Wednesday are relegated to the 2nd Division (Tier 2) for the 1st time in their history.

In a season of turmoil for Wednesday, they find themselves fighting relegation and under notice to quit Olive Grove, the lease expiring in September 1898.  It isn't until April 1899 that a deal is signed to buy a site at High Bridge, Owlerton by which time relegation is confirmed.  Although Wednesday get off to a reasonable start, a run of one win in seventeen matches sees them drop into the relegation zone in early February.  They never recover and finish rock bottom, five points behind Sheffield United in 16th place.  Wednesday fail to win a single away match and drop sixteen points at home.

This match between The Wednesday & Aston Villa is notable for having been abandoned after 79 1/2 minutes due to bad light, with Wednesday winning 3-1.  The referee misses his train and the match starts seven minutes late with a local offical acting as referee.  After a further delay at half time, the referee takes the whistle for the second half only to abandon the match 34 1/2 minutes in.  Aston Villa want the entire match replayed but the Football League did not deem it necessary and the remaining 10 1/2 minutes are subsequently played on the 13th March.  Wednesday score another goal to run out 4-1 winners and in all 29 players take part in this remarkable fixture!  Wednesday players who played in both parts of the match were credited with one appearance, and Wednesday players who only played in one part of the game were also credited with one appearance, so in all 16 Wednesday players were credited with an appearance in the match - a statistician's nighhtmare!

In the FA Cup, Wednesday are knocked out in the 1st round by Stoke City after a replay.