# 1952–53 Football League

The 1952–53 season was the 54th 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 and in Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79, 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.
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

Arsenal won their second league title of the postwar era, finishing ahead of runners-up Preston North End on goal average - denying them a first league title since they won the first two English Football League titles more than 60 years earlier. Preston defeated Arsenal in a 2-0 home win in the second last match of the season on 25 April, which was followed by another win at Derby four days later. But Arsenal's 3-2 win in their final match against Burnley on 1 May meant that it was Arsenal who clinched the title on goal average.
Wolverhampton Wanderers bounced back after two disappointing seasons to finish third, three points short of the title. They finished one point ahead of their local rivals West Bromwich Albion. Twelve goals were scored when Blackpool defeated Charlton Athletic 8-4 on 25 September, but Charlton would eventually finish two places higher in the table at fifth place. Defending champions Manchester United, in a period of transition as the team captained by Johnny Carey started to make way for a younger generation of players, finished eighth.
Stoke City and Derby County, who had been among the First Division's leading lights in the first few postwar seasons, went down to the Second Division after several seasons of gradually declining form. Liverpool, the 1947 champions, avoided the drop by just two points.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Relegation |
| 1 | Arsenal (C) | 42 | 21 | 12 | 9 | 97 | 64 | 1.516 | 54 | |
| 2 | Preston North End | 42 | 21 | 12 | 9 | 85 | 60 | 1.417 | 54 | |
| 3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42 | 19 | 13 | 10 | 86 | 63 | 1.365 | 51 | |
| 4 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 21 | 8 | 13 | 66 | 60 | 1.100 | 50 | |
| 5 | Charlton Athletic | 42 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 77 | 63 | 1.222 | 49 | |
| 6 | Burnley | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 67 | 52 | 1.288 | 48 | |
| 7 | Blackpool | 42 | 19 | 9 | 14 | 71 | 70 | 1.014 | 47 | |
| 8 | Manchester United | 42 | 18 | 10 | 14 | 69 | 72 | 0.958 | 46 | |
| 9 | Sunderland | 42 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 68 | 82 | 0.829 | 43 | |
| 10 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 78 | 69 | 1.130 | 41 | |
| 11 | Aston Villa | 42 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 63 | 61 | 1.033 | 41 | |
| 12 | Cardiff City | 42 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 54 | 46 | 1.174 | 40 | |
| 13 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 70 | 77 | 0.909 | 39 | |
| 14 | Bolton Wanderers | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 61 | 69 | 0.884 | 39 | |
| 15 | Portsmouth | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 74 | 83 | 0.892 | 38 | |
| 16 | Newcastle United | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 59 | 70 | 0.843 | 37 | |
| 17 | Liverpool | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 61 | 82 | 0.744 | 36 | |
| 18 | Sheffield Wednesday | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 62 | 72 | 0.861 | 35 | |
| 19 | Chelsea | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 56 | 66 | 0.848 | 35 | |
| 20 | Manchester City | 42 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 72 | 87 | 0.828 | 35 | |
| 21 | Stoke City (R) | 42 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 53 | 66 | 0.803 | 34 | Relegation to the Second Division |
| 22 | Derby County (R) | 42 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 59 | 74 | 0.797 | 32 | Relegation to the Second Division |

### Results

| Home \ Away | ARS | AST | BLP | BOL | BUR | CAR | CHA | CHE | DER | LIV | MCI | MUN | MID | NEW | POR | PNE | SHW | STK | SUN | TOT | WBA | WOL |
| Arsenal | | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 3–4 | 2–0 | 6–2 | 5–3 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 5–3 |
| Aston Villa | 1–2 | | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 6–0 | 1–0 | 4–3 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 |
| Blackpool | 3–2 | 1–1 | | 3–0 | 4–2 | 0–1 | 8–4 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 4–6 | 0–0 | 4–0 | | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 5–3 | 4–2 | 0–5 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 2–1 |
| Burnley | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 0–0 |
| Cardiff City | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | | 0–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 6–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 |
| Charlton Athletic | 2–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 |
| Chelsea | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–1 | | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 5–3 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 |
| Derby County | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 4–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | | 3–2 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 |
| Liverpool | 1–5 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | | 0–1 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 5–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 |
| Manchester City | 2–4 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | | 2–1 | 5–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–5 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 |
| Manchester United | 0–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 5–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 0–3 |
| Middlesbrough | 2–0 | 1–0 | 5–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 5–4 | 5–0 | | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 1–1 |
| Newcastle United | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | | 1–0 | 4–3 | 1–5 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–5 | 1–1 |
| Portsmouth | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 5–1 | | 2–5 | 5–2 | 1–1 | 5–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 |
| Preston North End | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 6–2 | 0–5 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 4–0 | | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 1–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–4 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–5 | 2–3 |
| Stoke City | 1–1 | 1–4 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–4 | 0–0 | 1–3 | | 3–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–2 |
| Sunderland | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | | 1–1 | 1–0 | 5–2 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 1–3 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 5–2 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 1–2 | 7–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 4–4 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | | 3–4 | 3–2 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 2–0 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | | 1–1 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–5 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 7–3 | 6–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | |

### Maps
## Second Division

Sheffield United were champions of the Second Division, scoring 97 goals in the process. Their season included two runs of eleven league matches in a row without defeat, in October-December and February-April respectively.
Huddersfield Town finished second, two points behind and were promoted to the First Division. Luton Town were contenders for promotion, but a poor finish without a win in their last four games left them six points behind Huddersfield in third place.
Everton recorded their lowest ever league position, finishing 16th in an uneven season that included a 7-1 victory over Doncaster and a 8-2 defeat against Huddersfield.
Southampton were relegated along with Barnsley, who finished bottom after a poor season that included just five wins, 108 conceded goals and a late run of nine consecutive defeats.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Sheffield United (C, P) | 42 | 25 | 10 | 7 | 97 | 55 | 1.764 | 60 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 2 | Huddersfield Town (P) | 42 | 24 | 10 | 8 | 84 | 33 | 2.545 | 58 | Promotion to the First Division |
| 3 | Luton Town | 42 | 22 | 8 | 12 | 84 | 49 | 1.714 | 52 | |
| 4 | Plymouth Argyle | 42 | 20 | 9 | 13 | 65 | 60 | 1.083 | 49 | |
| 5 | Leicester City | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 89 | 74 | 1.203 | 48 | |
| 6 | Birmingham City | 42 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 71 | 66 | 1.076 | 48 | |
| 7 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 77 | 67 | 1.149 | 44 | |
| 8 | Fulham | 42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 81 | 71 | 1.141 | 44 | |
| 9 | Blackburn Rovers | 42 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 68 | 65 | 1.046 | 44 | |
| 10 | Leeds United | 42 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 71 | 63 | 1.127 | 43 | |
| 11 | Swansea Town | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 78 | 81 | 0.963 | 42 | |
| 12 | Rotherham United | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 75 | 74 | 1.014 | 41 | |
| 13 | Doncaster Rovers | 42 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 58 | 64 | 0.906 | 40 | |
| 14 | West Ham United | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 58 | 60 | 0.967 | 39 | |
| 15 | Lincoln City | 42 | 11 | 17 | 14 | 64 | 71 | 0.901 | 39 | |
| 16 | Everton | 42 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 71 | 75 | 0.947 | 38 | |
| 17 | Brentford | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 59 | 76 | 0.776 | 37 | |
| 18 | Hull City | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 57 | 69 | 0.826 | 36 | |
| 19 | Notts County | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 60 | 88 | 0.682 | 36 | |
| 20 | Bury | 42 | 13 | 9 | 20 | 53 | 81 | 0.654 | 35 | |
| 21 | Southampton (R) | 42 | 10 | 13 | 19 | 68 | 85 | 0.800 | 33 | Relegation to the Third Division South |
| 22 | Barnsley (R) | 42 | 5 | 8 | 29 | 47 | 108 | 0.435 | 18 | Relegation to the Third Division North |

### Results

| Home \ Away | BAR | BIR | BLB | BRE | BRY | DON | EVE | FUL | HUD | HUL | LEE | LEI | LIN | LUT | NOT | NTC | PLY | ROT | SHU | SOU | SWA | WHU |
| Barnsley | | 1–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 |
| Birmingham | 3–1 | | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 4–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–0 |
| Blackburn Rovers | 2–0 | 1–2 | | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 |
| Brentford | 4–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 | | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–4 |
| Bury | 5–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | | 2–1 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 |
| Doncaster Rovers | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 |
| Everton | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 5–0 | 3–0 | 7–1 | | 3–3 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 |
| Fulham | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–0 | | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–6 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 6–0 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 |
| Huddersfield Town | 6–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 8–2 | 4–2 | | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 5–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 |
| Hull City | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 6–0 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 |
| Leeds United | 4–1 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 |
| Leicester City | 2–2 | 3–4 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 6–1 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 3–3 | | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 |
| Lincoln City | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | | 1–2 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 |
| Luton Town | 6–0 | 0–1 | 6–0 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | | 3–0 | 5–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–0 |
| Nottingham Forest | 3–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 4–3 | | 1–0 | 3–1 | 4–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 6–4 | 0–0 |
| Notts County | 1–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 4–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–2 | | 0–4 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 3–4 | 1–1 |
| Plymouth Argyle | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | | 4–3 | 5–2 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Rotherham United | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 6–1 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–3 | | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 |
| Sheffield United | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 7–2 | 6–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 1–4 | | 5–3 | 7–1 | 3–1 |
| Southampton | 1–2 | 1–1 | 6–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 5–3 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 5–2 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 4–4 | | 1–4 | 1–2 |
| Swansea Town | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | | 4–1 |
| West Ham United | 3–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | |

### Maps
## Third Division North

| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Oldham Athletic (C, P) | 46 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 48 | 21 | 7 | 11 | 5 | 29 | 24 | 1.711 | 59 | Promoted to the Second Division |
| 2 | Port Vale | 46 | 13 | 9 | 1 | 41 | 10 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 26 | 25 | 1.914 | 58 | |
| 3 | Wrexham | 46 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 59 | 24 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 27 | 42 | 1.303 | 56 | |
| 4 | York City | 46 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 35 | 16 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 25 | 29 | 1.333 | 53 | |
| 5 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 47 | 19 | 6 | 5 | 12 | 28 | 40 | 1.271 | 52 | |
| 6 | Southport | 46 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 42 | 18 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 21 | 42 | 1.050 | 51 | |
| 7 | Bradford Park Avenue | 46 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 37 | 23 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 38 | 38 | 1.230 | 50 | |
| 8 | Gateshead | 46 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 51 | 24 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 25 | 36 | 1.267 | 49 | |
| 9 | Carlisle United | 46 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 57 | 24 | 5 | 6 | 12 | 25 | 44 | 1.206 | 49 | |
| 10 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 46 | 28 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 24 | 40 | 1.029 | 48 | |
| 11 | Stockport County | 46 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 61 | 26 | 4 | 5 | 14 | 21 | 43 | 1.188 | 47 | |
| 12 | Chesterfield | 46 | 13 | 6 | 4 | 40 | 23 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 25 | 40 | 1.032 | 47 | |
| 13 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 16 | 4 | 3 | 45 | 16 | 5 | 1 | 17 | 20 | 47 | 1.032 | 47 | |
| 14 | Halifax Town | 46 | 13 | 5 | 5 | 47 | 31 | 3 | 10 | 10 | 21 | 37 | 1.000 | 47 | |
| 15 | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 46 | 10 | 6 | 7 | 38 | 21 | 6 | 8 | 9 | 24 | 35 | 1.107 | 46 | |
| 16 | Bradford City | 46 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 54 | 29 | 0 | 11 | 12 | 21 | 51 | 0.938 | 46 | |
| 17 | Hartlepools United | 46 | 14 | 6 | 3 | 39 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 18 | 45 | 0.934 | 46 | |
| 18 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 34 | 25 | 5 | 5 | 13 | 21 | 37 | 0.887 | 46 | |
| 19 | Barrow | 46 | 15 | 6 | 2 | 48 | 20 | 1 | 6 | 16 | 18 | 51 | 0.930 | 44 | |
| 20 | Chester | 46 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 39 | 27 | 1 | 8 | 14 | 25 | 58 | 0.753 | 37 | |
| 21 | Darlington | 46 | 13 | 4 | 6 | 33 | 27 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 25 | 69 | 0.604 | 34 | |
| 22 | Rochdale | 46 | 12 | 5 | 6 | 41 | 27 | 2 | 0 | 21 | 21 | 56 | 0.747 | 33 | |
| 23 | Workington | 46 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 40 | 33 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 15 | 58 | 0.604 | 32 | Re-elected |
| 24 | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 7 | 9 | 7 | 25 | 29 | 1 | 2 | 20 | 14 | 60 | 0.438 | 27 | Re-elected |
* ↑ Port Vale had been transferred from Third Division South for this season.

### Results

| Home \ Away | ACC | BRW | BRA | BPA | CRL | CHE | CHF | CRE | DAR | GAT | GRI | HAL | HAR | MAN | OLD | PTV | ROC | SCU | SOU | STP | TRA | WRK | WRE | YOR |
| Accrington Stanley | | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 |
| Barrow | 2–0 | | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 4–3 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 |
| Bradford City | 3–2 | 2–2 | | 2–1 | 7–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 4–3 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 5–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Bradford Park Avenue | 4–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 6–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 |
| Carlisle United | 4–4 | 0–0 | 4–4 | 1–3 | | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 8–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 |
| Chester | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 1–2 | | 2–0 | 2–2 | 6–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 |
| Chesterfield | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–1 | | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 |
| Crewe Alexandra | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–1 | | 0–1 | 4–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 3–3 | 3–0 |
| Darlington | 1–0 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 |
| Gateshead | 5–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 6–1 | 5–1 | | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 |
| Grimsby Town | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 5–4 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | | 2–0 | 7–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 |
| Halifax Town | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 3–2 | | 3–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 5–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 |
| Hartlepool | 4–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 |
| Mansfield Town | 0–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 |
| Oldham Athletic | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–4 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 1–0 | | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 5–2 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–1 |
| Port Vale | 0–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | | 5–2 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 |
| Rochdale | 1–0 | 6–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 0–3 |
| Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 5–2 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 5–1 | | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 |
| Southport | 1–0 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 4–3 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–3 | | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 |
| Stockport County | 3–1 | 6–1 | 6–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | | 3–2 | 6–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 |
| Tranmere | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 5–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | | 3–0 | 4–2 | 1–3 |
| Workington | 3–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | | 4–0 | 1–3 |
| Wrexham | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 7–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 5–2 | 1–0 | 3–0 | | 1–1 |
| York City | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 | |

### Maps
## Third Division South

| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Bristol Rovers | 46 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 55 | 19 | 9 | 8 | 6 | 37 | 27 | 2.000 | 64 | Division Champions, promoted |
| 2 | Millwall | 46 | 14 | 7 | 2 | 46 | 16 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 36 | 28 | 1.864 | 62 | |
| 3 | Northampton Town | 46 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 75 | 30 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 34 | 40 | 1.557 | 62 | |
| 4 | Norwich City | 46 | 16 | 6 | 1 | 56 | 17 | 9 | 4 | 10 | 43 | 38 | 1.800 | 60 | |
| 5 | Bristol City | 46 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 62 | 28 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 33 | 33 | 1.557 | 59 | |
| 6 | Coventry City | 46 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 52 | 22 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 25 | 40 | 1.242 | 50 | |
| 7 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 48 | 30 | 7 | 6 | 10 | 33 | 45 | 1.080 | 50 | |
| 8 | Southend United | 46 | 15 | 5 | 3 | 41 | 21 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 28 | 53 | 0.932 | 49 | |
| 9 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 46 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 49 | 23 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 25 | 46 | 1.072 | 47 | |
| 10 | Watford | 46 | 12 | 8 | 3 | 39 | 21 | 3 | 9 | 11 | 23 | 42 | 0.984 | 47 | |
| 11 | Reading | 46 | 17 | 3 | 3 | 53 | 18 | 2 | 5 | 16 | 16 | 46 | 1.078 | 46 | |
| 12 | Torquay United | 46 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 61 | 28 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 26 | 60 | 0.989 | 45 | |
| 13 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 40 | 26 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 26 | 56 | 0.805 | 43 | |
| 14 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 12 | 7 | 4 | 52 | 28 | 4 | 3 | 16 | 16 | 45 | 0.932 | 42 | |
| 15 | Newport County | 46 | 12 | 4 | 7 | 43 | 34 | 4 | 6 | 13 | 27 | 48 | 0.854 | 42 | |
| 16 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 34 | 28 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 26 | 41 | 0.870 | 41 | |
| 17 | Exeter City | 46 | 11 | 8 | 4 | 40 | 24 | 2 | 6 | 15 | 21 | 47 | 0.859 | 40 | |
| 18 | Swindon Town | 46 | 9 | 5 | 9 | 38 | 33 | 5 | 7 | 11 | 26 | 46 | 0.810 | 40 | |
| 19 | Aldershot | 46 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 36 | 29 | 4 | 7 | 12 | 25 | 48 | 0.792 | 39 | |
| 20 | Queens Park Rangers | 46 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 37 | 34 | 3 | 6 | 14 | 24 | 48 | 0.744 | 39 | |
| 21 | Gillingham | 46 | 10 | 7 | 6 | 30 | 26 | 2 | 8 | 13 | 25 | 48 | 0.743 | 39 | |
| 22 | Colchester United | 46 | 9 | 9 | 5 | 40 | 29 | 3 | 5 | 15 | 19 | 47 | 0.776 | 38 | |
| 23 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 11 | 5 | 7 | 38 | 35 | 1 | 7 | 15 | 30 | 56 | 0.747 | 36 | Re-elected |
| 24 | Walsall | 46 | 5 | 9 | 9 | 35 | 46 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 21 | 72 | 0.475 | 24 | Re-elected |

### Results

| Home \ Away | ALD | B&BA | B&HA | BRI | BRR | COL | COV | CRY | EXE | GIL | IPS | LEY | MIL | NPC | NOR | NWC | QPR | REA | SHR | STD | SWI | TOR | WAL | WAT |
| Aldershot | | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 |
| Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 0–3 | | 2–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 5–1 | 4–1 |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 4–2 | 2–0 | | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 1–2 |
| Bristol City | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | | 0–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 4–4 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 4–4 | 6–1 | 5–1 |
| Bristol Rovers | 4–1 | 2–1 | 7–0 | 0–0 | | 3–1 | 5–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 0–3 |
| Colchester United | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 0–3 | | 0–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 6–1 | 1–1 |
| Coventry City | 3–0 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | | 4–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 4–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 7–2 | 3–1 | 1–0 |
| Crystal Palace | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 4–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 1–0 |
| Exeter City | 2–2 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 6–1 | 1–1 |
| Gillingham | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 |
| Ipswich Town | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | | 0–1 | 1–6 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 5–0 | 1–1 |
| Leyton Orient | 4–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 5–3 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | | 1–4 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 |
| Millwall | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 0–0 | | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 |
| Newport County | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 4–3 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 4–4 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–3 | | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 |
| Northampton Town | 4–0 | 5–1 | 5–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | | 3–3 | 4–2 | 6–1 | 3–1 | 4–3 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 2–1 | 4–1 |
| Norwich City | 5–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 5–2 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 2–2 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 4–2 | 2–2 |
| Reading | 2–3 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | | 5–3 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 |
| Shrewsbury Town | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–8 | 0–3 | 1–1 | | 7–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 |
| Southend | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 |
| Swindon Town | 3–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 3–6 | 5–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 |
| Torquay United | 1–2 | 5–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 5–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 5–2 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 1–0 | 3–3 | 3–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 3–1 | | 0–3 | 2–2 |
| Walsall | 0–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–3 | 3–5 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–4 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | | 0–0 |
| Watford | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | |