The 1938–39 season was the eighth season of competitive association football in the Football League played by Chester, an English club based in Chester, Cheshire.

It was the club's eighth consecutive season in the Third Division North since the election to the Football League. Alongside competing in the league, the club also participated in the FA Cup and the Welsh Cup.

Football League

Results summary

Results by matchday

Matches DateOpponentsVenueResultScoreScorersAttendance27 AugustHull CityHD1–1Howarth (pen.)8,98631 AugustNew BrightonHL1–3Roberts6,3063 SeptemberLincoln CityAW3–0Pendergast, Horsman, Howarth4,5445 SeptemberBradford CityAL0–16,22910 SeptemberStockport CountyHW4–3Pendergast (3), Keeley9,77917 SeptemberAccrington StanleyAW3–2Keeley, Pendergast, Sanders4,72824 SeptemberBarnsleyHW2–1Horsman, Pendergast9,4791 OctoberOldham AthleticAW3–1Pendergast (2), Rogers12,1448 OctoberHalifax TownHW5–1Keeley (3), Pendergast, Horsman (pen.)6,79215 OctoberGatesheadHD2–2Pendergast, McGough9,03322 OctoberWrexhamAL2–3Pendergast, Keeley15,78529 OctoberYork CityHW5–1Wass (o.g.), Pendergast, Sanders (2), Keeley7,3155 NovemberRochdaleAL2–5Howarth, Pendergast6,73212 NovemberRotherham UnitedHL1–4Pendergast7,08219 NovemberDoncaster RoversAL1–4Pendergast14,6753 DecemberCrewe AlexandraAW2–0Keeley, Pendergast7,43117 DecemberDarlingtonAD3–3Keeley, McGough (2)2,64724 DecemberHull CityAL0–35,91126 DecemberHartlepools UnitedAW5–2Pendergast (2), Horsman (2), Keeley5,17727 DecemberHartlepools UnitedHW8–2Keeley (2), Pendergast (2, 1pen.), Sanders (3), Gregg (pen.)7,74831 DecemberLincoln CityHD0–06,07914 JanuaryStockport CountyAD0–010,78128 JanuaryBarnsleyAL0–313,1614 FebruaryOldham AthleticHW4–2Pendergast, Roberts, Keeley, Sanders5,98311 FebruaryHalifax TownAD1–1Pendergast5,21715 FebruaryAccrington StanleyHW1–0McGough1,72818 FebruaryGatesheadAL0–34,49225 FebruaryWrexhamHW4–2Keeley (2), Sanders, Pendergast10,3641 MarchCarlisle UnitedHW6–1Sanders (3), Pendergast (2), Keeley1,7354 MarchYork CityAD2–2Pendergast, Horsman4,10811 MarchRochdaleHD0–04,37518 MarchRotherham UnitedAL0–25,31725 MarchDoncaster RoversHL0–44,9821 AprilSouthportAL0–24,2577 AprilBarrowHL1–2Howarth6,0578 AprilCrewe AlexandraHW4–0Horsman, Gregg (pen.), Worswick (2)4,23510 AprilBarrowAW1–0Warburton8,97715 AprilCarlisle UnitedAW3–1Horsman (3)2,60122 AprilDarlingtonHD0–02,40626 AprilSouthportHW2–0Worswick, Pendergast1,72729 AprilNew BrightonAW3–1Howarth, Bulloch (o.g.), Keeley2,5536 MayBradford CityHW3–2Warburton, Worswick, Keeley3,033

FA Cup

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreScorersAttendanceFirst round26 NovemberBradford City (3N)HW3–1Horsman, Pendergast, Hinsley (o.g.)6,672Second round10 DecemberHull City (3N)HD2–2Horsman, Gregg (pen.)9,905Second round replay15 DecemberAW1–0Horsman8,184Third round7 JanuaryCoventry City (2)HW1–0Pendergast11,248Fourth round21 JanuarySheffield Wednesday (2)AD1–1Sanders29,237Fourth round replay25 JanuaryHD1–1Hanford (o.g.)18,816Fourth round replay25 JanuaryND0–215,321

Welsh Cup

RoundDateOpponentsVenueResultScoreScorersAttendanceSixth round 8 FebruaryRhyl Athletic (CCL)HW4–0Horsman, Roberts, Keeley, Pendergast1,558Semifinal 22 MarchSouth Liverpool (LC)NL2–5Horsman, Keeley Chester get a bye in the seventh round.

Season statistics Player Total League FACup WelshCup Goalkeepers Alf Hobson 17 – 17 – – – – – Eric Mansley 4 – 4 – – – – – Cliff Owen 30 – 21 – 7 – 2 – Field players David Beynon 12 – 12 – – – 1 – Reg Butcher 31 – 23 – 7 – 1 – Ted Common 31 – 23 – 7 – 1 – Jackie Coulter 4 – 4 – – – – – Stan Duff 2 – 2 – – – – – Arthur Gale 1 – 1 – – – – – Willis Gregg 38 3 29 2 7 1 2 – George Griffiths 7 – 6 – – – 1 – Bill Horsman 51 15 41 10 7 3 2 2 Harold Howarth 46 5 38 5 7 – 1 – Arthur Keeley 45 20 36 18 7 – 2 2 John McCreary 22 – 20 – – – 2 – Joe McGough 41 4 34 4 7 – – – Bill Pendergast 43 30 34 27 7 2 2 1 Syd Roberts 14 3 12 2 – – 2 1 Chris Robertson 13 – 13 – – – – – Joe Rogers 11 1 8 1 3 – – – Albert Ross 1 – 1 – – – – – Bob Sanders 22 12 18 11 4 1 – – Bos Trevis 3 – 3 – – – – – Trevor Walters 49 – 41 – 7 – 1 – Albert Watford 1 – 1 – – – – – George Warburton 12 2 10 2 – – 2 – Tommy White 1 – 1 – – – – – Randall Worswick 8 4 8 4 – – – – Paddy Wrightson 1 – 1 – – – – – Own goals – 4 – 2 – 2 – – Total 51 103 42 88 7 9 2 6

References