1938–39 Football League

The Football League

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

The 1938–39 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 and in Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79, with home and away statistics separated.

Match results are drawn from The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website and Rothmans 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.

From the 1922–23 season, the bottom two teams of both Third Division North and Third Division South were required to apply for re-election.

First Division

First Division

Season	1938–39
Champions	Everton 5th English title
Relegated	Birmingham Leicester City
Matches played	462
Goals scored	1,418 (3.07 per match)
Top goalscorer	Tommy Lawton (35 goals)
Biggest home win	Middlesbrough 9–2 Blackpool (10 December 1938) Wolverhampton Wanderers 7–0 Everton (22 February 1939)
Biggest away win	Leicester City 1–5 Charlton Athletic (9 February 1939) Charlton Athletic 0–4 Wolverhampton Wanderers (10 December 1938) Sunderland 1–5 Aston Villa (26 December 1938)
Highest scoring	Middlesbrough 9–2 Blackpool (10 December 1938)
← 1937–38 1939–40 →

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

Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) 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: [1]
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

Arsenal

Brentford

Charlton Athletic

Chelsea

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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

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Locations of the Football League First Division teams

Second Division

Second Division

Season	1938–39
Champions	Blackburn Rovers
Promoted	Blackburn Rovers Sheffield United
Relegated	Norwich City Tranmere Rovers
Matches played	462
Goals scored	1,441 (3.12 per match)
Top goalscorer	Hugh Billington (28 goals)
Biggest home win	Sheffield Wednesday 7–0 Norwich City (19 November 1938)
Biggest away win	Tranmere Rovers 3–9 Manchester City (26 December 1938)
Highest scoring	Tranmere Rovers 3–9 Manchester City (26 December 1938)
← 1937–38 1939–40 →

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Blackburn Rovers (C, P)	42	25	5	12	94	60	1.567	55	Promotion to the First Division
2	Sheffield United (P)	42	20	14	8	69	41	1.683	54
3	Sheffield Wednesday	42	21	11	10	88	59	1.492	53
4	Coventry City	42	21	8	13	62	45	1.378	50
5	Manchester City	42	21	7	14	96	72	1.333	49
6	Chesterfield	42	20	9	13	69	52	1.327	49
7	Luton Town	42	22	5	15	82	66	1.242	49
8	Tottenham Hotspur	42	19	9	14	67	62	1.081	47
9	Newcastle United	42	18	10	14	61	48	1.271	46
10	West Bromwich Albion	42	18	9	15	89	72	1.236	45
11	West Ham United	42	17	10	15	70	52	1.346	44
12	Fulham	42	17	10	15	61	55	1.109	44
13	Millwall	42	14	14	14	64	53	1.208	42
14	Burnley	42	15	9	18	50	56	0.893	39
15	Plymouth Argyle	42	15	8	19	49	55	0.891	38
16	Bury	42	12	13	17	65	74	0.878	37
17	Bradford Park Avenue	42	12	11	19	61	82	0.744	35
18	Southampton	42	13	9	20	56	82	0.683	35
19	Swansea Town	42	11	12	19	50	83	0.602	34
20	Nottingham Forest	42	10	11	21	49	82	0.598	31
21	Norwich City (R)	42	13	5	24	50	91	0.549	31	Relegation to the Third Division South
22	Tranmere Rovers (R)	42	6	5	31	39	99	0.394	17	Relegation to the Third Division North

Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) 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

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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

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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
← 1937–38 1939–40 →

Pos	Team	Pld	HW	HD	HL	HGF	HGA	AW	AD	AL	AGF	AGA	GAv	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

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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
← 1937–38 1939–40 →

Pos	Team	Pld	HW	HD	HL	HGF	HGA	AW	AD	AL	AGF	AGA	GAv	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Newport County	42	15	4	2	37	16	7	7	7	21	29	1.289	55	Division Champions, promoted
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	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	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	Re-elected
22	Bristol Rovers	42	8	8	5	30	17	2	5	14	25	44	0.902	33

Source:
Notes:

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

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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

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Locations of the Football League Third Division South teams

Attendances

Aston Villa drew the highest average home attendance in the 47th edition of the Football League.

#	Football club	Home games	Average attendance
1	Aston Villa	21	39,932
2	Arsenal FC	21	39,102
3	Everton FC	21	35,040
4	Liverpool FC	21	31,422
5	Chelsea FC	21	30,999
6	Manchester United	21	30,365
7	Wolverhampton Wanderers	21	29,328
8	Birmingham FC	21	25,528
9	Charlton Athletic	21	25,141
10	Portsmouth FC	21	23,154
11	Bolton Wanderers	21	23,073
12	Stoke City	21	22,392
13	Brentford FC	21	22,069
14	Sunderland AFC	21	21,740
15	Preston North End	21	21,534
16	Middlesbrough FC	21	21,184
17	Leeds United	21	19,309
18	Blackpool FC	21	19,178
19	Derby County	21	19,101
20	Huddersfield Town	21	16,490
21	Leicester City	21	16,225
22	Grimsby Town	21	12,064

See also

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

References

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