Football League Third Division North 1952/53
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GA | Pts | Notes |
| 1st | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 22 | 15 | 9 | 77 | 45 | 1.711 | 59 | ▲Champions |
| 2nd | Port Vale | 46 | 20 | 18 | 8 | 67 | 35 | 1.914 | 58 | Runners Up |
| 3rd | Wrexham | 46 | 24 | 8 | 14 | 86 | 66 | 1.303 | 56 | - |
| 4th | York City | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 60 | 45 | 1.333 | 53 | - |
| 5th | Grimsby Town | 46 | 21 | 10 | 15 | 75 | 59 | 1.271 | 52 | - |
| 6th | Southport | 46 | 20 | 11 | 15 | 63 | 60 | 1.050 | 51 | - |
| 7th | Bradford Park Avenue | 46 | 19 | 12 | 15 | 75 | 61 | 1.230 | 50 | - |
| 8th | Gateshead | 46 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 76 | 60 | 1.267 | 49 | - |
| 9th | Carlisle United | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 82 | 68 | 1.206 | 49 | - |
| 10th | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 20 | 8 | 18 | 70 | 68 | 1.029 | 48 | - |
| 11th | Stockport County | 46 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 82 | 69 | 1.188 | 47 | - |
| 12th | Chesterfield | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 65 | 63 | 1.032 | 47 | - |
| 13th | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 21 | 5 | 20 | 65 | 63 | 1.032 | 47 | - |
| 14th | Halifax Town | 46 | 16 | 15 | 15 | 68 | 68 | 1.000 | 47 | - |
| 15th | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 62 | 56 | 1.107 | 46 | - |
| 16th | Bradford City | 46 | 14 | 18 | 14 | 75 | 80 | 0.938 | 46 | - |
| 17th | Hartlepools United | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 57 | 61 | 0.934 | 46 | - |
| 18th | Mansfield Town | 46 | 16 | 14 | 16 | 55 | 62 | 0.887 | 46 | - |
| 19th | Barrow | 46 | 16 | 12 | 18 | 66 | 71 | 0.930 | 44 | - |
| 20th | Chester | 46 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 64 | 85 | 0.753 | 37 | - |
| 21st | Darlington | 46 | 14 | 6 | 26 | 58 | 96 | 0.604 | 34 | - |
| 22nd | Rochdale | 46 | 14 | 5 | 27 | 62 | 83 | 0.747 | 33 | - |
| 23rd | Workington | 46 | 11 | 10 | 25 | 55 | 91 | 0.604 | 32 | Re Elected |
| 24th | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 8 | 11 | 27 | 39 | 89 | 0.438 | 27 | Re Elected |
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Election for League Membership |
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| The bottom two clubs were required to seek re-election to the League. They were joined in the vote for membership of the Northern section of the Third Division by 4 non-league clubs. | ||
| Votes | Club | End Result |
| 45 | Accrington Stanley | Re Elected to the League |
| 36 | Workington | Re Elected to the League |
| 17 | Wigan Athletic | Not Elected to the League |
| 0 | Nelson | Not Elected to the League |
| 0 | New Brighton | Not Elected to the League |
| 0 | North Shields | Not Elected to the League |
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End of Season Notes |
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▼Barnsley were Relegated from the Football League Second Division |
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▲Oldham Athletic were Promoted to the Football League Second Division |
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- Workington were Re-Elected to the League |
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- Accrington Stanley were Re-Elected to the League |
