1937–38 Southern Football League
The 1937–38 season was the 40th in the history of the Southern League. Guildford City won the title.[1] Ipswich Town were again the only Southern League club to apply for election to the Football League, and this time were successful.
Final table
[edit]| Season | 1937–38 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Guildford City (1st title) |
| Promoted | Ipswich Town |
| Relegated | none |
| Matches played | 306 |
| Goals scored | 1,212 (3.96 per match) |
← 1936–37 1938–39 → | |
A total of 18 teams contest the division, including 15 sides from previous season and three new teams.
Newly elected teams:
- Colchester United from the Eastern Counties League
- Bristol Rovers II from the Birmingham & District League
- Swindon Town II from the Western League
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Guildford City | 34 | 22 | 5 | 7 | 94 | 60 | 1.567 | 49 | |
| 2 | Plymouth Argyle II | 34 | 18 | 9 | 7 | 98 | 58 | 1.690 | 45 | |
| 3 | Ipswich Town | 34 | 19 | 6 | 9 | 89 | 54 | 1.648 | 44 | Elected to Football League Third Division South |
| 4 | Yeovil & Petters United | 34 | 14 | 14 | 6 | 72 | 45 | 1.600 | 42 | |
| 5 | Norwich City II | 34 | 15 | 11 | 8 | 77 | 55 | 1.400 | 41 | |
| 6 | Colchester United | 34 | 15 | 8 | 11 | 90 | 58 | 1.552 | 38 | |
| 7 | Bristol Rovers II | 34 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 63 | 62 | 1.016 | 36 | |
| 8 | Swindon Town II | 34 | 14 | 7 | 13 | 70 | 76 | 0.921 | 35 | |
| 9 | Tunbridge Wells Rangers | 34 | 14 | 6 | 14 | 68 | 74 | 0.919 | 34 | |
| 10 | Aldershot II | 34 | 10 | 12 | 12 | 42 | 55 | 0.764 | 32 | |
| 11 | Cheltenham Town | 34 | 13 | 5 | 16 | 72 | 68 | 1.059 | 31 | |
| 12 | Exeter City II | 34 | 13 | 5 | 16 | 71 | 75 | 0.947 | 31 | |
| 13 | Dartford | 34 | 9 | 11 | 14 | 51 | 70 | 0.729 | 29 | |
| 14 | Bath City | 34 | 9 | 9 | 16 | 45 | 65 | 0.692 | 27 | |
| 15 | Folkestone | 34 | 10 | 6 | 18 | 58 | 82 | 0.707 | 26 | |
| 16 | Newport County II | 34 | 10 | 6 | 18 | 56 | 86 | 0.651 | 26 | |
| 17 | Barry | 34 | 8 | 7 | 19 | 50 | 88 | 0.568 | 23 | |
| 18 | Torquay United II | 34 | 8 | 7 | 19 | 46 | 81 | 0.568 | 23 |
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976-77 season. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.
Rules for classification: The system of using goal average to separate two teams tied on points was used up until the 1976-77 season. The points system: 2 points for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for losing.
Football League election
[edit]Ipswich Town were the only non-League club to apply for election to the Football League Third Division South. Having been unsuccessful the previous season, this time they won more votes than both Football League clubs, the first time a non-League club had topped an admission ballot since 1920.[2]
| Club | League | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Ipswich Town | Southern League | 36 |
| Walsall | Football League Third Division South | 34 |
| Gillingham | Football League Third Division South | 24 |