| Nextseason: | 1957–58 |
The 1956–57 season was the 58th completed season of The Football League.
The tables below are reproduced here in the exact form that they can be found at The Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation website[1] and in Rothmans Book of Football League Records 1888–89 to 1978–79,[2] with home and away statistics separated.
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.
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.
| Competition: | First Division |
| Season: | 1956–57 |
| Winners: | Manchester United 5th English title |
| Relegated: | Cardiff City Charlton Athletic |
| League Topscorer: | John Charles (38 goals)[3] [4] |
| Biggest Home Win: | (1 September 1956) |
| Biggest Away Win: | (18 February 1957) |
| Highest Scoring: | (6 October 1956) (16 February 1957) |
| Matches: | 462 |
| Total Goals: | 1612 |
| Prevseason: | 1955–56 |
| Nextseason: | 1957–58 |
| Competition: | Second Division |
| Season: | 1956–57 |
| Winners: | Leicester City |
| Promoted: | Leicester City Nottingham Forest |
| Relegated: | Bury Port Vale |
| League Topscorer: | Arthur Rowley (44 goals) |
| Matches: | 462 |
| Total Goals: | 1644 |
| Prevseason: | 1955–56 |
| Nextseason: | 1957–58 |
| Competition: | Football League Third Division North |
| Season: | 1956–57 |
| Winners: | Derby County (1st title) |
| League Topscorer: | Ray Straw (Derby County), 37 |
| Continentalcup2: | Failed re-election |
| Continentalcup2 Qualifiers: | none |
| Matches: | 552 |
| Total Goals: | 1841 |
| Nextseason: | 1957–58 |
| Competition: | Football League Third Division South |
| Season: | 1956–57 |
| Winners: | Ipswich Town (2nd title) |
| League Topscorer: | Ted Phillips (Ipswich Town), 42 |
| Continentalcup2: | Failed re-election |
| Continentalcup2 Qualifiers: | none |
| Matches: | 552 |
| Total Goals: | 1760 |
| Nextseason: | 1957–58 |