They finished the season as champions for the first time, and for the next few years they would be very much the dominant side of English football, winning a total of five championships and two FA Cups by 1900.

Jack Devey was an all-round sportsman who enjoyed a long cricket career with Warwickshire.

He was just 5 ft 61⁄2 in (1.69 m) tall, but his quoted weight of 12 st 3 lbs (77.6 kg) indicates a sprinter’s powerful build.

There were debut appearances for, Len Benwell, George Russell, Jack Reynolds, Jim Elliott, Jimmy Welford, James Gillan, Willie Groves, Steve Smith and Bill Randle.

[1] Aston Villa won the league title in the final match of the season 3-1 against Everton with goals from top scorer Guy Jones.