The 1904–05 Football League was the seventeenth season of the English Football League, comprising the First Division and the Second Division. The season commenced in September 1904 and concluded in April 1905.
Structure
- First Division – The top tier consisted of 18 clubs that competed in a double‑round robin format, playing each other twice (home and away) for a total of 34 matches per club.
- Second Division – The second tier also featured 18 clubs operating under the same double‑round robin system.
Outcome
- First Division champion – Newcastle United secured the First Division title, marking the club’s second league championship.
- Second Division champion – Liverpool finished as champions of the Second Division, thereby earning promotion to the First Division for the following season.
Relegation and Promotion
The customary promotion and relegation system was applied: the bottom two clubs of the First Division were relegated to the Second Division, while the top two clubs of the Second Division were promoted to the First Division.
Historical Context
The 1904–05 season occurred during a period of rapid growth for professional football in England, with increasing attendances and expanding media coverage. It preceded the establishment of the modern Football League structure that would later evolve into the current English football league system.
Legacy
The season is principally remembered for Newcastle United’s successful title defence and for Liverpool’s return to the First Division, where they would go on to become one of the most successful clubs in English football history.