1938–39 Southampton F.C. season

August 2024 Southampton F.C. 1938–39 John Sarjantson Tom Parker The Dell Second Division 18th FA Cup Third round Fred Briggs (14) Fred Briggs (14) 23,104 v Manchester City(12 November 1938) 4,196 v Burnley(29 April 1939) 4–1 v Swansea Town(26 November 1938) 1–6 v Chesterfield(3 December 1938) _red_stripes _redstripes2 _red_stripes _3_stripes_on_white_top FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 003366 003366 1937–38 1945–46 The 1938–39 Southampton F.C. season was the club's 44th season of competitive football and 17th season in the Second Division of the Football League. The campaign was another disappointment for the Saints, who finished 19th in the league with 13 wins, nine draws and 20 losses – three positions lower than the previous season and four points above the relegation zone. Due to the uncertain international economic landscape, the club was unable to make many significant signings in the summer, with Welsh full-back Tom Emanuel their most expensive transfer. Several key figures left the South Coast club early in the season, including long-time players Charlie Sillett and Arthur Roberts, both of whom had made over 150 appearances; previous season's top scorer Harry Osman also departed in March 1939. Southampton entered the 1938–39 FA Cup in the third round against Southern League club Chelmsford City. Despite competing two divisions above the Clarets, the Saints lost 1–4 to the non-league side, marking the fourth season in a row the Saints had failed to make it past their first game in the tournament. Alongside the Second Division and the FA Cup, Southampton played just one friendly match at the beginning of the 1938–39 season, against local rivals Portsmouth as part of the celebrations for the Football League's 50th jubilee. The match was won 4–2 by the First Division side, who overcame an early deficit to win the game at Fratton Park. The club used 30 different players during the 1938–39 season and had nine different goalscorers. Their top scorer was new inside-forward Fred Briggs, who scored 14 goals in 36 league appearances. Fellow new arrival Reg Tomlinson scored 12 times during the Second Division campaign and once in the FA Cup, while Harry Osman scored nine league goals before his departure before the end of the season. 14 players were signed by the club during the campaign, with ten released and sold to other clubs, while one (John Summers) retired. The average attendance at The Dell during 1938–39 was 14,591. 23,104 was the highest attendance that was recently against relegated Manchester City on 12 November 1938; the lowest attendance was 4,196 against Burnley in the final home fixture of the campaign on 29 April 1939. 1938–39 was Southampton's last full season of competitive football until 1946. The 1939–40 Football League season was abandoned after just three games due to the outbreak of World War II, which lasted until 1945. At the time of the abandonment, Southampton were 17th in the table with only one win and two defeats. The FA Cup was hosted during 1945–46, with the Football League returning the following year. Tom Parker resigned as manager during the war, making it his last 1938–39 season with the club. Background and transfers Due to the "uncertain international situation" ahead of the outbreak of World War II, Southampton's directors were reportedly "naturally unwilling to spend money on new players", meaning manager Tom Parker was unable to make significant signings ahead of the 1938–39 season.Chalk Holley 1987 100 One of the first signings of the summer was 30-year-old forward Fred Briggs, who made the step up from Third Division South side Reading to the Saints on a free transfer; he went on to play in almost every game of the campaign, playing in all five forward positions and finishing as the club's top scorer.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/fred-briggs/ Fred Briggs SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 Other successful early signings included Harry Brophy from Arsenal, who scored in each of his first four games when played as a "makeshift centre-forward", before spending the rest of the season at half-back and full-back;https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/harry-brophy/ Harry Brophy SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 Reg Tomlinson from Grimsby Town, who took over the centre-forward position and finished as the club's second highest goal scorer for the season;https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/reg-tomlinson/ Reg Tomlinson SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 and Tom Emanuel from Swansea Town, who replaced the outgoing Charlie Sillett at left-back.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/tom-emanuel/ Tom Emanuel SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 Several players left the Southampton squad in the summer of 1938. Wing-half Alf Day, inside-forward Jimmy Woolf and centre-forward Billy Dunn all left the club after arriving only a year earlier, having made a total of 38 appearances combined between them.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/alf-day/ Alf Day SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/jimmy-woolf/ Jimmy Woolf SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/willie-dunn/ Willie Dunn SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 Long-time squad members Charlie Sillett and Arthur Roberts, both of whom were approaching the latter years of their playing careers, also left in the summer – Sillett, who made just shy of 200 appearances for the Saints in all competitions, joined Guildford City in the Southern League;https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/charlie-sillett/ Charlie Sillett SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 while Arthur Roberts, who had played over 150 games for the club, moved to league rivals Swansea Town.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/bert-roberts/ Bert Roberts SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 Winger John Summers, who had been a regular in 1936–37, his debut season with the club, was forced to retire from football due to an injury.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/john-lawrence/ John Summers SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 Right-back Frank Perfect arrived from Tranmere Rovers in January 1939,https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/frank-perfect/ Frank Perfect SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 while Harry Osman – the previous season's top goalscorer – departed Southampton in March for Millwall, who paid £3,500 for the winger.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/harry-osman/ Harry Osman SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 Players transferred in NameNationalityPos. Playing positionClubDateFeeRef.Fred BriggsEnglandFW ForwardENG ReadingMay 1938FreeHarry BrophyEnglandHB Half-backENG ArsenalMay 1938UnknownTom CarnabyEnglandHB Half-backENG Blyth SpartansMay 1938Unknownhttps://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/tom-carnaby/ Tom Carnaby SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 Bill StroudEnglandHB Half-backENG Highbury SportsMay 1938FreeBill Stroud initially joined on amateur terms in May 1938, before turning professional in February 1940.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/bill-stroud Bill Stroud SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 Reg TomlinsonEnglandFW ForwardENG Grimsby TownMay 1938UnknownOswald BowdenEnglandFW ForwardENG Brighton & Hove AlbionJune 1938£150https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/oswald-bowden/ Oswald Bowden SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 Bill ClarkeEnglandFW ForwardENG Exeter CityJuly 1938Freehttps://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/bill-clarke/ Bill Clarke SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 Charlie WilkinsonEnglandFB Full-backENG Sheffield UnitedJuly 1938Unknownhttps://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/charlie-wilkinson/ Charlie Wilkinson SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 Doug McGibbonEnglandFW Forwardnone (free agent)August 1938FreeDoug McGibbon initially joined on amateur terms in August 1938, before turning professional that December.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/doug-mcgibbon/ Doug McGibbon SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 Tom EmanuelWalesFB Full-backWAL Swansea TownSeptember 1938£2,200Bobby VeckEnglandFW Forwardnone (free agent)September 1938FreeBobby Veck initially joined on amateur terms in September 1938, before turning professional in September 1945.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/bobby-veck Bobby Veck SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 Eric WebberEnglandHB Half-backENG Norwich CitySeptember 1938FreeEric Webber initially joined on amateur terms in September 1938, before turning professional in March 1939.https://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/eric-webber Eric Webber SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 Norman CatlinEnglandFW ForwardENG Ryde SportsLate 1938Freehttps://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/norman-catlin/ Norman Catlin SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 Frank PerfectEnglandFB Full-backENG Tranmere RoversJanuary 1939Unknown Players transferred out NameNationalityPos. Playing positionClubDateFeeRef.Henry LongEnglandHB Half-backENG Newport (IOW)Summer 1938Unknownhttps://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/henry-long/ Henry Long SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 Alf DayWalesHB Half-backENG Tranmere RoversMay 1938FreeFred SmallwoodWalesFW ForwardENG ReadingJune 1938Unknownhttps://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/fred-smallwood/ Fred Smallwood SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 Bill KennedyScotlandHB Half-backSCO Hamilton AcademicalJuly 1938Unknownhttps://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/bill-kennedy/ Bill Kennedy SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 Wilf MayerEnglandFW ForwardENG Wellington TownJuly 1938Unknownhttps://www.saintsplayers.co.uk/player/wilf-mayer/ Wilf Mayer SaintsPlayers.co.uk 30 August 2024 Charlie SillettEnglandFB Full-backENG Guildford CityJuly 1938UnknownArthur RobertsEnglandFB Full-backWAL Swansea TownAugust 1938FreeJimmy WoolfSouth AfricaFW ForwardENG Guildford CityAugust 1938UnknownBilly DunnScotlandFW ForwardSCO Raith RoversSeptember 1938£375Harry OsmanEnglandFW ForwardENG MillwallMarch 1939£3,500 Players retired NameNationalityPos. Playing positionDateReasonRef.John SummersEnglandFW ForwardSummer 1938Retired due to injury; joined the police force The Second Division 1938–39 Football League Southampton faced a tough start to their 1938–39 Second Division campaign, with their first four fixtures against sides that had all finished in the top ten the previous season. The result was four consecutive defeats – 1–2 at home to Tottenham Hotspur, 1–2 at Burnley, 2–5 at Bury and 0–3 at Coventry City – which left the Saints at the bottom of the league table.https://www.11v11.com/league-tables/league-division-two/10-september-1938/ League Division Two table after close of play on 10 September 1938 11v11.com 2 September 2024 New signing Harry Brophy scored in each of the first three games playing at centre-forward, before he played the rest of the season in various positions across the half-back line (and a handful of times at left full-back).Chalk Holley 1987 101 After their first win, the Saints' form improved throughout the autumn, with the side picking up four wins and going on a four-game unbeaten run during October and November, including a 2–1 win over the recently relegated West Bromwich Albion, a hard-fought 4–3 win over Sheffield Wednesday, and the season's first away win over Millwall. Four defeats in five games between 12 November and 10 December (including a 1–6 thrashing at Chesterfield) ensured the team never made it above 16th place in the table before the new year. The side's one win in this period was their biggest of the season, 4–1 over fellow strugglers Swansea Town. 1939 began in much the same way, with Southampton picking up just one point from their first three games of the calendar year; during February, however, the club picked up another handful of wins (three from four matches, including 2–0 away against Nottingham Forest) to ensure they remained safe above the relegation zone. After the March departure of Harry Osman, who had scored nine of the club's league goals up to that point, the Saints began to struggle even more – they lost four of their seven fixtures in April, including 2–6 and 0–4 thrashings at the hands of Luton Town, a 0–3 defeat by eventual champions Blackburn Rovers, and a 2–0 loss at home to mid-table West Ham United. The team's final points came in the form of a close 2–1 win over Burnley, with the final game of the season seeing Plymouth Argyle return their early defeat with a 2–0 win over the South Coast side. Southampton finished the season in 18th position in the Second Division league table – three positions lower than the previous campaign – with 13 wins, nine draws and 20 losses (their highest number of losses in over ten years). They finished four points above Norwich City in 21st position, the first Third Division relegation place. List of match results 1 27 August 1938 Southampton 1–2 Tottenham Hotspur Brophy The Dell Southampton 22,653 L 2 30 August 1938 Burnley 2–1 Southampton Brophy Turf Moor Burnley 13,334 L 3 3 September 1938 Bury 5–2 Southampton Brophy Osman Gigg Lane Bury 9,000 L 4 10 September 1938 Coventry City 3–0 Southampton Highfield Road Coventry 20,326 L 5 14 September 1938 Southampton 2–1 Plymouth Argyle Osman The Dell Southampton 12,406 W 6 17 September 1938 Southampton 2–2 Nottingham Forest Brophy Hill The Dell Southampton 15,196 D 7 24 September 1938 Newcastle United 1–0 Southampton St James' Park Newcastle upon Tyne 35,000 L 8 1 October 1938 Southampton 2–1 West Bromwich Albion Holt Osman The Dell Southampton 16,423 W 9 8 October 1938 Norwich City 2–1 Southampton Parkin Carrow Road Norwich 12,000 L 10 15 October 1938 Southampton 4–3 Sheffield Wednesday Tomlinson Briggs Osman The Dell Southampton 17,123 W 11 22 October 1938 Fulham 1–1 Southampton Tomlinson Craven Cottage London 20,000 D 12 29 October 1938 Southampton 3–1 Tranmere Rovers Holt Tomlinson Briggs The Dell Southampton 16,341 W 13 5 November 1938 Millwall 0–1 Southampton Briggs The Den London 35,000 W 14 12 November 1938 Southampton 1–2 Manchester City Briggs The Dell Southampton 23,104 L 15 19 November 1938 Bradford 2–1 Southampton Osman Park Avenue Bradford 10,000 L 16 26 November 1938 Southampton 4–1 Swansea Town Briggs Holt The Dell Southampton 14,178 W 17 3 December 1938 Chesterfield 6–1 Southampton Briggs Recreation Ground Chesterfield 10,000 L 18 10 December 1938 Southampton 1–3 Blackburn Rovers Tomlinson The Dell Southampton 15,649 L 19 17 December 1938 West Ham United 1–2 Southampton Briggs Tomlinson Boleyn Ground London 16,500 W 20 24 December 1938 Tottenham Hotspur 1–1 Southampton Tomlinson White Hart Lane London 7,428 D 21 26 December 1938 Sheffield United 5–1 Southampton Briggs Bramall Lane Sheffield 31,303 L 22 27 December 1938 Southampton 2–2 Sheffield United Holt Hill The Dell Southampton 19,489 D 23 31 December 1938 Southampton 0–0 Bury The Dell Southampton 13,844 D 24 14 January 1939 Southampton 0–2 Coventry City The Dell Southampton 11,578 L 25 28 January 1939 Southampton 0–0 Newcastle United The Dell Southampton 15,802 D 26 4 February 1939 West Bromwich Albion 2–0 Southampton The Hawthorns West Bromwich 20,000 L 27 8 February 1939 Nottingham Forest 0–2 Southampton Bevis Tomlinson City Ground Nottingham 3,000 W 28 11 February 1939 Southampton 3–1 Norwich City Osman Tomlinson The Dell Southampton 11,880 W 29 18 February 1939 Sheffield Wednesday 2–0 Southampton Hillsborough Stadium Sheffield 25,000 L 30 25 February 1939 Southampton 2–1 Fulham Tomlinson Briggs The Dell Southampton 12,512 W 31 4 March 1939 Tranmere Rovers 1–1 Southampton Osman Prenton Park Birkenhead 7,000 D 32 11 March 1939 Southampton 1–1 Millwall Bevis The Dell Southampton 14,411 D 33 18 March 1939 Manchester City 2–1 Southampton Bates Maine Road Manchester 18,000 L 34 25 March 1939 Southampton 3–2 Bradford Parkin Bates Briggs The Dell Southampton 9,679 W 35 1 April 1939 Swansea Town 1–3 Southampton Bevis Vetch Field Swansea 8,000 W 36 7 April 1939 Luton Town 6–2 Southampton Bevis Tomlinson Kenilworth Road Luton 15,946 L 37 8 April 1939 Southampton 2–2 Chesterfield Brophy Briggs The Dell Southampton 14,904 D 38 10 April 1939 Southampton 0–4 Luton Town The Dell Southampton 15,114 L 39 15 April 1939 Blackburn Rovers 3–0 Southampton Ewood Park Blackburn 12,000 L 40 22 April 1939 Southampton 0–2 West Ham United The Dell Southampton 9,931 L 41 29 April 1939 Southampton 2–1 Burnley Briggs Tomlinson The Dell Southampton 4,196 W 42 6 May 1939 Plymouth Argyle 2–0 Southampton Home Park Plymouth 6,000 L Final league table Second Division y SOU RSSSF Results by matchday table b Round Ground H / A / A / A / H / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / A / A / H / H / H / H / A / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / H / A / A / H / H / A / H / H / A Result L / L / L / L / W / D / L / W / L / W / D / W / W / L / L / W / L / L / W / D / L / D / D / L / D / L / W / W / L / W / D / D / L / W / W / L / D / L / L / L / W / L Position 16 / 16 / 20 / 22 / 21 / 20 / 21 / 19 / 21 / 18 / 20 / 16 / 16 / 17 / 18 / 18 / 18 / 18 / 18 / 18 / 18 / 17 / 17 / 18 / 18 / 18 / 18 / 17 / 18 / 18 / 18 / 18 / 18 / 17 / 16 / 17 / 16 / 16 / 16 / 18 / 17 / 18 Home Away green2 Win yellow2 Draw red2 Loss 1st 2nd 3rd red1 11v11.comhttps://www.11v11.com/league-tables/ 11v11 league table generator 11v11.com 1 September 2024 FA Cup 1938–39 FA Cup Southampton entered the 1938–39 FA Cup in the third round against Southern League side Chelmsford City. Despite competing two divisions below the Saints, the Clarets defeated the Second Division side 4–1 in the first fixture of 1939, dominating most of the game to eliminate the South Coast club at the first hurdle for the fourth season in a row. Round 3 7 January 1939 Chelmsford City 4–1 Southampton Tomlinson New Writtle Street Chelmsford 10,741 L Other matches Outside the league and the FA Cup, Southampton played just one additional game during the 1938–39 season, against local rivals Portsmouth (then struggling in the First Division) as part of the Football League's 50th jubilee celebrations.Juson Aldworth Bendel Bull Chalk 2004 135 The visiting Saints opened the scoring through Billy Bevis in the first minute, before Pompey took control and equalised before half-time. The hosts began to dominate after the break, scoring three goals in quick succession to secure the win comfortably, before Reg Tomlinson scored a consolation late on for Southampton. Football LeagueJubilee Match 20 August 1938 Portsmouth 4–2 Southampton Beattie Groves Easson Worrall Bevis 1Tomlinson Fratton Park Portsmouth 14,577 L Player details Southampton used 30 different players during the 1938–39 season, nine of whom scored during the campaign. The team played in a 2–3–5 formation throughout, using two full-backs, three half-backs, two outside forwards, two inside forwards and a centre-forward. Goalkeeper Sam Warhurst, outside-right Billy Bevis and wing-half Harry Brophy featured in more games than any other Southampton player, with all three playing in 37 league games and the FA Cup tie. New inside-forward Fred Briggs finished as the season's top goalscorer with 14 goals in the league, followed by Reg Tomlinson with 12 league and one FA Cup goal. Squad statistics NamePos. Playing positionNat. NationalityLeagueFA CupTotalApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsApps. AppearancesGls. GoalsDavid AffleckHB Half-backSCO25000250Ted BatesFW ForwardENG14200142Billy BevisFW ForwardENG37610386Oswald BowdenFW ForwardENG200020Fred BriggsFW ForwardENG3614103714Harry BrophyHB Half-backENG37510385Tom CarnabyHB Half-backENG14010150Norman ChalkHB Half-backENG400040Bill ClarkeFW ForwardENG200020Stan CuttingHB Half-backENG300030Tom EmanuelFB Full-backWAL33010340Phil GriggsFW ForwardENG100010Doug HendersonFB Full-backENG401050Frank HillHB Half-back/FW ForwardSCO19210202Arthur HoltFW ForwardENG29410304Gerry KellyFW ForwardENG500050Cyril KingHB Half-backENG700070Doug McGibbonFW ForwardENG100010Ray ParkinFW ForwardENG29210302Frank PerfectFB Full-backENG15000150George SmithHB Half-backENG900090Len StansbridgeGK GoalkeeperENG500050Reg TomlinsonFW ForwardENG3612113713Lawrence WallaceFW ForwardENG100010Sam WarhurstGK GoalkeeperENG37010380Eric WebberHB Half-backENG100010Charlie WilkinsonFB Full-backENG300030Fred WilliamsFB Full-backENG22000220George WoodfordFB Full-backENG100010Players with appearances who left before the end of the seasonHarry OsmanFW ForwardENG30900309 Most appearances RankNamePos. Playing positionLeagueFA CupTotalApps. Appearances% Percentage of totalApps. Appearances% Percentage of totalApps. Appearances% Percentage of total1Billy BevisFW Forward3788.101100.003888.37Harry BrophyHB Half-back3788.101100.003888.37Sam WarhurstGK Goalkeeper3788.101100.003888.374Fred BriggsFW Forward3685.711100.003786.05Reg TomlinsonFW Forward3685.711100.003786.056Tom EmanuelFB Full-back3378.571100.003479.077Harry OsmanFW Forward3071.4300.003069.77Arthur HoltFW Forward2969.051100.003069.779David AffleckHB Half-back2559.5200.002558.1410Fred WilliamsFB Full-back2252.3800.002251.16 Top goalscorers RankNamePos. Playing positionLeagueFA CupTotalGls. GoalsGPG Goals per gameGls. GoalsGPG Goals per gameGls. GoalsGPG Goals per game1Fred BriggsFW Forward140.3900.00140.382Reg TomlinsonFW Forward120.3311.00130.353Harry OsmanFW Forward90.3000.0090.304Billy BevisFW Forward60.1600.0060.165Harry BrophyHB Half-back50.1400.0050.136Arthur HoltFW Forward40.1400.0040.137Ted BatesFW Forward20.1400.0020.14Frank HillHB Half-back20.1100.0020.10Ray ParkinFW Forward20.0700.0020.07 Footnotes References Bibliography Chalk Gary Holley Duncan A Complete Record of Southampton Football Club: 1885–1987 Derby, England Breedon Books 10 August 1987 978-0907969228 Chalk Gary Holley Duncan Bull David All the Saints: A Complete Who's Who of Southampton FC Bristol, England Hagiology Publishing 28 November 2013 978-0992686406 Juson Dave Aldworth Clay Bendel Barry Bull David Chalk Gary Saints v Pompey: A History of Unrelenting Rivalry Bristol, England Hagiology Publishing 10 November 2004 978-0953447459 External links Southampton F.C. official website Category:Southampton F.C. seasons Southampton