Royce Franklin, a life member of the Association of Football Statisticians, digs up yet more fascinating facts about football
SEASON 1946/47 started on 30th August, 1946. It was the first season after World War Two and currently is the longest in football league history, stretching over 289 days.
The early part of 1947 is recorded as one of the worst winters on record. In those days there were no floodlights and under-soil heating.
After six years of war, austerity was at its height and the government did not want workers missing work to watch a game during the working day when it would affect the nation’s output.
In such circumstances, there was little alternative but to play games on a Saturday. Unlike today, the league did not insist all teams played their last games simultaneously. At the end of the season there was therefore no level playing field for teams either striving for promotion or trying to avoid relegation.
Liverpool won the then First Division for the fifth time, but it was a full two weeks after they had finished their fixtures before they knew they were the champions.
They had played their last four games away on consecutive Saturdays, winning three and drawing one. One of those victories was against Wolves, one of their rivals. On the last day, Stoke City was the only remaining challenger. They had to win their last game at Sheffield United on 14th June to become champions.
They had a superior goal average (note not difference). They lost 2-1 after Sheffield had led 2-0. Stoke finished fourth, their highest position ever in the top flight. In these days of ludicrously high wages for players it is worth noting that Stoke players received a £110 bonus for their efforts.
Manchester United finished second with Wolves third. United also finished runners-up in each of the next two seasons. They were fourth in 1949/50; second a year later but eventually became champions in 1951/52.
• In last month’s Fascinating Facts, Sheffield United were inadvertently omitted from the list of clubs that have been in the top flight during Latics’ reign in the third tier. They lasted one season: 2006/07.
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