The1938–39 season was the 41st in the history of theSouthern League.Colchester United won the title.[1] Three clubs applied to jointhe Football League, although none were successful. Thefollowing 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 ofWorld War II.
| Season | 1938–39 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Colchester United (1st title) |
| Promoted | none |
| Matches | 506 |
| Goals | 1,855 (3.67 per match) |
1939–40 → | |
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 from1937–38 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 |
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 |