Some historians [not all I know] tend to think that football just stopped upon Germany invading Poland, now that is just a silly notion, but it is one that seems to have permeated into large sections of the population.
You now get [allegedly] serious historical books which give players' matches played with the except Wartime Football tag. Now what is that about? Yes football was reorganised, yes some cubs decided not to operate during the War, but football continued.
For the majority of WWII in Scotland the Scottish Southern League was in existence [southern because there were travel restrictions in place] and it was largely the same as the old First Division, a bit smaller [no Aberdeen or Dundee] and the Scottish Cup was replaced by the Southern League Cup [with group stages as it was limited to the sixteen Southern League Clubs].
The major change was in personnel, many players signed up and were sent to their regimental bases for training, this meant that they were no longer available for their clubs. But the converse was that many other players moved to other areas and were available [occasionally] for their new local clubs.
All in all, football in Scotland got very makeshift, but football continued no matter what. To prove something of the continuity here are some stats from Falkirk FC during WWI, most matches played and most goals scored.
You now get [allegedly] serious historical books which give players' matches played with the except Wartime Football tag. Now what is that about? Yes football was reorganised, yes some cubs decided not to operate during the War, but football continued.
For the majority of WWII in Scotland the Scottish Southern League was in existence [southern because there were travel restrictions in place] and it was largely the same as the old First Division, a bit smaller [no Aberdeen or Dundee] and the Scottish Cup was replaced by the Southern League Cup [with group stages as it was limited to the sixteen Southern League Clubs].
The major change was in personnel, many players signed up and were sent to their regimental bases for training, this meant that they were no longer available for their clubs. But the converse was that many other players moved to other areas and were available [occasionally] for their new local clubs.
All in all, football in Scotland got very makeshift, but football continued no matter what. To prove something of the continuity here are some stats from Falkirk FC during WWI, most matches played and most goals scored.
Leading Competitive Scorers [Excl Falkirk 'A' matches]
Player Lea Cup Oth Tot
Kenneth Dawson 76 7 11 94
John Fitzsimmons 66 6 11 83
James Inglis 39 12 10 61
Charles Napier 38 3 2 43
Robert Keyes 30 4 7 41
Alex Carruthers 16 4 7 37
Thomas Brady 20 5 8 33
Robert Campbell 30 1 1 32
George Brookes 27 1 3 31
Alex Stewart 9 5 15 29
Most Competitive Appearances [Excl Falkirk 'A' matches]
Player Lea Cup Oth Tot
Robert Shankly 114 31 25 170
Hugh Murray 121 22 19 162
John Fitzsimmons 105 29 19 153
Kenneth Dawson 106 23 18 147
Duncan Ogilvie 94 27 21 142
Gilbert McKie 88 16 21 125
Charles Napier 87 10 10 107
James Stewart 81 15 8 104
James McPhie 58 13 24 95
Alex Peat 62 11 19 92