1939–40 Football League

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 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.

The Football League
Season1939–40
ChampionsN/A (season abandoned)

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
Season1939–40
Matches played33
Goals scored83 (2.52 per match)
Top goalscorerTed Drake (Arsenal),
Tommy Lawton (Everton), 4[3]
Biggest home winManchester United – Grimsby Town 4–0 (26 Aug 1939)
Stoke City – Charlton Athletic 4–0 (26 Aug 1939)
Biggest away winAston Villa – Everton 1–2 (28 Aug 1939)
Stoke City – Bolton Wanderers 1–2 (28 Aug 1939)
Sunderland – Huddersfield Town 1–2 (30 Aug 1939)
0–1: three matches
Highest scoringArsenal – Sunderland 5–2 (2 Sept 1939)
Pos Team Pld HW HD HL HGF HGA AW AD AL AGF AGA GAv Pts
1 Blackpool 3 2 0 0 4 2 1 0 0 1 0 2.500 6
2 Sheffield United 3 1 0 0 2 1 1 1 0 1 0 3.000 5
3 Arsenal 3 2 0 0 6 2 0 1 0 2 2 2.000 5
4 Liverpool 3 2 0 0 5 1 0 0 1 1 2 2.000 4
5 Everton 3 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 4 3 1.250 4
6 Bolton Wanderers 3 1 0 0 2 1 1 0 1 4 4 1.200 4
7 Derby County 3 2 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 3 1.000 4
8 Charlton Athletic 3 1 0 0 2 0 1 0 1 1 4 0.750 4
9 Stoke City 3 1 0 1 5 2 0 1 0 2 2 1.750 3
10 Manchester United 3 1 0 0 4 0 0 1 1 1 3 1.667 3
11 Chelsea 3 1 1 0 4 3 0 0 1 0 1 1.000 3
12 Brentford 3 1 0 0 1 0 0 1 1 2 3 1.000 3
13 Grimsby Town 3 1 1 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 4 0.500 3
14 Aston Villa 3 1 0 1 3 2 0 0 1 0 1 1.000 2
15 Sunderland 3 1 0 1 4 2 0 0 1 2 5 0.857 2
16 Wolverhampton Wanderers 3 0 1 0 2 2 0 1 1 1 2 0.750 2
17 Huddersfield Town 3 0 0 1 0 1 1 0 1 2 2 0.667 2
18 Portsmouth 3 1 0 0 2 1 0 0 2 1 4 0.600 2
19 Preston North End 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 0.000 2
20 Blackburn Rovers 3 0 1 0 2 2 0 0 2 1 3 0.600 1
21 Middlesbrough 3 0 1 0 2 2 0 0 2 1 6 0.375 1
22 Leeds United 3 0 0 2 0 2 0 1 0 0 0 0.000 1
Source:

Results
Home \ Away ARS AST BLB BLP BOL BRE CHA CHE DER EVE GRI HUD LEE LIV MUN MID POR PNE SHU STK SUN WOL
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.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps
Locations of the Football League First Division teams
Locations of the Football League First Division London teams

Second Division
Football League
Second Division
Season1939–40
Matches played32
Goals scored102 (3.19 per match)
Biggest home winNewcastle United – Swansea Town 8–1 (2 Sept 1939)
Biggest away winBradford Park Avenue – Luton Town 0–3 (30 Aug 1939)
Highest scoringNewcastle United – Swansea Town 8–1 (2 Sept 1939)
Pos Team Pld HW HD HL HGF HGA AW AD AL AGF AGA GAv Pts
1 Luton Town 3 1 0 0 3 0 1 1 0 4 1 7.000 5
2 Birmingham 3 2 0 0 4 0 0 1 0 1 1 5.000 5
3 Leicester City 3 1 0 0 4 3 1 0 1 2 2 1.200 4
4 Plymouth Argyle 3 0 0 1 1 3 2 0 0 3 0 1.333 4
5 Coventry City 3 1 1 0 7 5 0 1 0 1 1 1.333 4
6 West Ham United 3 1 0 1 2 3 1 0 0 3 1 1.250 4
7 Tottenham Hotspur 3 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 0 5 4 1.200 4
8 Nottingham Forest 3 2 0 0 4 1 0 0 1 1 4 1.000 4
9 Manchester City 3 1 1 0 3 1 0 0 1 3 4 1.200 3
10 Millwall 3 1 0 1 3 2 0 1 0 2 2 1.250 3
10 Newport County 3 1 1 0 4 2 0 0 1 1 2 1.250 3
12 West Bromwich Albion 3 0 0 1 3 4 1 1 0 5 4 1.000 3
13 Bury 3 1 0 0 3 1 0 1 1 1 4 0.800 3
14 Newcastle United 3 1 0 0 8 1 0 0 2 0 5 1.333 2
15 Chesterfield 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 1.000 2
16 Barnsley 3 1 0 0 4 1 0 0 2 3 7 0.875 2
17 Southampton 3 1 0 1 4 3 0 0 1 1 3 0.833 2
18 Sheffield Wednesday 3 1 0 1 3 2 0 0 1 0 3 0.600 2
19 Swansea Town 3 0 0 1 1 2 1 0 1 4 9 0.455 2
20 Fulham 3 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 2 2 5 0.500 1
21 Burnley 2 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 2 0.333 1
22 Bradford Park Avenue 3 0 1 1 2 5 0 0 1 0 2 0.286 1
Source:

Results
Home \ Away BAR BIR BPA BUR BRY CHF COV FUL LEI LUT MCI MIL NEW NPC NOT PLY SHW SOU SWA TOT WBA WHU
Barnsley 4–1
Birmingham 2–0 2–0
Bradford Park Avenue 0–3 2–2
Burnley 1–1
Bury F.C. 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.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps
Locations of the Football League Second Division teams
Locations of the Football League Second Division London teams

Third Division North
Football League
Third Division North
Season1939–40
Matches played33
Goals scored87 (2.64 per match)
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
Source: Football League Division 3 (North) Table 1939/40

Results
Home \ Away ACC BRW BRA CRL CHE CRE DAR DON GAT HAL HAR HUL LIN NWB OLD ROC ROT SOU STP TRA WRE YOR
Accrington Stanley 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 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.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps
Locations of the Football League Third Division North teams

Third Division South
Football League
Third Division South
Season1939–40
Matches played32
Goals scored102 (3.19 per match)
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:

Results
Home \ Away ALD B&BA B&HA BRI BRR CAR CLA CRY EXE IPS MAN NOR NWC NTC PTV QPR REA STD SWI TOR WAL WAT
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
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps
Locations of the Football League Third Division South teams
Locations of the Football League Third Division South London teams

See also

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