1952–53 Football League

54th season of the Football League The Football League 1952–53 Arsenal 1951–52 1953–54 The 1952–53 season was the 54th completed season of The Football League. Final league tables The tables below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found at The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation websitehttps://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/1952-53.html England 1952-53 Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation 2010-02-24 and in Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79,Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980. 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 for re-election. First Division First Division 1952–53 Arsenal7th English title Charlie Wayman(24 goals)Obituary: Charlie Wayman: Small centre-forward, lethal in front of goal https://www.rsssf.org/tablese/engtops.html English League Leading Goalscorers RSSSF 2010-10-31 Tottenham Hotspur 7–1 Middlesbrough(25 December 1952)Aston Villa 6–0 Portsmouth(18 February 1953)Cardiff City 6–0 Manchester City(21 February 1953) Bolton Wanderers 0–5 Portsmouth(20 September 1952)Preston North End 0–5 Manchester United(18 October 1952) Blackpool 8–4 Charlton Athletic(27 September 1952) 462 1508 1951–52 1953–54 Arsenal won their second league title of the postwar era, finishing ahead of runners-up Preston 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.https://www.11v11.com/teams/preston-north-end/tab/matches/season/1953/ Preston North End club match record 1953 11v11.com But Arsenal's 3-2 win in their final match against Burnley on 1 May meant that it was Arsenal who clinched the title on goal average.https://www.11v11.com/teams/arsenal/tab/matches/season/1953/ Arsenal football club match record 1953 11v11. com 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 rivals West Bromwich Albion. Twelve goals were scored when Blackpool defeated Charlton Athletic 8-4 on 25 September, but Charlton would eventually finish two places higher in the table at fifth place. Defending champions Manchester United, in a period of transition as the team captained by Johnny Carey started to make way for a younger generation of players,September 2020 finished eighth. Stoke City and Derby 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.September 2020 Liverpool, the 1947 champions, avoided the drop by just two points. main WDL First Division World Football ARS, PNE, WOL, WBA, CHA, BUR, BLP, MUN, SUN, TOT, AVL, CAR, MID, BOL, POR, NEW, LIV, SHW, CHE, MCI, STK, DER 1st REL REL complete 21 12 9 97 64 14 13 15 63 61 19 9 14 71 70 15 9 18 61 69 18 12 12 67 52 14 12 16 54 46 19 11 12 77 63 12 11 19 56 66 11 10 21 59 74 14 8 20 61 82 14 7 21 72 87 18 10 14 69 72 14 11 17 70 77 14 9 19 59 70 14 10 18 74 83 21 12 9 85 60 12 11 19 62 72 12 10 20 53 66 15 13 14 68 82 15 11 16 78 69 21 8 13 66 60 19 13 10 86 63 C R R Arsenal Aston Villa Blackpool Bolton Wanderers Burnley Cardiff City Charlton Athletic Chelsea Derby County Liverpool Manchester City Manchester United Middlesbrough Newcastle United Portsmouth Preston North End Sheffield Wednesday Stoke City Sunderland Tottenham Hotspur West Bromwich Albion Wolverhampton Wanderers 5 2 y 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored R yellow red1 Relegation to the Second Division Results main FBR grey 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 Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980. Maps Greater London right 369 Locations of the Football League First Division London teams 1952–1953 Greater London 51.558 -0.103 right Greater London 51.486 0.036 right Greater London 51.482 -0.191 right Greater London 51.603 -0.066 right Arsenal Charlton Athletic Chelsea Tottenham England none 400 Locations of the Football League First Division 1952–1953 teams England 51.56 -0.10 right England 52.54 -1.87 right England 53.81 -3.05 right England 53.59 -2.56 right England 53.79 -2.25 right England 51.47 -3.20 right England 51.47 0.07 right England 51.50 -0.19 right England 52.92 -1.476 right England 53.53 -2.99 right England 53.47 -2.18 right England 53.47 -2.30 right England 54.57 -1.23 right England 54.98 -1.62 right England 50.80 -1.06 right England 53.75 -2.7 right England 53.32 -1.47 right England 53.00 -2.18 right England 54.91 -1.39 right England 51.63 -0.063 right England 52.52 -1.97 right England 52.59 -2.13 right Arsenal Aston Villa Blackpool Bolton Burnley Cardiff City Charlton Chelsea Derby County Liverpool Manchester City Manchester United Middlesbrough Newcastle Portsmouth Preston North End Sheffield Wednesday Stoke Sunderland Tottenham West Bromwich Albion Wolverhampton Wanderers Second Division Second Division 1952–53 Sheffield United Sheffield UnitedHuddersfield Town SouthamptonBarnsley Arthur Rowley(39 goals) 462 1535 1951–52 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.https://www.11v11.com/teams/sheffield-united/tab/matches/season/1953/ Sheffield United football club match record 1953 11v11.com 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.https://www.11v11.com/teams/luton-town/tab/matches/season/1953/ Luton Town football club match record 1953 11v11.com Everton recorded their lowest ever league position, finishing 16th in an uneven season that included a 7-1 victory over Doncaster and a 8-2 defeat against Huddersfield.https://www.11v11.com/teams/everton/tab/matches/season/1953/ Everton football club match record 1953 11v11.com Southampton were relegated along with Barnsley, who finished bottom after a poor season that included just five wins, 108 conceded goals and a late run of nine consecutive defeats.https://www.11v11.com/teams/barnsley/tab/matches/season/1953/ Barnsley football club match record 1953 11v11.com main WDL Second Division SHU, HUD, LUT, PLY, LEI, BIR, NFO, FUL, BLA, LEE, SWA, ROT, DON, WHU, LIN, EVE, BRE, HUL, NTC, BRY, SOU, BAR PRO PRO RELS RELN complete 5 8 29 47 108 19 10 13 71 66 18 8 16 68 65 13 11 18 59 76 13 9 20 53 81 12 16 14 58 64 12 14 16 71 75 17 10 15 81 71 24 10 8 84 33 14 8 20 57 69 14 15 13 71 63 18 12 12 89 74 11 17 14 64 71 22 8 12 84 49 18 8 16 77 67 14 8 20 60 88 20 9 13 65 60 16 9 17 75 74 25 10 7 97 55 10 13 19 68 85 15 12 15 78 81 13 13 16 58 60 C, P P R R Barnsley Birmingham City Blackburn Rovers Brentford Bury Doncaster Rovers Everton Fulham Huddersfield Town Hull City Leeds United Leicester City Lincoln City Luton Town Nottingham Forest Notts County Plymouth Argyle Rotherham United Sheffield United Southampton Swansea Town West Ham United 5 2 y 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored QR green1 Promotion to the First Division red1 Relegation to the Third Division North red1 Relegation to the Third Division South Results main FBR grey 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 Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980. Maps Greater London right 369 Locations of the Football League Second Division London teams 1952–1953 Greater London 51.486 -0.31 right Greater London 51.475 -0.222 right Greater London 51.532 0.039 right Brentford Fulham West Ham England none 400 Locations of the Football League Second Division 1952–1953 teams England 53.55 -1.48 right England 52.48 -1.89 right England 53.75 -2.48 right England 51.486 -0.32 right England 53.58 -2.295 right England 53.52 -1.133 right England 53.47 -2.97 right England 51.45 -0.24 right England 53.64 -1.78 right England 53.74 -0.33 right England 53.78 -1.57 right England 52.62 -1.14 right England 53.23 -0.54 right England 51.9 -0.433 right England 53.01 -1.137 right England 52.94 -1.137 right England 50.39 -4.15 right England 53.43 -1.36 right England 53.38 -1.47 right England 50.91 -1.39 right England 51.62 -3.95 right England 51.54 0.040 right Barnsley Birmingham Blackburn Rovers Brentford Bury Doncaster Everton Fulham Huddersfield Hull Leeds United Leicester City Lincoln City Luton Town Nottingham Forest Notts County Plymouth Argyle Rotherham Sheffield United Southampton Swansea Town West Ham Third Division North Football LeagueThird Division North 1952–53 Oldham Athletic (1st title) Jimmy Whitehouse (Carlisle United), 29 Failed re-election none 552 1604 1951–52 1953–54 main WDL Third Division North 2 y 5 PR OLD Oldham Athletic C,P PTV Port Vale WRE Wrexham YOR York City GRI Grimsby Town SOU Southport BPA Bradford (Park Avenue) GAT Gateshead CRL Carlisle United CRE Crewe Alexandra STP Stockport County CHF Chesterfield TRA Tranmere Rovers HAL Halifax Town SCU Scunthorpe & Lindsey United BRA Bradford City HAR Hartlepools United MAN Mansfield Town BRW Barrow CHE Chester DAR Darlington ROC Rochdale WRK Workington ACC Accrington Stanley 22 15 9 77 45 20 18 8 67 35 24 8 14 86 66 20 13 13 60 45 21 10 15 75 59 20 11 15 63 60 19 12 15 75 61 17 15 14 76 60 18 13 15 82 68 20 8 18 70 68 17 13 16 82 69 18 11 17 65 63 21 5 20 65 63 16 15 15 68 68 16 14 16 62 56 14 18 14 75 80 16 14 16 57 61 16 14 16 55 62 16 12 18 66 71 11 15 20 64 85 14 6 26 58 96 14 5 27 62 83 11 10 25 55 91 8 11 27 39 89 Division Champions green1 Promotion to the Second Division C red2 Re-elected REE REE complete rsssf.com Results main FBR grey 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 Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980. Maps England none 400 Locations of the Football League Third Division North teams 1952–1953 England 53.75 -2.36 right England 54.11 -3.23 right England 53.82 -1.73 right England 53.76 -1.78 right England 54.90 -2.91 right England 53.19 -2.89 right England 53.24 -1.43 right England 53.10 -2.44 right England 54.53 -1.55 right England 54.95 -1.6 right England 53.56 -0.068 right England 53.72 -1.86 right England 54.69 -1.21 right England 53.14 -1.20 right England 53.54 -2.12 right England 53.06 -2.21 right England 53.61 -2.16 right England 53.58 -0.65 right England 53.65 -3.01 right England 53.41 -2.16 right England 53.37 -3.04 right England 54.64 -3.55 right England 53.03 -2.98 right England 53.96 -1.08 right Accrington Stanley Barrow Bradford City Bradford Park Avenue Carlisle United Chester Chesterfield Crewe Alexandra Darlington Gateshead Grimsby Town Halifax T. Hartlepool Mansfield Town Oldham Port Vale Rochdale Scunthorpe & Lindsey Southport Stockport Tranmere Workington Wrexham York City Third Division South Football LeagueThird Division South 1952–53 Bristol Rovers (1st title) Geoff Bradford (Bristol Rovers), 33 Failed re-election none 552 1745 1951–52 1953–54 main WDL Third Division South QR 5 y 2 BRR Bristol Rovers MIL Millwall NOR Northampton Town NWC Norwich City BRI Bristol City COV Coventry City B&HA Brighton & Hove Albion STD Southend United B&BA Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic WAT Watford REA Reading TOR Torquay United CRY Crystal Palace LEY Leyton Orient NPC Newport County IPS Ipswich Town EXE Exeter City SWI Swindon Town ALD Aldershot QPR Queens Park Rangers GIL Gillingham COL Colchester United SHR Shrewsbury Town WAL Walsall 26 12 8 92 46 24 14 8 82 44 26 10 10 109 70 25 10 11 99 55 22 15 9 95 61 19 12 15 77 62 19 12 15 81 75 18 13 15 69 74 19 9 18 74 69 15 17 14 62 63 19 8 19 69 64 18 9 19 87 88 15 13 18 66 82 16 10 20 68 73 16 10 20 70 82 13 15 18 60 69 13 14 19 61 71 14 12 20 64 79 12 15 19 61 77 12 15 19 61 82 12 15 19 55 74 12 14 20 59 76 12 12 22 68 91 7 10 29 56 118 CP green1 Promotion to the Second Division C red2 Re-elected REE REE complete Results main FBR grey 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 Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980. Maps Greater London right 369 Locations of the Football League Third Division South London teams 1952–1953 Greater London 51.570 -0.058 right Greater London 51.398 -0.085 right Greater London 51.481 -0.048 right Greater London 51.509 -0.232 right Greater London 51.650 -0.401 right Leyton Orient Crystal Palace Millwall Queens Park Rangers Watford England none 400 Locations of the Football League Third Division South teams 1952–1953 England 51.25 -0.75 right England 50.73 -1.84 right England 50.83 -0.15 right England 51.42 -2.59 right England 51.47 -2.53 right England 51.89 0.90 right England 52.41 -1.51 right England 51.40 -0.085 right England 51.57 -0.01 right England 50.72 -3.53 right England 51.38 0.55 right England 52.06 1.14 right England 51.48 -0.048 right England 51.59 -3.00 right England 52.24 -0.90 right England 52.63 1.30 right England 51.51 -0.23 right England 51.41 -0.97 right England 52.71 -2.75 right England 51.55 0.70 right England 51.56 -1.77 right England 50.48 -3.52 right England 52.58 -1.98 right England 51.65 -0.40 right Aldershot Bournemouth Brighton & Hove Bristol City Bristol Rovers Colchester Coventry Crystal Palace Exeter City Gillingham Ipswich Town Leyton Orient Millwall Newport County Norwich City Northampton Town QPR Reading Shrewsbury Southend Swindon Torquay Walsall Watford Attendances Source:Historical attendances https://www.european-football-statistics.co.uk/attn/archive/eng/aveeng1953.htm 2026-09-24 www.european-football-statistics.co.uk Division One No. Club Average 1 Arsenal FC 49,191 2 Newcastle United FC 44,521 3 Tottenham Hotspur FC 44,106 4 Chelsea FC 43,937 5 Sheffield Wednesday FC 42,634 6 Liverpool FC 39,971 7 Sunderland AFC 39,767 8 Cardiff City FC 37,933 9 Manchester United 37,571 10 Wolverhampton Wanderers FC 36,608 11 Manchester City FC 34,058 12 Aston Villa FC 32,189 13 Bolton Wanderers FC 32,066 14 Portsmouth FC 31,578 15 West Bromwich Albion FC 31,381 16 Preston North End FC 30,586 17 Burnley FC 28,480 18 Stoke City FC 27,883 19 Middlesbrough FC 27,077 20 Blackpool FC 25,835 21 Charlton Athletic FC 25,298 22 Derby County FC 21,627 Division Two No. Club Average 1 Everton FC 32,629 2 Sheffield United FC 31,027 3 Huddersfield Town AFC 27,765 4 Leicester City FC 26,250 5 Hull City AFC 25,918 6 Plymouth Argyle FC 23,345 7 Blackburn Rovers FC 23,157 8 Fulham FC 23,134 9 Nottingham Forest FC 22,816 10 Swansea City AFC 20,469 11 Leeds United FC 20,432 12 West Ham United FC 19,797 13 Birmingham City FC 19,747 14 Notts County FC 19,391 15 Brentford FC 17,474 16 Luton Town FC 17,210 17 Lincoln City FC 16,775 18 Rotherham United FC 16,384 19 Southampton FC 16,159 20 Doncaster Rovers FC 15,862 21 Bury FC 13,420 22 Barnsley FC 11,358 Division Three No. Club Average 1 Bristol Rovers FC 23,411 2 Norwich City FC 21,121 3 Millwall FC 19,289 4 Bristol City FC 18,763 5 Oldham Athletic FC 17,928 6 Brighton & Hove Albion FC 16,161 7 Port Vale FC 14,504 8 Grimsby Town FC 14,298 9 Watford FC 13,957 10 Coventry City FC 13,430 11 Northampton Town FC 12,484 12 Crystal Palace FC 12,415 13 Reading FC 12,401 14 Queens Park Rangers FC 12,190 15 Gillingham FC 11,558 16 Bradford City AFC 10,892 17 AFC Bournemouth 10,768 18 Leyton Orient FC 10,562 19 Exeter City FC 10,339 20 Wrexham AFC 10,306 21 Bradford Park Avenue AFC 9,945 22 Ipswich Town FC 9,434 23 Swindon Town FC 9,326 24 Chesterfield FC 9,216 25 Newport County AFC 8,868 26 Southend United FC 8,697 27 York City FC 8,654 28 Shrewsbury Town FC 8,540 29 Carlisle United FC 8,103 30 Hartlepool United FC 8,074 31 Halifax Town AFC 8,060 32 Colchester United FC 8,046 33 Stockport County FC 8,006 34 Tranmere Rovers 7,798 35 Mansfield Town FC 7,680 36 Scunthorpe United FC 7,407 37 Workington AFC 7,212 38 Torquay United FC 6,980 39 Crewe Alexandra FC 6,822 40 Aldershot Town FC 6,553 41 Rochdale AFC 6,182 42 Walsall FC 5,991 43 Darlington FC 5,847 44 Southport FC 5,761 45 Gateshead AFC 5,616 46 Accrington Stanley FC 5,549 47 Barrow AFC 5,450 48 Chester City FC 5,271 See also 1952-53 in English football References Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980. 1952–53 League