1938–39 Football League

The 1938–39 season was the 47th season of The Football League.

The Football League

Season	1938–39
Champions	Everton
New Team in League	Ipswich Town
← 1937–38 1939–40 →

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	1,418 (3.07 per match)
Top goalscorer	Tommy Lawton (Everton), 35 [3]
Biggest home win	Middlesbrough – Blackpool 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	HW	HD	HL	HGF	HGA	AW	AD	AL	AGF	AGA	GR	Pts
1	Everton	42	17	3	1	60	18	10	2	9	28	34	1.692	59
2	Wolverhampton Wanderers	42	14	6	1	55	12	8	5	8	33	27	2.256	55
3	Charlton Athletic	42	16	3	2	49	24	6	3	12	26	35	1.271	50
4	Middlesbrough	42	13	6	2	64	27	7	3	11	29	47	1.257	49
5	Arsenal	42	14	3	4	34	14	5	6	10	21	27	1.341	47
6	Derby County	42	12	3	6	39	22	7	5	9	27	33	1.200	46
7	Stoke City	42	13	6	2	50	25	4	6	11	21	43	1.044	46
8	Bolton Wanderers	42	10	6	5	39	25	5	9	7	28	33	1.155	45
9	Preston North End	42	13	7	1	44	19	3	5	13	19	40	1.068	44
10	Grimsby Town	42	11	6	4	38	26	5	5	11	23	43	0.884	43
11	Liverpool	42	12	6	3	40	24	2	8	11	22	39	0.984	42
12	Aston Villa	42	11	3	7	44	25	5	6	10	27	35	1.183	41
13	Leeds United	42	11	5	5	40	27	5	4	12	19	40	0.881	41
14	Manchester United	42	7	9	5	30	20	4	7	10	27	45	0.877	38
15	Blackpool	42	9	8	4	37	26	3	6	12	19	42	0.824	38
16	Sunderland	42	7	7	7	30	29	6	5	10	24	38	0.806	38
17	Portsmouth	42	10	7	4	25	15	2	6	13	22	55	0.671	37
18	Brentford	42	11	2	8	30	27	3	6	12	23	47	0.716	36
19	Huddersfield Town	42	11	4	6	38	18	1	7	13	20	46	0.906	35
20	Chelsea	42	10	5	6	43	29	2	4	15	21	51	0.800	33
21	Birmingham	42	10	5	6	40	27	2	3	16	22	57	0.738	32
22	Leicester City	42	7	6	8	35	35	2	5	14	13	47	0.585	29

Source:

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	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

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

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 teams

Second Division

Football League
Second Division

Season	1938–39
Champions	Blackburn Rovers (1st title)
Relegated	Norwich City Tranmere Rovers
Matches played	462
Goals scored	1,441 (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	HW	HD	HL	HGF	HGA	AW	AD	AL	AGF	AGA	GR	Pts
1	Blackburn Rovers	42	17	1	3	59	23	8	4	9	35	37	1.567	55
2	Sheffield United	42	9	9	3	35	15	11	5	5	34	26	1.683	54
3	Sheffield Wednesday	42	14	4	3	47	18	7	7	7	41	41	1.492	53
4	Coventry City	42	13	4	4	35	13	8	4	9	27	32	1.378	50
5	Manchester City	42	13	3	5	56	35	8	4	9	40	37	1.333	49
6	Chesterfield	42	16	1	4	54	20	4	8	9	15	32	1.327	49
7	Luton Town	42	13	4	4	47	27	9	1	11	35	39	1.242	49
8	Tottenham Hotspur	42	13	6	2	48	27	6	3	12	19	35	1.081	47
9	Newcastle United	42	13	3	5	44	21	5	7	9	17	27	1.271	46
10	West Bromwich Albion	42	15	3	3	54	22	3	6	12	35	50	1.236	45
11	West Ham United	42	10	5	6	36	21	7	5	9	34	31	1.346	44
12	Fulham	42	12	5	4	35	20	5	5	11	26	35	1.109	44
13	Millwall	42	12	6	3	44	18	2	8	11	20	35	1.208	42
14	Burnley	42	13	3	5	32	20	2	6	13	18	36	0.893	39
15	Plymouth Argyle	42	9	7	5	24	13	6	1	14	25	42	0.891	38
16	Bury	42	9	5	7	48	36	3	8	10	17	38	0.878	37
17	Bradford Park Avenue	42	8	6	7	33	35	4	5	12	28	47	0.744	35
18	Southampton	42	9	6	6	35	34	4	3	14	21	48	0.683	35
19	Swansea Town	42	8	6	7	33	30	3	6	12	17	53	0.602	34
20	Nottingham Forest	42	8	6	7	33	29	2	5	14	16	53	0.598	31
21	Norwich City	42	10	5	6	39	29	3	0	18	11	62	0.549	31
22	Tranmere Rovers	42	6	4	11	26	38	0	1	20	13	61	0.394	17

Source:

Key
	Division Champions, promoted
	Promoted
	Relegated

Results

Home \ Away	BLB	BPA	BUR	BRY	CHF	COV	FUL	LUT	MCI	MIL	NEW	NWC	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

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

Millwall

Tottenham

West Ham

Locations of the Football League Second Division London teams

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 teams

Third Division North

Football League
Third Division North

Season	1938–1939
Champions	Barnsley (2nd title)
Failed re-election	None
Matches played	462
Goals scored	1,609 (3.48 per match)
Top goalscorer	Wally Hunt (Carlisle United), 32 [3]
← 1937–38 1939–40 →

Pos	Team	Pld	HW	HD	HL	HGF	HGA	AW	AD	AL	AGF	AGA	GR	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Barnsley	42	18	2	1	60	12	12	5	4	34	22	2.765	67	Division Champions, promoted
2	Doncaster Rovers	42	12	5	4	47	21	9	9	3	40	26	1.851	56
3	Bradford City	42	16	2	3	59	21	6	6	9	30	35	1.589	52
4	Southport	42	14	5	2	47	16	6	5	10	28	38	1.389	50
5	Oldham Athletic	42	16	1	4	51	21	6	4	11	25	38	1.288	49
6	Chester	42	12	5	4	54	31	8	4	9	34	39	1.257	49
7	Hull City	42	13	5	3	57	25	5	5	11	26	49	1.122	46
8	Crewe Alexandra	42	12	5	4	54	23	7	1	13	28	47	1.171	44
9	Stockport County	42	13	6	2	57	24	4	3	14	34	53	1.182	43
10	Gateshead	42	11	6	4	45	24	3	8	10	29	43	1.104	42
11	Rotherham United	42	12	4	5	45	21	5	4	12	19	43	1.000	42
12	Halifax Town	42	9	10	2	33	22	4	6	11	19	32	0.963	42
13	Barrow	42	11	5	5	46	22	5	4	12	20	43	1.015	41
14	Wrexham	42	15	2	4	46	28	2	5	14	20	51	0.835	41
15	Rochdale	42	10	5	6	58	29	5	4	12	34	53	1.122	39
16	New Brighton	42	11	2	8	46	32	4	7	10	22	41	0.932	39
17	Lincoln City	42	9	6	6	40	33	3	3	15	26	59	0.717	33
18	Darlington	42	12	2	7	43	30	1	5	15	19	62	0.674	33
19	Carlisle United	42	10	5	6	44	33	3	2	16	22	78	0.595	33
20	York City	42	8	5	8	37	34	4	3	14	27	58	0.696	32
21	Hartlepools United	42	10	4	7	36	33	2	3	16	19	61	0.585	31	Re-elected
22	Accrington Stanley	42	6	5	10	30	39	1	1	19	19	64	0.476	20

Source: rsssf.com

Results

Home \ Away	ACC	BAR	BRW	BRA	CRL	CHE	CRE	DAR	DON	GAT	HAL	HAR	HUL	LIN	NWB	OLD	ROC	ROT	SOU	STP	WRE	YOR
Accrington Stanley		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	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

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

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

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	1,319 (2.85 per match)
Top goalscorer	Ben Morton (Swindon Town), 28 [3][4]
← 1937–38 1939–40 →

Pos	Team	Pld	HW	HD	HL	HGF	HGA	AW	AD	AL	AGF	AGA	GR	Pts
1	Newport County	42	15	4	2	37	16	7	7	7	21	29	1.289	55
2	Crystal Palace	42	15	4	2	49	18	5	8	8	22	34	1.365	52
3	Brighton & Hove Albion	42	14	5	2	43	14	5	6	10	25	35	1.388	49
4	Watford	42	14	6	1	44	15	3	6	12	18	36	1.216	46
5	Reading	42	12	6	3	46	23	4	8	9	23	36	1.169	46
6	Queens Park Rangers	42	10	8	3	44	15	5	6	10	24	34	1.388	44
7	Ipswich Town[lower-alpha 1]	42	14	3	4	46	21	2	9	10	16	31	1.192	44
8	Bristol City	42	14	5	2	42	19	2	7	12	19	44	0.968	44
9	Swindon Town	42	15	4	2	53	25	3	4	14	19	52	0.935	44
10	Aldershot	42	13	6	2	31	15	3	6	12	22	51	0.803	44
11	Notts County	42	12	6	3	36	16	5	3	13	23	38	1.093	43
12	Southend United	42	14	5	2	38	13	2	4	15	23	51	0.953	41
13	Cardiff City	42	12	1	8	40	28	3	10	8	21	37	0.938	41
14	Exeter City	42	9	9	3	40	32	4	5	12	25	50	0.793	40
15	Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	42	10	8	3	38	22	3	5	13	14	36	0.897	39
16	Mansfield Town	42	10	8	3	33	19	2	7	12	11	43	0.710	39
17	Northampton Town	42	13	5	3	41	20	2	3	16	10	38	0.879	38
18	Port Vale[lower-alpha 2]	42	10	5	6	36	23	4	4	13	16	35	0.897	37
19	Torquay United	42	7	5	9	27	28	7	4	10	27	42	0.771	37
20	Clapton Orient	42	10	9	2	40	16	1	4	16	13	39	0.964	35
21	Walsall	42	9	6	6	47	23	2	5	14	21	46	0.986	33
22	Bristol Rovers	42	8	8	5	30	17	2	5	14	25	44	0.902	33

Source:
Notes:

1. New club in the league
2. Port Vale had been transferred to Third Division South for this season.

Key
	Division Champions, promoted
	Re-elected

Results

Home \ Away	ALD	B&BA	B&HA	BRI	BRR	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

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

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 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

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.