The 1914–15 season was the 21st in the history of the Southern League. Watford won Division One and Stoke finished top of the Division Two.[1] Stoke were the only club to apply for election to the Football League and were successful. However, the United Kingdom declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914, thus entering World War I. The Football League and Southern League ceased operations until the war ended in November 1918. The next season would be 1919–20.
Division One
edit| Season | 1914–15 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Watford (1st title) |
| Promoted | West Ham United |
| Relegated | Croydon Common (resigned) |
| Matches played | 380 |
| Goals scored | 1,131 (2.98 per match) |
← 1913–14 1919–20 → | |
A total of 20 teams contest the division, including 18 sides from previous season and two new teams. Teams promoted from 1913–14 Division Two:
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Watford | 38 | 22 | 8 | 8 | 68 | 46 | 1.478 | 52 | |
| 2 | Reading | 38 | 21 | 7 | 10 | 68 | 43 | 1.581 | 49 | |
| 3 | Cardiff City | 38 | 22 | 4 | 12 | 72 | 38 | 1.895 | 48 | |
| 4 | West Ham United | 38 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 58 | 47 | 1.234 | 45 | Elected to the 1919–20 Football League Second Division after World War I |
| 5 | Northampton Town | 38 | 19 | 5 | 14 | 56 | 51 | 1.098 | 43 | |
| 6 | Southampton | 38 | 19 | 5 | 14 | 78 | 74 | 1.054 | 43 | |
| 7 | Portsmouth | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 54 | 42 | 1.286 | 42 | |
| 8 | Millwall | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 50 | 51 | 0.980 | 42 | |
| 9 | Swindon Town | 38 | 15 | 11 | 12 | 77 | 59 | 1.305 | 41 | |
| 10 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 38 | 16 | 7 | 15 | 46 | 47 | 0.979 | 39 | |
| 11 | Exeter City | 38 | 15 | 8 | 15 | 50 | 41 | 1.220 | 38 | |
| 12 | Queens Park Rangers | 38 | 13 | 12 | 13 | 55 | 56 | 0.982 | 38 | |
| 13 | Norwich City | 38 | 11 | 14 | 13 | 53 | 56 | 0.946 | 36 | |
| 14 | Luton Town | 38 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 61 | 73 | 0.836 | 34 | |
| 15 | Crystal Palace | 38 | 13 | 8 | 17 | 47 | 61 | 0.770 | 34 | |
| 16 | Bristol Rovers | 38 | 14 | 3 | 21 | 53 | 75 | 0.707 | 31 | |
| 17 | Plymouth Argyle | 38 | 8 | 14 | 16 | 51 | 61 | 0.836 | 30 | |
| 18 | Southend United | 38 | 10 | 8 | 20 | 44 | 64 | 0.688 | 28 | |
| 19 | Croydon Common | 38 | 9 | 9 | 20 | 47 | 63 | 0.746 | 27 | Relegated to Division Two, but did not rejoin league after World War I |
| 20 | Gillingham | 38 | 6 | 8 | 24 | 43 | 83 | 0.518 | 20 |
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.
Division Two
edit| Season | 1914–15 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Stoke |
| Promoted | Merthyr Town Swansea Town Brentford Newport County Stoke (to Football League) Coventry City (to Football League) |
| Relegated | Stalybridge Celtic (resigned) |
| Matches played | 156 |
| Goals scored | 1,131 (7.25 per match) |
← 1913–14 1919–20 → | |
A total of 13 teams contest the division, including 9 sides from previous season, two teams relegated from Division One and two new teams.
Teams relegated from 1913–14 Division One:
Newly elected teams:
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GR | Pts | Promotion or qualification |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stoke | 24 | 17 | 4 | 3 | 62 | 15 | 4.133 | 38 | Elected to the 1919–20 Football League Second Division after World War I |
| 2 | Stalybridge Celtic | 24 | 17 | 3 | 4 | 47 | 22 | 2.136 | 37 | Promoted to 1919–20 SFL Division One but left league after World War I to join the Lancashire Combination |
| 3 | Merthyr Town | 24 | 15 | 5 | 4 | 46 | 20 | 2.300 | 35 | Elected to 1919–20 SFL Division One after World War I |
| 4 | Swansea Town | 24 | 16 | 1 | 7 | 48 | 21 | 2.286 | 33 | |
| 5 | Coventry City | 24 | 13 | 2 | 9 | 56 | 33 | 1.697 | 28 | Elected to the 1919–20 Football League Second Division after World War I |
| 6 | Ton Pentre | 24 | 11 | 6 | 7 | 42 | 43 | 0.977 | 28 | |
| 7 | Brentford | 24 | 8 | 7 | 9 | 35 | 45 | 0.778 | 23 | Elected to 1919–20 SFL Division One after World War I |
| 8 | Llanelly | 24 | 10 | 1 | 13 | 39 | 32 | 1.219 | 21 | |
| 9 | Barry | 24 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 30 | 35 | 0.857 | 17 | |
| 10 | Newport County | 24 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 27 | 42 | 0.643 | 17 | Elected to 1919–20 SFL Division One after World War I |
| 11 | Pontypridd | 24 | 5 | 6 | 13 | 31 | 58 | 0.534 | 16 | |
| 12 | Mid Rhondda | 24 | 3 | 6 | 15 | 17 | 49 | 0.347 | 12 | |
| 13 | Ebbw Vale | 24 | 3 | 1 | 20 | 23 | 88 | 0.261 | 7 |
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 elections
edit1915
editStoke were the only Southern League club to apply for election to the Football League.[2] They were successful, and replaced Glossop North End, who received only one vote. However, the League ceased operations for the war after its AGM and did not resume until 1919.
| Club | League | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| Leicester Fosse | Football League | 33 |
| Stoke | Southern League | 21 |
| South Shields | North Eastern League | 11 |
| Chesterfield | Midland League | 8 |
| Darlington | North Eastern League | 4 |
| Glossop North End | Football League | 1 |
1919
editFollowing World War I the Football League expanded from 40 to 44 clubs, creating four vacancies. Two Southern League clubs, Coventry City and West Ham United applied and were successful in the elections.