs Woolwich Arsenal
Middlesbrough 6-2 vs Leicester Fosse
Blackburn Rovers 8-1 vs Sunderland
Nottingham Forest 12-0 vs Leicester Fosse

1909-10: Sunderland 6-2 vs Woolwich Arsenal
Nottingham Forest 6-2 vs Manchester United
Liverpool 6-5 vs Newcastle United
Bradford City 7-3 vs Middlesbrough
Aston Villa 7-1 vs Manchester United
Liverpool 7-3 vs Nottingham Forest

1910-11: Blackburn Rovers 6-2 vs Bury
Tottenham Hotspur 6-2 vs Middlesbrough

1911-12: Aston Villa 6-2 vs Manchester City
Tottenham Hotspur 6-2 vs Preston North End
Newcastle United 6-2 vs Aston Villa
The Wednesday 8-0 vs Sunderland
Sheffield United 6-2 vs Manchester City
Sheffield United 7-3 vs Bradford City

1912-13: Aston Villa 10-0 vs The Wednesday
Aston Villa 7-1 vs Oldham Athletic
Tottenham Hotspur 5-3 vs Middlesbrough
Blackburn Rovers 7-1 vs Oldham Athletic

1913-14: Blackburn Rovers 6-2 vs Liverpool
Sheffield United 5-3 vs Derby County
Bolton Wanderers 6-2 vs Oldham Athletic
Burnley 6-2 vs The Wednesday

1914-15: Oldham Athletic 5-3 vs Bolton Wanderers
Liverpool 7-2 vs Tottenham Hotspur
Bradford City 5-3 vs Bolton Wanderers
Everton 7-1 vs Sunderland
Aston Villa 6-3 vs Liverpool
Oldham Athletic 6-2 vs Bradford Park Avenue
Bolton Wanderers 7-1 vs Aston Villa
Sunderland 5-4 vs Oldham Athletic
Middlesbrough 7-5 vs Tottenham Hotspur
Everton 5-3 vs Bolton Wanderers
Aston Villa 6-2 vs Liverpool

Teams with most scored goals in each season

The following teams scored the most goals in each season:
1888-89: Preston North End 74 goals in 22 games (1st place)
1889-90: Blackburn Rovers 78 goals in 22 games (3rd)
1890-91: Everton 63 goals in 22 games (1st)
1891-92: Sunderland 93 goals in 26 games (1st)
1892-93: Sunderland 100 goals in 30 games (1st)
1893-94: Everton 90 goals in 30 games (6th)
1894-95: Everton 82 goals in 30 games (2nd); Aston Villa 82 goals in 30 games (3rd)
1895-96: Aston Villa 78 goals in 30 games (1st)
1896-97: Aston Villa 73 goals in 30 games (1st)
1897-98: Aston Villa 61 goals in 30 games (6th)
1898-99: Aston Villa 76 goals in 34 games (1st)
1899-00: Aston Villa 77 goals in 34 games (1st)
1900-01: Liverpool 59 goals in 34 games (1st)
1901-02: Everton 53 goals in 34 games (2nd); Sheffield United 53 goals in 34 games (10th)
1902-03: Liverpool 68 goals in 34 games (5th)
1903-04: Manchester City 71 goals in 34 games (2nd)
1904-05: Newcastle United 72 goals in 34 games (1st)
1905-06: Bolton Wanderers 81 goals in 38 games (6th)
1906-07: Aston Villa 78 goals in 38 games (5th)
1907-08: Manchester United 81 goals in 38 games (1st)
1908-09: Everton 82 goals in 38 games (2nd)
1909-10: Aston Villa 84 goals in 38 games (1st)
1910-11: Manchester United 72 goals in 38 games (1st)
1911-12: Aston Villa 76 goals in 38 games (6th)
1912-13: Sunderland 86 goals in 38 games (1st); Aston Villa 86 goals in 38 games (2nd)
1913-14: Blackburn Rovers 78 goals in 38 games (1st)
1914-15: Blackburn Rovers 83 goals in 38 games (3rd)

By Hitesh Darji