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 United – Grimsby Town 4–0 (26 Aug 1939)
Biggest away win Aston Villa – Everton 1–2 (28 Aug 1939)
Stoke – Bolton Wanderers 1–2 (28 Aug 1939)
Sunderland – Huddersfield Town 1–2 (30 Aug 1939)
0–1: three matches
Highest scoring Arsenal – Sunderland 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 1–0 5–2
Aston Villa 1–2 2–0
Blackburn Rovers 2–2
Blackpool 2–1 2–1
Bolton Wanderers 2–1
Brentford 1–0
Charlton Athletic 2–0
Chelsea 3–2 1–1
Derby County 1–0 2–0
Everton 1–1
Grimsby Town 2–0 0–0
Huddersfield Town 0–1
Leeds United 0–1 0–1
Liverpool 1–0 4–1
Manchester United 4–0
Middlesbrough 2–2
Portsmouth 2–1
Preston North End 0–0 0–0
Sheffield United 2–1
Stoke City 1–2 4–0
Sunderland 3–0 1–2
Wolverhampton Wanderers 2–2

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 Newcastle – Swansea Town 8–1 (2 Sept 1939)
Biggest away win Bradford Park Avenue – Luton Town 0–3 (30 Aug 1939)
Highest scoring Newcastle – Swansea 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 4–1
Birmingham City 2–0 2–0
Bradford Park Avenue 0–3 2–2
Burnley 1–1
Bury 3–1
Chesterfield 2–0
Coventry City 4–2 3–3
Fulham 1–1
Leicester City 4–3
Luton Town 3–0
Manchester City 1–1 2–0
Millwall 3–0 0–2
Newcastle United 8–1
Newport County 3–1 1–1
Nottingham Forest 2–0 2–1
Plymouth Argyle 1–3
Sheffield Wednesday 3–1 0–1
Southampton 3–0 1–3
Swansea Town 1–2
Tottenham Hotspur 1–1
West Bromwich Albion 3–4
West Ham United 2–1 0–2

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) 2–0
Barrow 1–2 2–2
Bradford City 0–2
Carlisle United 2–0
Chester 1–0 2–0
Crewe Alexandra 0–0
Darlington 1–0
Doncaster Rovers 2–0
Gateshead 0–3 3–0
Halifax Town 2–0 1–1
Hartlepool United 1–1
Hull City 2–2
Lincoln City 0–2 4–3
New Brighton 2–1 4–2
Oldham Athletic 3–1
Rochdale 1–0 1–0
Rotherham United 2–2 2–1
Southport 1–1 3–3
Stockport County 0–3
Tranmere 3–1
Wrexham 2–0
York City 2–2

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 0–1
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 10–0 2–2
Brighton & Hove Albion 2–1 0–0
Bristol City 3–3 1–2
Bristol Rovers 2–2
Cardiff City 2–4
Clapton Orient 2–2 0–0
Crystal Palace 3–0
Exeter City 2–2
Ipswich Town 2–0 1–1
Mansfield Town 4–5
Northampton Town 1–2 1–0
Norwich City 1–2
Notts County 2–1
Port Vale 0–1
Queens Park Rangers 2–2
Reading 5–0 1–0
Southend 3–2
Swindon Town 2–2 0–1
Torquay United 2–2 0–0
Walsall 1–0
Watford 1–1 1–2

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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