1955–56 Football League

The Football League
Season 1955–56
Champions Manchester United

The 19551956 season was the 57th completed 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.

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. 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 1955–56
Champions Manchester United (4th English title)
Relegated Huddersfield Town
Sheffield United
European Cup 1956–57 Manchester United
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1955-58 Birmingham City
FA Cup winners Manchester City (3rd FA Cup title)
Matches played 462
Goals scored 1529 (3.31 per match)
Top goalscorer Nat Lofthouse (Bolton Wanderers), 32 [3]
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GA GD Pts Notes
1Manchester United4218305120777323183511.627+3260European Cup 1956–57
Preliminary round
2 Blackpool 4213445627759303586621.387+2449
3 Wolverhampton Wanderers 4215245127579383889651.369+2449
4 Manchester City 4211554027759424282691.188+1346
5 Arsenal 42134438225610223960610.984–146
6 Birmingham City 42124551266510243175571.316+1845Participated in Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1955-58
7 Burnley 4211373720759273464541.185+1044
8 Bolton Wanderers 42133550245412213471581.224+1343
9 Sunderland 42108344367113365980950.842–1543
10 Luton Town 42124544275412223766641.031+242
11 Newcastle United 42124549245313364685701.214+541
12 Portsmouth 4298446387113324778850.918–741
13 West Bromwich Albion 42133537255214214558700.829–1241
14 Charlton Athletic 42132647264413285575810.926–640
15 Everton 42115537294512184055690.797–1440
16 Chelsea 42104732264710325164770.831–1339
17 Cardiff City 42114636324512193755690.797–1439
18 Tottenham Hotspur 4294837336312243861710.859–1037
19 Preston North End 42651032368310413673721.014+136
20 Aston Villa 4296632292712204052690.754–1735
21 Huddersfield Town 4294832305313225354830.651–2935
22 Sheffield United 4286731354314324263770.818–1433

P = 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
League Champions, qualified for European Cup
FA Cup winners
Welsh Cup winners
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1955-58
Relegated

First Division results

Home ╲ Away ARS AST BIRBLPBOLBURCARCHACHEEVEHUDLUTMCIMUNNEWPORPNESHUSUNTOTWBAWOL
Arsenal 10 10 41 31 01 31 24 11 32 20 30 00 11 10 13 32 21 31 01 20 22
Aston Villa 11 00 11 02 20 20 11 14 20 30 10 03 44 30 13 32 32 14 02 30 00
Birmingham City 40 22 12 52 12 21 40 30 62 50 00 43 22 31 32 03 02 12 30 20 00
Blackpool 31 60 20 00 11 21 50 21 40 42 32 01 00 51 23 26 11 73 02 51 21
Bolton Wanderers 41 10 60 13 01 40 13 40 11 22 40 13 31 32 40 00 21 03 32 40 21
Burnley 01 20 32 02 20 02 21 50 01 20 31 22 00 31 30 12 11 40 20 12 12
Cardiff City 12 10 21 10 10 22 31 11 31 12 20 41 01 11 23 31 32 31 00 13 19
Charlton Athletic 20 31 20 12 31 21 00 12 02 41 22 52 30 02 61 21 32 21 12 51 02
Chelsea 20 00 12 21 02 00 21 31 61 00 00 21 24 21 15 01 10 23 20 20 23
Everton 11 21 51 10 10 11 20 32 33 52 01 11 42 00 02 04 14 12 21 20 21
Huddersfield Town 01 11 11 31 31 10 12 40 13 10 02 33 02 26 10 22 12 40 10 10 13
Luton Town 00 21 01 31 00 23 30 21 22 22 12 32 02 42 10 21 21 82 21 02 51
Manchester City 22 22 11 20 20 13 31 02 22 30 10 32 10 12 41 02 31 42 12 20 22
Manchester United 11 10 21 21 10 20 11 51 30 21 30 31 21 52 10 32 31 21 22 31 43
Newcastle United 20 23 22 12 30 31 40 41 11 12 11 40 31 00 21 50 42 31 12 03 31
Portsmouth 52 22 05 33 33 31 11 40 44 10 52 00 24 32 02 02 11 21 41 11 21
Preston North End 01 01 11 33 01 42 12 22 23 01 12 21 03 31 43 21 02 22 33 01 20
Sheffield United 02 22 03 21 13 12 21 00 21 11 31 04 11 10 21 13 31 23 20 22 33
Sunderland 31 51 10 00 00 44 11 32 43 00 41 12 03 22 16 42 22 32 32 21 11
Tottenham Hotspur 31 43 01 11 03 01 11 23 40 11 12 21 21 12 31 11 04 31 23 41 21
West Bromwich Albion 21 10 02 12 20 10 21 33 30 20 12 31 04 14 11 40 32 21 30 10 11
Wolverhampton Wanderers 33 00 10 23 42 31 02 20 21 10 40 12 72 02 21 31 21 32 31 51 32

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.

First Division maps

Locations of the Football League First Division London teams 1955–1956

Second Division

Football League, Second Division
Season 1955–56
Champions Sheffield Wednesday (4th title)
Promoted Leeds United
Relegated Hull City,
Plymouth Argyle
Matches played 462
Goals scored 1628 (3.52 per match)
Top goalscorer Willie Gardiner (Leicester City), 34 [3]
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GA GD Pts
1Sheffield Wednesday42135360288854134101621.629+3955
2 Leeds United 42173151186312294280601.333+2052
3 Liverpool 42143452257311333885631.349+2248
4 Blackburn Rovers 42134455298211293684651.292+1948
5 Leicester City 42153363236312315594781.205+1948
6 Bristol Rovers 42133553338310313784701.200+1648
7 Nottingham Forest 4295730261047383768631.079+1447
8 Lincoln City 42145249174512304879651.215+546
9 Fulham 42152459275412305289791.127+1446
10 Swansea Town 42144349236213345883811.025+1046
11 Bristol City 42144349205313314480641.250+245
12 Port Vale 4212453821498223760581.034+245
13 Stoke City 42132647277212243571621.145+1644
14 Middlesbrough 42114646315412304776780.974–240
15 Bury 4295744397311425186900.956–440
16 West Ham United 42124552272712224274691.072+539
17 Doncaster Rovers 42115545301614246669960.719–2735
18 Barnsley 42105633351713144947840.560–3734
19 Rotherham United 4275929345412274156750.747–1933
20 Notts County 4285839373414164555820.671–2731
21 Plymouth Argyle 4276833253216216254870.621–3328
22 Hull City 42641132454215215253970.546–4426

P = 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

Second Division results

Home ╲ Away BAR BLB BRIBROBRYDONFULHULLEELEILINLIVMIDNOTNTCPLYPTVROTSHWSTKSWAWHU
Barnsley 21 00 43 33 22 30 21 21 01 10 05 04 11 31 12 12 32 03 10 32 11
Blackburn Rovers 51 46 20 31 11 10 20 23 23 02 33 21 22 20 21 71 31 22 30 30 41
Bristol City 20 20 11 31 41 21 52 01 11 51 21 20 00 13 60 00 52 32 01 21 31
Bristol Rovers 11 10 03 42 42 22 42 41 21 30 12 72 41 20 21 12 14 42 42 12 11
Bury 30 04 11 01 51 15 32 10 31 33 14 11 12 40 71 22 21 25 10 24 11
Doncaster Rovers 11 22 32 21 23 42 30 12 62 20 10 01 13 11 31 30 11 22 24 31 21
Fulham 51 30 30 35 31 40 50 12 32 30 31 41 43 11 21 14 11 12 20 41 31
Hull City 41 03 13 12 23 11 22 14 24 21 12 22 03 20 01 21 03 22 32 14 31
Leeds United 31 12 21 21 10 30 61 10 40 10 42 20 30 10 42 11 41 21 10 22 33
Leicester City 00 02 22 42 50 30 21 12 52 40 31 11 52 40 51 41 31 12 31 61 21
Lincoln City 40 30 20 20 42 11 61 20 11 71 20 12 13 20 10 10 11 22 21 31 11
Liverpool 11 12 21 02 42 12 70 30 10 31 21 11 52 21 41 41 20 03 22 41 31
Middlesbrough 11 10 21 01 13 41 11 51 53 43 42 12 32 30 12 11 01 22 13 41 20
Nottingham Forest 10 11 02 11 02 50 10 21 20 20 22 13 24 02 31 22 10 01 23 21 00
Notts County 22 12 32 52 21 32 34 02 21 11 22 21 50 13 30 00 12 11 13 15 01
Plymouth Argyle 30 10 50 01 14 22 00 11 43 01 14 40 40 12 11 11 31 11 01 01 01
Port Vale 12 41 20 11 11 20 21 01 20 23 11 11 32 02 31 31 41 01 10 30 21
Rotherham United 00 32 13 10 13 33 23 02 02 31 22 01 21 21 11 00 10 23 01 23 32
Sheffield Wednesday 30 51 21 42 33 52 23 41 40 11 53 11 31 12 10 52 40 02 40 22 11
Stoke City 21 12 42 12 02 52 12 41 21 20 30 32 25 11 02 41 11 10 20 50 30
Swansea Town 31 21 21 12 53 20 20 41 11 61 02 21 21 01 51 22 00 41 21 00 42
West Ham United 40 23 30 21 32 61 21 11 11 13 24 20 10 12 61 40 02 11 33 20 51

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.

Second Division maps

Third Division North

Football League, Third Division North
Season 1955–56
Champions Grimsby Town (2nd title)
Failed re-election none
Matches played 552
Goals scored 1771 (3.21 per match)
Top goalscorer Bob Crosbie (Grimsby Town), 36 [3]
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GA GD Pts
1Grimsby Town46201254101157221976292.621+4768
2 Derby County 4618416723103104332110552.000+5563
3 Accrington Stanley 46174261198510313892571.614+3559
4 Hartlepools United 46182347158312344581601.350+2157
5 Southport 461292391811210273566531.245+1357
6 Chesterfield 46181461217313334594661.424+2854
7 Stockport County 46164365225513253990611.475+2951
8 Bradford City 46165257252813213978641.219+1449
9 Scunthorpe & Lindsey United 46124740268411353775631.190+1248
10 Workington 46134647206512284375631.190+1247
11 York City 46124744247511414885721.181+1347
12 Rochdale 46135546394811204566840.786–1247
13 Gateshead 46154456322714215277840.917–745
14 Wrexham 46115737285513294566730.904–742
15 Darlington 46116641285315194560730.822–1341
16 Tranmere Rovers 46114833255513265959840.702–2541
17 Chester 46108535333614174952820.634–3040
18 Mansfield Town 46136459211517256084811.037+339
19 Halifax Town 46106740274514264966760.868–1039
20 Oldham Athletic 46712448363614285076860.884–1038
21 Carlisle United 46113945364514265971950.747–2438
22 Barrow 46116644251319175861830.735–2233
23 Bradford Park Avenue 461346473803201484611220.500–6133
24 Crewe Alexandra 469410323506171870501050.476–5528

P = 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)

Third Division North results

Home ╲ Away ACC BRW BRABPACRLCHRCHFCREDARDERGATGRIHALHARMANOLDROCSCUSOUSTPTRAWRKWREYOR
Accrington Stanley (1891) 20 20 70 10 40 51 51 21 20 22 01 22 10 31 22 30 20 42 31 00 51 31 13
Barrow 31 31 22 00 12 31 50 01 12 40 00 22 32 41 41 20 22 02 20 11 20 03 01
Bradford City 21 11 50 00 11 35 31 30 21 31 02 20 20 42 00 22 43 20 41 50 20 43 31
Bradford Park Avenue 10 32 11 21 11 05 20 30 24 31 21 11 13 03 41 33 20 03 20 45 40 42 21
Carlisle United 04 20 00 41 41 11 41 20 03 21 12 22 03 52 31 12 12 40 41 03 24 01 31
Chester 11 10 11 00 33 21 00 21 25 30 20 10 01 43 32 00 35 13 14 00 10 21 22
Chesterfield 01 20 11 51 21 21 80 21 20 30 10 30 23 21 10 72 20 51 23 20 24 20 31
Crewe Alexandra 03 01 14 42 31 00 03 11 21 10 00 14 13 21 12 20 12 11 31 40 21 12 12
Darlington 20 42 11 41 35 01 21 41 10 00 01 12 00 31 21 20 10 01 00 62 22 22 14
Derby County 62 21 41 40 30 31 30 33 62 41 13 41 32 40 20 20 22 20 20 00 22 20 32
Gateshead 40 32 41 30 23 11 33 41 01 24 20 11 21 30 13 41 10 20 21 33 43 21 32
Grimsby Town 30 30 20 20 10 61 30 51 10 21 31 40 10 20 51 11 01 20 30 10 12 10 21
Halifax Town 20 10 32 60 22 01 30 20 30 22 33 01 02 11 51 11 03 01 10 02 20 11 24
Hartlepool United 00 10 10 31 30 31 30 61 30 20 31 12 32 42 10 10 02 10 00 40 10 32 01
Mansfield Town 32 40 00 50 01 30 01 11 33 11 31 02 31 51 20 60 32 01 22 60 00 61 31
Oldham Athletic 13 61 11 51 22 41 22 11 33 11 12 11 13 32 11 22 21 11 32 41 01 11 22
Rochdale 11 51 31 42 52 42 15 10 10 05 11 20 21 14 11 44 32 13 00 13 10 10 31
Scunthorpe United 23 20 20 42 40 21 20 11 01 02 11 01 10 51 30 21 12 01 15 21 31 11 11
Southport 11 21 31 30 30 10 10 50 01 25 20 20 20 00 11 11 20 22 11 10 00 11 33
Stockport County 12 41 10 00 81 21 21 21 21 21 12 00 31 40 72 00 00 32 40 70 45 40 41
Tranmere 41 11 11 41 01 40 01 21 01 01 11 01 21 22 10 03 21 21 12 21 20 02 21
Workington 00 61 21 40 40 00 01 10 20 03 61 00 20 51 21 43 01 12 23 01 30 31 00
Wrexham 14 00 21 10 52 00 30 42 21 31 11 10 12 13 20 11 00 01 21 01 31 01 45
York City 01 32 02 50 31 30 31 11 40 10 10 34 50 30 11 20 12 00 01 10 24 11 13

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.

Third Division North maps

Third Division South

Football League, Third Division South
Season 1955–56
Champions Leyton Orient (1st title)
Failed re-election none
Matches played 552
Goals scored 1772 (3.21 per match)
Top goalscorer Sammy Collins (Torquay United), 40 [3]
Pos Team Pld W D L F A W D L F A F A GA GD Pts
1Leyton Orient461832762011573029106492.163+5766
2 Brighton & Hove Albion 46202173169593934112502.240+6265
3 Ipswich Town 46166159289864732106601.767+4664
4 Southend United 46164358255711305588801.100+853
5 Torquay United 461110248219212384286631.365+2352
6 Brentford 4611844030869293669661.045+352
7 Norwich City 46154456314910305186821.049+451
8 Coventry City 46164354204514194073601.217+1349
9 Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 46136439146413243763511.235+1248
10 Gillingham 4612383828779314369710.972–348
11 Northampton Town 46143644276413234467710.944–347
12 Colchester United 46144556374712204476810.938–547
13 Shrewsbury Town 46129247215315224569661.045+346
14 Southampton 46136460305216315191811.123+1044
15 Aldershot 4699536333713345770900.778–2040
16 Exeter City 46106739305414194758770.753–1940
17 Reading 461021140375711304270790.886–939
18 Queens Park Rangers 46107644324415205464860.744–2239
19 Newport County 46122932263713265358790.734–2139
20 Walsall 46135543282318255668840.810–1638
21 Watford 46851031395612214652850.612–2337
22 Millwall 461346563122192769831000.830–1736
23 Crystal Palace 46731327325711275154830.651–2934
24 Swindon Town 46410918224415165634780.436–4430

P = 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)

Third Division South results

Home ╲ Away ALD BOU BREBHACOLCOVCRYEXEGILIPSLEYMILNPCNORNORQPRREASHRSOUSTDSWITORWALWAT
Aldershot 13 41 03 10 22 11 10 22 03 11 21 10 20 00 12 44 20 32 33 11 12 21 11
Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic 22 00 20 31 01 10 00 12 11 31 40 00 00 01 10 21 20 13 41 40 20 20 40
Brentford 20 21 42 22 11 30 20 14 32 10 22 11 21 12 20 22 11 21 21 12 13 22 00
Brighton & Hove Albion 52 41 30 20 21 50 10 50 30 11 21 41 40 60 11 31 32 50 40 20 32 30 23
Colchester United 40 10 03 33 20 24 51 11 33 21 12 21 20 32 41 03 20 32 36 50 32 11 41
Coventry City 11 31 21 32 20 13 22 20 31 30 51 30 01 53 41 00 21 20 00 60 12 10 30
Crystal Palace 10 13 02 12 11 30 01 13 10 12 22 10 23 20 11 23 01 02 12 02 30 20 12
Exeter City 21 20 23 05 00 23 61 21 22 11 31 20 31 11 20 02 30 32 01 12 00 11 12
Gillingham 20 21 12 10 21 11 11 21 00 01 43 32 02 31 02 20 31 12 23 40 13 01 30
Ipswich Town 21 10 11 21 31 10 33 22 11 20 62 32 10 41 41 33 21 42 30 62 02 52 00
Leyton Orient 83 30 21 01 60 31 80 11 20 12 21 31 11 22 71 10 52 40 30 40 32 40 31
Millwall 33 40 40 24 01 02 11 20 50 05 50 24 41 10 20 40 12 32 50 11 32 32 11
Newport County 01 10 12 10 00 42 01 12 32 21 30 14 01 22 21 23 12 10 20 10 21 20 01
Northampton Town 32 21 10 30 02 21 11 30 02 05 01 40 50 11 52 12 10 31 11 21 20 31 13
Norwich City 01 02 10 33 11 10 31 21 51 32 22 41 23 41 10 21 31 14 72 41 00 32 41
Queens Park Rangers 22 01 11 21 62 12 03 10 22 11 01 40 00 32 23 33 11 40 12 10 31 32 32
Reading 05 02 52 02 13 10 10 12 12 15 01 41 30 41 22 31 01 11 41 01 03 20 61
Shrewsbury Town 33 11 11 21 21 30 20 20 31 11 14 31 50 11 60 11 30 20 11 11 12 21 00
Southampton 31 32 11 12 30 30 31 50 11 22 12 30 33 23 25 40 52 11 00 21 62 41 20
Southend 32 41 22 12 40 30 43 60 22 23 00 31 41 20 31 51 10 10 21 00 23 32 10
Swindon Town 11 22 01 00 31 11 00 01 01 01 12 10 12 01 11 01 00 21 11 11 21 12 00
Torquay United 50 00 31 00 12 00 11 31 11 22 13 30 11 31 11 20 00 50 32 22 40 32 41
Walsall 42 00 12 22 00 20 40 31 21 13 02 21 33 20 20 22 10 10 13 31 40 14 21
Watford 11 02 02 13 11 21 02 23 01 02 04 42 11 22 11 01 10 34 10 32 21 21 42

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.

Third Division South maps

Locations of the Football League Third Division South London teams 1955–1956

See also

References

  1. "England 1955-56". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 2010-02-24.
  2. 1 2 Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 2010-10-31.
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