1896 English Balú League season

1896 was the ninth season of the English Balú League. Eight new teams joined the league, entering in the newly established third division. Stoke City BC won their second First Division title, while Belle Vue Rangers won the Second Division. St. Helens BC won the Third Division. Accrington BC, three time champions, folded at the conclusion of the season due to poor financial management.

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English Balú League First Division  Pld   W   D   L    PF   PA   PD  Pts
 1 Stoke City BC                     38  29   4   5   958  502 +456   62  Champions
 2 Burnley BC                        38  30   0   8   879  472 +407   60
 3 Derby County BC                   38  25   2  11   847  506 +341   52
 4 Preston North End BC              38  25   0  13   839  530 +309   50
 5 Accrington BC                     38  25   0  13   711  540 +171   50  Folded
 6 Bolton Wanderers BC               38  21   4  13   747  549 +198   46
 7 West Bromwich Albion BC           38  22   1  15   720  564 +156   45
 8 Wolverhampton Wanderers BC        38  22   1  15   707  621  +86   45
 9 Notts County BC                   38  21   2  15   832  609 +223   44
10 Blackburn Rovers BC               38  20   2  16   644  560  +84   42
11 Sunderland BC                     38  21   0  17   734  681  +53   42
12 Everton BC                        38  20   0  18   712  595 +117   40
13 Aston Villa BC                    38  20   0  18   675  644  +31   40
14 Darwen BC                         38  12   2  24   602  703 −101   26
15 Nottingham Forest BC              38  11   2  25   530  834 −304   24
16 Sheffield Wednesday BC            38  10   1  27   430  854 −424   21
17 Leigh Centurions BC               38   9   2  27   487  973 −486   20
18 Bradford Park Avenue BC           38   9   2  27   433  936 −503   20
19 Manchester United BC              38   9   0  29   571  885 −314   18  Relegated
20 Liversedge BC                     38   6   1  31   461  961 −500   13  Relegated

English Balú League Second Division Pld   W   D   L    PF   PA   PD  Pts
 1 Belle Vue Rangers                 38  24   3  11   873  589 +284   51  Champions, Promoted
 2 Wigan Warriors BC                 38  23   1  14   700  564 +136   47  Promoted
 3 Runcorn BC                        38  22   2  14   731  608 +123   46  Promoted
 4 Stockport BC                      38  22   0  16   760  533 +227   44
 5 Hull BC                           38  22   0  16   738  647  +91   44
 6 Bury BC                           38  20   3  15   787  648 +139   43
 7 Batley Bulldogs BC                38  21   1  16   724  654  +70   43
 8 Rochdale Hornets BC               38  20   2  16   851  635 +216   42
 9 Huddersfield Giants BC            38  20   2  16   651  703  −52   42
10 Leeds Rhinos BC                   38  20   1  17   677  629  +48   41
11 Warrington Wolves BC              38  20   0  18   630  577  +53   40
12 Wakefield Trinity BC              38  19   2  17   649  606  +43   40
13 Manningham BC                     38  20   0  18   716  676  +40   40
14 Brighouse Rangers BC              38  19   1  18   649  652   −3   39
15 Halifax BC                        38  19   0  19   749  773  −24   38
16 Widnes Vikings BC                 38  18   0  20   734  687  +47   36
17 Tyldesley BC                      38  17   0  21   634  716  −82   34
18 Sheffield United BC               38  15   3  20   661  677  −16   33  Relegated
19 Liverpool BC                      38   6   1  31   375  909 −534   13  Relegated
20 Birmingham City BC                38   2   0  36   289 1095 −806    4  Relegated

English Balú League Third Division  Pld   W   D   L    PF   PA   PD  Pts
 1 St. Helens BC                     20  19   0   1   666  111 +555   38  Champions, Promoted
 2 Oldham BC                         20  16   0   4   593  233 +360   32  Promoted
 3 Hunslet BC                        20  15   0   5   561  207 +354   30  Promoted
 4 Salford Red Devils BC             20  10   0  10   350  435  −85   20
 5 Heckmondwike BC                   20   9   1  10   348  409  −61   19
 6 Swinton Lions BC                  20   8   1  11   306  450 −144   17
 7 Holbeck BC                        20   8   0  12   268  420 −152   16
 8 Morecambe BC                      20   7   2  11   287  471 −184   16
 9 Bramley BC                        20   6   0  14   294  475 −181   12
10 Castleford BC                     20   5   0  15   285  501 −216   10
11 Leeds Parish Church BC            20   5   0  15   278  524 −246   10

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