1939–40 Football League
| Season | 1939–40 |
|---|---|
| Champions | N/A (season abandoned) |
← 1938–39 1946–47 → | |
The abandoned 1939–40 season would have been the 48th season of The Football League. 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] These were 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.
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
| Season | 1939–40 |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 33 |
| Goals scored | 83 (2.52 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Ted Drake Tommy Lawton (4 goals)[3] |
| Biggest home win | Manchester United 4–0 Grimsby Town (26 August 1939) Stoke City 4–0 Charlton Athletic (26 Aug 1939) |
| Biggest away win | Aston Villa 1–2 Everton (28 August 1939) Stoke City 1–2 Bolton Wanderers (28 August 1939) Sunderland 1–2 Huddersfield Town (30 August 1939) 0–1: three matches |
| Highest scoring | Arsenal 5–2 Sunderland (2 September 1939) |
← 1938–39 1946–47 → | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Blackpool | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2.500 | 6 | |
| 2 | Sheffield United | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3.000 | 5 | |
| 3 | Arsenal | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 2.000 | 5 | |
| 4 | Liverpool | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2.000 | 4 | |
| 5 | Everton | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1.250 | 4 | |
| 6 | Bolton Wanderers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1.200 | 4 | |
| 7 | Derby County | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1.000 | 4 | |
| 8 | Charlton Athletic | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.750 | 4 | |
| 9 | Stoke City | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 1.750 | 3 | |
| 10 | Manchester United | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1.667 | 3 | |
| 11 | Chelsea | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1.000 | 3 | |
| 12 | Brentford | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1.000 | 3 | |
| 13 | Grimsby Town | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0.500 | 3 | |
| 14 | Aston Villa | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1.000 | 2 | |
| 15 | Sunderland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 0.857 | 2 | |
| 16 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.750 | 2 | |
| 17 | Huddersfield Town | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0.667 | 2 | |
| 18 | Portsmouth | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0.600 | 2 | |
| 19 | Preston North End | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 2 | |
| 20 | Blackburn Rovers | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0.600 | 1 | |
| 21 | Middlesbrough | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 0.375 | 1 | Reprieved from relegation |
| 22 | Leeds United | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 1 |
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
Results
Maps
Locations of the Football League First Division teams
Locations of the Football League First Division London teams
Second Division
| Season | 1939–40 |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 32 |
| Goals scored | 102 (3.19 per match) |
| Biggest home win | Newcastle United 8–1 Swansea Town (2 September 1939) |
| Biggest away win | Bradford Park Avenue 0–3 Luton Town (30 August 1939) |
| Highest scoring | Newcastle United 8–1 Swansea Town (2 September 1939) |
← 1938–39 1946–47 → | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luton Town | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 7.000 | 5 | No promotion[a] |
| 2 | Birmingham | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 5.000 | 5 | |
| 3 | Leicester City | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1.200 | 4 | |
| 4 | Plymouth Argyle | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1.333 | 4 | |
| 5 | Coventry City | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 1.333 | 4 | |
| 6 | West Ham United | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1.250 | 4 | |
| 7 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1.200 | 4 | |
| 8 | Nottingham Forest | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1.000 | 4 | |
| 9 | Manchester City | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1.200 | 3 | |
| 10 | Millwall | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1.250 | 3 | |
| 11 | Newport County | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1.250 | 3 | |
| 12 | West Bromwich Albion | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 1.000 | 3 | |
| 13 | Bury | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0.800 | 3 | |
| 14 | Newcastle United | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 1.333 | 2 | |
| 15 | Chesterfield | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1.000 | 2 | |
| 16 | Barnsley | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 0.875 | 2 | |
| 17 | Southampton | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 0.833 | 2 | |
| 18 | Sheffield Wednesday | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0.600 | 2 | |
| 19 | Swansea Town | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 0.455 | 2 | |
| 20 | Fulham | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0.500 | 1 | |
| 21 | Burnley | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0.333 | 1 | No relegation[a] |
| 22 | Bradford Park Avenue | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 0.286 | 1 |
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
Notes:
- ^ a b There was no promotion or relegation as the season was abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II.
Results
Maps
Locations of the Football League Second Division teams
Locations of the Football League Second Division London teams
Third Division North
| Season | 1939–40 |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 31 |
| Goals scored | 87 (2.81 per match) |
← 1938–39 1946–47 → | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GAv | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Accrington Stanley | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6.000 | 6 |
| 2 | Halifax Town | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6.000 | 5 |
| 3 | Chester | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2.500 | 5 |
| 3 | Darlington | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2.500 | 5 |
| 5 | New Brighton | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1.200 | 4 |
| 6 | Rochdale | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1.000 | 4 |
| 7 | Crewe Alexandra | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 3 |
| 8 | Wrexham | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1.500 | 3 |
| 9 | Tranmere Rovers | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1.000 | 3 |
| 10 | Lincoln City | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.857 | 3 |
| 11 | Rotherham United | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0.833 | 3 |
| 12 | Carlisle United | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1.000 | 2 |
| 12 | Hull City | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.000 | 2 |
| 14 | Gateshead | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.857 | 2 |
| 15 | Barrow | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.800 | 2 |
| 15 | Doncaster Rovers | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0.800 | 2 |
| 15 | Southport | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.800 | 2 |
| 18 | Oldham Athletic | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0.600 | 2 |
| 19 | Hartlepools United | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0.250 | 2 |
| 20 | York City | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0.600 | 1 |
| 21 | Bradford City | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.500 | 1 |
| 22 | Stockport County | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 0 |
Results
Maps
Locations of the Football League Third Division North teams
Third Division South
| Season | 1939–40 |
|---|---|
| Matches played | 32 |
| Goals scored | 102 (3.19 per match) |
← 1938–39 1946–47 → | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GAv | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reading | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4.000 | 5 |
| 2 | Crystal Palace | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1.667 | 5 |
| 3 | Notts County | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2.000 | 4 |
| 4 | Exeter City | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1.667 | 4 |
| 5 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1.250 | 4 |
| 6 | Cardiff City | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1.000 | 4 |
| 7 | Clapton Orient | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 0.889 | 4 |
| 8 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3.250 | 3 |
| 9 | Ipswich Town | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.000 | 3 |
| 9 | Southend United | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | 3 |
| 9 | Walsall | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1.000 | 3 |
| 12 | Norwich City | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1.000 | 3 |
| 12 | Torquay United | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1.000 | 3 |
| 14 | Bristol City | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 3 |
| 15 | Mansfield Town | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1.000 | 3 |
| 16 | Queens Park Rangers | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.800 | 2 |
| 16 | Watford | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.800 | 2 |
| 18 | Northampton Town | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0.167 | 2 |
| 19 | Aldershot | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.600 | 1 |
| 20 | Swindon Town | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.500 | 1 |
| 21 | Bristol Rovers | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0.286 | 1 |
| 22 | Port Vale | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 1 |
Source: [citation needed]
Results
Maps
Locations of the Football League Third Division South teams
Locations of the Football League Third Division South London teams
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
- ^ a b "England 1938-39". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 28 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
- ^ "The English National Football Archive". www.enfa.co.uk.
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