The 1952–53 season was the 73rd season of competitive football in England.
Overview This was the closest championship win in English league history at the time; Arsenal claimed the title with a goal average superior to that of Preston North End by just 0.099. Both Arsenal and Preston had identical records aside from goal difference and goal average.
Had goal difference been the deciding factor – as it was from 1977 onwards – Arsenal would still have won with +33 to Preston's +25; in 1989, for comparison, Arsenal would have finished second (to Liverpool) on goal average. Preston had last been champions in 1890, the second season of the Football League.
The FA Cup was won by Blackpool, beating Bolton Wanderers 4–3 in what became known as the 'Matthews Final', due to the masterly contribution of 38-year-old winger Stanley Matthews, who helped his side win after going 3–1 down, although three of Blackpool's goals were scored by prolific forward Stan Mortensen.
Honours CompetitionWinnerRunner-upFirst DivisionArsenal (7*)Preston North EndSecond DivisionSheffield UnitedHuddersfield TownThird Division NorthOldham AthleticPort ValeThird Division SouthBristol RoversMillwallFA CupBlackpool (1)Bolton WanderersCharity ShieldManchester UnitedNewcastle UnitedHome ChampionshipShared by and
Notes = Number in parentheses is the times that club has won that honour. * indicates new record for competition
Football League
First Division
Second Division
Third Division North
Third Division South
Top goalscorers
First Division Charlie Wayman (Preston North End) – 23 goals
Second Division Arthur Rowley (Leicester City) – 39 goals
Third Division North Jimmy Whitehouse (Carlisle United) – 29 goals
Third Division South Geoff Bradford (Bristol Rovers) – 33 goals
National team The England national football team were joint winners in the 1953 British Home Championship with Scotland. In the May following the conclusion of the season the England team embarked on their first tour of the Americas, following the experience in Brazil of the 1950 FIFA World Cup.
American tour
Abandoned after 21 minutes due to torrential rain
References