WAR SUSPENDS FOOTBALL

In 1939-40, the 48^th Football League season started on August 26^th. Blackpool was leading the First Division when play was suspended when war broke out. 

The Southern League and Northern League kept going as best they could, but matches were often postponed. Luton Town headed the 2^nd Division, Accrington Stanley the 3^rd North and Reading the 3^rd South.

It was on September 2^nd (yes I know today is the 3^rd) 1939, that football grounds all over the country were jammed packed full. On the 1^st the Germans had invaded Poland. Whilst the crowds left their various stadia, chatting about the game, they soon began to realise that there was a threat of war. That weekend would see the last competitive football in the country for SIX years. Britain declared war on Germany and all organised football was cancelled. There would be morale boosting exhibition games but the leagues and cups were suspended.

Exhibition games were regarded as important to the nation with money raising, recruiting and lifting morale. A sport, once only regarded as the game of the masses, was suddenly appreciated by the “Establishment”. In April 1940 when England played Wales Princess Alice and Princess Helene Victoria were in the Royal Box. On October 4^th 1941, when the Scots visited Wembley to play an England XI, the Prime Minister and seven of his cabinet attended; England won.