1946–47 in English football

The 1946–47 season was the 67th season of competitive football in England.

Overview

The 1946–47 season was the first to feature a full football programme since the 1938–39 campaign. Eighty-eight teams competed over four divisions.[1] Liverpool went top of the First Division with a 2–1 away win over Wolverhampton Wanderers on 31 May 1947. Wolves could have clinched their first league title with a victory in that match, but instead the title was won by Liverpool for the fifth time. Due to a bitter winter that postponed many fixtures Liverpool had to wait until the match between Stoke City and Sheffield United on 14 June. A win by Stoke would see them take the title on goal average; however, Sheffield United prevailed 2–1 to give Liverpool its fifth top flight championship.[2]

Events

The season commenced on 31 August 1946. The largest crowd was 61,000 at Stamford Bridge where Chelsea beat Bolton Wanderers 4–3. Aggregate attendance was 950,000 for the 43 matches – the match between Newport County and Southampton was postponed due to floods.[3]

In September, Scottish International Inside right, Tommy Walker, joined Chelsea from Hearts for £6,000 (2010: £194,000).[1] By 14 September most teams had averaged five games with only Manchester United and Doncaster Rovers maintaining a 100% record.[4] By 23 September, only Barnsley, Manchester City, Rotherham and Queens Park Rangers remained unbeaten.[5]

On 5 October Newcastle created a Second Division record, scoring 13 against Newport County. New signing Len Shackleton scored five.[6]

In 1946 AC Sparta toured Great Britain opening with a 2–2 draw against Arsenal on 2 October[7] before losing 3–1 to Birmingham City.[8]

Honours

CompetitionWinnerRunner-up
First DivisionLiverpool (5)Manchester United
Second DivisionManchester CityBurnley
Third Division NorthDoncaster RoversRotherham United
Third Division SouthCardiff CityQueens Park Rangers
FA CupCharlton Athletic (1)Burnley
Home Championship England Ireland

Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition

League table

First Division

PosClubPWDLFAGAPts
1Liverpool422571084521.61557
2Manchester United422212895541.75956
3Wolverhampton Wanderers422561198561.75056
4Stoke City422471190531.69855
5Blackpool422261471701.01450
6Sheffield United422171489751.18749
7Preston North End4218111376741.02747
8Aston Villa421891567531.26445
9Sunderland421881665660.98544
10Everton421791662670.92543
11Middlesbrough421781773681.07442
12Portsmouth421691766601.10041
13Arsenal421691772701.02941
14Derby County421851973790.92441
15Chelsea421671969840.82139
16Grimsby Town4213121761820.74438
17Blackburn Rovers421482045530.84936
18Bolton Wanderers421382157690.82634
19Charlton Athletic4211121957710.80334
20Huddersfield Town421372253790.67133
21Brentford42972645880.51125
22Leeds United42663045900.50018

Second Division

PosClubPWDLFAGAPts
1Manchester City422610678352.22962
2Burnley422214665292.24158
3Birmingham City422551274332.24255
4Chesterfield4218141058441.31850
5Newcastle United4219101395621.53248
6Tottenham Hotspur4217141165531.22648
7West Bromwich Albion422081488751.17348
8Coventry City4216131366591.11945
9Leicester City421871769641.07843
10Barnsley421781784860.97742
11Nottingham Forest4215101769740.93240
12West Ham United421681870760.92140
13Luton Town421671971730.97339
14Southampton421591869760.90839
15Fulham421591863740.85139
16Bradford Park Avenue4214111765770.84439
17Bury4212121880781.02636
18Millwall421482056790.70936
19Plymouth Argyle421452379960.82333
20Sheffield Wednesday421282267880.76132
21Swansea Town421172455830.66329
22Newport County4210329611330.45923

Third Division North

PosClubPWDLFAGAPts
1Doncaster Rovers423363123403.07572
2Rotherham United422967114532.15164
3Chester422561195511.86356
4Stockport County422421678531.47250
5Bradford City4220101262471.31950
6Rochdale4219101380641.25048
7Wrexham4217121365511.27546
8Crewe Alexandra421791670740.94643
9Barrow421771854620.87141
10Tranmere Rovers421771866770.85741
11Hull City421681849530.92540
12Lincoln City421752086870.98939
13Hartlepools United421591864730.87739
14Gateshead421662062720.86138
15York City421491967810.82737
16Carlisle United421491970930.75337
17Darlington421562168800.85036
18New Brighton421482057770.74036
19Oldham Athletic421282255800.68832
20Accrington Stanley421442456920.60932
21Southport427112453850.62425
22Halifax Town42862843920.46722

Third Division South

PosClubPWDLFAGAPts
1Cardiff City42306693303.10066
2Queens Park Rangers422311874401.85057
3Bristol City4220111194561.67951
4Swindon Town4219111284731.15149
5Walsall4217121374591.25446
6Ipswich Town4216141261531.15146
7Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic421881672541.33344
8Southend United4217101571601.18344
9Reading4216111583741.12243
10Port Vale421791668631.07943
11Torquay United4215121552610.85242
12Notts County4215101763631.00040
13Northampton Town4215101772750.96040
14Bristol Rovers421681859690.85540
15Exeter City421591860690.87039
16Watford421752061760.80339
17Brighton & Hove Albion4213121754720.75038
18Crystal Palace4213111849620.79037
19Leyton Orient421282254750.72032
20Aldershot4210122048780.61532
21Norwich City4210824641000.64028
22Mansfield Town429102348960.50028

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

References

  1. 1 2 The Times, 9 September 1946; Association Football Only Five Clubs
  2. http://www.mightyleeds.co.uk/seasons/194647.htm
  3. The Times, 2 September 1946, Association Football Big Crowds At Opening Matches
  4. The Times, 16 September 1946; Association Football More Surprising Results
  5. The Times, 23 September 1946; Association Football Four Unbeaten Clubs
  6. The Times, 7 October 1946, Association Football Newcastle's 13 Goals
  7. The Times, 3 October 1946; Association Football Sparta Draw With Arsenal
  8. The Times, 8 October 1946, Association Football Birmingham Beat Sparta
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