The 1945–46 season was the 73rd season of competitive football in Scotland and the seventh and final season of special wartime football during World War II.
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Overview
Between 1939 and 1946 normal competitive football was suspended in Scotland. Many footballers signed up to fight in the war and as a result many teams were depleted, and fielded guest players instead. The Scottish Football League and Scottish Cup were suspended and in their place regional league competitions were set up. Appearances in these tournaments do not count in players' official records.
Honours
In contrast to previous wartime seasons a single league, the Southern League, operated for Scotland with two divisions (although its membership did not include all the pre-war Scottish league clubs).[2] No country-wide cup competition took place, although a number of regional competitions continued including the Glasgow Cup, and[3] a Southern League Cup was competed for,[4] a competition which later formed the basis of the League Cup. In addition a Supplementary Cup was played for by B Division teams.
In keeping with the other wartime seasons the Scotland national football team went on official hiatus, although unofficial games, appearances for which do not count towards the final caps totals of participants, continued.
A second game against England was also played at Maine Road, Manchester on 24 April 1946. This game was neither an official nor a victory international but rather was played as a fundraiser for the victims of the Burnden Park Disaster. A crowd of 70,000 witnessed a 2–2 draw with Willie Thornton scoring twice for Scotland. Their line-up featured: Willie Miller, Davie Shaw, Jock Shaw, Billy Campbell, Frank Brennan, Jackie Husband, Willie Waddell, Neil Dougall, Willie Thornton, George Hamilton, Billy Liddell.[6]
In similar circumstances Scotland faced Switzerland at Hampden on 15 May 1946. In front of 111,899 fans Scotland won 3–1 with two from Liddell and one from Delaney. The line-up was: Bobby Brown, Davie Shaw, Jock Shaw, Billy Campbell, Frank Brennan, Jackie Husband, Willie Waddell, Willie Thornton, Jimmy Delaney, Tommy Walker, Billy Liddell.[7]
