1938–39 Southern Football League

The 1938–39 season was the 41st in the history of the Southern League. Colchester United won the title.[1] Three clubs applied to join the Football League, although none were successful. The following season saw the league split into Eastern and Western sections as part an emergency war-time competition, after which the league was discontinued until the end of World War II.

Final table

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Southern Football League
Season1938–39
ChampionsColchester United (1st title)
Promotednone
Matches played506
Goals scored1,855 (3.67 per match)

A total of 23 teams contest the division, including 17 sides from previous season, one team relegated from The Football League and five new teams.

Team relegated from 1937–38 Football League:

Newly elected teams:

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Result[a]
1 Colchester United 44 31 5 8 110 37 2.973 67 Left league at end of season
2 Guildford City 44 30 6 8 126 52 2.423 66
3 Gillingham 44 29 6 9 104 57 1.825 64 Left league at end of season
4 Plymouth Argyle II 44 26 5 13 128 63 2.032 57
5 Yeovil & Petters United 44 22 10 12 85 70 1.214 54
6 Arsenal II 44 21 9 14 92 57 1.614 51 Left league at end of season
7 Cardiff City II 44 24 3 17 105 72 1.458 51
8 Tunbridge Wells Rangers 44 22 6 16 93 76 1.224 50
9 Norwich City II 44 23 4 17 86 76 1.132 50
10 Chelmsford City 44 18 8 18 74 73 1.014 44
11 Bath City 44 16 12 16 58 74 0.784 44
12 Barry 44 18 7 19 76 90 0.844 43
13 Cheltenham Town 44 16 9 19 76 105 0.724 41
14 Ipswich Town II 44 14 12 18 64 76 0.842 40 Left league at end of season
15 Worcester City 44 13 14 17 72 90 0.800 40
16 Folkestone 44 16 6 22 74 85 0.871 38 Left league at end of season
17 Newport County II 44 13 10 21 74 108 0.685 36
18 Exeter City II 44 12 9 23 51 107 0.477 33
19 Torquay United II 44 12 8 24 53 89 0.596 32
20 Swindon Town II 44 11 9 24 66 101 0.653 31
21 Aldershot II 44 12 6 26 69 92 0.750 30
22 Bristol Rovers II 44 9 11 24 66 85 0.776 29
23 Dartford 44 8 5 31 53 119 0.445 21
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976-77 season. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.
Notes:
  1. ^ Number of goals for and/or against is inaccurate.

Football League election

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Three Southern League clubs, Chelmsford City, Colchester United and Gillingham, applied to join the Football League. However, both League clubs were re-elected.[2]

Club League Votes
Bristol Rovers Football League Third Division South 45
Walsall Football League Third Division South 36
Gillingham Southern League 15
Chelmsford City Southern League 1
Colchester United Southern League 1

References

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