1938–39 Football League

The Football League

Season	1938–39
Champions	Everton
← 1937–38 1939–40 →

The 1938–1939 season was the 47th season of The Football League.

Final league tables

The tables 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.

Match results are drawn from The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website^[1] and Rothmans^[2] for the First Division and from Rothmans for the Second Division and for the two Third Divisions.

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 the teams had a positive goal difference. The goal average system was eventually scrapped beginning with the 1976–77 season.

Since the goal average was used for this purpose for such a long time, it is presented in the tables below even for the seasons prior to 1894–95, and since the goal difference is a more informative piece of information for a modern reader than the goal average, the goal difference is added in this presentation after the goal average.

During the first five seasons of the league, that is, until the season 1893–94, re-election process concerned the clubs which finished in the bottom four of the league. From the 1894–95 season and until the 1920–21 season the re-election process was required of the clubs which finished in the bottom three of the league. From the 1922–23 season on it was required of the bottom two teams of both Third Division North and Third Division South.^[2]

First Division

Football League, First Division

Season	1938–39
Champions	Everton (5th English title)
Relegated	Birmingham Leicester City
FA Cup winners	Portsmouth (1st FA Cup title)
Matches played	462
Goals scored	1418 (3.07 per match)
Top goalscorer	Tommy Lawton (Everton), 35 [3]
Biggest home win	Middlesbrough –Charlton 9–2 (10 Dec 1938) Wolverhampton –Everton 7–0 (22 Feb 1939)
Biggest away win	Leicester–Charlton 1–5 (9 Feb 1939) Sunderland –Aston Villa 1–5 (26 Dec 1938) Charlton –Wolverhampton 0–4 (10 Dec 1938)
Highest scoring	Middlesbrough –Blackpool 9–2 (10 Dec 1938)
← 1937–38 1939–40 →

Pos	Team	Pld		W	D	L	F	A		W	D	L	F	A		F	A	GA	GD		Pts
1	Everton	42		17	3	1	60	18		10	2	9	28	34		88	52	1.692	+36		59
2	Wolverhampton Wanderers	42		14	6	1	55	12		8	5	8	33	27		88	39	2.256	+49		55
3	Charlton Athletic	42		16	3	2	49	24		6	3	12	26	35		75	59	1.271	+16		50
4	Middlesbrough	42		13	6	2	64	27		7	3	11	29	47		93	74	1.257	+19		49
5	Arsenal	42		14	3	4	34	14		5	6	10	21	27		55	41	1.341	+14		47
6	Derby County	42		12	3	6	39	22		7	5	9	27	33		66	55	1.200	+11		46
7	Stoke City	42		13	6	2	50	25		4	6	11	21	43		71	68	1.044	+3		46
8	Bolton Wanderers	42		10	6	5	39	25		5	9	7	28	33		67	58	1.155	+9		45
9	Preston North End	42		13	7	1	44	19		3	5	13	19	40		63	59	1.068	+4		44
10	Grimsby Town	42		11	6	4	38	26		5	5	11	23	43		61	69	0.884	–8		43
11	Liverpool	42		12	6	3	40	24		2	8	11	22	39		62	63	0.984	–1		42
12	Aston Villa	42		11	3	7	44	25		5	6	10	27	35		71	60	1.183	+9		41
13	Leeds United	42		11	5	5	40	27		5	4	12	19	40		59	67	0.881	–8		41
14	Manchester United	42		7	9	5	30	20		4	7	10	27	45		57	65	0.877	–8		38
15	Blackpool	42		9	8	4	37	26		3	6	12	19	42		56	68	0.824	–12		38
16	Sunderland	42		7	7	7	30	29		6	5	10	24	38		54	67	0.806	–13		38
17	Portsmouth	42		10	7	4	25	15		2	6	13	22	55		47	70	0.671	–23		37
18	Brentford	42		11	2	8	30	27		3	6	12	23	47		53	74	0.716	–21		36
19	Huddersfield Town	42		11	4	6	38	18		1	7	13	20	46		58	64	0.906	–6		35
20	Chelsea	42		10	5	6	43	29		2	4	15	21	51		64	80	0.800	–16		33
21	Birmingham	42		10	5	6	40	27		2	3	16	22	57		62	84	0.738	–22		32
22	Leicester City	42		7	6	8	35	35		2	5	14	13	47		48	82	0.585	–34		29

Key
	League Champions
	FA Cup Winners
	Relegated

Results

Home ╲ Away

ARS

AST

BIR

BLP

BOL

BRE

CHA

CHE

DER

EVE

GRI

HUD

LEE

LEI

LIV

MUN

MID

POR

PNE

STK

SUN

WOL

Arsenal

0–0

3–1

2–1

3–1

2–0

2–0

1–0

1–2

1–2

2–0

1–0

2–3

0–0

2–0

2–1

1–2

2–0

1–0

4–1

2–0

0–0

Aston Villa

1–3

5–1

3–1

1–3

5–0

2–0

6–2

0–1

0–3

0–2

4–0

2–1

1–2

2–0

0–2

1–1

2–0

3–0

3–0

1–1

2–2

Birmingham City

1–2

3–0

2–1

0–2

5–1

3–4

1–1

3–0

1–0

1–1

1–1

4–0

2–1

0–0

3–3

2–1

2–0

1–3

1–2

1–2

3–2

Blackpool

1–0

2–4

2–1

0–0

4–1

0–0

5–1

2–2

0–2

3–1

1–1

1–2

1–1

1–1

3–5

4–0

2–1

2–1

1–1

1–1

1–0

Bolton Wanderers

1–1

1–2

3–0

0–1

1–1

2–1

0–2

2–1

4–2

1–1

3–2

2–2

4–0

3–1

0–0

4–1

5–1

0–2

1–3

2–1

0–0

Brentford

1–0

2–4

0–1

1–1

2–2

1–0

1–0

1–3

2–0

1–2

2–1

0–1

2–0

2–1

2–5

2–1

2–0

3–1

1–0

2–3

0–1

Charlton Athletic

1–0

1–0

4–4

3–1

2–1

1–1

2–0

1–0

2–1

3–1

2–1

2–0

1–0

1–3

7–1

3–0

3–3

3–1

4–2

3–0

0–4

Chelsea

4–2

2–1

2–2

1–1

1–1

1–3

1–3

0–2

0–2

5–1

3–0

2–2

3–0

4–1

0–1

4–2

1–0

3–1

1–1

4–0

1–3

Derby County

1–2

2–1

0–1

2–1

3–0

1–2

3–1

0–1

2–1

4–1

1–0

1–0

1–1

2–2

5–1

1–4

0–1

2–0

5–0

1–0

2–2

Everton

2–0

3–0

4–2

4–0

2–1

2–1

1–4

4–1

2–2

3–0

3–2

4–0

4–0

2–1

3–0

4–0

5–1

0–0

1–1

6–2

1–0

Grimsby Town

2–1

1–2

1–0

2–0

1–1

0–0

1–1

2–1

1–1

3–0

3–3

3–2

6–1

2–1

1–0

0–2

2–1

1–1

3–1

1–3

2–4

Huddersfield Town

1–1

1–1

3–1

3–0

2–1

1–2

4–0

3–1

3–0

3–0

2–0

0–1

2–0

1–1

1–1

0–1

3–0

3–0

1–4

0–1

1–2

Leeds United

4–2

2–0

2–0

1–0

1–2

3–2

2–1

1–1

1–4

1–2

0–1

2–1

8–2

1–1

3–1

0–1

2–2

2–1

0–0

3–3

1–0

Leicester City

0–2

1–1

2–1

3–4

0–0

1–1

1–5

3–2

2–3

3–0

0–2

0–1

2–0

2–2

1–1

5–3

5–0

2–1

2–2

0–2

0–2

Liverpool

2–2

3–0

4–0

1–0

1–2

1–0

1–0

2–1

2–1

0–3

2–2

3–3

3–0

1–1

1–0

3–1

4–4

4–1

1–0

1–1

0–2

Manchester United

1–0

1–1

4–1

0–0

2–2

3–0

0–2

5–1

1–1

0–2

3–1

1–1

0–0

3–0

2–0

1–1

1–1

1–1

0–1

0–1

1–3

Middlesbrough

1–1

1–1

2–2

9–2

1–2

3–1

4–0

1–1

2–0

4–4

3–2

4–1

1–2

3–2

3–0

3–1

8–2

2–2

5–1

3–0

1–0

Portsmouth

0–0

0–0

2–0

1–0

2–1

2–2

0–2

2–1

1–3

0–1

2–1

4–0

2–0

0–1

1–1

0–0

1–1

0–0

2–0

2–1

1–0

Preston North End

2–1

3–2

5–0

1–1

2–2

2–0

2–0

1–1

4–1

0–1

1–1

3–0

2–0

2–1

1–0

1–1

3–1

2–2

1–1

2–1

4–2

Stoke City

1–0

3–1

6–3

1–1

4–1

3–2

1–0

6–1

3–0

0–0

1–2

2–2

1–1

1–0

3–1

1–1

1–3

1–1

3–1

3–1

5–3

Sunderland

0–0

1–5

1–0

1–2

2–2

1–1

1–1

3–2

1–0

1–2

1–1

0–0

2–1

2–0

2–3

5–2

1–2

0–2

1–2

3–0

1–1

Wolverhampton Wanderers

0–1

2–1

2–1

1–1

1–1

5–2

3–1

2–0

0–0

7–0

5–0

3–0

4–1

0–0

2–2

3–0

6–1

3–0

3–0

3–0

0–0

Source:
1 ^{^} The home team is listed in the left-hand column.
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

Arsenal

Aston Villa

Birmingham

Blackpool

Bolton

Brentford

Charlton

Chelsea

Derby County

Everton

Grimsby Town

Huddersfield

Leeds United

Leicester City

Liverpool

Manchester United

Middlesbrough

Portsmouth

Preston North End

Stoke

Sunderland

Wolverhampton Wanderers

Locations of the Football League First Division 1938–1939 teams

Arsenal

Brentford

Charlton Athletic

Chelsea

Locations of the Football League First Division London teams 1938–1939

Second Division

Football League, Second Division

Season	1938–39
Champions	Blackburn Rovers (1st title)
Relegated	Norwich City Tranmere Rovers
Matches played	462
Goals scored	1441 (3.12 per match)
Top goalscorer	Hugh Billington (Luton Town), 28 [3]
Biggest home win	Sheffield Wednesday –Norwich City 7–0 (19 Nov 1938)
Biggest away win	Tranmere –Manchester City 3–9 (26 Dec 1938)
Highest scoring	Tranmere –Manchester City 3–9 (26 Dec 1938)
← 1937–38 1939–40 →

Pos	Team	Pld		W	D	L	F	A		W	D	L	F	A		F	A	GA	GD		Pts
1	Blackburn Rovers	42		17	1	3	59	23		8	4	9	35	37		94	60	1.567	+34		55
2	Sheffield United	42		9	9	3	35	15		11	5	5	34	26		69	41	1.683	+28		54
3	Sheffield Wednesday	42		14	4	3	47	18		7	7	7	41	41		88	59	1.492	+29		53
4	Coventry City	42		13	4	4	35	13		8	4	9	27	32		62	45	1.378	+17		50
5	Manchester City	42		13	3	5	56	35		8	4	9	40	37		96	72	1.333	+24		49
6	Chesterfield	42		16	1	4	54	20		4	8	9	15	32		69	52	1.327	+17		49
7	Luton Town	42		13	4	4	47	27		9	1	11	35	39		82	66	1.242	+16		49
8	Tottenham Hotspur	42		13	6	2	48	27		6	3	12	19	35		67	62	1.081	+5		47
9	Newcastle United	42		13	3	5	44	21		5	7	9	17	27		61	48	1.271	+13		46
10	West Bromwich Albion	42		15	3	3	54	22		3	6	12	35	50		89	72	1.236	+17		45
11	West Ham United	42		10	5	6	36	21		7	5	9	34	31		70	52	1.346	+18		44
12	Fulham	42		12	5	4	35	20		5	5	11	26	35		61	55	1.109	+6		44
13	Millwall	42		12	6	3	44	18		2	8	11	20	35		64	53	1.208	+11		42
14	Burnley	42		13	3	5	32	20		2	6	13	18	36		50	56	0.893	–6		39
15	Plymouth Argyle	42		9	7	5	24	13		6	1	14	25	42		49	55	0.891	–6		38
16	Bury	42		9	5	7	48	36		3	8	10	17	38		65	74	0.878	–9		37
17	Bradford Park Avenue	42		8	6	7	33	35		4	5	12	28	47		61	82	0.744	–21		35
18	Southampton	42		9	6	6	35	34		4	3	14	21	48		56	82	0.683	–26		35
19	Swansea Town	42		8	6	7	33	30		3	6	12	17	53		50	83	0.602	–33		34
20	Nottingham Forest	42		8	6	7	33	29		2	5	14	16	53		49	82	0.598	–33		31
21	Norwich City	42		10	5	6	39	29		3	0	18	11	62		50	91	0.549	–41		31
22	Tranmere Rovers	42		6	4	11	26	38		0	1	20	13	61		39	99	0.394	–60		17

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against;
GA = Goal average; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Key
	Division Champions, promoted
	Promoted
	Relegated

Results

Home ╲ Away

BLB

BPA

BUR

BRY

CHF

COV

FUL

LUT

MCI

MIL

NEW

NOR

NOT

PLY

SHU

SHW

SOU

SWA

TOT

TRA

WBA

WHU

Blackburn Rovers

6–4

1–0

1–0

3–0

0–2

2–1

2–0

3–3

3–1

3–0

6–0

3–2

4–0

1–2

2–4

3–0

4–0

3–1

3–2

3–0

3–1

Bradford Park Avenue

0–4

2–2

3–2

0–0

0–2

1–5

2–1

4–2

1–0

0–1

3–0

1–2

2–2

0–3

3–1

2–1

1–1

0–0

3–0

4–4

1–2

Burnley

3–2

0–0

0–1

1–2

1–0

2–0

3–2

1–1

2–0

2–0

3–0

2–1

1–0

2–3

1–2

2–1

1–1

1–0

3–1

0–3

1–0

Bury

2–4

0–1

1–0

3–1

5–0

0–2

2–5

1–5

1–1

1–1

2–3

2–1

3–0

2–2

2–3

5–2

4–0

3–1

5–0

3–3

1–1

Chesterfield

0–2

2–2

3–2

2–1

3–0

0–1

1–2

0–3

3–0

2–0

2–0

7–1

3–1

1–0

3–1

6–1

6–1

3–1

3–0

3–1

1–0

Coventry City

0–1

3–1

1–1

0–0

2–0

3–1

1–0

0–1

2–1

1–0

2–0

5–1

1–2

0–3

1–0

3–0

3–0

4–0

2–0

1–1

0–0

Fulham

2–3

4–0

0–0

1–2

2–0

1–0

2–1

2–1

2–1

1–1

2–0

2–2

1–2

1–2

2–2

1–1

1–0

1–0

1–0

3–0

3–2

Luton Town

1–1

2–2

1–0

2–1

5–0

1–3

2–1

3–0

0–0

2–1

2–1

1–0

3–4

2–0

1–5

6–2

6–3

0–0

3–0

3–1

1–2

Manchester City

3–2

5–1

2–0

0–0

3–1

3–0

3–5

1–2

1–6

4–1

4–1

3–0

1–3

3–2

1–1

2–1

5–0

2–0

5–2

3–3

2–4

Millwall

4–1

3–1

1–1

0–0

3–1

0–0

1–1

2–1

3–1

1–1

6–0

5–0

3–0

4–0

2–0

0–1

1–1

2–0

2–1

1–5

0–2

Newcastle United

2–2

1–0

3–2

6–0

0–1

0–4

2–1

2–0

0–2

2–2

4–0

4–0

2–1

0–0

2–1

1–0

1–2

0–1

5–1

5–1

2–0

Norwich City

4–0

1–3

4–0

3–1

2–0

1–1

3–3

2–1

0–0

0–2

1–1

1–0

2–1

1–2

2–2

2–1

3–0

1–2

2–0

2–3

2–6

Nottingham Forest

1–3

2–0

2–2

1–1

0–1

3–0

1–1

2–4

3–4

3–0

2–0

1–0

2–1

0–2

3–3

0–2

1–2

2–1

2–2

2–0

0–0

Plymouth Argyle

1–0

4–1

1–0

0–1

0–0

0–2

0–0

4–1

0–0

2–2

0–1

1–0

3–0

0–1

1–1

2–0

0–0

0–1

3–1

2–1

0–0

Sheffield United

0–0

3–1

1–1

1–1

1–1

0–0

2–0

2–2

1–0

2–1

0–0

4–0

0–1

0–1

0–0

5–1

1–2

6–1

2–0

1–1

3–1

Sheffield Wednesday

3–0

2–0

4–1

2–0

0–0

2–2

5–1

4–1

3–1

3–1

0–2

7–0

1–1

1–2

1–0

2–0

1–1

1–0

2–0

2–1

1–4

Southampton

1–3

3–2

2–1

0–0

2–2

0–2

2–1

0–4

1–2

1–1

0–0

3–1

2–2

2–1

2–2

4–3

4–1

1–2

3–1

2–1

0–2

Swansea Town

2–1

2–2

4–0

3–3

1–1

2–4

1–1

2–3

2–0

1–1

0–1

0–1

1–0

2–1

1–2

0–1

1–3

1–1

1–0

3–2

3–2

Tottenham Hotspur

4–3

2–2

1–0

4–3

2–2

2–1

1–0

0–1

2–3

4–0

1–0

4–1

4–1

1–0

2–2

3–3

1–1

3–0

3–1

2–2

2–1

Tranmere Rovers

1–1

2–1

0–3

3–0

0–1

1–2

0–1

2–3

3–9

2–0

0–3

0–1

1–1

2–0

0–2

1–4

1–1

2–0

0–2

3–1

2–2

West Bromwich Albion

2–0

0–2

1–2

6–0

1–0

3–1

3–0

3–0

3–1

0–0

5–2

4–2

0–0

4–2

3–4

5–1

2–0

0–0

4–3

2–0

3–2

West Ham United

1–2

0–2

1–0

0–0

1–1

4–1

1–0

0–1

2–1

0–0

1–1

2–0

5–0

2–1

0–0

2–3

1–2

5–2

0–2

6–1

2–1

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.

Maps

Blackburn Rovers

Bradford Park Avenue

Burnley

Bury

Chesterfield

Coventry

Fulham

Luton Town

Manchester City

Millwall

Newcastle

Norwich City

Nottingham Forest

Plymouth Argyle

Sheffield United

Sheffield Wednesday

Southampton

Swansea Town

Tottenham

Tranmere

West Bromwich Albion

West Ham

Locations of the Football League Second Division 1938–1939 teams

Fulham

Millwall

Tottenham

West Ham

Locations of the Football League Second Division London teams 1938–1939

Third Division North

Football League, Third Division North

Season	1938–1939
Champions	Barnsley (2nd title)
Failed re-election	None
Matches played	462
Goals scored	1609 (3.48 per match)
Top goalscorer	Wally Hunt (Carlisle United), 32 [3]
← 1937–38 1939–40 →

Pos	Team	Pld		W	D	L	F	A		W	D	L	F	A		F	A	GA	GD		Pts
1	Barnsley	42		18	2	1	60	12		12	5	4	34	22		94	34	2.765	+60		67
2	Doncaster Rovers	42		12	5	4	47	21		9	9	3	40	26		87	47	1.851	+40		56
3	Bradford City	42		16	2	3	59	21		6	6	9	30	35		89	56	1.589	+33		52
4	Southport	42		14	5	2	47	16		6	5	10	28	38		75	54	1.389	+21		50
5	Oldham Athletic	42		16	1	4	51	21		6	4	11	25	38		76	59	1.288	+17		49
6	Chester	42		12	5	4	54	31		8	4	9	34	39		88	70	1.257	+18		49
7	Hull City	42		13	5	3	57	25		5	5	11	26	49		83	74	1.122	+9		46
8	Crewe Alexandra	42		12	5	4	54	23		7	1	13	28	47		82	70	1.171	+12		44
9	Stockport County	42		13	6	2	57	24		4	3	14	34	53		91	77	1.182	+14		43
10	Gateshead	42		11	6	4	45	24		3	8	10	29	43		74	67	1.104	+7		42
11	Rotherham United	42		12	4	5	45	21		5	4	12	19	43		64	64	1.000	±0		42
12	Halifax Town	42		9	10	2	33	22		4	6	11	19	32		52	54	0.963	–2		42
13	Barrow	42		11	5	5	46	22		5	4	12	20	43		66	65	1.015	+1		41
14	Wrexham	42		15	2	4	46	28		2	5	14	20	51		66	79	0.835	–13		41
15	Rochdale	42		10	5	6	58	29		5	4	12	34	53		92	82	1.122	+10		39
16	New Brighton	42		11	2	8	46	32		4	7	10	22	41		68	73	0.932	–5		39
17	Lincoln City	42		9	6	6	40	33		3	3	15	26	59		66	92	0.717	–26		33
18	Darlington	42		12	2	7	43	30		1	5	15	19	62		62	92	0.674	–30		33
19	Carlisle United	42		10	5	6	44	33		3	2	16	22	78		66	111	0.595	–45		33
20	York City	42		8	5	8	37	34		4	3	14	27	58		64	92	0.696	–28		32
21	Hartlepools United	42		10	4	7	36	33		2	3	16	19	61		55	94	0.585	–39		31
22	Accrington Stanley	42		6	5	10	30	39		1	1	19	19	64		49	103	0.476	–54		20

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against;
GA = Goal average; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

Key
	Division Champions, promoted
	New club in the league (none)
	Re-elected
	Failed re-election (none)

Results

Home ╲ Away

ACC

BAR

BRW

BRA

CRL

CHR

CRE

DAR

DON

GAT

HAL

HAR

HUL

LIN

NWB

OLD

ROC

ROT

SOU

STP

WRE

YOR

Accrington Stanley (1891)

0–2

0–2

2–3

1–1

2–3

2–1

3–0

0–0

1–1

1–2

0–0

1–1

3–4

1–2

1–3

0–5

2–1

1–4

3–2

3–1

3–1

Barnsley

4–1

4–0

5–2

3–0

3–0

5–2

7–1

1–1

2–0

1–0

2–0

5–1

4–0

1–1

3–0

2–0

2–0

3–1

0–1

2–1

1–0

Barrow

2–3

1–2

2–1

5–0

0–1

1–2

2–0

4–4

1–1

0–0

1–1

3–1

2–2

3–0

2–0

3–1

4–1

4–0

0–2

4–0

2–0

Bradford City

2–1

0–2

3–0

2–0

1–0

4–1

6–2

2–1

1–1

1–0

0–1

6–2

3–0

3–3

1–4

3–0

5–2

2–1

4–0

4–0

6–0

Carlisle United

6–4

3–1

3–0

0–2

1–3

1–0

1–1

2–3

2–2

1–2

2–0

1–2

4–3

1–1

2–0

5–1

3–1

1–1

3–2

1–1

1–3

Chester

1–0

2–1

1–2

3–2

6–1

4–0

0–0

0–4

2–2

5–1

8–2

1–1

0–0

1–3

4–2

0–0

1–4

2–0

4–3

4–2

5–1

Crewe Alexandra

2–1

0–0

1–1

0–0

7–1

0–2

2–0

1–2

3–2

2–2

3–2

0–1

6–0

7–1

1–2

4–1

0–0

4–2

2–1

1–0

8–2

Darlington

3–0

0–1

3–1

0–4

2–1

3–3

1–0

1–2

5–2

1–0

3–0

0–1

3–1

3–0

3–3

1–2

3–1

0–2

4–3

3–1

1–2

Doncaster Rovers

7–1

1–3

1–1

1–2

1–0

4–1

1–2

4–1

2–3

0–0

3–1

1–0

4–1

4–1

3–2

5–0

1–1

0–0

3–1

0–0

1–0

Gateshead

4–1

1–1

2–1

0–0

1–1

3–0

0–5

0–2

2–0

2–0

2–0

2–2

4–0

0–3

2–0

2–2

7–1

0–0

4–1

5–1

2–3

Halifax Town

2–0

1–4

1–0

2–2

5–1

1–1

0–0

1–1

0–0

3–3

2–0

1–0

2–0

3–1

0–0

2–1

1–1

1–1

3–3

0–2

2–1

Hartlepool United

2–1

0–1

1–2

1–3

2–1

2–5

0–1

3–0

1–3

3–1

1–0

3–3

2–1

3–2

0–0

4–2

1–1

0–2

4–2

0–0

3–2

Hull City

6–1

0–1

4–0

3–2

11–1

3–0

2–1

3–2

0–0

1–0

1–1

4–1

4–2

3–0

0–2

3–3

0–2

2–1

4–4

1–1

2–0

Lincoln City

3–0

2–4

1–1

4–0

2–1

0–3

3–2

3–0

2–5

1–0

0–0

2–2

0–3

0–0

1–0

2–2

0–1

0–1

3–2

8–3

3–3

New Brighton

4–1

1–2

2–0

2–1

2–3

1–3

1–2

3–0

3–6

0–1

1–0

5–2

6–1

3–2

0–1

3–1

3–0

1–1

0–0

2–3

3–2

Oldham Athletic

2–0

4–2

1–0

2–1

6–0

1–3

3–0

2–0

0–0

1–3

1–0

4–2

4–1

1–0

1–0

1–2

2–0

2–4

3–1

4–2

6–0

Rochdale

4–1

2–1

2–2

1–1

2–3

5–2

5–0

6–1

1–1

5–2

4–5

3–4

4–0

4–0

2–0

1–2

0–1

5–0

0–1

0–0

2–2

Rotherham United

2–1

0–1

1–2

2–0

4–0

2–0

4–1

3–3

0–0

2–2

0–1

5–1

0–2

1–3

0–0

3–1

7–1

1–0

3–2

3–0

2–0

Southport

1–0

0–0

4–1

2–2

7–1

2–0

1–2

4–1

0–4

2–0

1–0

2–0

4–0

4–1

1–1

0–0

4–1

1–0

3–0

3–1

1–1

Stockport County

3–0

1–1

3–1

2–0

3–0

0–0

5–1

5–2

1–2

3–2

3–3

5–0

2–2

3–3

1–1

3–1

1–2

5–0

3–1

2–1

3–1

Wrexham

2–0

1–1

3–0

1–1

2–5

3–2

0–4

3–1

3–0

2–0

3–2

3–0

4–2

1–0

1–2

4–1

1–0

2–0

4–3

2–1

1–3

York City

2–2

2–3

2–3

0–1

4–1

2–2

4–1

1–1

2–2

1–1

3–0

2–0

1–0

1–3

2–0

4–1

0–7

0–1

2–3

1–2

1–0

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.

Maps

Accrington Stanley

Barnsley

Barrow

Bradford C.

Carlisle United

Chester

Crewe Alexandra

Darlington

Doncaster

Gateshead

Halifax T.

Hartlepool

Hull

Lincoln City

New Brighton

Oldham

Rochdale

Rotherham

Southport

Stockport

Wrexham

York City

Locations of the Football League Third Division North teams 1938–1939

Clapton Orient

Crystal Palace

Queens Park Rangers

Watford

Locations of the Football League Third Division South London teams 1938–1939

Third Division South

Football League, Third Division South

Season	1938–1939
Champions	Newport County (1st title)
Failed re-election	None
Matches played	462
Goals scored	1319 (2.85 per match)
Top goalscorer	Ben Morton (Swindon Town), 28 [3][4]
← 1937–38 1939–40 →

Pos	Team	Pld		W	D	L	F	A		W	D	L	F	A		F	A	GA	GD		Pts
1	Newport County	42		15	4	2	37	16		7	7	7	21	29		58	45	1.289	+13		55
2	Crystal Palace	42		15	4	2	49	18		5	8	8	22	34		71	52	1.365	+19		52
3	Brighton & Hove Albion	42		14	5	2	43	14		5	6	10	25	35		68	49	1.388	+19		49
4	Watford	42		14	6	1	44	15		3	6	12	18	36		62	51	1.216	+11		46
5	Reading	42		12	6	3	46	23		4	8	9	23	36		69	59	1.169	+10		46
6	Queens Park Rangers	42		10	8	3	44	15		5	6	10	24	34		68	49	1.388	+19		44
7	Ipswich Town	42		14	3	4	46	21		2	9	10	16	31		62	52	1.192	+10		44
8	Bristol City	42		14	5	2	42	19		2	7	12	19	44		61	63	0.968	–2		44
9	Swindon Town	42		15	4	2	53	25		3	4	14	19	52		72	77	0.935	–5		44
10	Aldershot	42		13	6	2	31	15		3	6	12	22	51		53	66	0.803	–13		44
11	Notts County	42		12	6	3	36	16		5	3	13	23	38		59	54	1.093	+5		43
12	Southend United	42		14	5	2	38	13		2	4	15	23	51		61	64	0.953	–3		41
13	Cardiff City	42		12	1	8	40	28		3	10	8	21	37		61	65	0.938	–4		41
14	Exeter City	42		9	9	3	40	32		4	5	12	25	50		65	82	0.793	–17		40
15	Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	42		10	8	3	38	22		3	5	13	14	36		52	58	0.897	–6		39
16	Mansfield Town	42		10	8	3	33	19		2	7	12	11	43		44	62	0.710	–18		39
17	Northampton Town	42		13	5	3	41	20		2	3	16	10	38		51	58	0.879	–7		38
18	Port Vale [notes 1]	42		10	5	6	36	23		4	4	13	16	35		52	58	0.897	–6		37
19	Torquay United	42		7	5	9	27	28		7	4	10	27	42		54	70	0.771	–16		37
20	Clapton Orient	42		10	9	2	40	16		1	4	16	13	39		53	55	0.964	–2		35
21	Walsall	42		9	6	6	47	23		2	5	14	21	46		68	69	0.986	–1		33
22	Bristol Rovers	42		8	8	5	30	17		2	5	14	25	44		55	61	0.902	–6		33

Pld = Matches played; W = Matches won; D = Matches drawn; L = Matches lost; F = Goals for; A = Goals against;
GA = Goal average; GD = Goal difference; Pts = Points

1. Port Vale had been transferred to Third Division South for this season.

Key
	Division Champions, promoted
	New club in the league
	Re-elected
	Failed re-election (none)

Results

Home ╲ Away

ALD

BOU

BHA

BRI

BRO

CAR

CLA

CRY

EXE

IPS

MAN

NPC

NOR

NTC

PTV

QPR

REA

STD

SWI

TOR

WAL

WAT

Aldershot

2–1

1–1

0–1

1–0

1–1

1–0

2–1

2–0

3–1

3–0

1–0

3–0

0–3

1–0

2–0

1–1

1–0

1–0

1–1

3–3

1–1

Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic

4–0

2–0

4–0

5–2

0–0

0–0

1–1

2–0

0–0

1–1

0–1

3–1

3–2

1–1

4–2

0–0

0–4

2–0

2–5

3–1

1–1

Brighton & Hove Albion

0–3

1–1

1–0

6–3

1–2

2–0

0–0

6–1

2–0

3–0

0–0

1–0

2–0

1–0

3–1

2–2

3–0

4–0

2–0

3–1

0–0

Bristol City

1–0

2–0

2–0

2–1

1–1

3–1

1–1

4–1

3–2

2–0

0–2

0–0

2–1

5–1

2–2

5–1

1–0

1–1

1–3

2–1

2–0

Bristol Rovers

0–0

1–0

0–1

1–1

1–1

1–0

1–2

4–1

3–3

3–0

0–0

1–0

0–0

0–1

0–0

2–4

4–1

5–0

0–1

2–0

1–1

Cardiff City

2–4

5–0

4–1

2–1

0–2

1–2

0–1

1–2

2–1

0–0

1–2

2–0

4–1

2–4

1–0

0–1

1–0

2–1

3–1

2–1

5–3

Clapton Orient

2–0

1–1

2–0

1–1

2–1

1–1

4–0

3–3

1–1

0–0

1–3

3–0

1–1

1–0

2–1

1–2

5–0

5–0

3–0

1–1

0–0

Crystal Palace

3–0

3–0

1–0

3–2

0–0

2–0

4–2

3–2

3–0

6–2

1–1

2–0

5–1

1–0

0–1

0–0

4–3

1–1

1–3

4–0

2–0

Exeter City

3–3

0–0

2–2

1–1

2–1

1–1

2–1

4–4

3–0

2–0

3–1

3–2

1–0

1–3

1–1

3–2

3–3

0–0

1–2

3–2

1–3

Ipswich Town

7–2

0–2

0–0

4–0

0–0

1–2

3–0

2–1

2–2

5–1

1–4

2–0

0–2

2–0

1–0

2–1

4–2

3–1

1–0

1–0

5–1

Mansfield Town

1–0

2–0

4–2

3–2

1–3

2–2

1–0

0–0

4–2

0–1

0–2

1–1

2–0

2–0

2–2

0–0

3–1

1–1

4–0

0–0

0–0

Newport County

1–0

2–2

2–0

0–2

2–0

3–0

2–1

2–0

0–0

3–2

0–0

1–1

2–1

0–2

2–0

2–0

3–0

6–4

1–0

2–1

1–0

Northampton Town

5–0

2–0

1–4

2–2

2–1

2–1

3–0

0–0

0–0

2–0

3–4

1–0

2–1

2–0

1–0

1–1

2–2

0–2

4–1

4–1

2–0

Notts County

1–1

0–1

4–3

0–0

3–1

1–1

1–0

0–1

3–1

2–1

1–1

2–0

1–0

4–0

0–0

2–0

4–1

2–0

5–1

0–0

0–3

Port Vale

1–3

2–0

1–1

4–0

2–1

1–1

1–1

2–0

3–2

0–0

3–0

2–1

0–2

3–1

1–2

0–2

2–2

2–0

0–1

5–1

1–2

Queens Park Rangers

7–0

2–0

1–2

3–1

1–1

5–0

1–1

1–2

5–0

0–0

3–0

0–0

3–0

0–1

2–2

2–2

1–1

2–1

1–1

3–0

1–0

Reading

5–0

1–0

3–0

2–2

2–0

0–0

2–2

3–1

1–1

2–1

0–0

0–1

5–1

3–1

2–1

2–4

3–0

3–0

3–5

1–1

3–2

Southend

2–1

2–2

1–1

2–0

3–2

2–0

1–0

3–1

0–1

0–0

2–0

5–0

2–0

1–0

0–0

2–1

2–0

2–3

1–1

2–0

3–0

Swindon Town

2–1

4–2

3–2

1–0

2–1

4–1

2–0

2–2

2–1

1–1

1–2

8–0

1–0

4–1

1–1

2–2

4–2

2–1

3–1

1–4

3–0

Torquay United

1–1

2–0

0–2

3–1

2–2

1–3

2–1

1–2

0–1

1–1

3–0

1–1

1–2

0–2

1–0

2–3

1–1

2–0

1–3

0–1

2–1

Walsall

2–2

1–2

0–2

5–0

2–2

6–3

5–1

1–1

1–2

0–1

0–0

1–1

1–0

3–3

4–0

0–1

3–0

0–2

5–0

5–0

2–0

Watford

1–1

1–0

1–1

2–2

4–1

1–0

1–0

4–1

4–2

0–0

2–0

1–1

2–0

0–1

2–0

4–1

3–1

3–0

4–1

0–0

4–2

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.

Maps

Aldershot

Bournemouth

Brighton & Hove

Bristol City

Bristol Rovers

Cardiff City

Clapton Orient

Crystal Palace

Exeter City

Ipswich Town

Mansfield Town

Newport County

Northampton Town

Notts County

Port Vale

QPR

Southend

Reading

Torquay

Swindon

Walsall

Watford

Locations of the Football League Third Division South teams 1938–1939

Clapton Orient

Crystal Palace

Queens Park Rangers

Watford

Locations of the Football League Third Division South London teams 1938–1939

See also

• 1938-39 in English football
• 1938 in association football
• 1939 in association football

References

1. "England 1938-39". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 5 February 2010. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
2. Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
3. "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-10-31.
4. "Ben Morton player profile". Swindon Town. Retrieved 2010-11-06.

• Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.