The 1888–89 season was Accrington's first season in the Football League which had just been founded. Because of this Accrington became one of the founder members of the Football League. They finished in 7th position level on points with Everton .
Key: P = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against; GA = Goal average; Pts = Points
Accrington's score comes first
Match
Date
Opponent
Venue
Result
Attendance
Scorers
1
8 September 1888
Everton A
1 – 2
8,000
Holden
2
15 September 1888
Blackburn Rovers A
5 – 5
4,000
Kirkham (2), Holden , Chippendale , Southworth (o.g.)
3
22 September 1888
Derby County A
1 – 1
3,000
Brand
4
29 September 1888
Stoke A
4 – 2
3,000
Brand (2), Barbour , Holden
5
6 October 1888
Wolverhampton Wanderers H
4 – 4
3,000
Barbour (2), Brand , Holden
6
13 October 1888
Derby County H
6 – 2
3,000
Brand (3), Kirkham (2), Barbour
7
20 October 1888
Preston North End H
0 – 0
6,000
8
27 October 1888
Aston Villa A
3 – 4
6,000
Barbour , Brand , Kirkham
9
3 November 1888
West Bromwich Albion A
2 – 2
1,000
Barbour (2)
10
10 November 1888
Notts County A
3 – 3
8,000
Barbour (2), Lofhouse
11
17 November 1888
Preston North End A
0 – 2
7,000
12
24 November 1888
West Bromwich Albion H
2 – 1
2,000
Kirkham , Barbour
13
1 December 1888
Burnley H
5 – 1
3,000
Kirkham , Barbour (2), Brand (2)
14
8 December 1888
Wolverhampton Wanderers A
0 – 4
3,000
15
15 December 1888
Aston Villa H
1 – 1
2,000
Kirkham
16
22 December 1888
Bolton Wanderers A
1 – 4
5,000
Bullough (o.g.)
17
29 December 1888
Everton H
3 – 1
3,000
Brand , Haworth , Lofhouse
18
12 January 1889
Burnley A
2 – 2
6,000
Kirkham , A Wilkinson
19
19 January 1889
Blackburn Rovers H
0 – 2
4,000
20
26 January 1889
Notts County H
1 – 2
5,000
Kirkham
21
23 March 1889
Bolton Wanderers H
2 – 3
3,000
Kirkham (2)
22
20 April 1889
Stoke H
2 – 0
2,000
Gallocher , Barbour
Brown, Tony (2010). The Football League Match by Match 1888-89 to 1892-93 . SoccerData. ISBN 978-1-899468-44-7 Joyce, Michael (2004). Football League Players' Records 1888 to 1939 . SoccerData. ISBN 1-899468-67-6
Billy Barbour
Jim Bonar