# 1939–40 Football League

The abandoned 1939–40 season would have been the 48th season of The Football League. The kick-off in all divisions took place on Saturday 26 August 1939. On Friday 1 September 1939, Germany invaded Poland. On Saturday 2 September 1939, all divisions of the Football League played their third game of the season. These were the last fixtures before abandonment following the British declaration of war on Germany on Sunday 3 September 1939. Large gatherings of crowds were suspended with the implementation of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939.
Blackpool were leading the First Division when the season was abandoned.

## League tables when season was abandoned

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 Rothmans for all divisions.

## First Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Relegation |
| 1 | Blackpool | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2.500 | 6 | |
| 2 | Sheffield United | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 3.000 | 5 | |
| 3 | Arsenal | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 2.000 | 5 | |
| 4 | Liverpool | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 2.000 | 4 | |
| 5 | Everton | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1.250 | 4 | |
| 6 | Bolton Wanderers | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1.200 | 4 | |
| 7 | Derby County | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1.000 | 4 | |
| 8 | Charlton Athletic | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.750 | 4 | |
| 9 | Stoke City | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 4 | 1.750 | 3 | |
| 10 | Manchester United | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 3 | 1.667 | 3 | |
| 11 | Chelsea | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 1.000 | 3 | |
| 12 | Brentford | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1.000 | 3 | |
| 13 | Grimsby Town | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0.500 | 3 | |
| 14 | Aston Villa | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 1.000 | 2 | |
| 15 | Sunderland | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 6 | 7 | 0.857 | 2 | |
| 16 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.750 | 2 | |
| 17 | Huddersfield Town | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 0.667 | 2 | |
| 18 | Portsmouth | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0.600 | 2 | |
| 19 | Preston North End | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 2 | |
| 20 | Blackburn Rovers | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0.600 | 1 | |
| 21 | Middlesbrough | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 0.375 | 1 | Reprieved from relegation |
| 22 | Leeds United | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 1 | Reprieved from relegation |

### Results

| Home \ Away | ARS | AST | BLB | BLP | BOL | BRE | CHA | CHE | DER | EVE | GRI | HUD | LEE | LIV | MUN | MID | POR | PNE | SHU | STK | SUN | WOL |
| Arsenal | | | 1–0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 5–2 | |
| Aston Villa | | | | | | | | | | 1–2 | | | | | | 2–0 | | | | | | |
| Blackburn Rovers | | | | | | | | | | 2–2 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Blackpool | | | | | | 2–1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2–1 |
| Bolton Wanderers | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2–1 | | | | | |
| Brentford | | | | | | | | | | | | 1–0 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Charlton Athletic | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2–0 | | | | | | | |
| Chelsea | | | | | 3–2 | | | | | | | | | | 1–1 | | | | | | | |
| Derby County | | 1–0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2–0 | | | | | |
| Everton | | | | | | 1–1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Grimsby Town | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2–0 | | | | 0–0 |
| Huddersfield Town | | | | 0–1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Leeds United | | | | | | | 0–1 | | | | | | | | | | | | 0–1 | | | |
| Liverpool | | | | | | | | 1–0 | | | | | | | | 4–1 | | | | | | |
| Manchester United | | | | | | | | | | | 4–0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Middlesbrough | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2–2 | | |
| Portsmouth | | | 2–1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Preston North End | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0–0 | | | | | | 0–0 | | | |
| Sheffield United | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2–1 | | | | | | | | |
| Stoke City | | | | | 1–2 | | 4–0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Sunderland | | | | | | | | | 3–0 | | | 1–2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 2–2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Maps
## Second Division

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
| 1 | Luton Town | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 7.000 | 5 | No promotion |
| 2 | Birmingham | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 5.000 | 5 | No promotion |
| 3 | Leicester City | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1.200 | 4 | |
| 4 | Plymouth Argyle | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1.333 | 4 | |
| 5 | Coventry City | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 6 | 1.333 | 4 | |
| 6 | West Ham United | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1.250 | 4 | |
| 7 | Tottenham Hotspur | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1.200 | 4 | |
| 8 | Nottingham Forest | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 5 | 1.000 | 4 | |
| 9 | Manchester City | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1.200 | 3 | |
| 10 | Millwall | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1.250 | 3 | |
| 11 | Newport County | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1.250 | 3 | |
| 12 | West Bromwich Albion | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 8 | 1.000 | 3 | |
| 13 | Bury | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0.800 | 3 | |
| 14 | Newcastle United | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 1.333 | 2 | |
| 15 | Chesterfield | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1.000 | 2 | |
| 16 | Barnsley | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 0.875 | 2 | |
| 17 | Southampton | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 0.833 | 2 | |
| 18 | Sheffield Wednesday | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 0.600 | 2 | |
| 19 | Swansea Town | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 11 | 0.455 | 2 | |
| 20 | Fulham | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 0.500 | 1 | |
| 21 | Burnley | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0.333 | 1 | No relegation |
| 22 | Bradford Park Avenue | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 0.286 | 1 | No relegation |
* 1 2 There was no promotion or relegation as the season was abandoned due to the outbreak of World War II.

### Results

| Home \ Away | BAR | BIR | BPA | BUR | BRY | CHF | COV | FUL | LEI | LUT | MCI | MIL | NEW | NPC | NOT | PLY | SHW | SOU | SWA | TOT | WBA | WHU |
| Barnsley | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4–1 | | | | | | | |
| Birmingham | | | | 2–0 | | | | | 2–0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bradford Park Avenue | | | | | | | | | | 0–3 | | 2–2 | | | | | | | | | | |
| Burnley | | | | | | | 1–1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bury | | | | | | | | 3–1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Chesterfield | | | 2–0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Coventry City | 4–2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3–3 | |
| Fulham | | | | | | | | | | 1–1 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Leicester City | | | | | | | | | | | 4–3 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Luton Town | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3–0 | | | | | |
| Manchester City | | | | | 1–1 | 2–0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Millwall | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3–0 | | | 0–2 | | | | | | |
| Newcastle United | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8–1 | | | |
| Newport County | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3–1 | | 1–1 | | |
| Nottingham Forest | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2–0 | 2–1 | | | | | | | | |
| Plymouth Argyle | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1–3 |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 3–1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0–1 | | | | | | |
| Southampton | | | | | 3–0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1–3 | | | |
| Swansea Town | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1–2 | |
| Tottenham Hotspur | | 1–1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| West Bromwich Albion | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3–4 | | |
| West Ham United | | | | | | | | 2–1 | 0–2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Maps
## Third Division North

| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GAv | Pts |
| 1 | Accrington Stanley | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 6.000 | 6 |
| 2 | Halifax Town | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6.000 | 5 |
| 3 | Chester | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2.500 | 5 |
| 3 | Darlington | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2.500 | 5 |
| 5 | New Brighton | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1.200 | 4 |
| 6 | Rochdale | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1.000 | 4 |
| 7 | Crewe Alexandra | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 3 |
| 8 | Wrexham | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1.500 | 3 |
| 9 | Tranmere Rovers | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 5 | 1.000 | 3 |
| 10 | Lincoln City | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.857 | 3 |
| 11 | Rotherham United | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0.833 | 3 |
| 12 | Carlisle United | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1.000 | 2 |
| 12 | Hull City | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.000 | 2 |
| 14 | Gateshead | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.857 | 2 |
| 15 | Barrow | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0.800 | 2 |
| 15 | Doncaster Rovers | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 0.800 | 2 |
| 15 | Southport | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.800 | 2 |
| 18 | Oldham Athletic | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0.600 | 2 |
| 19 | Hartlepools United | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0.250 | 2 |
| 20 | York City | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0.600 | 1 |
| 21 | Bradford City | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.500 | 1 |
| 22 | Stockport County | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0.000 | 0 |

### Results

| Home \ Away | ACC | BRW | BRA | CRL | CHE | CRE | DAR | DON | GAT | HAL | HAR | HUL | LIN | NWB | OLD | ROC | ROT | SOU | STP | TRA | WRE | YOR |
| Accrington Stanley | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2–0 | | | | | | | |
| Barrow | 1–2 | | 2–2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bradford City | 0–2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Carlisle United | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2–0 | | | |
| Chester | | | | | | | | 1–0 | | | | | | | | | | | | 2–0 | | |
| Crewe Alexandra | | | | | | | | | | | 0–0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Darlington | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1–0 | | | | |
| Doncaster Rovers | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2–0 | | | | | | |
| Gateshead | | | | | | 0–3 | | | | | 3–0 | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Halifax Town | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2–0 | | | | | | 1–1 | |
| Hartlepool | | 1–1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Hull City | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2–2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Lincoln City | | | | | | | 0–2 | | 4–3 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| New Brighton | | | 2–1 | | | | | 4–2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Oldham Athletic | | | | 3–1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Rochdale | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1–0 | 1–0 |
| Rotherham United | | | | | | | 2–2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2–1 |
| Southport | | | | | | | | | | | | 1–1 | | | | | | | | 3–3 | | |
| Stockport County | | | | | | | | | | 0–3 | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Tranmere | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3–1 | | | | | |
| Wrexham | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2–0 | | | | | | | | |
| York City | | | | | 2–2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |

### Maps
## Third Division South

| Pos | Team | Pld | HW | HD | HL | HGF | HGA | AW | AD | AL | AGF | AGA | GAv | Pts |
| 1 | Reading | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 4.000 | 5 |
| 2 | Crystal Palace | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1.667 | 5 |
| 3 | Notts County | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 2 | 2.000 | 4 |
| 4 | Exeter City | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1.667 | 4 |
| 5 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1.250 | 4 |
| 6 | Cardiff City | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 1.000 | 4 |
| 7 | Clapton Orient | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 9 | 0.889 | 4 |
| 8 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3.250 | 3 |
| 9 | Ipswich Town | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1.000 | 3 |
| 9 | Southend United | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1.000 | 3 |
| 9 | Walsall | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 1.000 | 3 |
| 12 | Norwich City | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1.000 | 3 |
| 12 | Torquay United | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1.000 | 3 |
| 14 | Bristol City | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1.000 | 3 |
| 15 | Mansfield Town | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1.000 | 3 |
| 16 | Queens Park Rangers | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0.800 | 2 |
| 16 | Watford | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0.800 | 2 |
| 18 | Northampton Town | 3 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 0.167 | 2 |
| 19 | Aldershot | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0.600 | 1 |
| 20 | Swindon Town | 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0.500 | 1 |
| 21 | Bristol Rovers | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0.286 | 1 |
| 22 | Port Vale | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.000 | 1 |

### Results

| Home \ Away | ALD | B&BA | B&HA | BRI | BRR | CAR | CLA | CRY | EXE | IPS | MAN | NOR | NWC | NTC | PTV | QPR | REA | STD | SWI | TOR | WAL | WAT |
| Aldershot | | | | 0–1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | | | | | | | | | | | | 10–0 | | | | 2–2 | | | | | | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2–1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 0–0 | | | | | | | |
| Bristol City | | | 3–3 | | | | | | | | | | 1–2 | | | | | | | | | |
| Bristol Rovers | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2–2 | | | | | |
| Cardiff City | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2–4 | | | | | | | | |
| Clapton Orient | | | | | | | | | | 2–2 | | | | | | | | 0–0 | | | | |
| Crystal Palace | | | | | 3–0 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Exeter City | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2–2 | | |
| Ipswich Town | | | | | 2–0 | | | | | | | | 1–1 | | | | | | | | | |
| Mansfield Town | | | | | | | | 4–5 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Northampton Town | | | | | | | | | 1–2 | | | | | | | | | | 1–0 | | | |
| Norwich City | | | | | | 1–2 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Notts County | | 2–1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Port Vale | | | | | | | | | 0–1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Queens Park Rangers | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2–2 |
| Reading | | | | | | | | 5–0 | | | | | | | | | | 1–0 | | | | |
| Southend | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3–2 | |
| Swindon Town | 2–2 | | | | | 0–1 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
| Torquay United | | | | | | | | | | | 2–2 | | | | | | | | | | 0–0 | |
| Walsall | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1–0 | | | | | | |
| Watford | | | | | | | 1–1 | | | | 1–2 | | | | | | | | | | | |