The
Football League test matches were a set of play-offs, in which the bottom First Division teams faced the top Second Division teams. Each First Division team plays both Second Division teams in a mini league format, the top two finishers would then be considered for election for First Division membership whilst the bottom two finishers would be invited to play in the Second Division. The First Division teams, if finishing in the top two, would retain their places in the division. If a Second Division team does so, it would be considered for First Division membership through an election process. Bottom-two Second Division teams would stay in the Second Division.
First round Second round Test match summary Reference works, such
Encyclopedia of British Football and
Association Football, present the following table with the heading given above.
Test match consequences It is likely that the league decided on re-election to the First Division and on promotion and relegation on the basis of the summary table above. •
Notts County won both fixtures and were elected to play in the 1st Division the following season. • Coming from the 2nd Division,
Newton Heath apparently would have needed a win in order to advance. It appears that in this case, a draw, the preference was given to
Burnley, who came to the test matches from a higher division. •
Sunderland salvaged through re-elections its position in the 1st Division, having won in the second round of the test matches. It was the fate of
Newton Heath to remain in the 2nd Division. ==Attendances==