The1939–40 season was the 42nd in the history of theSouthern League. The league was split into two sections, Eastern and Western as part of an emergency war-time competition.[1]Chelmsford City won the Eastern Section andLovell's Athletic won the Western one. A championship play-off between the two clubs was drawn 3–3 and they were declared joint champions.[2] After this season, the Southern Football League did not resume untilWorld War II had ended in 1945.
| Season | 1939–40 |
|---|---|
| Matches | 18 |
| Goals | 102 (5.67 per match) |
1945–46 → | |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelmsford City | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 29 | 9 | 3.222 | 10 | |
| 2 | Guildford City | 8 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 26 | 13 | 2.000 | 9 | Did not return to league after World War II |
| 3 | Tunbridge Wells Rangers | 7 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 21 | 16 | 1.313 | 7 | |
| 4 | Dartford | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 17 | 30 | 0.567 | 5 | |
| 5 | Norwich City II | 7 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 9 | 34 | 0.265 | 5 |
| Season | 1939–40 |
|---|---|
| Matches | 55 |
| Goals | 291 (5.29 per match) |
1945–46 → | |
The Western Section featured three new clubs:
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lovell's Athletic | 14 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 53 | 22 | 2.409 | 23 | Did not return to league after World War II |
| 2 | Worcester City | 14 | 9 | 2 | 3 | 55 | 30 | 1.833 | 20 | |
| 3 | Hereford United | 14 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 45 | 31 | 1.452 | 16 | |
| 4 | Yeovil & Petters United | 14 | 7 | 2 | 5 | 30 | 24 | 1.250 | 16 | |
| 5 | Gloucester City | 14 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 35 | 49 | 0.714 | 10 | Did not return to league after World War II |
| 6 | Barry | 14 | 4 | 1 | 9 | 31 | 56 | 0.554 | 9 | |
| 7 | Cheltenham Town | 13 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 21 | 38 | 0.553 | 8 | |
| 8 | Bath City | 13 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 21 | 41 | 0.512 | 8 |