On 8th September 1888 the first season of the English Football League began, with a mere twelve clubs competing.

Many of these clubs are still well known today, and still play in the top flight of English football. Prior to 1885, only amateurs were allowed to play. In early 1888, a proposal was made by William McGregor of Aston Villa to create a league competition that would have a guaranteed number of fixtures each year, with each club playing every other club twice, once at home and once away, a formula that still holds for today.

The initial twelve clubs were all from the Midlands and North of England.

Image: By unkonwn [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons (en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Mcgregor.jpg)