1955–56 in English football

76th season of competitive football in England

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Football in EnglandSeason| 1955–56

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Men's football
First Division| Manchester United
Second Division| Sheffield Wednesday
FA Cup| Manchester City
| <- 1954–55 |  | 1956–57 ->

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The 1955–56 season was the 76th season of competitive football in England.

## Overview

[edit]

Defending league champions Chelsea decided not to compete in the new European Champions Cup, following opposition from the Football League about the participation of English clubs in the competition.

The league title is taken by a Manchester United side with an average age of just 22, which finished 11 points ahead of their nearest contenders, Blackpool and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

It was a Manchester double for trophies, with Manchester City winning the FA Cup, with goalkeeper Bert Trautmann famously playing on despite suffering what was later diagnosed as a broken neck in a collision with a Birmingham City player.

## Honours

[edit]

Competition | Winner | Runner-up

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First Division | Manchester United (4) | Blackpool
Second Division | Sheffield Wednesday | Leeds United
Third Division North | Grimsby Town | Derby County
Third Division South | Leyton Orient | Brighton & Hove Albion
FA Cup | Manchester City (3) | Birmingham City
Charity Shield | Chelsea | Newcastle United
Home Championship | Shared by England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

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

## Awards

[edit]

Football Writers' Association

* Footballer of the Year – Bert Trautmann (Manchester City)

Top goalscorer

* Nat Lofthouse (Bolton Wanderers), 33

## Football League

[edit]

Main article: 1955–56 Football League

### First Division

[edit]

Manchester United won the First Division title by 11 points, featuring a squad of players with an average age of just 22, with manager Matt Busby's emphasis on youth paying dividends and answering the critics who felt that his policy would not be able to maintain United's place among the game's elite. Second place was occupied by Blackpool, with Stanley Matthews still a dominant presence in the team in his 41st year, while Wolves finished third, FA Cup winners Manchester City finished fourth, and Arsenal completed the top five. Birmingham City finished sixth to record their best ever final position.

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Qualification or relegation

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1  | Manchester United | 42  | 25  | 10  | 7  | 83  | 51  | 1.627  | 60  | Qualified for the European Cup
2  | Blackpool | 42  | 20  | 9  | 13  | 86  | 62  | 1.387  | 49  |
3  | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42  | 20  | 9  | 13  | 89  | 65  | 1.369  | 49
4  | Manchester City | 42  | 18  | 10  | 14  | 82  | 69  | 1.188  | 46
5  | Arsenal | 42  | 18  | 10  | 14  | 60  | 61  | 0.984  | 46
6  | Birmingham City | 42  | 18  | 9  | 15  | 75  | 57  | 1.316  | 45
7  | Burnley | 42  | 18  | 8  | 16  | 64  | 54  | 1.185  | 44
8  | Bolton Wanderers | 42  | 18  | 7  | 17  | 71  | 58  | 1.224  | 43
9  | Sunderland | 42  | 17  | 9  | 16  | 80  | 95  | 0.842  | 43
10  | Luton Town | 42  | 17  | 8  | 17  | 66  | 64  | 1.031  | 42
11  | Newcastle United | 42  | 17  | 7  | 18  | 85  | 70  | 1.214  | 41
12  | Portsmouth | 42  | 16  | 9  | 17  | 78  | 85  | 0.918  | 41
13  | West Bromwich Albion | 42  | 18  | 5  | 19  | 58  | 70  | 0.829  | 41
14  | Charlton Athletic | 42  | 17  | 6  | 19  | 75  | 81  | 0.926  | 40
15  | Everton | 42  | 15  | 10  | 17  | 55  | 69  | 0.797  | 40
16  | Chelsea | 42  | 14  | 11  | 17  | 64  | 77  | 0.831  | 39
17  | Cardiff City | 42  | 15  | 9  | 18  | 55  | 69  | 0.797  | 39
18  | Tottenham Hotspur | 42  | 15  | 7  | 20  | 61  | 71  | 0.859  | 37
19  | Preston North End | 42  | 14  | 8  | 20  | 73  | 72  | 1.014  | 36
20  | Aston Villa | 42  | 11  | 13  | 18  | 52  | 69  | 0.754  | 35
21  | Huddersfield Town | 42  | 14  | 7  | 21  | 54  | 83  | 0.651  | 35  | Relegated to the Second Division
22  | Sheffield United | 42  | 12  | 9  | 21  | 63  | 77  | 0.818  | 33

Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

### Second Division

[edit]

Sheffield Wednesday swapped divisions with their cross city rivals to return to the First Division by winning the Second Division title, joined by runners-up Leeds United. Liverpool narrowly missed out on a First Division comeback by finishing third.

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Qualification or relegation

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1  | Sheffield Wednesday | 42  | 21  | 13  | 8  | 101  | 62  | 1.629  | 55  | Promoted to the First Division
2  | Leeds United | 42  | 23  | 6  | 13  | 80  | 60  | 1.333  | 52
3  | Liverpool | 42  | 21  | 6  | 15  | 85  | 63  | 1.349  | 48  |
4  | Blackburn Rovers | 42  | 21  | 6  | 15  | 84  | 65  | 1.292  | 48
5  | Leicester City | 42  | 21  | 6  | 15  | 94  | 78  | 1.205  | 48
6  | Bristol Rovers | 42  | 21  | 6  | 15  | 84  | 70  | 1.200  | 48
7  | Nottingham Forest | 42  | 19  | 9  | 14  | 68  | 63  | 1.079  | 47
8  | Lincoln City | 42  | 18  | 10  | 14  | 79  | 65  | 1.215  | 46
9  | Fulham | 42  | 20  | 6  | 16  | 89  | 79  | 1.127  | 46
10  | Swansea Town | 42  | 20  | 6  | 16  | 83  | 81  | 1.025  | 46
11  | Bristol City | 42  | 19  | 7  | 16  | 80  | 64  | 1.250  | 45
12  | Port Vale | 42  | 16  | 13  | 13  | 60  | 58  | 1.034  | 45
13  | Stoke City | 42  | 20  | 4  | 18  | 71  | 62  | 1.145  | 44
14  | Middlesbrough | 42  | 16  | 8  | 18  | 76  | 78  | 0.974  | 40
15  | Bury | 42  | 16  | 8  | 18  | 86  | 90  | 0.956  | 40
16  | West Ham United | 42  | 14  | 11  | 17  | 74  | 69  | 1.072  | 39
17  | Doncaster Rovers | 42  | 12  | 11  | 19  | 69  | 96  | 0.719  | 35
18  | Barnsley | 42  | 11  | 12  | 19  | 47  | 84  | 0.560  | 34
19  | Rotherham United | 42  | 12  | 9  | 21  | 56  | 75  | 0.747  | 33
20  | Notts County | 42  | 11  | 9  | 22  | 55  | 82  | 0.671  | 31
21  | Plymouth Argyle | 42  | 10  | 8  | 24  | 54  | 87  | 0.621  | 28  | Relegated to the Third Division South
22  | Hull City | 42  | 10  | 6  | 26  | 53  | 97  | 0.546  | 26  | Relegated to the Third Division North

Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

### Third Division North

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Qualification or relegation

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1  | Grimsby Town | 46  | 31  | 6  | 9  | 76  | 29  | 2.621  | 68  | Promoted to the Second Division
2  | Derby County | 46  | 28  | 7  | 11  | 110  | 55  | 2.000  | 63  |
3  | Accrington Stanley | 46  | 25  | 9  | 12  | 92  | 57  | 1.614  | 59
4  | Hartlepools United | 46  | 26  | 5  | 15  | 81  | 60  | 1.350  | 57
5  | Southport | 46  | 23  | 11  | 12  | 66  | 53  | 1.245  | 57
6  | Chesterfield | 46  | 25  | 4  | 17  | 94  | 66  | 1.424  | 54
7  | Stockport County | 46  | 21  | 9  | 16  | 90  | 61  | 1.475  | 51
8  | Bradford City | 46  | 18  | 13  | 15  | 78  | 64  | 1.219  | 49
9  | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 46  | 20  | 8  | 18  | 75  | 63  | 1.190  | 48
10  | Workington | 46  | 19  | 9  | 18  | 75  | 63  | 1.190  | 47
11  | York City | 46  | 19  | 9  | 18  | 85  | 72  | 1.181  | 47
12  | Rochdale | 46  | 17  | 13  | 16  | 66  | 84  | 0.786  | 47
13  | Gateshead | 46  | 17  | 11  | 18  | 77  | 84  | 0.917  | 45
14  | Wrexham | 46  | 16  | 10  | 20  | 66  | 73  | 0.904  | 42
15  | Darlington | 46  | 16  | 9  | 21  | 60  | 73  | 0.822  | 41
16  | Tranmere Rovers | 46  | 16  | 9  | 21  | 59  | 84  | 0.702  | 41
17  | Chester | 46  | 13  | 14  | 19  | 52  | 82  | 0.634  | 40
18  | Mansfield Town | 46  | 14  | 11  | 21  | 84  | 81  | 1.037  | 39
19  | Halifax Town | 46  | 14  | 11  | 21  | 66  | 76  | 0.868  | 39
20  | Oldham Athletic | 46  | 10  | 18  | 18  | 76  | 86  | 0.884  | 38
21  | Carlisle United | 46  | 15  | 8  | 23  | 71  | 95  | 0.747  | 38
22  | Barrow | 46  | 12  | 9  | 25  | 61  | 83  | 0.735  | 33
23  | Bradford Park Avenue | 46  | 13  | 7  | 26  | 61  | 122  | 0.500  | 33  | Re-elected
24  | Crewe Alexandra | 46  | 9  | 10  | 27  | 50  | 105  | 0.476  | 28

Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

### Third Division South

[edit]

Pos | Team  | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Qualification or relegation

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1  | Leyton Orient | 46  | 29  | 8  | 9  | 106  | 49  | 2.163  | 66  | Promoted to the Second Division
2  | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46  | 29  | 7  | 10  | 112  | 50  | 2.240  | 65  |
3  | Ipswich Town | 46  | 25  | 14  | 7  | 106  | 60  | 1.767  | 64
4  | Southend United | 46  | 21  | 11  | 14  | 88  | 80  | 1.100  | 53
5  | Torquay United | 46  | 20  | 12  | 14  | 86  | 63  | 1.365  | 52
6  | Brentford | 46  | 19  | 14  | 13  | 69  | 66  | 1.045  | 52
7  | Norwich City | 46  | 19  | 13  | 14  | 86  | 82  | 1.049  | 51
8  | Coventry City | 46  | 20  | 9  | 17  | 73  | 60  | 1.217  | 49
9  | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 46  | 19  | 10  | 17  | 63  | 51  | 1.235  | 48
10  | Gillingham | 46  | 19  | 10  | 17  | 69  | 71  | 0.972  | 48
11  | Northampton Town | 46  | 20  | 7  | 19  | 67  | 71  | 0.944  | 47
12  | Colchester United | 46  | 18  | 11  | 17  | 76  | 81  | 0.938  | 47
13  | Shrewsbury Town | 46  | 17  | 12  | 17  | 69  | 66  | 1.045  | 46
14  | Southampton | 46  | 18  | 8  | 20  | 91  | 81  | 1.123  | 44
15  | Aldershot | 46  | 12  | 16  | 18  | 70  | 90  | 0.778  | 40
16  | Exeter City | 46  | 15  | 10  | 21  | 58  | 77  | 0.753  | 40
17  | Reading | 46  | 15  | 9  | 22  | 70  | 79  | 0.886  | 39
18  | Queens Park Rangers | 46  | 14  | 11  | 21  | 64  | 86  | 0.744  | 39
19  | Newport County | 46  | 15  | 9  | 22  | 58  | 79  | 0.734  | 39
20  | Walsall | 46  | 15  | 8  | 23  | 68  | 84  | 0.810  | 38
21  | Watford | 46  | 13  | 11  | 22  | 52  | 85  | 0.612  | 37
22  | Millwall | 46  | 15  | 6  | 25  | 83  | 100  | 0.830  | 36
23  | Crystal Palace | 46  | 12  | 10  | 24  | 54  | 83  | 0.651  | 34  | Re-elected
24  | Swindon Town | 46  | 8  | 14  | 24  | 34  | 78  | 0.436  | 30

Source: rsssf.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

### Top goalscorers

[edit]

First Division

* Nat Lofthouse (Bolton Wanderers) – 32 goals[1]

Second Division

* Willie Gardiner (Leicester City) – 34 goals[1]

Third Division North

* Bob Crosbie (Grimsby Town) – 36 goals[2]

Third Division South

* Sammy Collins (Torquay United) – 40 goals[2]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 4 June 2017.
2. ^ a b "English League Leading Goalscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 4 June 2017.

* v
* t
* e

Seasons in English football

1870s|

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1880s|

|  1879–80 |  1880–81 |  1881–82 |  1882–83 |  1883–84 |  1884–85 |  1885–86 |  1886–87 |  1887–88 |  1888–89

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1890s|

|  1889–90 |  1890–91 |  1891–92 |  1892–93 |  1893–94 |  1894–95 |  1895–96 |  1896–97 |  1897–98 |  1898–99

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1900s|

|  1899–1900 |  1900–01 |  1901–02 |  1902–03 |  1903–04 |  1904–05 |  1905–06 |  1906–07 |  1907–08 |  1908–09

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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|

|  1919–20 |  1920–21 |  1921–22 |  1922–23 |  1923–24 |  1924–25 |  1925–26 |  1926–27 |  1927–28 |  1928–29

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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|

|  1949–50 |  1950–51 |  1951–52 |  1952–53 |  1953–54 |  1954–55 |  1955–56 |  1956–57 |  1957–58 |  1958–59

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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 |  |  |  |

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Italics denote wartime and nationally suspended seasons.

* v
* t
* e

1955–56 in English football

« 1954–55

1956–57 »

FA competitions|

* FA Cup
* Qualifying rounds
* Final
* FA Charity Shield
* FA Amateur Cup

Football League|

* Football League

Lower leagues|

* Hellenic League
* Isthmian League
* Northern League
* Southern League
* Spartan League
* Western League

Related to national team|

* Walter Winterbottom
* Home Championship

Club seasons

First Division|

* Arsenal
* Aston Villa
* Birmingham City
* Blackpool
* Bolton Wanderers
* Burnley
* Cardiff City
* Charlton Athletic
* Chelsea
* Everton
* Huddersfield Town
* Luton Town
* Manchester City
* Manchester United
* Newcastle United
* Portsmouth
* Preston North End
* Sheffield United
* Sunderland
* Tottenham Hotspur
* West Bromwich Albion
* Wolverhampton Wanderers

Second Division|

* Barnsley
* Blackburn Rovers
* Bristol City
* Bristol Rovers
* Bury
* Doncaster Rovers
* Fulham
* Hull City
* Leeds United
* Leicester City
* Lincoln City
* Liverpool
* Middlesbrough
* Nottingham Forest
* Notts County
* Plymouth Argyle
* Port Vale
* Rotherham United
* Sheffield Wednesday
* Stoke City
* Swansea Town
* West Ham United

Third Division|

| North|

* Accrington Stanley
* Barrow
* Bradford City
* Bradford Park Avenue
* Carlisle United
* Chester
* Chesterfield
* Crewe Alexandra
* Darlington
* Derby County
* Gateshead
* Grimsby Town
* Halifax Town
* Hartlepools United
* Mansfield Town
* Oldham Athletic
* Rochdale
* Scunthorpe & Lindsey United
* Southport
* Stockport County
* Tranmere Rovers
* Workington
* Wrexham
* York City

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South|

* Aldershot
* Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
* Brentford
* Brighton & Hove Albion
* Colchester United
* Coventry City
* Crystal Palace
* Exeter City
* Gillingham
* Ipswich Town
* Leyton Orient
* Millwall
* Newport County
* Northampton Town
* Norwich City
* Queens Park Rangers
* Reading
* Shrewsbury Town
* Southampton
* Southend United
* Swindon Town
* Torquay United
* Walsall
* Watford

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