The Football League Third Division North and Football League Third Division South were the third tiers of the English football league pyramid from 1921 to 1958, run by The Football League. It was the highest level where the division was split into more than one league.
From 1954 to 1955 season until 1957–58 season, there was a series of games between teams representing the divisions.
1954–55 - played at Reading F.C. ground on 16 March 1955. Attendance 10,438. South won 2–0.[1] [2] [3] [4] [5]
1955–56 - played at Accrington Stanley F.C. ground on 13 October 1955. Attendance 10,521. Draw 3–3.[2] [3] [4] [5]
The second half of the match was broadcast on BBC television, which was the first occasion that a match had been televised from Peel Park.[2]
Don Mills scored for the South in the first half. Reg Ryan equalised with a penalty in the second half, followed by goals from John Thomas Connor for the North and Ernie Morgan for the South. The final score was 3–3.[6]
1956–57 - played at Coventry City F.C. ground on 8 October 1956. Attendance 14,500. South won 2–1.[3] [4] [5]
1956–57 - played at Stockport County F.C. ground on 2 April 1957. Attendance 12,372. Won by North 2–1.[4] [5]
W Holden scored the first goal for the North, which was followed by an equaliser by Neil Langman for the South. Soon after the start of the second half, Ron Greener failed to score for the North from a penalty. The winning goal was scored by Alf Ackerman for the North in the last minute of the game.[7]
1957–58 - played at Crystal Palace F.C. ground on 30 October 1957. Draw 2–2.[5] [8]
The following players and officials were selected to participate in the representative games.
South Vs. North 16 March 1955[1]
The South Team
| Position | Name | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ken Oxford | Norwich City | |
| 2 | Alex Jardine | Millwall | |
| 3 | Jim Langley | Brighton | |
| 4 | Brian Nicholas[9] | Queen's Park Rangers | |
| 5 | John Crosland | Bournemouth | |
| 6 | Gwyn Hughes | Northampton | |
| 7 | Wally Hinshelwood | Reading | |
| 8 | Johnny Rainford | Brentford | |
| 9 | Eric Day | Southampton | |
| 10 | Don Mills | Torquay | |
| 11 | Mike Grice | Colchester | |
| Manager | Mr. A.J. Smith | Reading |
The North Team
| Position | Name | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ray Minshull | Southport | |
| 2 | Bob Jackson | Oldham | |
| 3 | Jimmy Harrower | Accrington Stanley | |
| 4 | Ken Furphy | Darlington | |
| 5 | Dave Blakey | Chesterfield | |
| 6 | Frank Clempson | Stockport County | |
| 7 | Arthur Kaye | Barnsley | |
| 8 | Jimmy Prescott | Southport | |
| 9 | George Stewart | Accrington Stanley | |
| 10 | George Smith | Chesterfield | |
| 11 | Merfyn Jones | Scunthorpe | |
| Manager | Mr. Fred Emery | Carlisle United |
| Official | Name | From | |
| Referee | Mr. J. H. Husband | London | |
| Linesman (Red Flag) | Mr. C.B. Broome | London | |
| Linesman (Yellow Flag) | Mr. S. W. Barker | Bexleyheath |
North Vs. South 13 October 1955[2] The North Team
| Position | Name | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ray Minshull | Southport | |
| 2 | Jimmy Fleming | Workington | |
| 3 | Vince Kenny | Carlisle United | |
| 4 | Dennis Stokoe | Workington | |
| 5 | Accrington Stanley | ||
| 6 | Reg Ryan | Derby County | |
| 7 | Bobby Webb | Bradford City | |
| 8 | Ivan Broadis | Carlisle United | |
| 9 | Jack Connor | Stockport County | |
| 10 | George Smith | Chesterfield | |
| 11 | Dennis Woodhead | Chesterfield | |
| Manager | Mr. W. M. Galbraith | Accrington Stanley | |
| Trainer | Mr. H. Hubbick | Accrington Stanley |
| Position | Name | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reg Matthews | Coventry City | |
| 2 | Stanley Charlton | Leyton Orient | |
| 3 | Alex Jardine | Millwall | |
| 4 | Noel Simpson | Coventry City | |
| 5 | Douglas Rees | Ipswich Town | |
| 6 | Ronnie Ashman | Norwich City | |
| 7 | Roland Mills | Northampton Town | |
| 8 | Peter Hill | Coventry City | |
| 9 | Maurice Cook | Watford | |
| 10 | Ernie Morgan | Gillingham | |
| 11 | Jimmy Wheeler | Reading | |
| Manager | Mr. Alec Stock | Leyton Orient | |
| Trainer | Mr. L. Gore | Leyton Orient |
Note: Although Peter Hill of Coventry was selected at number 8 for the South, D Mills of Torquay started the game.[6]
The Officials
| Official | Name | From | |
| Referee | Mr. K. A. Collinge | Sale | |
| Linesman (Red Flag) | Mr. J. S. McLoughlin | Manchester | |
| Linesman (Yellow Flag) | Mr. R. Sleddon | Preston |
South Vs. North 8 October 1956[3]
The South Team
| Position | Name | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reg Matthews | Coventry City | |
| 2 | Alex Jardine | Millwall | |
| 3 | Jim Langley | Brighton | |
| 4 | Jimmy Belcher | Crystal Palace | |
| 5 | Patrick Parker | Southampton | |
| 6 | John Elsworthy | Ipswich Town | |
| 7 | Johnny Gavin | Norwich City | |
| 8 | Stan Newsham | Bournemouth | |
| 9 | Roy Hollis | Southend United | |
| 10 | Don Mills | Torquay | |
| 11 | Ken Flint | Aldershot | |
| Reserve | Albert McPherson | Walsall | |
| Reserve | Maurice Cook | Watford | |
| Manager | Harry Warren | Coventry City | |
| Trainer | George Raynor | Coventry City |
The North Team
| Position | Name | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Malcolm Newlands | Workington | |
| 2 | Malcolm Currie | Bradford City | |
| 3 | Jack Brownsword | Scunthorpe United | |
| 4 | Albert Mays | Derby County | |
| 5 | Watty Moore | Hartlepools United | |
| 6 | Charlie Sneddon | Accrington Stanley | |
| 7 | Gerry Burrell | Chesterfield | |
| 8 | Ron Hewitt | Wrexham | |
| 9 | Ken Johnson | Hartlepools United | |
| 10 | George Darwin | Mansfield Town | |
| 11 | George Luke | Hartlepools United | |
| Reserve | Ron Powell | Chesterfield | |
| Reserve | Reg Ryan | Derby County | |
| Manager | Harry Storer | Derby County | |
| Trainer | Billy Newton | Stockport County |
The Officials
| Official | Name | From | |
| Referee | Mr. Arthur E. Ellis | Halifax | |
| Linesman | Mr. H. Horner | Kenilworth | |
| Linesman | Mr. A. Walters | Warwick |
North Vs. South 2 April 1957[4] The North Team
| Position | Name | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bob Gray | Gateshead | |
| 2 | Bobby Brown | Workington | |
| 3 | Tom Cahill | Barrow | |
| 4 | Eddie Hunter | Accrington Stanley | |
| 5 | Ron Greener | Darlington | |
| 6 | Barry Hutchinson | Chesterfield | |
| 7 | Ken Finney | Stockport County | |
| 8 | Ivan Broadis | Carlisle United | |
| 9 | Alf Ackerman | Carlisle United | |
| 10 | Bill Holden | Stockport County | |
| 11 | Brian Cripsey | Hull City | |
| Reserve | Tommy Forgan | York City | |
| Also named | Jack Brownsword | Scunthorpe United | |
| Also named | Gren Jones | Wrexham | |
| Manager | Teddy Davison | Chesterfield | |
| Trainer | W Newton | Stockport County |
The South Team
| Position | Name | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Peter Pickering | Northampton | |
| 2 | Alex Jardine | Millwall | |
| 3 | George Fisher | Colchester | |
| 4 | Glen Wilson | Brighton | |
| 5 | Patrick Parker | Southampton | |
| 6 | John Elsworthy | Ipswich | |
| 7 | Mike Hellawell | Queens Park Rangers | |
| 8 | Don Mills | Torquay | |
| 9 | Neil Langman | Plymouth | |
| 10 | Ted Phillips | Ipswich | |
| 11 | Reg Cutler | Bournemouth | |
| Reserve | Ken Coote | Brentford | |
| Reserve | Maurice Evans | Reading | |
| Manager | |||
| Trainer |
Note: Although Ted Phillips of Ipswich was selected at number 10 for the South, Dorman of Walsall started the game.[7]
The Officials
| Official | Name | From | |
| Referee | |||
| Linesman | |||
| Linesman |
South Vs. North 30 October 1957[5] The South Team
| Position | Name | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ron Springett | Queen's Park Rangers | |
| 2 | Roy McCrohan | Norwich | |
| 3 | Alf Sherwood | Newport County | |
| 4 | Bobby McLaughlin | Southampton | |
| 5 | Keith Harvey | Exeter City | |
| 6 | Glen Wilson | Brighton | |
| 7 | Bernard Harrison | Crystal Palace | |
| 8 | Wilf Carter | Plymouth Argyle | |
| 9 | Roy Hollis | Southend | |
| 10 | Stan Steele | Port Vale | |
| 11 | Peter Wright | Colchester | |
| Reserve | John Shepherd | Millwall | |
| Reserve | Maurice Evans | Reading | |
| Manager | Mr. J. Taylor | Queen's Park Rangers |
| Position | Name | Club | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Roy MacLaren | Bury | |
| 2 | Eddie Robertson | Bury | |
| 3 | Paul Feasey | Hull City | |
| 4 | Jack Bertolini | Workington | |
| 5 | Wally Taylor | Southport | |
| 6 | Charlie Crowe | Mansfield | |
| 7 | John Tomlinson | Chesterfield | |
| 8 | Ivor Broadis | Carlisle United | |
| 9 | George Stewart | Accrington Stanley | |
| 10 | Bill Holden | Stockport County | |
| 11 | George Luke | Hartlepools | |
| Reserve | Ron Thompson | Carlisle United | |
| Reserve | Tommy Neill | Bury | |
| Manager | Mr. Peter Jackson | Bradford City |
| Official | Name | From | |
| Referee | Mr. D. T. Blues | Richmond | |
| Linesman (Red Flag) | Mr. D. W. Bradley | Selsdon | |
| Linesman (Yellow Flag) | Mr. C. H. Rogers | N. Kensington |