1939–40 Football League

The 1939-40 season was the 48th season of competitive football in England. The kick-off in all divisions took place on Saturday 26 August 1939.[1] On Friday 1 September 1939, Germany invaded Poland. On Saturday, 2 September 1939, all divisions of the Football League played their third game of the season.[1] But these would be the last fixtures before abandonment following the British declaration of war on Germany on Sunday 3 September 1939. Large gatherings of crowds were suspended with the implementation of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939.

Even though most competitions were abandoned as the country's attention turned to the war effort, a few leagues including the Southern League and Northern League did manage to complete a season. But some teams were unable to fulfil all their fixtures in the latter half of the season and resigned.

Blackpool were leading the First Division when the season was abandoned.[2]

League tables when season was abandoned

The tables below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found at The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website[2] and in Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79,[1] with home and away statistics separated.

Match results are drawn from Rothmans for all divisions.[1]

First Division

Football League, First Division
Season 1939–40
Matches played 33
Goals scored 83 (2.52 per match)
Top goalscorer Tommy Lawton (Everton) (?), 4
Biggest home win Manchester UnitedGrimsby Town 4–0 (26 Aug 1939)
Biggest away win Aston VillaEverton 1–2 (28 Aug 1939)
StokeBolton Wanderers 1–2 (28 Aug 1939)
SunderlandHuddersfield Town 1–2 (30 Aug 1939)
0–1: three matches
Highest scoring ArsenalSunderland 5–2 (2 Sept 1939)
Locations of the Football League First Division London teams 1939–1940
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GA GD Pts
1Blackpool32004210010522.500+ 36
2Sheffield United31002111010313.000+ 25
3Arsenal32006201022842.000+ 45
4Liverpool32005100112632.000+ 34
5Everton30101111043541.250+ 14
6Bolton Wanderers31002110144651.200+ 14
7Derby County32003000103331.000± 04
8Charlton Athletic31002010114340.750– 14
9Stoke City31015201022741.750+ 33
10Manchester United31004001113531.667+ 23
11Chelsea31104300101441.000± 03
12Brentford31001001123331.000± 03
13Grimsby Town31102000104240.500– 23
14Aston Villa31013200101331.000± 02
15Sunderland31014200125670.857– 12
16Wolverhampton Wanderers30102201112340.750– 12
17Huddersfield Town30010110122230.667– 12
18Portsmouth31002100214350.600– 22
19Preston North End30200000102020.000– 22
20Blackburn Rovers30102200213350.600– 21
21Middlesbrough30102200216380.375– 51
22Leeds United30020201000020.000– 21

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against;
GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

First Division Results

Home ╲ Away ARS AST BLBBLPBOLBRECHACHEDEREVEGRIHUDLEELIVMUNMIDPORPNESHUSTKSUNWOL
Arsenal 10 52
Aston Villa 12 20
Blackburn Rovers 22
Blackpool 21 21
Bolton Wanderers 21
Brentford 10
Charlton Athletic 20
Chelsea 32 11
Derby County 10 20
Everton 11
Grimsby Town 20 00
Huddersfield Town 01
Leeds United 01 01
Liverpool 10 41
Manchester United 40
Middlesbrough 22
Portsmouth 21
Preston North End 00 00
Sheffield United 21
Stoke City 12 40
Sunderland 30 12
Wolverhampton Wanderers 22

Source: Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Second Division

Football League, Second Division
Season 1939–40
Matches played 32
Goals scored 102 (3.19 per match)
Biggest home win NewcastleSwansea Town 8–1 (2 Sept 1939)
Biggest away win Bradford Park AvenueLuton Town 0–3 (30 Aug 1939)
Highest scoring NewcastleSwansea Town 8–1 (2 Sept 1939)
Locations of the Football League Second Division London teams 1939–1940
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GA GD Pts
1Luton Town31003011041717.000+ 65
2Birmingham32004001011515.000+ 45
3Leicester City31003010122522.500+ 34
4Plymouth Argyle30011320030431.333+ 14
5Coventry City31107501011861.333+ 24
6West Ham United31012310031541.250+ 14
7Tottenham Hotspur30101111054651.200+ 14
8Nottingham Forest32004100114551.000± 04
9Manchester City31103100103431.333+ 13
10Millwall31013201022541.250+ 13
10Newport County31104200112541.250+ 13
12West Bromwich Albion30013411054881.000± 03
13Bury31003101114450.800– 13
14Newcastle United31008100205861.333+ 22
15Chesterfield21002000102221.000± 02
16Barnsley31004100237780.875– 12
17Southampton31014300113560.833– 12
18Sheffield Wednesday31013200103350.600– 22
19Swansea Town300112101495110.455– 62
20Fulham30101100225360.500– 31
21Burnley20101100102130.333– 21
22Bradford Park Avenue30112500102270.286– 51

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against;
GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Second Division Results

Home ╲ Away BAR BIR BPABURBRYCHFCOVFULLEILUTMCIMILNEWNPCNOTPLYSHWSOUSWATOTWBAWHU
Barnsley 41
Birmingham City 20 20
Bradford Park Avenue 03 22
Burnley 11
Bury 31
Chesterfield 20
Coventry City 42 33
Fulham 11
Leicester City 43
Luton Town 30
Manchester City 11 20
Millwall 30 02
Newcastle United 81
Newport County 31 11
Nottingham Forest 20 21
Plymouth Argyle 13
Sheffield Wednesday 31 01
Southampton 30 13
Swansea Town 12
Tottenham Hotspur 11
West Bromwich Albion 34
West Ham United 21 02

Source: Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Third Division North

Football League, Third Division North
Season 1939–40
Matches played 33
Goals scored 87 (2.64 per match)
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GA GD Pts
1Accrington Stanley31002020041616.000+ 56
2Halifax Town31103110030616.000+ 55
3Chester32003001022522.500+ 35
3Darlington31001011042522.500+ 35
5New Brighton32006300102651.200+ 14
6Rochdale32002000102221.000± 04
7Crewe Alexandra2010001003030+ 33
8Wrexham31002001112321.500+ 13
9Tranmere Rovers31003101135661.000± 03
10Lincoln City31014501022670.857– 13
11Rotherham United31104300113560.833– 13
12Carlisle United21002000113331.000± 02
12Hull City20102201011331.000± 02
14Gateshead31013300134670.857– 12
15Barrow30113401011450.800– 12
15Doncaster Rovers31002000225450.800– 12
15Southport30204400101450.800– 12
18Oldham Athletic31003100204350.600– 22
19Hartlepools United30101101103140.250– 32
20York City30102200213350.600– 21
21Bradford City30010201134360.500– 31
22Stockport County20010300102050.000– 50

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against;
GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Third Division North Results

Home ╲ Away ACC BRW BRACRLCHRCREDARDONGATHALHARHULLINNWBOLDROCROTSOUSTPTRAWREYOR
Accrington Stanley (1891) 20
Barrow 12 22
Bradford City 02
Carlisle United 20
Chester 10 20
Crewe Alexandra 00
Darlington 10
Doncaster Rovers 20
Gateshead 03 30
Halifax Town 20 11
Hartlepool United 11
Hull City 22
Lincoln City 02 43
New Brighton 21 42
Oldham Athletic 31
Rochdale 10 10
Rotherham United 22 21
Southport 11 33
Stockport County 03
Tranmere 31
Wrexham 20
York City 22

Source: Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Third Division South

Football League, Third Division South
Season 1939–40
Matches played 32
Goals scored 102 (3.19 per match)
Locations of the Football League Third Division South London teams 1939–1940
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GA GD Pts
1Reading32006001022824.000+ 65
2Crystal Palace30102220031531.667+ 25
3Notts County21002110042632.000+ 34
4Exeter City31103101022531.667+ 24
5Brighton & Hove Albion31102101033541.250+ 14
6Cardiff City30012420031551.000± 04
7Clapton Orient31003010159890.889– 14
8Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic3110122001121343.250+ 93
9Ipswich Town30202201011331.000± 03
9Southend United31003201101331.000± 03
9Walsall31001001123331.000± 03
12Norwich City30011211032441.000± 03
12Torquay United30202201022441.000± 03
14Bristol City30114510010551.000± 03
15Mansfield Town30014511043881.000± 03
16Queens Park Rangers30102201123450.800– 12
16Watford30112301022450.800– 12
18Northampton Town3101220010102120.167– 102
19Aldershot30010101134350.600– 21
20Swindon Town30112300101240.500– 21
21Bristol Rovers30102200205270.286– 51
22Port Vale20010101000010.000– 11

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against;
GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Third Division South Results

Home ╲ Away ALD BOU BHABRIBROCARCLACRYEXEIPSMANNORNORNTCPTVQPRREASTDSWITORWALWAT
Aldershot 01
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 100 22
Brighton & Hove Albion 21 00
Bristol City 33 12
Bristol Rovers 22
Cardiff City 24
Clapton Orient 22 00
Crystal Palace 30
Exeter City 22
Ipswich Town 20 11
Mansfield Town 45
Northampton Town 12 10
Norwich City 12
Notts County 21
Port Vale 01
Queens Park Rangers 22
Reading 50 10
Southend 32
Swindon Town 22 01
Torquay United 22 00
Walsall 10
Watford 11 12

Source: Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
1 ^ The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
  2. 1 2 "England 1938-39". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
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