Post by jonw on Mar 24, 2020 21:36:14 GMT
This article is on the Essex Senior League Website, written by Robert Errington.
Back in the day, Robert was one of our first programme sponsors, in the 1977-78 season!
Further to my article on the 14th March postponements and excellent response from our good friend David Ballheimer wherein he brought to my attention the events of September 1939, I looked into this a little further:-
The abandoned 1939–40 season would have been the 48th season of The Football League. The kick-off in all divisions took place on Saturday 26 August 1939. On Friday 1 September 1939, Germany invaded Poland. On Saturday 2 September 1939, all divisions of the Football League played their third game of the season. These would be the last fixtures before abandonment following the British declaration of war on Germany on Sunday 3 September 1939. Large gatherings of crowds were suspended with the implementation of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939.
Blackpool were leading the First Division when the season was abandoned, Luton, the Second Division, Accrington Stanley the Third Division North and Reading the Third Division South.
Rangers after 5 games and Dundee with 4 played led the two Scottish Leagues A and B when they came to a halt.
On 8 September 1939, the Football Association declared that all football except that organised by the armed forces was suspended ‘until official notice to the contrary’. All players contracts were cancelled. This meant that every league game was postponed on Saturday 9th September 1939, there was no professional football played at all. (though, there was one game played behind closed doors when Queens Park Rangers beat the Army 10-2 at Shepherds Bush.)
So, that was the last time that there was a cessation of ALL Elite League and Cup football before 14th March 2020 and from 17th March, all non league as well.
When the bombers didn’t arrive and the expected 10,000 civilian casualties a week did not appear, slowly and cautiously the Home Office allowed friendly matches to be played. It was announced by the Football Association on September 14th that friendly matches could be arranged even in areas banned by the Home Office, in fact, just the day before, Arsenal had beaten Cardiff City 4-3 at Ninian Park and Leicester City won 7-2 against an Army X1 at Filbert Street.
At first, all places of public entertainment were closed including football grounds but by Saturday 16th September 1939 friendly matches between league clubs had taken place without a problem. These matches were ad hoc friendlies played between local clubs.
The Football League held an emergency meeting at Crewe on Wednesday 20th September 1939. It was at this meeting that the Football League came up with the plan to hold a number of regional league competitions and all the Football League needed was Home Office consent to start. This consent was given with a number of restrictions imposed. These restrictions dictated indirectly where and who would form these regional leagues as long as it didn’t interfere with national service and industry. Crowds were limited to 8,000 in evacuation areas and 15,000 elsewhere. There was a limited regional league and cup programme and that started on October 21st 1939. Home internationals and inter-service matches also took place and football remained a popular spectator sport on the home front.
Thanks to Imperial War Museum and Jack Rollin for added information.
Article by Robert Errington
Back in the day, Robert was one of our first programme sponsors, in the 1977-78 season!
Further to my article on the 14th March postponements and excellent response from our good friend David Ballheimer wherein he brought to my attention the events of September 1939, I looked into this a little further:-
The abandoned 1939–40 season would have been the 48th season of The Football League. The kick-off in all divisions took place on Saturday 26 August 1939. On Friday 1 September 1939, Germany invaded Poland. On Saturday 2 September 1939, all divisions of the Football League played their third game of the season. These would be the last fixtures before abandonment following the British declaration of war on Germany on Sunday 3 September 1939. Large gatherings of crowds were suspended with the implementation of the Emergency Powers (Defence) Act 1939.
Blackpool were leading the First Division when the season was abandoned, Luton, the Second Division, Accrington Stanley the Third Division North and Reading the Third Division South.
Rangers after 5 games and Dundee with 4 played led the two Scottish Leagues A and B when they came to a halt.
On 8 September 1939, the Football Association declared that all football except that organised by the armed forces was suspended ‘until official notice to the contrary’. All players contracts were cancelled. This meant that every league game was postponed on Saturday 9th September 1939, there was no professional football played at all. (though, there was one game played behind closed doors when Queens Park Rangers beat the Army 10-2 at Shepherds Bush.)
So, that was the last time that there was a cessation of ALL Elite League and Cup football before 14th March 2020 and from 17th March, all non league as well.
When the bombers didn’t arrive and the expected 10,000 civilian casualties a week did not appear, slowly and cautiously the Home Office allowed friendly matches to be played. It was announced by the Football Association on September 14th that friendly matches could be arranged even in areas banned by the Home Office, in fact, just the day before, Arsenal had beaten Cardiff City 4-3 at Ninian Park and Leicester City won 7-2 against an Army X1 at Filbert Street.
At first, all places of public entertainment were closed including football grounds but by Saturday 16th September 1939 friendly matches between league clubs had taken place without a problem. These matches were ad hoc friendlies played between local clubs.
The Football League held an emergency meeting at Crewe on Wednesday 20th September 1939. It was at this meeting that the Football League came up with the plan to hold a number of regional league competitions and all the Football League needed was Home Office consent to start. This consent was given with a number of restrictions imposed. These restrictions dictated indirectly where and who would form these regional leagues as long as it didn’t interfere with national service and industry. Crowds were limited to 8,000 in evacuation areas and 15,000 elsewhere. There was a limited regional league and cup programme and that started on October 21st 1939. Home internationals and inter-service matches also took place and football remained a popular spectator sport on the home front.
Thanks to Imperial War Museum and Jack Rollin for added information.
Article by Robert Errington