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Football Violence

At the end of the 1890/1 season William McGregor announced that the new Football League was a success. He was particularly pleased that no player was killed in the first 132 games: ‘in fact not a serious case {of injury} in any way.’ This showed that ‘... the higher the quality of boot laces the less {chance} is there of accidents.’

Football on the pitch was becoming less dangerous for the players. Crowd violence, however, was beginning to become a problem at this time. Spectators often threw mud and stones at referees. In December 1892 the Football League posters appeared in every ground. These warned spectators not to attack players or referees.

Colour Clash

In 1890 the Football League discovered a new problem. When new members Sunderland played Wolverhampton Wanderers both teams came onto the pitch in red and white shirts. Which team should change?

At the next Football League meeting in 1891, members introduced a new rule. When there was a colour clash the home club should change its colours. All clubs were instructed to have a set of white shirts in reserve. They were also instructed to register their colours at the beginning of the season.

In 1898 Grimsby proposed that goalkeepers should wear different colour shirts to the other players. Amazingly, the other league members did not feel this was necessary. Goalkeepers continued to wear the same coloured shirts as their team-mates until 1909. When the change was introduced, goalkeepers were only allowed to wear scarlet, blue or white.

A goalkeeper was allowed to handle the ball anywhere in his own half until 1912. In the same year as goalkeepers were sent back to their penalty areas, they were allowed to wear green shirts.

In 1891-2 the League was extended to 14 clubs and in the following year it grew again to 16 clubs. A 12 club Second Division was also added in 1892.

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