Overview
World War II broke out early into this season. Shortly after war was declared, most competitions, including the Football League, were abandoned as the country's attention turned to the war effort. 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 the First Division table at the time the abandonment occurred.[1]
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.
References
- Smales, Ken (2006). "The 1940s". Nottingham Forest: The Official Statistical History. Pineapple Books.
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FA competitions |
- FA Cup (Qualifying rounds
- Final)
- FA Charity Shield
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Football League | |
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Lower leagues | |
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Related to national team | |
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Club seasons | First Division | |
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Second Division |
- Barnsley
- Birmingham
- Bradford Park Avenue
- Burnley
- Bury
- Chesterfield
- Coventry City
- Fulham
- Leicester City
- Luton Town
- Manchester City
- Millwall
- Newcastle United
- Newport County
- Nottingham Forest
- Plymouth Argyle
- Sheffield Wednesday
- Southampton
- Swansea Town
- Tottenham Hotspur
- West Bromwich Albion
- West Ham United
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Third Division | North |
- Accrington Stanley
- 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
- Tranmere Rovers
- Wrexham
- York City
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South |
- Aldershot
- Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic
- Brighton & Hove Albion
- Bristol City
- Bristol Rovers
- Cardiff City
- Clapton Orient
- Crystal Palace
- Exeter City
- Ipswich Town
- Mansfield Town
- Northampton Town
- Norwich City
- Notts County
- Port Vale
- Queens Park Rangers
- Reading
- Southend United
- Swindon Town
- Torquay United
- Walsall
- Watford
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Other | |
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