The 1939–40 season was the 65th season of competitive football in England. It was suspended in September after the outbreak of World War II.
Overview World War II broke out early into this season. On 4th September the Government announced a ban on Sport to prevent crowds gathering. Over thirty mid-week League fixtures were called-off.Ban on Sport, Birmingham Evening Mail, 4 September 1939, p3 Most competitions, including the Football League, were abandoned. The Football League's Scheme for War-time football proposed to limit gates to 8,000 or 15,000 in evacuation areas. With their large overheads, Aston Villa and Sunderland announced their intention to close down.Big Names in Football that will not be seen in War-Time Liverpool Echo, 30 September 1939, p2
A few leagues, such as the Northern League, did manage to complete a season, but more than half of the teams were unable to fulfil all their fixtures and resigned.
Blackpool sat at the top of the First Division table at the time the abandonment occurred.Football Statistics Archive The FA Cup Extra-Preliminary Round was played, but with hostilities declared before replays took place, that competition too was abandoned. Entry fees received for the 1939–40 Cup were honoured for the next Cup in 1945–46.
Many footballers signed up to fight in the war and as a result many teams were depleted, and fielded guest players instead. Regional league competitions were set up. Appearances in these tournaments do not count in players' official records. The FA Cup was resumed for the 1945–46 season and The Football League for the 1946–47 season.
Honours
Wartime
After the abandonment of the football programme, the league was split into ten mini regional leagues. A national cup competition was also held.
CompetitionWinnerNorth West LeagueBuryNorth East LeagueHuddersfield TownWest LeagueStoke CityEast Midland LeagueChesterfieldMidland LeagueWolverhampton WanderersSouth West LeaguePlymouth ArgyleSouth A LeagueArsenalSouth B LeagueQueens Park RangersSouth C LeagueTottenham HotspurSouth D LeagueCrystal PalaceFootball League War CupWest Ham United
League tables North West League
North East League
West League
East Midland League
Midland League
South West League
South A League
South B League
South C League
South D League
See also England national football team results (unofficial matches)
References