1945–46 Southern Football League

The 1945–46 season was the first following the end of World War II and the 43rd in the history of the Southern League. Chelmsford City won the title. Not all league competitions resumed in 1945 (the Football League did not restart until 1946–47) and fourteen clubs that had featured in the 1938–39 season had left the league, whilst there were only two new clubs, Bedford Town and Hereford United.[1] As the Football League did not resume until the following season, there were no elections to the League.

Several matches were left unplayed, with clubs who had only played 18 matches (as opposed to the scheduled 20) awarded an additional three points, and Bedford Town (who only played 16 games) awarded an extra six points.

Final table

Southern Football League
Season 1945-46
Champions Chelmsford City
Promoted none
Relegated Swindon Town II (resigned)
Cardiff City II (resigned)
Matches played 104
Goals scored 515 (4.95 per match)
PosClubPWDLGF1GA1GAv2Pts3Notes
1Chelmsford City18151266232.8734Three points added
2Hereford United20133459311.929
3Bath City20122662321.9426
4Cheltenham Town1891835540.6522Three points added
5Barry Town208484242120
6Yeovil & Petters18711057521.118Three points added, changed name to Yeovil Town at end of season
7Worcester City20821060581.0318
8Colchester United20731029470.6217
9Bedford Town16411130490.6115Six points added
10Swindon Town II18431136650.5514Three points added, left league at end of season
11Cardiff City II20451139600.6513Left league at end of season

1 Number of goals for and/or against is inaccurate.

2 The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976-77 season.

3 The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.

References