| Season | 1952–53 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Arsenal |
1953–54 → | |
The1952–53 season was the 54th completed season ofThe Football League.
The tables below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found atThe Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website[1] and inRothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79,[2] with home and away statistics separated.
Beginning with the season 1894–95, clubs finishing level on points were separated according to goal average (goals scored divided by goals conceded), or more properly put, goal ratio. In case one or more teams had the same goal difference, this system favoured those teams who had scored fewer goals. The goal average system was eventually scrapped beginning with the 1976–77 season.
From the 1922–23 season, the bottom two teams of both Third Division North and Third Division South were required to apply forre-election.[2]
| Season | 1952–53 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Arsenal 7thEnglish title |
| Matches | 462 |
| Goals | 1,508 (3.26 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Charlie Wayman (24 goals)[3][4] |
| Biggest home win | Tottenham Hotspur 7–1Middlesbrough (25 December 1952) Aston Villa 6–0Portsmouth (18 February 1953) Cardiff City 6–0Manchester City (21 February 1953) |
| Biggest away win | Bolton Wanderers 0–5Portsmouth (20 September 1952) Preston North End 0–5Manchester United (18 October 1952) |
| Highest scoring | Blackpool 8–4Charlton Athletic (27 September 1952) |
1953–54 → | |
Arsenal won their second league title of the postwar era, finishing ahead of runners-upPreston North End on goal average - denying them a first league title since they won the first two English Football League titles more than 60 years earlier. Preston defeated Arsenal in a 2-0 home win in the second last match of the season on 25 April, which was followed by another win at Derby four days later.[5] But Arsenal's 3-2 win in their final match againstBurnley on 1 May meant that it was Arsenal who clinched the title on goal average.[6]
Wolverhampton Wanderers bounced back after two disappointing seasons to finish third, three points short of the title. They finished one point ahead of their local rivalsWest Bromwich Albion. Twelve goals were scored whenBlackpool defeatedCharlton Athletic 8-4 on 25 September, but Charlton would eventually finish two places higher in the table at fifth place. Defending championsManchester United, in a period of transition as the team captained byJohnny Carey started to make way for a younger generation of players,[citation needed] finished eighth.
Stoke City andDerby County, who had been among the First Division's leading lights in the first few postwar seasons, went down to the Second Division after several seasons of gradually declining form.[citation needed]Liverpool, the 1947 champions, avoided the drop by just two points.
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal(C) | 42 | 21 | 12 | 9 | 97 | 64 | 1.516 | 54 | |
| 2 | Preston North End | 42 | 21 | 12 | 9 | 85 | 60 | 1.417 | 54 | |
| 3 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 42 | 19 | 13 | 10 | 86 | 63 | 1.365 | 51 | |
| 4 | West Bromwich Albion | 42 | 21 | 8 | 13 | 66 | 60 | 1.100 | 50 | |
| 5 | Charlton Athletic | 42 | 19 | 11 | 12 | 77 | 63 | 1.222 | 49 | |
| 6 | Burnley | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 67 | 52 | 1.288 | 48 | |
| 7 | Blackpool | 42 | 19 | 9 | 14 | 71 | 70 | 1.014 | 47 | |
| 8 | Manchester United | 42 | 18 | 10 | 14 | 69 | 72 | 0.958 | 46 | |
| 9 | Sunderland | 42 | 15 | 13 | 14 | 68 | 82 | 0.829 | 43 | |
| 10 | Tottenham Hotspur | 42 | 15 | 11 | 16 | 78 | 69 | 1.130 | 41 | |
| 11 | Aston Villa | 42 | 14 | 13 | 15 | 63 | 61 | 1.033 | 41 | |
| 12 | Cardiff City | 42 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 54 | 46 | 1.174 | 40 | |
| 13 | Middlesbrough | 42 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 70 | 77 | 0.909 | 39 | |
| 14 | Bolton Wanderers | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 61 | 69 | 0.884 | 39 | |
| 15 | Portsmouth | 42 | 14 | 10 | 18 | 74 | 83 | 0.892 | 38 | |
| 16 | Newcastle United | 42 | 14 | 9 | 19 | 59 | 70 | 0.843 | 37 | |
| 17 | Liverpool | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 61 | 82 | 0.744 | 36 | |
| 18 | Sheffield Wednesday | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 62 | 72 | 0.861 | 35 | |
| 19 | Chelsea | 42 | 12 | 11 | 19 | 56 | 66 | 0.848 | 35 | |
| 20 | Manchester City | 42 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 72 | 87 | 0.828 | 35 | |
| 21 | Stoke City(R) | 42 | 12 | 10 | 20 | 53 | 66 | 0.803 | 34 | Relegation to theSecond Division |
| 22 | Derby County(R) | 42 | 11 | 10 | 21 | 59 | 74 | 0.797 | 32 |
| Home \ Away | ARS | AST | BLP | BOL | BUR | CAR | CHA | CHE | DER | LIV | MCI | MUN | MID | NEW | POR | PNE | SHW | STK | SUN | TOT | WBA | WOL |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal | 3–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 3–4 | 2–0 | 6–2 | 5–3 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 2–2 | 5–3 | |
| Aston Villa | 1–2 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 6–0 | 1–0 | 4–3 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 0–1 | |
| Blackpool | 3–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 4–2 | 0–1 | 8–4 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | |
| Bolton Wanderers | 4–6 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 5–3 | 4–2 | 0–5 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 2–1 | |
| Burnley | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 5–1 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 0–0 | |
| Cardiff City | 0–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 6–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–2 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | |
| Charlton Athletic | 2–2 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | |
| Chelsea | 1–1 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 5–3 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | |
| Derby County | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 4–3 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 2–3 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–3 | |
| Liverpool | 1–5 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 5–3 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | |
| Manchester City | 2–4 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 5–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 5–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–5 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 | |
| Manchester United | 0–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 1–4 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 5–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 0–3 | |
| Middlesbrough | 2–0 | 1–0 | 5–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 5–4 | 5–0 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 4–2 | 1–1 | |
| Newcastle United | 2–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 4–3 | 1–5 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–5 | 1–1 | |
| Portsmouth | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 5–1 | 2–5 | 5–2 | 1–1 | 5–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | |
| Preston North End | 2–0 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 6–2 | 0–5 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 1–4 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 3–4 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 4–5 | 2–3 | |
| Stoke City | 1–1 | 1–4 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–4 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–2 | |
| Sunderland | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 5–2 | |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 1–3 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 5–2 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 1–2 | 7–1 | 3–2 | 3–3 | 4–4 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–4 | 3–2 | |
| West Bromwich Albion | 2–0 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–5 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 7–3 | 6–2 | 3–3 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 |
| Season | 1952–53 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Sheffield United |
| Promoted | Sheffield United Huddersfield Town |
| Relegated | Southampton Barnsley |
| Matches | 462 |
| Goals | 1,535 (3.32 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Arthur Rowley (39 goals)[4] |
1953–54 → | |
Sheffield United were champions of the Second Division, scoring 97 goals in the process. Their season included two runs of eleven league matches in a row without defeat, in October-December and February-April respectively.[7]
Huddersfield Town finished second, two points behind and were promoted to the First Division.Luton Town were contenders for promotion, but a poor finish without a win in their last four games left them six points behind Huddersfield in third place.[8]
Everton recorded their lowest ever league position, finishing 16th in an uneven season that included a 7-1 victory overDoncaster and a 8-2 defeat against Huddersfield.[9]
Southampton were relegated along withBarnsley, who finished bottom after a poor season that included just five wins, 108 conceded goals and a late run of nine consecutive defeats.[10]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Sheffield United(C, P) | 42 | 25 | 10 | 7 | 97 | 55 | 1.764 | 60 | Promotion to theFirst Division |
| 2 | Huddersfield Town(P) | 42 | 24 | 10 | 8 | 84 | 33 | 2.545 | 58 | |
| 3 | Luton Town | 42 | 22 | 8 | 12 | 84 | 49 | 1.714 | 52 | |
| 4 | Plymouth Argyle | 42 | 20 | 9 | 13 | 65 | 60 | 1.083 | 49 | |
| 5 | Leicester City | 42 | 18 | 12 | 12 | 89 | 74 | 1.203 | 48 | |
| 6 | Birmingham City | 42 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 71 | 66 | 1.076 | 48 | |
| 7 | Nottingham Forest | 42 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 77 | 67 | 1.149 | 44 | |
| 8 | Fulham | 42 | 17 | 10 | 15 | 81 | 71 | 1.141 | 44 | |
| 9 | Blackburn Rovers | 42 | 18 | 8 | 16 | 68 | 65 | 1.046 | 44 | |
| 10 | Leeds United | 42 | 14 | 15 | 13 | 71 | 63 | 1.127 | 43 | |
| 11 | Swansea Town | 42 | 15 | 12 | 15 | 78 | 81 | 0.963 | 42 | |
| 12 | Rotherham United | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 75 | 74 | 1.014 | 41 | |
| 13 | Doncaster Rovers | 42 | 12 | 16 | 14 | 58 | 64 | 0.906 | 40 | |
| 14 | West Ham United | 42 | 13 | 13 | 16 | 58 | 60 | 0.967 | 39 | |
| 15 | Lincoln City | 42 | 11 | 17 | 14 | 64 | 71 | 0.901 | 39 | |
| 16 | Everton | 42 | 12 | 14 | 16 | 71 | 75 | 0.947 | 38 | |
| 17 | Brentford | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 59 | 76 | 0.776 | 37 | |
| 18 | Hull City | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 57 | 69 | 0.826 | 36 | |
| 19 | Notts County | 42 | 14 | 8 | 20 | 60 | 88 | 0.682 | 36 | |
| 20 | Bury | 42 | 13 | 9 | 20 | 53 | 81 | 0.654 | 35 | |
| 21 | Southampton(R) | 42 | 10 | 13 | 19 | 68 | 85 | 0.800 | 33 | Relegation to theThird Division South |
| 22 | Barnsley(R) | 42 | 5 | 8 | 29 | 47 | 108 | 0.435 | 18 | Relegation to theThird Division North |
| Home \ Away | BAR | BIR | BLB | BRE | BRY | DON | EVE | FUL | HUD | HUL | LEE | LEI | LIN | LUT | NOT | NTC | PLY | ROT | SHU | SOU | SWA | WHU |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnsley | 1–3 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–3 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–3 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | |
| Birmingham | 3–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 4–3 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–5 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–4 | 2–0 | |
| Blackburn Rovers | 2–0 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | |
| Brentford | 4–0 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–4 | |
| Bury | 5–2 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–5 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 0–4 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 1–1 | |
| Doncaster Rovers | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 1–1 | |
| Everton | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 5–0 | 3–0 | 7–1 | 3–3 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | |
| Fulham | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–6 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 6–0 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | |
| Huddersfield Town | 6–0 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 8–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 5–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–0 | 0–1 | |
| Hull City | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 6–0 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | |
| Leeds United | 4–1 | 0–1 | 0–3 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 3–2 | |
| Leicester City | 2–2 | 3–4 | 2–1 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 4–2 | 4–2 | 6–1 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | |
| Lincoln City | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–1 | |
| Luton Town | 6–0 | 0–1 | 6–0 | 0–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 3–0 | 5–1 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–0 | |
| Nottingham Forest | 3–0 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 3–3 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 4–3 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 4–3 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 6–4 | 0–0 | |
| Notts County | 1–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 4–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 3–2 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 3–4 | 1–1 | |
| Plymouth Argyle | 4–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | 4–3 | 5–2 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | |
| Rotherham United | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 6–1 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | |
| Sheffield United | 3–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 0–2 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 7–2 | 6–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 5–3 | 7–1 | 3–1 | |
| Southampton | 1–2 | 1–1 | 6–1 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 3–3 | 1–1 | 5–3 | 0–2 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 5–2 | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 4–4 | 1–4 | 1–2 | |
| Swansea Town | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 4–1 | |
| West Ham United | 3–1 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 5–1 | 0–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 |
| Season | 1952–53 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Oldham Athletic (1st title) |
| Failed re-election | none |
| Matches | 552 |
| Goals | 1,604 (2.91 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Jimmy Whitehouse (Carlisle United), 29[4] |
1953–54 → | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Promotion or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oldham Athletic(C, P) | 46 | 22 | 15 | 9 | 77 | 45 | 1.711 | 59 | Promotion to theSecond Division |
| 2 | Port Vale | 46 | 20 | 18 | 8 | 67 | 35 | 1.914 | 58 | |
| 3 | Wrexham | 46 | 24 | 8 | 14 | 86 | 66 | 1.303 | 56 | |
| 4 | York City | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 60 | 45 | 1.333 | 53 | |
| 5 | Grimsby Town | 46 | 21 | 10 | 15 | 75 | 59 | 1.271 | 52 | |
| 6 | Southport | 46 | 20 | 11 | 15 | 63 | 60 | 1.050 | 51 | |
| 7 | Bradford (Park Avenue) | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 75 | 61 | 1.230 | 50 | |
| 8 | Gateshead | 46 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 76 | 60 | 1.267 | 49 | |
| 9 | Carlisle United | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 82 | 68 | 1.206 | 49 | |
| 10 | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 20 | 8 | 18 | 70 | 68 | 1.029 | 48 | |
| 11 | Stockport County | 46 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 82 | 69 | 1.188 | 47 | |
| 12 | Chesterfield | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 65 | 63 | 1.032 | 47 | |
| 13 | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 21 | 5 | 20 | 65 | 63 | 1.032 | 47 | |
| 14 | Halifax Town | 46 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 68 | 68 | 1.000 | 47 | |
| 15 | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 62 | 56 | 1.107 | 46 | |
| 16 | Bradford City | 46 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 75 | 80 | 0.938 | 46 | |
| 17 | Hartlepools United | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 57 | 61 | 0.934 | 46 | |
| 18 | Mansfield Town | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 55 | 62 | 0.887 | 46 | |
| 19 | Barrow | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 66 | 71 | 0.930 | 44 | |
| 20 | Chester | 46 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 64 | 85 | 0.753 | 37 | |
| 21 | Darlington | 46 | 14 | 6 | 26 | 58 | 96 | 0.604 | 34 | |
| 22 | Rochdale | 46 | 14 | 5 | 27 | 62 | 83 | 0.747 | 33 | |
| 23 | Workington | 46 | 11 | 10 | 25 | 55 | 91 | 0.604 | 32 | Re-elected |
| 24 | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 8 | 11 | 27 | 39 | 89 | 0.438 | 27 |
| Home \ Away | ACC | BRW | BRA | BPA | CRL | CHE | CHF | CRE | DAR | GAT | GRI | HAL | HAR | MAN | OLD | PTV | ROC | SCU | SOU | STP | TRA | WRK | WRE | YOR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accrington Stanley | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–4 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | |
| Barrow | 2–0 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 4–3 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | |
| Bradford City | 3–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 7–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 4–3 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–3 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 5–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | |
| Bradford Park Avenue | 4–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 6–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 | |
| Carlisle United | 4–4 | 0–0 | 4–4 | 1–3 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 8–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | |
| Chester | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 6–3 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | |
| Chesterfield | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | |
| Crewe Alexandra | 3–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 4–3 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–4 | 4–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | 3–3 | 3–0 | |
| Darlington | 1–0 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–5 | 0–2 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 0–1 | |
| Gateshead | 5–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 6–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 1–1 | |
| Grimsby Town | 3–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–3 | 2–3 | 5–4 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 7–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | |
| Halifax Town | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 1–3 | 3–2 | 3–2 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 5–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | |
| Hartlepool | 4–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 0–2 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | |
| Mansfield Town | 0–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–2 | 1–4 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–1 | |
| Oldham Athletic | 3–0 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 2–4 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 5–2 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 2–1 | |
| Port Vale | 0–1 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 4–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 5–2 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 2–0 | |
| Rochdale | 1–0 | 6–2 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 2–3 | 0–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 4–1 | 0–3 | |
| Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 5–2 | 1–2 | 4–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 5–1 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | |
| Southport | 1–0 | 3–2 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 4–3 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–3 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 3–1 | |
| Stockport County | 3–1 | 6–1 | 6–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 6–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | |
| Tranmere | 2–0 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 4–0 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 5–2 | 2–0 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 0–2 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 4–2 | 1–3 | |
| Workington | 3–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 4–0 | 3–1 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–3 | 2–4 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 1–3 | |
| Wrexham | 3–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 7–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–3 | 3–2 | 5–2 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | |
| York City | 2–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–2 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 1–3 | 2–1 |
| Season | 1952–53 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Bristol Rovers (1st title) |
| Failed re-election | none |
| Matches | 552 |
| Goals | 1,745 (3.16 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Geoff Bradford (Bristol Rovers), 33[4] |
1953–54 → | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bristol Rovers(C, P) | 46 | 26 | 12 | 8 | 92 | 46 | 2.000 | 64 | Promotion to theSecond Division |
| 2 | Millwall | 46 | 24 | 14 | 8 | 82 | 44 | 1.864 | 62 | |
| 3 | Northampton Town | 46 | 26 | 10 | 10 | 109 | 70 | 1.557 | 62 | |
| 4 | Norwich City | 46 | 25 | 10 | 11 | 99 | 55 | 1.800 | 60 | |
| 5 | Bristol City | 46 | 22 | 15 | 9 | 95 | 61 | 1.557 | 59 | |
| 6 | Coventry City | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 77 | 62 | 1.242 | 50 | |
| 7 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 81 | 75 | 1.080 | 50 | |
| 8 | Southend United | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 69 | 74 | 0.932 | 49 | |
| 9 | Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 46 | 19 | 9 | 18 | 74 | 69 | 1.072 | 47 | |
| 10 | Watford | 46 | 15 | 17 | 14 | 62 | 63 | 0.984 | 47 | |
| 11 | Reading | 46 | 19 | 8 | 19 | 69 | 64 | 1.078 | 46 | |
| 12 | Torquay United | 46 | 18 | 9 | 19 | 87 | 88 | 0.989 | 45 | |
| 13 | Crystal Palace | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 66 | 82 | 0.805 | 43 | |
| 14 | Leyton Orient | 46 | 16 | 10 | 20 | 68 | 73 | 0.932 | 42 | |
| 15 | Newport County | 46 | 16 | 10 | 20 | 70 | 82 | 0.854 | 42 | |
| 16 | Ipswich Town | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 60 | 69 | 0.870 | 41 | |
| 17 | Exeter City | 46 | 13 | 14 | 19 | 61 | 71 | 0.859 | 40 | |
| 18 | Swindon Town | 46 | 14 | 12 | 20 | 64 | 79 | 0.810 | 40 | |
| 19 | Aldershot | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 61 | 77 | 0.792 | 39 | |
| 20 | Queens Park Rangers | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 61 | 82 | 0.744 | 39 | |
| 21 | Gillingham | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 55 | 74 | 0.743 | 39 | |
| 22 | Colchester United | 46 | 12 | 14 | 20 | 59 | 76 | 0.776 | 38 | |
| 23 | Shrewsbury Town | 46 | 12 | 12 | 22 | 68 | 91 | 0.747 | 36 | Re-elected |
| 24 | Walsall | 46 | 7 | 10 | 29 | 56 | 118 | 0.475 | 24 |
| Home \ Away | ALD | B&BA | B&HA | BRI | BRR | COL | COV | CRY | EXE | GIL | IPS | LEY | MIL | NPC | NOR | NWC | QPR | REA | SHR | STD | SWI | TOR | WAL | WAT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aldershot | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 4–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | |
| Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic | 0–3 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 3–0 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 5–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 5–1 | 4–1 | |
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 4–2 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 4–1 | 4–2 | 5–0 | 1–4 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 1–2 | |
| Bristol City | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 5–0 | 4–1 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 2–3 | 0–1 | 4–4 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 5–0 | 4–2 | 4–4 | 6–1 | 5–1 | |
| Bristol Rovers | 4–1 | 2–1 | 7–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 5–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 0–3 | |
| Colchester United | 1–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 3–3 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–3 | 3–1 | 4–1 | 6–1 | 1–1 | |
| Coventry City | 3–0 | 2–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 4–2 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 4–1 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 1–2 | 7–2 | 3–1 | 1–0 | |
| Crystal Palace | 3–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 4–3 | 1–1 | 4–2 | 0–3 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 1–0 | |
| Exeter City | 2–2 | 5–1 | 1–5 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 0–2 | 1–2 | 4–1 | 6–1 | 1–1 | |
| Gillingham | 2–0 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 0–1 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 0–3 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 4–2 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 2–1 | |
| Ipswich Town | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–5 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 1–6 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–2 | 2–1 | 0–0 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 5–0 | 1–1 | |
| Leyton Orient | 4–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 1–3 | 3–3 | 5–3 | 1–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 1–4 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 3–1 | 5–0 | 1–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 2–2 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 2–0 | |
| Millwall | 0–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–2 | 2–3 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | |
| Newport County | 2–1 | 2–1 | 0–3 | 4–3 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 4–4 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 1–2 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–2 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | |
| Northampton Town | 4–0 | 5–1 | 5–3 | 0–2 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 5–1 | 3–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 5–0 | 3–3 | 4–2 | 6–1 | 3–1 | 4–3 | 3–1 | 3–3 | 2–1 | 4–1 | |
| Norwich City | 5–0 | 1–1 | 3–2 | 0–0 | 0–0 | 3–0 | 1–1 | 5–1 | 2–0 | 3–2 | 1–0 | 5–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 3–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 | 3–0 | 5–2 | |
| Queens Park Rangers | 2–2 | 2–1 | 3–3 | 2–1 | 0–1 | 1–0 | 0–4 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–2 | 0–1 | 1–3 | 4–2 | 2–2 | 3–1 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 4–2 | 2–2 | |
| Reading | 2–3 | 1–3 | 0–0 | 4–0 | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 3–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 5–0 | 2–1 | 2–0 | 0–1 | 2–0 | 5–3 | 1–0 | 4–1 | 4–1 | 0–0 | 3–0 | |
| Shrewsbury Town | 2–1 | 1–0 | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | 3–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 1–3 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 2–0 | 2–4 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 1–8 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 7–1 | 2–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | |
| Southend | 1–1 | 0–0 | 1–2 | 0–4 | 2–1 | 4–0 | 1–0 | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–1 | 2–0 | 1–0 | 2–1 | 1–0 | 3–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–1 | 2–1 | 1–0 | |
| Swindon Town | 3–2 | 1–2 | 3–0 | 0–0 | 1–3 | 0–1 | 2–3 | 3–6 | 5–2 | 0–0 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 3–0 | 2–1 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 2–0 | 1–2 | 0–0 | |
| Torquay United | 1–2 | 5–1 | 1–2 | 1–2 | 1–0 | 5–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 5–2 | 3–2 | 4–1 | 5–0 | 1–0 | 3–3 | 3–0 | 4–1 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–0 | 4–2 | 3–1 | 0–3 | 2–2 | |
| Walsall | 0–0 | 2–2 | 3–0 | 3–3 | 3–5 | 0–3 | 1–1 | 2–4 | 2–2 | 1–3 | 1–3 | 1–0 | 0–2 | 1–3 | 1–5 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 4–4 | 1–1 | 1–2 | 2–0 | 0–0 | |
| Watford | 1–1 | 3–0 | 2–3 | 4–1 | 2–3 | 2–0 | 1–1 | 2–0 | 3–1 | 0–0 | 1–0 | 1–0 | 1–1 | 0–1 | 2–1 | 3–2 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 1–1 | 2–1 | 1–1 | 3–0 |