Western League Playoffs

Brighton & Hove Albion Western League Playoffs Overview

In Brighton & Hove Albion’s two seasons in the Western League, Division One was split into two sections – Section A and Section B – with the winners of each combination facing off for the title of overall champions in a playoffs final come the end of the campaign.

The Albion topped Section A in the 1908-09 campaign, sending them through the championship final against Section B winners Millwall. Millwall were the reigning champions and favourites to retain the title having recorded a Western League season record of eight wins, two draws and two defeats from 12 games to beat Southampton to top spot by four points.

Brighton meanwhile held off the challenge of Queens Park Rangers by three points having won seven, drawn two and lost three of their regular season fixtures. Millwall’s favouritism was also justified by the fact that they had enjoyed a far more successful campaign in Southern League Division One, finishing in 11^th place. The Albion in contrast had avoided relegation by a solitary point.

The playoff final took place at West Ham United’s Boleyn Ground on Monday 5^th April 1909. Nothing could separate the two sides on that occasion as they played out a 1-1 draw with Jack Martin scoring for Brighton.

That necessitated a replay 17 days later, on Thursday 22^nd April 1909, which was again held at West Ham. Martin notched another for Brighton but on this occasion, Millwall scored twice to win the Western League title for the second successive season.

The 1908-09 season was to be the only time that the Albion took part in the Western League playoffs. All 14 of the Southern League sides who competed in the competition withdrew at the end of the season because of the costs and travelling distances.

That also led to the abandonment of the championship playoff system by the Western League, which now consisted of just one division contested solely by amateur sides from the west country.