Association Football

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 2, 2 July 1938, Page 24

Association Football

MEMORABLE ENGLISH SEASON

MANY CLUBS CL OSELY GROUPED

A series of matches, many of them vital in respect of primary issues, brought to an end a memorable football season in England. Never in the history of English League football had the future of such a large number of clubs depended on the results of the closing day of the season, but some such culmination, was .promised almost throughout a season of which the outstanding feature was the marked equality among the clubs in the various sections. Only once previously, for instance, since the League was extended to twentytwo clubs, had the First Division championship been won by a club with a total of fifty-two points. The thirty-six points, gained by two clubs which fell to a lower section, has usually represented the safety mark.

So closely grouped together were the clubs that it would not have been surprising if a greater number of the issues had depended on goal average. Actually, this method of decision applied only in three cases. Manchester United will go back to the First Division by reason of superior figures— both for and against—to those of Sheffield United. In the northern section of the Third Division three of the last four clubs finished level on points.

The closest affair of all was the struggle between Barnsley and. Nottingham Forest to avoid relegation from j the Second Division. They were opponents on the last day of the season, j and drew their match at two goals each. The margin of goal average difference I between these two clubs was two-thou-sandths of a goal in favour of Nottingham Forest. Years ago Portsmouth gained promotion at the expense of Manchester City by five-thousandths of a goal, but the margin between Barns- j ley and Nottingham Forest was the smallest on which a major issue has ever turned. ARSENAL THE CHAMPIONS. Arsenal, who defeated Bolton Wanderers by five goals to nothing, on the final day, won the championship of the First Division for the fifth time in the last eight seasons. Although scoring so prolifically in the closing match—and inflicting on Bolton Wanderers their heaviest defeat of the season—there can be little doubt that Arsenal really owe their success to the excellence of the defence. The championship would have gone to Wolverhampton Wanderers if they had won their concluding game. They lost by a goal, scored by the Sunderland captain, Carter, but the position of runners-up is one of eminence to which the Wolverhampton Club has not attained previously in the First Division. MANCHESTER'S CHANGES. Manchester City and Manchester United must change places next season. In relation to the fall of Manchester City from the First to the Second Division, the use of the word j "staggering" may be justified from different angles. A year ago they were hailed as champions of the top class. For such a fate to befall the champions in the season immediately following their success writes a new page ;in football history. Again, the record | of goals for and against Manchester j City shows a margin in their favour. Their total of eighty goals is three more than that standing to the credit

of the League champions, and greater than that of any other side in the section. The nearest approach to the experience of Manchester City was that of Cardiff City nine years ago, when they were relegated despite having had fewer goals registered against them throughout the season than any other club in the same league. Manchester City were last relegated in 1928, and West Bromwich Albion, their companions, last went down a year later. West Bromwich were heavily defeated at Middlesbrough in a game it wag necess/y for them to win to .escape* The outstanding feat, on this vital day, was the victory By four goals to on* of Birmingham at Leicester. ASTON VILLA SUCCEED. Finishing the season with, a win over Norwich, Aston Villa gained the championship of the Second Division with four more points than the two clubs immediately below them. Like Arsenal in the First Division, Aston Villa owe their success primarily to defence, the total of 35 goals against representing a record for a Second Division side in a full programme of 42 games. Manchester United, victorious over Bury, and thereby promoted by reason of superior goal average to that of Sheffield United, are thus cohtinu* ing a shuttlecock existence. Two years ago they gained promotion from the Second Division. Last season they were relegated, and now the return journey to the highest class has,,been accomplished. Stockport County will return to the section from which they were promoted at the end of last, season, and as Barnsley, another northern club, shared their fate, it will be necessary for some readjustment to bo made in the northern and southern sections prior to the start of next season*. London claims two of the ./three Football League championships,' Milt wall gaining the honour ixi the southern section of the Third Division, a big win at Exeter making safe their return to the Second Division. Millwall had a spell of six seasons in the Second Division between 1928 and 1934, Again, in relation to the triumph of Millwall, it has to be put on record that their goals against total is the lowest of any club in a full season of the present^' dimensions. In the northern section the two leading clubs, Tranmere Rovers and Doncaster Rovers, were in opposition on the last day. Only a victory for Doncaster by a really big score would have enabled them to snatch the honour. Actually, this game.wai drawn at one goal each, and Tranmere Rovers will next season operate in the Second Division for the first time in their history. / HOW THE CLUBS FINISHED. Division I.—Champions, Arsenal; runners-up, Wolverhampton W.; rele» gated, Manchester City, West Bron> wich Albion. Division ll.—Champions, Aston Villa; runners-up, Manchester United (both promoted); relegated, Barnsley, Stockport County. Division 111 (South). —Champions, Millwall (promoted); runners-up, Bristol City; for re-election, Walsall, Gillingham. Division 111 (North).—Champions, Tranmere (promoted); runners-up, j Doncaster Rovers; for re-election, 6ar* j row, Accrington. F.A. Cup.—Winners, Preston North End; runners-up, Huddersfield Tqwn. Scottish League.—Champions, G&tieg runners-up, Heart of Midlothian; pro* moted, Raith Rovers, Albionfßoversj relegated, Dundee, Morton. ' • Scottish Cup.—Winners, East File; runners-up, Kilmarnock.