1937–38 Football League

The 1937–38 season was the 46th season of The Football League. Manchester City, champions in 1936–37, were relegated, the only time this has happened in the English top flight.

The Football League

Season	1937–38
Champions	Arsenal
← 1936–37 1938–39 →

Final league tables

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

Beginning with the season 1894–95, clubs finishing level on points were separated according to goal average (goals scored divided by goals conceded), or more properly put, goal ratio. In case one or more teams had the same goal difference, this system favoured those teams who had scored fewer goals if they had scored more than they had conceded, whereas among teams who had conceded more than they had scored the system favoured teams who scored more. The goal average system was eventually scrapped beginning with the 1976–77 season.

From the 1922–23 season, the bottom two teams of both Third Division North and Third Division South were required to apply for re-election.^[2]

First Division

First Division

Season	1937–38
Champions	Arsenal 5th English title
Relegated	Manchester City West Bromwich Albion
Matches played	462
Goals scored	1,430 (3.1 per match)
Top goalscorer	Tommy Lawton (28 goals)[3]
Biggest home win	Wolverhampton Wanderers 10–1 Leicester City (15 April 1938)
Biggest away win	Derby County 1–7 Manchester City (29 January 1938)
Highest scoring	Wolverhampton Wanderers 10–1 Leicester City (15 April 1938)
← 1936–37 1938–39 →

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Relegation
1	Arsenal (C)	42	21	10	11	77	44	1.750	52
2	Wolverhampton Wanderers	42	20	11	11	72	49	1.469	51
3	Preston North End	42	16	17	9	64	44	1.455	49
4	Charlton Athletic	42	16	14	12	65	51	1.275	46
5	Middlesbrough	42	19	8	15	72	65	1.108	46
6	Brentford	42	18	9	15	69	59	1.169	45
7	Bolton Wanderers	42	15	15	12	64	60	1.067	45
8	Sunderland	42	14	16	12	55	57	0.965	44
9	Leeds United	42	14	15	13	64	69	0.928	43
10	Chelsea	42	14	13	15	65	65	1.000	41
11	Liverpool	42	15	11	16	65	71	0.915	41
12	Blackpool	42	16	8	18	61	66	0.924	40
13	Derby County	42	15	10	17	66	87	0.759	40
14	Everton	42	16	7	19	79	75	1.053	39
15	Huddersfield Town	42	17	5	20	55	68	0.809	39
16	Leicester City	42	14	11	17	54	75	0.720	39
17	Stoke City	42	13	12	17	58	59	0.983	38
18	Birmingham	42	10	18	14	58	62	0.935	38
19	Portsmouth	42	13	12	17	62	68	0.912	38
20	Grimsby Town	42	13	12	17	51	68	0.750	38
21	Manchester City (R)	42	14	8	20	80	77	1.039	36	Relegation to the Second Division
22	West Bromwich Albion (R)	42	14	8	20	74	91	0.813	36

Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

Results

Home \ Away	ARS	BIR	BLP	BOL	BRE	CHA	CHE	DER	EVE	GRI	HUD	LEE	LEI	LIV	MCI	MID	POR	PNE	STK	SUN	WBA	WOL
Arsenal		0–0	2–1	5–0	0–2	2–2	2–0	3–0	2–1	5–1	3–1	4–1	3–1	1–0	2–1	1–2	1–1	2–0	4–0	4–1	1–1	5–0
Birmingham	1–2		1–1	2–0	0–0	1–1	1–1	1–0	0–3	2–2	2–2	3–2	4–1	2–2	2–2	3–1	2–2	0–2	1–1	2–2	2–1	2–0
Blackpool	2–1	0–3		2–2	1–1	1–0	0–2	1–1	1–0	2–2	4–0	5–2	2–4	0–1	2–1	4–2	2–0	1–0	0–1	0–0	3–1	0–2
Bolton Wanderers	1–0	1–1	3–0		2–0	1–0	5–5	0–2	1–2	3–1	2–0	0–0	6–1	0–0	2–1	3–1	1–1	1–4	1–0	1–1	3–0	1–2
Brentford	3–0	1–2	2–4	1–1		5–2	1–1	2–3	3–0	6–1	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–1	3–3	2–0	2–1	0–0	4–0	0–2	2–1
Charlton Athletic	0–3	2–0	4–1	1–1	1–0		3–1	1–2	3–1	0–0	4–0	1–1	2–0	3–0	0–0	1–0	5–1	0–0	3–0	2–1	3–1	4–1
Chelsea	2–2	2–0	1–3	0–0	2–1	1–1		3–0	2–0	1–0	3–1	4–1	4–1	6–1	2–2	0–1	3–1	0–2	2–1	0–0	2–2	0–2
Derby County	2–0	0–0	3–1	4–2	1–3	3–2	4–0		2–1	1–2	0–4	2–2	0–1	4–1	1–7	1–1	1–0	1–1	4–1	2–2	5–3	1–2
Everton	1–4	1–1	3–1	4–1	3–0	3–0	4–1	1–1		3–2	1–2	1–1	3–0	1–3	4–1	2–2	5–2	3–5	3–0	3–3	5–3	0–1
Grimsby Town	2–1	4–0	1–0	0–1	0–1	1–1	2–0	0–0	2–1		4–2	1–1	2–1	0–0	3–1	2–1	1–0	1–1	1–5	0–2	1–4	1–0
Huddersfield Town	2–1	2–1	3–1	1–0	0–3	1–1	1–2	2–0	1–3	1–2		0–3	0–0	1–2	1–0	3–0	2–0	1–3	3–0	1–1	2–1	1–0
Leeds United	0–1	1–0	1–1	1–1	4–0	2–2	2–0	0–2	4–4	1–1	2–1		0–2	2–0	2–1	5–3	3–1	0–0	2–1	4–3	1–0	1–2
Leicester City	1–1	1–4	0–1	1–1	0–1	1–0	1–0	0–0	3–1	1–0	2–1	2–4		2–2	1–4	0–1	3–3	1–0	2–0	4–0	4–1	1–1
Liverpool	2–0	3–2	4–2	2–1	3–4	1–2	2–2	3–4	1–2	2–1	0–1	1–1	1–1		2–0	1–1	3–2	2–2	3–0	4–0	0–1	0–1
Manchester City	1–2	2–0	2–1	1–2	0–2	5–3	1–0	6–1	2–0	3–1	3–2	6–2	3–0	1–3		1–6	2–1	1–2	0–0	0–0	7–1	2–4
Middlesbrough	2–1	1–1	2–2	1–2	0–1	3–1	4–3	4–2	1–2	1–0	0–1	2–0	4–2	1–1	4–0		0–0	2–1	2–1	2–1	4–1	0–3
Portsmouth	0–0	1–1	1–2	1–1	4–1	2–1	2–4	4–0	3–1	3–0	3–0	4–0	1–1	1–1	2–2	0–2		3–2	2–0	1–0	2–3	1–0
Preston North End	1–3	2–1	2–0	2–2	1–1	0–1	0–0	4–1	2–1	4–1	1–1	3–1	0–0	4–1	2–2	0–2	1–1		2–1	0–0	1–1	2–0
Stoke City	1–1	2–2	1–3	3–2	3–0	2–0	2–1	8–1	1–1	1–1	0–1	0–1	1–2	2–0	3–2	3–0	3–1	1–1		0–0	4–0	1–1
Sunderland	1–1	1–0	2–1	3–1	1–0	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–0	2–2	2–1	0–0	1–0	2–3	3–1	3–1	0–2	0–2	1–1		3–0	1–0
West Bromwich Albion	0–0	4–3	1–2	2–4	4–3	0–0	4–0	4–2	3–1	2–1	5–1	2–1	1–3	5–1	1–1	3–1	1–2	1–1	0–1	1–6		2–2
Wolverhampton Wanderers	3–1	3–2	1–0	1–1	2–1	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	1–4	1–1	10–1	2–0	3–1	0–1	5–0	0–0	2–2	4–0	2–1

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source:
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

Arsenal

Brentford

Charlton Athletic

Chelsea

Locations of the Football League First Division London teams

Arsenal

Birmingham

Blackpool

Bolton

Brentford

Charlton

Chelsea

Derby County

Everton

Grimsby Town

Huddersfield

Leeds United

Leicester City

Liverpool

Manchester City

Middlesbrough

Portsmouth

Preston North End

Stoke

Sunderland

West Bromwich Albion

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Locations of the Football League First Division teams

Second Division

Second Division

Season	1937–38
Champions	Aston Villa
Promoted	Aston Villa Manchester United
Relegated	Barnsley Stockport County
Matches played	462
Goals scored	1,346 (2.91 per match)
Top goalscorer	George Henson (27 goals)[3]
Biggest home win	Fulham 8–1 Swansea Town (22 January 1938)
Biggest away win	Chesterfield 1–7 Manchester United (13 November 1937)
Highest scoring	Luton Town 6–4 Stockport County (1 January 1938)
← 1936–37 1938–39 →

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Aston Villa (C, P)	42	25	7	10	73	35	2.086	57	Promotion to the First Division
2	Manchester United (P)	42	22	9	11	82	50	1.640	53
3	Sheffield United	42	22	9	11	73	56	1.304	53
4	Coventry City	42	20	12	10	66	45	1.467	52
5	Tottenham Hotspur	42	19	6	17	76	54	1.407	44
6	Burnley	42	17	10	15	54	54	1.000	44
7	Bradford (Park Avenue)	42	17	9	16	69	56	1.232	43
8	Fulham	42	16	11	15	61	57	1.070	43
9	West Ham United	42	14	14	14	53	52	1.019	42
10	Bury	42	18	5	19	63	60	1.050	41
11	Chesterfield	42	16	9	17	63	63	1.000	41
12	Luton Town	42	15	10	17	89	86	1.035	40
13	Plymouth Argyle	42	14	12	16	57	65	0.877	40
14	Norwich City	42	14	11	17	56	75	0.747	39
15	Southampton	42	15	9	18	55	77	0.714	39
16	Blackburn Rovers	42	14	10	18	71	80	0.888	38
17	Sheffield Wednesday	42	14	10	18	49	56	0.875	38
18	Swansea Town	42	13	12	17	45	73	0.616	38
19	Newcastle United	42	14	8	20	51	58	0.879	36
20	Nottingham Forest	42	14	8	20	47	60	0.783	36
21	Barnsley (R)	42	11	14	17	50	64	0.781	36	Relegation to the Third Division North
22	Stockport County (R)	42	11	9	22	43	70	0.614	31

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Results

Home \ Away	AST	BAR	BLB	BPA	BUR	BRY	CHF	COV	FUL	LUT	MUN	NEW	NWC	NOT	PLY	SHU	SHW	SOU	STP	SWA	TOT	WHU
Aston Villa		3–0	2–1	2–0	0–0	2–1	0–2	1–1	2–0	4–1	3–0	2–0	2–0	1–2	3–0	1–0	4–3	3–0	7–1	4–0	2–0	2–0
Barnsley	0–1		0–0	0–1	2–2	2–2	1–1	1–1	0–0	3–1	2–2	3–0	0–0	2–2	3–2	1–1	4–1	0–2	2–0	2–0	1–1	1–0
Blackburn Rovers	1–0	5–3		0–0	3–3	2–1	3–3	1–3	2–2	2–2	1–1	2–1	5–3	5–1	2–1	2–3	1–0	4–0	3–0	3–1	2–0	2–1
Bradford Park Avenue	1–2	4–3	7–1		3–1	1–1	3–2	0–1	1–2	1–1	4–0	2–0	3–0	2–2	2–0	5–1	1–1	2–0	4–1	0–1	3–1	2–1
Burnley	3–0	1–0	3–1	1–1		2–0	0–2	2–0	1–0	3–2	1–0	2–1	3–0	0–0	0–2	2–0	1–1	4–0	0–0	2–0	2–1	2–0
Bury	1–1	0–2	2–1	5–1	4–0		4–0	0–2	4–2	3–4	1–2	1–1	3–1	2–0	2–0	1–0	2–0	2–1	1–3	0–0	1–2	4–3
Chesterfield	0–1	0–0	3–0	0–3	0–1	1–2		4–0	0–2	5–2	1–7	2–0	6–2	1–0	2–0	1–0	1–0	5–0	1–0	4–1	2–2	0–1
Coventry City	0–1	1–0	3–2	0–0	1–0	0–2	2–2		0–1	2–1	1–0	1–0	2–0	1–1	4–0	2–2	0–1	2–0	1–0	5–0	2–1	1–1
Fulham	1–1	0–0	3–1	1–1	2–1	4–0	1–1	3–4		4–1	1–0	1–2	3–4	2–0	2–3	1–1	0–0	1–0	2–0	8–1	3–1	1–1
Luton Town	3–2	4–0	4–1	4–2	3–1	0–1	1–1	1–4	4–0		1–0	4–1	1–1	2–2	1–1	2–3	2–2	1–3	6–4	5–1	2–4	2–2
Manchester United	3–1	4–1	2–1	3–1	4–0	2–0	4–1	2–2	1–0	4–2		3–0	0–0	4–3	0–0	0–1	1–0	1–2	3–1	5–1	0–1	4–0
Newcastle United	2–0	0–1	2–0	3–0	2–2	1–0	3–1	1–2	1–2	1–3	2–2		0–1	3–1	3–1	6–0	1–0	3–0	0–0	1–0	1–0	2–2
Norwich City	1–0	1–0	3–2	1–1	1–0	1–2	2–1	0–2	1–2	0–4	2–3	1–1		2–0	4–0	2–2	3–1	4–3	1–0	1–1	2–1	2–2
Nottingham Forest	0–2	2–1	3–1	1–0	1–1	1–0	4–2	2–1	0–1	1–0	2–3	0–0	1–2		1–0	2–1	0–1	2–1	1–2	2–1	3–1	0–0
Plymouth Argyle	0–3	2–2	2–2	1–0	2–3	2–1	1–1	3–1	4–0	2–4	1–1	2–1	1–1	1–0		2–0	2–4	4–0	2–1	2–2	2–2	2–1
Sheffield United	0–0	6–3	1–1	3–1	2–1	2–1	0–2	3–2	2–1	2–0	1–2	4–0	4–1	2–1	0–0		2–1	5–0	2–0	1–1	1–0	3–1
Sheffield Wednesday	1–2	0–1	1–1	1–0	2–1	2–0	1–0	2–1	2–1	4–0	1–3	3–0	1–0	0–2	1–1	0–1		0–0	3–3	1–1	0–3	1–0
Southampton	0–0	2–0	1–0	2–1	0–0	4–1	0–1	0–4	4–0	3–6	3–3	1–0	3–1	2–0	0–0	2–1	5–2		4–1	1–1	2–1	3–3
Stockport County	1–3	1–2	0–1	1–2	3–1	0–1	1–1	1–1	2–0	2–1	1–0	1–3	1–1	1–0	1–3	1–1	2–1	0–0		1–0	3–2	0–0
Swansea Town	2–1	1–0	3–2	0–1	3–1	1–0	1–0	3–3	2–0	1–1	2–2	2–0	1–0	1–0	1–0	3–5	1–1	0–0	0–2		3–2	0–0
Tottenham Hotspur	2–1	3–0	3–1	2–1	4–0	1–3	2–0	0–0	1–1	3–0	0–1	2–2	4–0	3–0	3–2	1–2	1–2	5–0	2–0	2–0		2–0
West Ham United	1–1	4–1	2–0	3–1	1–0	3–1	5–0	0–0	0–0	0–0	1–0	1–0	3–3	2–1	0–1	0–2	1–0	3–1	1–0	2–1	1–3

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

Fulham

Tottenham

West Ham

Locations of the Football League Second Division London teams

Aston Villa

Barnsley

Blackburn Rovers

Bradford Park Avenue

Burnley

Bury

Chesterfield

Coventry

Fulham

Luton Town

Manchester United

Newcastle

Norwich City

Nottingham Forest

Plymouth Argyle

Sheffield United

Sheffield Wednesday

Southampton

Stockport

Swansea Town

Tottenham

West Ham

Locations of the Football League Second Division teams

Third Division North

Football League
Third Division North

Season	1937–1938
Champions	Tranmere Rovers (1st title)
Failed re-election	None
Matches played	462
Goals scored	1,401 (3.03 per match)
Top goalscorer	Jack Roberts (Port Vale), 28 [3]
← 1936–37 1938–39 →

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Promotion
1	Tranmere Rovers (C, P)	42	23	10	9	81	41	1.976	56	Promotion to the Second Division
2	Doncaster Rovers	42	21	12	9	74	49	1.510	54
3	Hull City	42	20	13	9	80	43	1.860	53
4	Oldham Athletic	42	19	13	10	67	46	1.457	51
5	Gateshead	42	20	11	11	84	59	1.424	51
6	Rotherham United	42	20	10	12	68	56	1.214	50
7	Lincoln City	42	19	8	15	66	50	1.320	46
8	Crewe Alexandra	42	18	9	15	71	53	1.340	45
9	Chester	42	16	12	14	77	72	1.069	44
10	Wrexham	42	16	11	15	58	63	0.921	43
11	York City	42	16	10	16	70	68	1.029	42
12	Carlisle United	42	15	9	18	57	67	0.851	39
13	New Brighton	42	15	8	19	60	61	0.984	38
14	Bradford City	42	14	10	18	66	69	0.957	38
15	Port Vale	42	12	14	16	65	73	0.890	38	Transferred to the Third Division South
16	Southport	42	12	14	16	53	82	0.646	38
17	Rochdale	42	13	11	18	67	78	0.859	37
18	Halifax Town	42	12	12	18	44	66	0.667	36
19	Darlington	42	11	10	21	54	79	0.684	32
20	Hartlepools United	42	10	12	20	53	80	0.663	32
21	Barrow	42	11	10	21	41	71	0.577	32	Re-elected
22	Accrington Stanley	42	11	7	24	45	75	0.600	29

Source: rsssf.com
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

Results

Home \ Away	ACC	BRW	BRA	CRL	CHE	CRE	DAR	DON	GAT	HAL	HAR	HUL	LIN	NWB	OLD	PTV	ROC	ROT	SOU	TRA	WRE	YOR
Accrington Stanley		2–0	3–1	1–4	0–0	3–2	2–1	0–1	1–5	3–4	2–1	0–2	0–3	3–1	1–2	2–1	0–1	0–0	3–0	0–1	4–0	1–2
Barrow	0–0		0–0	4–2	0–2	1–0	1–1	1–1	1–3	2–1	0–0	1–0	4–1	3–0	2–1	3–0	0–1	1–0	1–2	2–2	0–1	1–2
Bradford City	2–2	1–0		4–0	2–2	3–1	2–1	2–0	1–1	3–0	4–1	1–2	2–0	3–0	1–1	5–0	3–1	3–2	1–1	1–3	2–2	0–1
Carlisle United	3–1	2–1	2–0		1–3	5–1	3–0	2–2	1–0	5–2	3–1	0–1	0–1	1–1	1–1	3–1	0–1	0–1	1–0	0–0	0–0	2–1
Chester	3–1	3–1	3–1	1–0		0–3	3–2	4–0	2–1	1–1	6–0	1–3	1–1	1–2	3–3	7–2	4–1	2–3	2–1	1–1	2–1	4–3
Crewe Alexandra	3–1	4–0	3–1	4–1	1–0		2–2	0–0	1–3	4–0	2–0	0–1	2–0	1–0	0–1	1–2	5–1	3–1	5–0	1–0	1–1	4–2
Darlington	3–0	0–1	4–2	3–1	2–1	0–1		1–1	1–2	3–0	2–0	1–3	1–4	1–0	1–0	2–2	2–4	2–1	1–1	0–2	5–3	2–2
Doncaster Rovers	5–1	1–0	4–0	1–3	2–1	0–0	4–0		1–0	2–2	3–3	2–1	3–0	3–0	1–0	3–2	5–0	0–1	3–0	1–1	2–0	2–1
Gateshead	1–0	6–0	3–0	2–1	3–1	2–0	5–2	2–3		4–1	2–1	3–2	1–1	3–1	0–0	2–1	3–1	0–0	5–0	2–1	2–2	2–2
Halifax Town	1–2	1–1	0–2	0–0	1–1	2–1	1–0	0–1	2–0		0–0	1–0	2–0	2–0	2–1	2–1	2–3	1–3	1–1	1–0	0–0	2–2
Hartlepool	2–0	1–1	1–1	4–1	0–1	2–2	2–1	0–0	1–3	2–0		2–2	2–0	1–0	2–0	2–1	3–3	4–0	1–2	2–2	2–0	0–0
Hull City	0–0	4–0	2–2	2–1	2–2	1–1	4–0	2–1	3–1	0–1	4–0		1–1	1–1	4–1	0–0	4–1	1–1	10–1	0–1	3–2	3–1
Lincoln City	2–0	5–0	4–0	0–1	1–1	3–2	0–0	2–2	3–2	2–0	2–1	2–1		4–1	0–1	1–0	2–0	5–0	1–3	0–1	7–1	2–0
New Brighton	2–1	2–1	1–1	5–1	4–0	4–0	3–0	1–2	4–1	2–0	4–1	0–0	0–1		1–0	1–1	2–0	2–3	2–2	0–1	1–1	2–1
Oldham Athletic	1–0	0–0	1–2	3–0	3–2	0–0	3–0	2–1	3–1	2–1	3–1	1–1	2–2	2–1		3–0	4–2	3–1	2–0	2–1	2–0	6–2
Port Vale	4–1	4–0	4–3	2–2	2–2	1–1	1–0	1–1	2–2	0–2	5–1	2–4	1–0	3–2	2–2		4–1	0–0	1–1	1–0	2–0	3–2
Rochdale	0–1	3–3	2–0	3–1	4–0	1–4	1–1	4–5	2–2	1–1	2–2	0–0	0–1	2–1	1–1	1–1		2–0	3–2	0–0	6–1	0–0
Rotherham United	1–1	3–0	2–1	0–1	4–1	1–0	4–2	2–2	1–1	4–1	3–1	2–2	4–0	1–2	2–1	3–2	1–0		1–1	2–1	1–1	3–0
Southport	2–1	2–0	2–0	1–1	2–2	3–1	1–1	1–3	0–0	2–2	2–0	2–1	1–1	0–0	2–2	1–0	2–0	0–3		1–3	1–2	2–3
Tranmere	5–0	3–0	2–1	5–0	0–0	2–2	1–1	2–0	4–2	2–0	4–0	3–1	2–0	5–2	1–1	2–1	3–2	0–2	7–2		3–2	1–2
Wrexham	2–0	3–2	2–1	0–0	3–1	1–0	4–0	2–0	0–0	2–0	6–3	0–1	1–0	0–1	1–0	0–0	2–1	2–0	4–1	1–3		1–1
York City	1–1	1–2	3–1	3–1	4–0	1–2	1–2	2–0	5–1	1–1	1–0	0–1	3–1	3–1	0–0	2–2	0–5	4–1	1–2	2–0	2–1

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

Accrington Stanley

Barrow

Bradford C.

Carlisle United

Chester

Crewe Alexandra

Darlington

Doncaster

Gateshead

Halifax T.

Hartlepool

Hull

Lincoln City

New Brighton

Oldham

Port Vale

Rochdale

Rotherham

Southport

Tranmere

Wrexham

York City

Locations of the Football League Third Division North teams

Third Division South

Football League
Third Division South

Season	1937–1938
Champions	Millwall (2nd title)
Failed re-election	Gillingham
Matches played	462
Goals scored	1,264 (2.74 per match)
Top goalscorer	Harold Crawshaw (Mansfield Town), 25 [3]
← 1936–37 1938–39 →

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Millwall (C, P)	42	23	10	9	83	37	2.243	56	Promotion to the Second Division
2	Bristol City	42	21	13	8	68	40	1.700	55
3	Queens Park Rangers	42	22	9	11	80	47	1.702	53
4	Watford	42	21	11	10	73	43	1.698	53
5	Brighton & Hove Albion	42	21	9	12	64	44	1.455	51
6	Reading	42	20	11	11	71	63	1.127	51
7	Crystal Palace	42	18	12	12	67	47	1.426	48
8	Swindon Town	42	17	10	15	49	49	1.000	44
9	Northampton Town	42	17	9	16	51	57	0.895	43
10	Cardiff City	42	15	12	15	67	54	1.241	42
11	Notts County	42	16	9	17	50	50	1.000	41
12	Southend United	42	15	10	17	70	68	1.029	40
13	Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	42	14	12	16	56	57	0.982	40
14	Mansfield Town	42	15	9	18	62	67	0.925	39
15	Bristol Rovers	42	13	13	16	46	61	0.754	39
16	Newport County	42	11	16	15	43	52	0.827	38
17	Exeter City	42	13	12	17	57	70	0.814	38
18	Aldershot	42	15	5	22	39	59	0.661	35
19	Clapton Orient	42	13	7	22	42	61	0.689	33
20	Torquay United	42	9	12	21	38	73	0.521	30
21	Walsall	42	11	7	24	52	88	0.591	29	Re-elected
22	Gillingham (R)	42	10	6	26	36	77	0.468	26	Failed re-election and demoted to the Southern League

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Results

Home \ Away	ALD	B&BA	B&HA	BRI	BRR	CAR	CLA	CRY	EXE	GIL	MAN	MIL	NPC	NOR	NTC	QPR	REA	STD	SWI	TOR	WAL	WAT
Aldershot		2–0	1–2	1–1	0–2	1–1	1–2	1–0	0–1	2–0	1–0	2–1	5–0	0–2	0–1	1–0	0–0	1–0	1–1	1–0	1–0	1–0
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	3–0		0–0	0–0	1–3	3–0	2–0	1–0	2–2	2–0	5–4	0–3	1–1	0–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	7–1	1–2	0–0	5–0	0–0
Brighton & Hove Albion	2–1	3–1		1–1	3–0	2–1	2–1	2–1	6–0	1–0	2–0	1–0	1–0	1–2	0–1	3–1	1–1	3–1	3–1	1–1	1–0	1–2
Bristol City	3–1	2–1	1–1		0–0	0–1	2–0	0–0	4–1	3–1	2–1	0–0	0–0	1–0	3–1	2–0	1–0	4–2	1–1	2–0	3–1	3–1
Bristol Rovers	0–1	2–1	0–0	1–0		2–1	3–2	1–0	1–1	2–1	0–0	0–2	2–0	0–0	1–1	1–1	2–2	2–1	1–2	2–0	5–2	0–2
Cardiff City	0–1	3–0	4–1	0–0	1–1		2–0	4–2	1–1	4–0	4–1	3–2	3–1	4–1	2–2	2–2	4–1	5–0	2–2	5–2	3–1	1–1
Clapton Orient	2–1	3–0	0–3	0–0	1–0	1–1		0–2	2–1	3–0	1–2	2–1	0–2	1–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	1–1	1–0	2–0	2–2	1–1
Crystal Palace	1–1	0–1	3–2	1–1	3–2	1–0	1–0		2–2	3–0	4–0	0–0	3–0	0–1	3–1	4–0	3–1	2–1	0–1	4–1	3–1	4–1
Exeter City	0–1	3–1	4–0	3–2	0–0	2–1	2–0	2–2		3–5	4–0	1–5	2–0	4–1	0–3	0–4	0–2	1–1	0–0	2–0	3–2	1–2
Gillingham	2–0	0–2	1–1	1–0	0–1	1–0	1–2	2–4	2–1		0–0	2–3	1–0	2–1	2–1	1–5	1–2	2–1	0–0	1–1	3–0	0–0
Mansfield Town	2–0	3–2	1–1	3–5	1–0	3–0	3–1	2–0	2–3	3–1		1–1	1–1	4–1	1–2	3–2	5–1	2–2	2–0	1–1	3–1	0–1
Millwall	4–0	4–0	2–0	0–3	2–1	1–0	3–0	2–2	2–1	5–0	1–0		4–0	3–0	5–0	1–4	1–1	1–0	0–2	7–0	4–0	1–1
Newport County	4–0	1–1	1–0	0–0	2–2	1–1	3–1	0–0	2–2	2–0	1–0	3–1		0–0	3–0	1–1	2–2	2–0	2–0	0–2	1–2	0–0
Northampton Town	1–0	1–3	3–1	1–0	2–0	0–0	2–0	1–1	1–0	4–1	3–0	0–1	2–0		2–0	0–2	2–2	0–2	1–0	0–3	1–1	3–2
Notts County	1–0	1–2	0–3	2–0	1–1	2–0	1–0	0–1	0–0	1–0	2–0	1–1	1–1	5–0		2–2	2–1	0–2	3–0	0–0	3–1	1–2
Queens Park Rangers	3–0	1–2	2–1	0–2	4–0	2–1	3–2	1–0	4–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	0–0	1–1	2–1		3–0	1–0	3–0	6–3	3–1	2–0
Reading	3–2	4–1	2–1	0–1	4–0	0–0	2–0	3–2	1–0	2–0	3–2	1–0	2–1	4–3	0–2	1–0		3–2	2–1	1–1	2–1	4–1
Southend	4–1	1–0	2–1	5–0	1–1	3–1	1–2	2–2	1–1	2–0	0–1	1–2	0–2	4–2	2–1	2–1	4–2		0–0	5–1	1–0	2–2
Swindon Town	2–0	1–0	0–1	2–3	2–1	2–0	1–0	4–0	3–0	3–0	3–3	1–2	3–2	1–0	1–0	1–3	0–0	1–1		1–0	1–1	0–2
Torquay United	1–5	0–0	0–1	1–3	4–1	0–1	3–1	0–0	2–1	1–0	0–1	1–1	0–0	1–2	0–3	0–2	3–2	3–3	1–0		1–0	0–1
Walsall	2–0	2–0	0–3	2–8	5–2	1–0	2–0	1–1	0–2	3–1	2–0	1–1	3–1	1–1	1–0	0–3	2–5	1–5	2–3	0–0		3–1
Watford	5–1	0–2	1–1	3–1	4–0	4–0	2–0	1–2	0–0	1–1	2–0	1–1	3–0	1–3	2–0	3–1	4–0	3–1	4–0	4–0	2–1

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

Clapton Orient

Crystal Palace

Millwall

Queens Park Rangers

Watford

Locations of the Football League Third Division South London teams

Aldershot

Bournemouth

Brighton & Hove

Bristol City

Bristol Rovers

Cardiff City

Clapton Orient

Crystal P.

Exeter City

Gillingham

Mansfield Town

Millwall

Newport County

Northampton Town

Notts County

QPR

Southend

Reading

Torquay

Swindon

Walsall

Watford

Locations of the Football League Third Division South teams

See also

• 1937-38 in English football
• 1937 in association football
• 1938 in association football