| Nextseason: | 1949–50 |
The 1948–49 season was the 50th completed season of The Football League.
Beginning with the season 1894–95, clubs finishing level on points were separated according to goal average (goals scored divided by goals conceded), or more properly put, goal ratio. In case one or more teams had the same goal difference, this system favoured those teams who had scored fewer goals. The goal average system was eventually scrapped beginning with the 1976–77 season.[1]
From the 1922–23 season, the bottom two teams of both Third Division North and Third Division South were required to apply for re-election.[2]
| Competition: | First Division |
| Season: | 1948–49 |
| Winners: | Portsmouth 1st English title |
| Relegated: | Preston North End Sheffield United |
| League Topscorer: | Willie Moir (25 goals)[3] |
| Matches: | 462 |
| Total Goals: | 1303 |
| Prevseason: | 1947–48 |
| Nextseason: | 1949–50 |
Portsmouth, the 1939 FA Cup winners, won their second major trophy by finishing as champions of the First Division, five points ahead of their nearest challengers Manchester United and Derby County.
The relegation battle was tighter than those of the previous two seasons. Sheffield United and Preston North End finished the season in the bottom two places, a single point behind Huddersfield Town and Middlesbrough. A mere five points separated the bottom 10 teams in the final table.
| Competition: | Second Division |
| Season: | 1948–49 |
| Winners: | Fulham |
| Promoted: | Fulham West Bromwich Albion |
| Relegated: | Nottingham Forest Lincoln City |
| League Topscorer: | Charlie Wayman (32 goals) |
| Matches: | 462 |
| Total Goals: | 1303 |
| Prevseason: | 1947–48 |
| Nextseason: | 1949–50 |
| Competition: | Football League Third Division North |
| Season: | 1948–49 |
| Winners: | Hull City (2nd title) |
| League Topscorer: | Wally Ardron (Rotherham United), 29 |
| Continentalcup2: | Failed re-election |
| Continentalcup2 Qualifiers: | none |
| Matches: | 462 |
| Total Goals: | 1301 |
| Nextseason: | 1949–50 |
| Competition: | Football League Third Division South |
| Season: | 1948–49 |
| Winners: | Swansea Town (2nd title) |
| League Topscorer: | Doug McGibbon (Bournemouth & Boscombe Athletic), 30 |
| Continentalcup2: | Failed re-election |
| Continentalcup2 Qualifiers: | none |
| Matches: | 462 |
| Total Goals: | 1347 |
| Nextseason: | 1949–50 |