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 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.

The Football League

Season	1939–40
Champions	N/A (season abandoned)
← 1938–39 1946–47 →

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

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	Brentford	3	1	1	1	3	3	1.000	3
12	Chelsea	3	1	1	1	4	4	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[a]
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
Notes:

1. There was no relegation as the season was abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II.

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

Arsenal

Aston Villa

Blackburn Rovers

Blackpool

Bolton

Brentford

Charlton

Chelsea

Derby County

Everton

Grimsby Town

Huddersfield

Leeds United

Liverpool

Manchester United

Middlesbrough

Portsmouth

Preston North End

Sheffield United

Stoke

Sunderland

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Locations of the Football League First Division teams

Arsenal

Brentford

Charlton Athletic

Chelsea

Locations of the Football League First Division London teams

Second Division

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	Reprived from 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:

1. There was no promotion or relegation as the season was abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II.

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								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

Barnsley

Birmingham

Bradford Park Avenue

Burnley

Bury

Chesterfield

Coventry

Fulham

Leicester City

Luton Town

Manchester City

Millwall

Newcastle

Newport County

Nottingham Forest

Plymouth Argyle

Sheffield Wednesday

Southampton

Swansea Town

Tottenham

West Bromwich Albion

West Ham

Locations of the Football League Second Division teams

Fulham

Millwall

Tottenham

West Ham

Locations of the Football League Second Division London teams

Third Division North

Football League
Third Division North

Season	1939–40
Matches played	31
Goals scored	87 (2.81 per match)
← 1938–39 1946–47 →

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Qualification
1	Accrington Stanley	3	3	0	0	6	1	6.000	6	No promotion[a]
2	Halifax Town	3	2	1	0	6	1	6.000	5
3	Chester	3	2	1	0	5	2	2.500	5
3	Darlington	3	2	1	0	5	2	2.500	5
5	New Brighton	3	2	0	1	6	5	1.200	4
6	Rochdale	3	2	0	1	2	2	1.000	4
7	Crewe Alexandra	2	1	1	0	3	0	—	3
8	Wrexham	3	1	1	1	3	2	1.500	3
9	Tranmere Rovers	3	1	1	1	6	6	1.000	3
10	Lincoln City	3	1	1	1	6	7	0.857	3
11	Rotherham United	3	1	1	1	5	6	0.833	3
12	Carlisle United	2	1	0	1	3	3	1.000	2
13	Hull City	2	0	2	0	3	3	1.000	2
14	Gateshead	3	1	0	2	6	7	0.857	2
15	Doncaster Rovers	3	1	0	2	4	5	0.800	2
16	Barrow	3	0	2	1	4	5	0.800	2
16	Southport	3	0	2	1	4	5	0.800	2
18	Oldham Athletic	3	1	0	2	3	5	0.600	2
19	Hartlepools United	3	0	2	1	1	4	0.250	2
20	York City	3	0	1	2	3	5	0.600	1
21	Bradford City	3	0	1	2	3	6	0.500	1	Reprived from re-election[a]
22	Stockport County	2	0	0	2	0	5	0.000	0

Source: Football League Division 3 (North) Table 1939/40
Notes:

1. There was no promotion or re-election as the season was abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II.

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

Accrington Stanley

Barrow

Bradford C.

Carlisle United

Chester

Crewe Alexandra

Darlington

Doncaster

Gateshead

Halifax T.

Hartlepool

Hull

Lincoln City

New Brighton

Oldham

Rochdale

Rotherham

Southport

Stockport

Tranmere

Wrexham

York City

Locations of the Football League Third Division North teams

Third Division South

Football League
Third Division South

Season	1939–40
Matches played	32
Goals scored	102 (3.19 per match)
← 1938–39 1946–47 →

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Qualification
1	Reading	3	2	1	0	8	2	4.000	5	No promotion[a]
2	Crystal Palace	3	2	1	0	5	3	1.667	5
3	Notts County	2	2	0	0	6	3	2.000	4
4	Exeter City	3	1	2	0	5	3	1.667	4
5	Brighton & Hove Albion	3	1	2	0	5	4	1.250	4
6	Cardiff City	3	2	0	1	5	5	1.000	4
7	Clapton Orient	3	2	0	1	8	9	0.889	4
8	Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	3	1	1	1	13	4	3.250	3
9	Mansfield Town	3	1	1	1	8	8	1.000	3
10	Bristol City	3	1	1	1	5	5	1.000	3
11	Norwich City	3	1	1	1	4	4	1.000	3
12	Torquay United	3	0	3	0	4	4	1.000	3
13	Southend United	3	1	1	1	3	3	1.000	3
14	Walsall	3	1	1	1	3	3	1.000	3
15	Ipswich Town	3	0	3	0	3	3	1.000	3
16	Queens Park Rangers	3	0	2	1	4	5	0.800	2
16	Watford	3	0	2	1	4	5	0.800	2
18	Northampton Town	3	1	0	2	2	12	0.167	2
19	Aldershot	3	0	1	2	3	5	0.600	1
20	Swindon Town	3	0	1	2	2	4	0.500	1
21	Bristol Rovers	3	0	1	2	2	7	0.286	1	Reprived from re-election[a]
22	Port Vale	2	0	1	1	0	1	0.000	1

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Notes:

1. There was no promotion or re-election as the season was abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II.

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

Aldershot

Bournemouth

Brighton & Hove

Bristol City

Bristol Rovers

Cardiff City

Clapton Orient

Crystal Palace

Exeter City

Ipswich Town

Mansfield Town

Northampton Town

Norwich City

Notts County

Port Vale

QPR

Southend

Reading

Torquay

Swindon

Walsall

Watford

Locations of the Football League Third Division South teams

Clapton Orient

Crystal Palace

Queens Park Rangers

Watford

Locations of the Football League Third Division South London teams

See also

• 1939-40 in English football
• 1939 in association football
• 1940 in association football