PROFILPELAJAR.COM

Second Division
Season	1952–53
Champions	Sheffield United
Promoted	Sheffield United; Huddersfield Town
Relegated	Southampton; Barnsley
Matches played	462
Goals scored	1,535 (3.32 per match)
Top goalscorer	Arthur Rowley; (39 goals)
	← 1951–52 1953–54 →

First Division
Season	1952–53
Champions	Arsenal; 7th English title
Matches played	462
Goals scored	1,508 (3.26 per match)
Top goalscorer	Charlie Wayman; (24 goals)
Biggest home win	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)
Biggest away win	Bolton Wanderers 0–5 Portsmouth; (20 September 1952); Preston North End 0–5 Manchester United; (18 October 1952)
Highest scoring	Blackpool 8–4 Charlton Athletic; (27 September 1952)
	← 1951–52 1953–54 →

The Football League
Season	1952–53
Champions	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 website^[1] and in Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79,^[2] 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.^[2]

First Division

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.^[5] 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.^[6]

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,^{[citation needed]} 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.^{[citation needed]} Liverpool, the 1947 champions, avoided the drop by just two points.

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Relegation
1	Arsenal (C)	42	21	12	9	97	64	1.516	54
2	Preston North End	42	21	12	9	85	60	1.417	54
3	Wolverhampton Wanderers	42	19	13	10	86	63	1.365	51
4	West Bromwich Albion	42	21	8	13	66	60	1.100	50
5	Charlton Athletic	42	19	11	12	77	63	1.222	49
6	Burnley	42	18	12	12	67	52	1.288	48
7	Blackpool	42	19	9	14	71	70	1.014	47
8	Manchester United	42	18	10	14	69	72	0.958	46
9	Sunderland	42	15	13	14	68	82	0.829	43
10	Tottenham Hotspur	42	15	11	16	78	69	1.130	41
11	Aston Villa	42	14	13	15	63	61	1.033	41
12	Cardiff City	42	14	12	16	54	46	1.174	40
13	Middlesbrough	42	14	11	17	70	77	0.909	39
14	Bolton Wanderers	42	15	9	18	61	69	0.884	39
15	Portsmouth	42	14	10	18	74	83	0.892	38
16	Newcastle United	42	14	9	19	59	70	0.843	37
17	Liverpool	42	14	8	20	61	82	0.744	36
18	Sheffield Wednesday	42	12	11	19	62	72	0.861	35
19	Chelsea	42	12	11	19	56	66	0.848	35
20	Manchester City	42	14	7	21	72	87	0.828	35
21	Stoke City (R)	42	12	10	20	53	66	0.803	34	Relegation to the Second Division
22	Derby County (R)	42	11	10	21	59	74	0.797	32	Relegation to the Second Division

Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated

Results

Home \ Away	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

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

Locations of the Football League First Division London teams 1952–1953

Wolverhampton Wanderers

class=notpageimage|

Locations of the Football League First Division 1952–1953 teams

Second Division

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.^[7]

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.^[8]

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.^[9]

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.^[10]

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GAv	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Sheffield United (C, P)	42	25	10	7	97	55	1.764	60	Promotion to the First Division
2	Huddersfield Town (P)	42	24	10	8	84	33	2.545	58	Promotion to the First Division
3	Luton Town	42	22	8	12	84	49	1.714	52
4	Plymouth Argyle	42	20	9	13	65	60	1.083	49
5	Leicester City	42	18	12	12	89	74	1.203	48
6	Birmingham City	42	19	10	13	71	66	1.076	48
7	Nottingham Forest	42	18	8	16	77	67	1.149	44
8	Fulham	42	17	10	15	81	71	1.141	44
9	Blackburn Rovers	42	18	8	16	68	65	1.046	44
10	Leeds United	42	14	15	13	71	63	1.127	43
11	Swansea Town	42	15	12	15	78	81	0.963	42
12	Rotherham United	42	16	9	17	75	74	1.014	41
13	Doncaster Rovers	42	12	16	14	58	64	0.906	40
14	West Ham United	42	13	13	16	58	60	0.967	39
15	Lincoln City	42	11	17	14	64	71	0.901	39
16	Everton	42	12	14	16	71	75	0.947	38
17	Brentford	42	13	11	18	59	76	0.776	37
18	Hull City	42	14	8	20	57	69	0.826	36
19	Notts County	42	14	8	20	60	88	0.682	36
20	Bury	42	13	9	20	53	81	0.654	35
21	Southampton (R)	42	10	13	19	68	85	0.800	33	Relegation to the Third Division South
22	Barnsley (R)	42	5	8	29	47	108	0.435	18	Relegation to the Third Division North

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (P) Promoted; (R) Relegated

Results

Home \ Away	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

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

Locations of the Football League Second Division London teams 1952–1953

Locations of the Football League Second Division 1952–1953 teams

Third Division North

Football League
Third Division North
Season	1952–53
Champions	Oldham Athletic (1st title)
Failed re-election	none
Matches played	552
Goals scored	1,604 (2.91 per match)
Top goalscorer	Jimmy Whitehouse (Carlisle United), 29 ^[4]
← 1951–52 1953–54 →

Pos	Team	Pld	HW	HD	HL	HGF	HGA	AW	AD	AL	AGF	AGA	GAv	Pts	Promotion or relegation
1	Oldham Athletic (C, P)	46	15	4	4	48	21	7	11	5	29	24	1.711	59	Promoted to the Second Division
2	Port Vale^[a]	46	13	9	1	41	10	7	9	7	26	25	1.914	58
3	Wrexham	46	18	3	2	59	24	6	5	12	27	42	1.303	56
4	York City	46	14	5	4	35	16	6	8	9	25	29	1.333	53
5	Grimsby Town	46	15	5	3	47	19	6	5	12	28	40	1.271	52
6	Southport	46	16	4	3	42	18	4	7	12	21	42	1.050	51
7	Bradford Park Avenue	46	10	8	5	37	23	9	4	10	38	38	1.230	50
8	Gateshead	46	13	6	4	51	24	4	9	10	25	36	1.267	49
9	Carlisle United	46	13	7	3	57	24	5	6	12	25	44	1.206	49
10	Crewe Alexandra	46	13	5	5	46	28	7	3	13	24	40	1.029	48
11	Stockport County	46	13	8	2	61	26	4	5	14	21	43	1.188	47
12	Chesterfield	46	13	6	4	40	23	5	5	13	25	40	1.032	47
13	Tranmere Rovers	46	16	4	3	45	16	5	1	17	20	47	1.032	47
14	Halifax Town	46	13	5	5	47	31	3	10	10	21	37	1.000	47
15	Scunthorpe & Lindsey United	46	10	6	7	38	21	6	8	9	24	35	1.107	46
16	Bradford City	46	14	7	2	54	29	0	11	12	21	51	0.938	46
17	Hartlepools United	46	14	6	3	39	16	2	8	13	18	45	0.934	46
18	Mansfield Town	46	11	9	3	34	25	5	5	13	21	37	0.887	46
19	Barrow	46	15	6	2	48	20	1	6	16	18	51	0.930	44
20	Chester	46	10	7	6	39	27	1	8	14	25	58	0.753	37
21	Darlington	46	13	4	6	33	27	1	2	20	25	69	0.604	34
22	Rochdale	46	12	5	6	41	27	2	0	21	21	56	0.747	33
23	Workington	46	9	5	9	40	33	2	5	16	15	58	0.604	32	Re-elected
24	Accrington Stanley	46	7	9	7	25	29	1	2	20	14	60	0.438	27	Re-elected

Source: rsssf.com
(C) Division Champions; (P) Promoted
Notes:

^ Port Vale had been transferred from Third Division South for this season.

Results

Home \ Away	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

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Maps

Locations of the Football League Third Division North teams 1952–1953

Third Division South

Football League
Third Division South
Season	1952–53
Champions	Bristol Rovers (1st title)
Failed re-election	none
Matches played	552
Goals scored	1,745 (3.16 per match)
Top goalscorer	Geoff Bradford (Bristol Rovers), 33 ^[4]
← 1951–52 1953–54 →

Pos	Team	Pld	HW	HD	HL	HGF	HGA	AW	AD	AL	AGF	AGA	GAv	Pts	Qualification or relegation
1	Bristol Rovers	46	17	4	2	55	19	9	8	6	37	27	2.000	64	Division Champions, promoted
2	Millwall	46	14	7	2	46	16	10	7	6	36	28	1.864	62
3	Northampton Town	46	18	4	1	75	30	8	6	9	34	40	1.557	62
4	Norwich City	46	16	6	1	56	17	9	4	10	43	38	1.800	60
5	Bristol City	46	13	8	2	62	28	9	7	7	33	33	1.557	59
6	Coventry City	46	15	5	3	52	22	4	7	12	25	40	1.242	50
7	Brighton & Hove Albion	46	12	6	5	48	30	7	6	10	33	45	1.080	50
8	Southend United	46	15	5	3	41	21	3	8	12	28	53	0.932	49
9	Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic	46	15	3	5	49	23	4	6	13	25	46	1.072	47
10	Watford	46	12	8	3	39	21	3	9	11	23	42	0.984	47
11	Reading	46	17	3	3	53	18	2	5	16	16	46	1.078	46
12	Torquay United	46	15	4	4	61	28	3	5	15	26	60	0.989	45
13	Crystal Palace	46	12	7	4	40	26	3	6	14	26	56	0.805	43
14	Leyton Orient	46	12	7	4	52	28	4	3	16	16	45	0.932	42
15	Newport County	46	12	4	7	43	34	4	6	13	27	48	0.854	42
16	Ipswich Town	46	10	7	6	34	28	3	8	12	26	41	0.870	41
17	Exeter City	46	11	8	4	40	24	2	6	15	21	47	0.859	40
18	Swindon Town	46	9	5	9	38	33	5	7	11	26	46	0.810	40
19	Aldershot	46	8	8	7	36	29	4	7	12	25	48	0.792	39
20	Queens Park Rangers	46	9	9	5	37	34	3	6	14	24	48	0.744	39
21	Gillingham	46	10	7	6	30	26	2	8	13	25	48	0.743	39
22	Colchester United	46	9	9	5	40	29	3	5	15	19	47	0.776	38
23	Shrewsbury Town	46	11	5	7	38	35	1	7	15	30	56	0.747	36	Re-elected
24	Walsall	46	5	9	9	35	46	2	1	20	21	72	0.475	24	Re-elected

Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Results

Home \ Away	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

Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: Ian Laschke: Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79. Macdonald and Jane’s, London & Sydney, 1980.
Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.