1938–39 in English football

64th season of competitive football in England

Football in EnglandSeason| 1938–39

|

Men's football
Football League| Everton
Football League Second Division| Blackburn Rovers
FA Cup| Portsmouth
| ← 1937–38 |  | 1939–40 →

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|

The 1938–39 season was the 64th season of competitive football in England. It was the last completed season before the Second World War.

## Honours

[edit]

Competition | Winner | Runner-up

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|

First Division | Everton (5) | Wolverhampton Wanderers
Second Division | Blackburn Rovers | Sheffield United
Third Division North | Barnsley | Doncaster Rovers
Third Division South | Newport County | Crystal Palace
FA Cup | Portsmouth (1) | Wolverhampton Wanderers
Charity Shield | Arsenal | Preston North End
Home Championship |  England

Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition

## Football League

[edit]

Main article: 1938–39 Football League

### First Division

[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Relegation

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|
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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

### Second Division

[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation

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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: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

### Third Division North

[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation

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1  | Barnsley (C, P) | 42  | 30  | 7  | 5  | 94  | 34  | 2.765  | 67  | Promotion to the Second Division
2  | Doncaster Rovers | 42  | 21  | 14  | 7  | 87  | 47  | 1.851  | 56  |
3  | Bradford City | 42  | 22  | 8  | 12  | 89  | 56  | 1.589  | 52
4  | Southport | 42  | 20  | 10  | 12  | 75  | 54  | 1.389  | 50
5  | Oldham Athletic | 42  | 22  | 5  | 15  | 76  | 59  | 1.288  | 49
6  | Chester | 42  | 20  | 9  | 13  | 88  | 70  | 1.257  | 49
7  | Hull City | 42  | 18  | 10  | 14  | 83  | 74  | 1.122  | 46
8  | Crewe Alexandra | 42  | 19  | 6  | 17  | 82  | 70  | 1.171  | 44
9  | Stockport County | 42  | 17  | 9  | 16  | 91  | 77  | 1.182  | 43
10  | Gateshead | 42  | 14  | 14  | 14  | 74  | 67  | 1.104  | 42
11  | Rotherham United | 42  | 17  | 8  | 17  | 64  | 64  | 1.000  | 42
12  | Halifax Town | 42  | 13  | 16  | 13  | 52  | 54  | 0.963  | 42
13  | Barrow | 42  | 16  | 9  | 17  | 66  | 65  | 1.015  | 41
14  | Wrexham | 42  | 17  | 7  | 18  | 66  | 79  | 0.835  | 41
15  | Rochdale | 42  | 15  | 9  | 18  | 92  | 82  | 1.122  | 39
16  | New Brighton | 42  | 15  | 9  | 18  | 68  | 73  | 0.932  | 39
17  | Lincoln City | 42  | 12  | 9  | 21  | 66  | 92  | 0.717  | 33
18  | Darlington | 42  | 13  | 7  | 22  | 62  | 92  | 0.674  | 33
19  | Carlisle United | 42  | 13  | 7  | 22  | 66  | 111  | 0.595  | 33
20  | York City | 42  | 12  | 8  | 22  | 64  | 92  | 0.696  | 32
21  | Hartlepools United | 42  | 12  | 7  | 23  | 55  | 94  | 0.585  | 31  | Re-elected
22  | Accrington Stanley | 42  | 7  | 6  | 29  | 49  | 103  | 0.476  | 20

Source: rsssf.com
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

### Third Division South

[edit]

Pos | Team

* v
* t
* e

| Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation

|
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1  | Newport County (C, P) | 42  | 22  | 11  | 9  | 58  | 45  | 1.289  | 55  | Promotion to the Second Division
2  | Crystal Palace | 42  | 20  | 12  | 10  | 71  | 52  | 1.365  | 52  |
3  | Brighton & Hove Albion | 42  | 19  | 11  | 12  | 68  | 49  | 1.388  | 49
4  | Watford | 42  | 17  | 12  | 13  | 62  | 51  | 1.216  | 46
5  | Reading | 42  | 16  | 14  | 12  | 69  | 59  | 1.169  | 46
6  | Queens Park Rangers | 42  | 15  | 14  | 13  | 68  | 49  | 1.388  | 44
7  | Ipswich Town | 42  | 16  | 12  | 14  | 62  | 52  | 1.192  | 44
8  | Bristol City | 42  | 16  | 12  | 14  | 61  | 63  | 0.968  | 44
9  | Swindon Town | 42  | 18  | 8  | 16  | 72  | 77  | 0.935  | 44
10  | Aldershot | 42  | 16  | 12  | 14  | 53  | 66  | 0.803  | 44
11  | Notts County | 42  | 17  | 9  | 16  | 59  | 54  | 1.093  | 43
12  | Southend United | 42  | 16  | 9  | 17  | 61  | 64  | 0.953  | 41
13  | Cardiff City | 42  | 15  | 11  | 16  | 61  | 65  | 0.938  | 41
14  | Exeter City | 42  | 13  | 14  | 15  | 65  | 82  | 0.793  | 40
15  | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 42  | 13  | 13  | 16  | 52  | 58  | 0.897  | 39
16  | Mansfield Town | 42  | 12  | 15  | 15  | 44  | 62  | 0.710  | 39
17  | Northampton Town | 42  | 15  | 8  | 19  | 51  | 58  | 0.879  | 38
18  | Port Vale | 42  | 14  | 9  | 19  | 52  | 58  | 0.897  | 37
19  | Torquay United | 42  | 14  | 9  | 19  | 54  | 70  | 0.771  | 37
20  | Clapton Orient | 42  | 11  | 13  | 18  | 53  | 55  | 0.964  | 35
21  | Walsall | 42  | 11  | 11  | 20  | 68  | 69  | 0.986  | 33  | Re-elected
22  | Bristol Rovers | 42  | 10  | 13  | 19  | 55  | 61  | 0.902  | 33

Source: [citation needed]
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted

### Top goalscorers

[edit]

First Division

* Tommy Lawton (Everton) – 35 goals[1]

Second Division

* Hugh Billington (Luton Town) – 28 goals[1]

Third Division North

* Wally Hunt (Carlisle United) – 32 goals[2]

Third Division South

* Ben Morton (Swindon Town) – 28 goals[2]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
2. ^ a b "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 30 August 2017.

* v
* t
* e

Seasons in English football

1870s|

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1880s|

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1890s|

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1900s|

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1910s|

|  1909–10 |  1910–11 |  1911–12 |  1912–13 |  1913–14 |  1914–15 |  1915–16 |  1916–17 |  1917–18 |  1918–19

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1920s|

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1930s|

|  1929–30 |  1930–31 |  1931–32 |  1932–33 |  1933–34 |  1934–35 |  1935–36 |  1936–37 |  1937–38 |  1938–39

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1940s|

|  1939–40 |  1940–41 |  1941–42 |  1942–43 |  1943–44 |  1944–45 |  1945–46 |  1946–47 |  1947–48 |  1948–49

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1950s|

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1960s|

|  1959–60 |  1960–61 |  1961–62 |  1962–63 |  1963–64 |  1964–65 |  1965–66 |  1966–67 |  1967–68 |  1968–69

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1970s|

|  1969–70 |  1970–71 |  1971–72 |  1972–73 |  1973–74 |  1974–75 |  1975–76 |  1976–77 |  1977–78 |  1978–79

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1980s|

|  1979–80 |  1980–81 |  1981–82 |  1982–83 |  1983–84 |  1984–85 |  1985–86 |  1986–87 |  1987–88 |  1988–89

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1990s|

|  1989–90 |  1990–91 |  1991–92 |  1992–93 |  1993–94 |  1994–95 |  1995–96 |  1996–97 |  1997–98 |  1998–99

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2000s|

|  1999–2000 |  2000–01 |  2001–02 |  2002–03 |  2003–04 |  2004–05 |  2005–06 |  2006–07 |  2007–08 |  2008–09

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2010s|

|  2009–10 |  2010–11 |  2011–12 |  2012–13 |  2013–14 |  2014–15 |  2015–16 |  2016–17 |  2017–18 |  2018–19

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2020s|

|  2019–20 |  2020–21 |  2021–22 |  2022–23 |  2023–24 |  2024–25 |  2025–26 |  |  |

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Italics denote wartime and nationally suspended seasons.

* v
* t
* e

1938–39 in English football

« 1937–38

1939–40 »

FA competitions|

* FA Cup (Qualifying rounds
* Final)
* FA Charity Shield

Football League|

* Football League (First Division
* Second Division
* Third Division)

Lower leagues|

* Isthmian League
* Northern League
* Southern League
* Western League

Related to national team|

* Home Championship

Club seasons

First Division|

* Arsenal
* Aston Villa
* Birmingham
* Blackpool
* Bolton Wanderers
* Brentford
* Charlton Athletic
* Chelsea
* Derby County
* Everton
* Grimsby Town
* Huddersfield Town
* Leeds United
* Leicester City
* Liverpool
* Manchester United
* Middlesbrough
* Portsmouth
* Preston North End
* Stoke City
* Sunderland
* Wolverhampton Wanderers

Second Division|

* Blackburn Rovers
* Bradford Park Avenue
* Burnley
* Bury
* Chesterfield
* Coventry City
* Fulham
* Luton Town
* Manchester City
* Millwall
* Newcastle United
* Norwich City
* Nottingham Forest
* Plymouth Argyle
* Sheffield Wednesday
* Sheffield United
* Southampton
* Swansea Town
* Tottenham Hotspur
* Tranmere Rovers
* West Bromwich Albion
* West Ham United

Third Division|

| North|

* Accrington Stanley
* Barnsley
* Barrow
* Bradford City
* Carlisle United
* Chester
* Crewe Alexandra
* Darlington
* Doncaster Rovers
* Gateshead
* Halifax Town
* Hartlepools United
* Hull City
* Lincoln City
* New Brighton
* Oldham Athletic
* Rochdale
* Rotherham County
* Southport
* Stockport County
* Wrexham
* York City

|

South|

* Aldershot
* Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
* Brighton & Hove Albion
* Bristol City
* Bristol Rovers
* Cardiff City
* Clapton Orient
* Crystal Palace
* Exeter City
* Ipswich Town
* Mansfield Town
* Newport County
* Northampton Town
* Notts County
* Port Vale
* Queens Park Rangers
* Reading
* Southend United
* Swindon Town
* Torquay United
* Walsall
* Watford

Other|

* Colchester United

*[Pos]: Position
*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[Pld]: Played
*[W]: Won
*[D]: Drawn
*[L]: Lost
*[GF]: Goals for
*[GA]: Goals against
*[GAv]: Goal average
*[Pts]: Points