1945–46 Southern Football League
Encyclopedia
The 1945–46 Southern Football League
season was the first following the end of World War II
, and saw Chelmsford City
win the title. Not all league competitions resumed in 1945 (the Football League
did not restart until 1946–47) and fourteen clubs that had featured in the 1938–39 season
had left the league, whilst there were only two new clubs, Bedford Town
and Hereford United
. As the Football League did not resume until the following season, there were no elections to the League.
Several matches were left unplayed, with clubs who had only played 18 matches (as opposed to the scheduled 20) awarded an additional three points, and Bedford Town (who only played 16 games) awarded an extra six points.
1 The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976-77 season.
2 The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.
Southern Football League
The Southern League is an English football competition featuring semi-professional and amateur clubs from the South West, South Central and Midlands of England and South Wales...
season was the first following the end of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and saw Chelmsford City
Chelmsford City F.C.
Chelmsford City F.C. is an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Chelmsford, Essex. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Melbourne Stadium.-Chelmsford:...
win the title. Not all league competitions resumed in 1945 (the Football League
The Football League
The Football League, also known as the npower Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional association football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football...
did not restart until 1946–47) and fourteen clubs that had featured in the 1938–39 season
1938–39 Southern Football League
The 1938–39 Southern Football League season saw Colchester United win the title. Three clubs applied to join the Football League, although none were successful...
had left the league, whilst there were only two new clubs, Bedford Town
Bedford Town F.C.
Bedford Town F.C. is an English football club based in the Borough of Bedford. The club are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division and play at The New Eyrie in Cardington, a parish on the outskirts of Bedford....
and Hereford United
Hereford United F.C.
Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',...
. As the Football League did not resume until the following season, there were no elections to the League.
Several matches were left unplayed, with clubs who had only played 18 matches (as opposed to the scheduled 20) awarded an additional three points, and Bedford Town (who only played 16 games) awarded an extra six points.
Final table
| Pos | Club | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv1 | Pts2 | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelmsford City Chelmsford City F.C. Chelmsford City F.C. is an English semi-professional football club based in the town of Chelmsford, Essex. The club are currently members of the Conference South and play at the Melbourne Stadium.-Chelmsford:... |
18 | 15 | 1 | 2 | 66 | 23 | 2.87 | 34 | Three points added |
| 2 | Hereford United Hereford United F.C. Hereford United Football Club is an English professional football club based in the city of Hereford. Founded in 1924, they are competing in Football League Two in the 2011–12 season. Hereford have played at Edgar Street for their entire history and are nicknamed 'The Whites' or 'The Lilywhites',... |
20 | 13 | 3 | 4 | 59 | 31 | 1.9 | 29 | |
| 3 | Bath City Bath City F.C. Bath City Football Club are a semi-professional football club based in Bath, Somerset. They play in the Conference National league after gaining promotion from the Conference South via the play-offs in May 2010... |
20 | 12 | 2 | 6 | 62 | 32 | 1.94 | 26 | |
| 4 | Cheltenham Town Cheltenham Town F.C. Cheltenham Town Football Club is an English football club playing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. Founded in 1887, the team has played at four different grounds, namely Agg-Gardner's Recreation Ground, Carter's Field and now the Abbey Business Stadium, although it is more... |
18 | 9 | 1 | 8 | 35 | 54 | 0.65 | 22 | Three points added |
| 5 | Barry Town Barry Town F.C. Barry Town FC are a football team based in Barry. They dominated the League of Wales during the 1990s, but finished bottom in 2003-04 and were relegated... |
20 | 8 | 4 | 8 | 42 | 42 | 1 | 20 | |
| 6 | Yeovil & Petters Yeovil Town F.C. Yeovil Town F.C. are an English association football team based in Yeovil, Somerset. The club play in League One after having won the League Two championship in 2004–05... |
18 | 7 | 1 | 10 | 57 | 52 | 1.1 | 18 | Three points added, changed name to Yeovil Town at end of season |
| 7 | Worcester City Worcester City F.C. Worcester City Football Club is an English football club based in Worcester, Worcestershire. The club are currently members of the Conference North and play at St George's Lane.-History:... |
20 | 8 | 2 | 10 | 60 | 58 | 1.03 | 18 | |
| 8 | Colchester United Colchester United F.C. Colchester United Football Club is an English football club based in Colchester. The club was formed in 1937, and briefly shared their old Layer Road home with now defunct side Colchester Town who had previously used the ground from 1910.... |
20 | 7 | 3 | 10 | 29 | 47 | 0.62 | 17 | |
| 9 | Bedford Town Bedford Town F.C. Bedford Town F.C. is an English football club based in the Borough of Bedford. The club are currently members of the Southern League Premier Division and play at The New Eyrie in Cardington, a parish on the outskirts of Bedford.... |
16 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 30 | 49 | 0.61 | 15 | Six points added |
| 10 | Swindon Town II Swindon Town F.C. Swindon Town Football Club are a team based in Swindon, Wiltshire. Currently in League Two, Swindon have been managed by Paolo Di Canio since 23 May 2011... |
18 | 4 | 3 | 11 | 36 | 65 | 0.55 | 14 | Three points added, left league at end of season |
| 11 | Cardiff City II Cardiff City F.C. Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for... |
20 | 4 | 5 | 11 | 39 | 60 | 0.65 | 13 | Left league at end of season |
1 The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976-77 season.
2 The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.