Football League Third Division North 1956/57
| Pos | Club | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | GA | Pts | Notes |
| 1st | Derby County | 46 | 26 | 11 | 9 | 111 | 53 | 2.094 | 63 | ▲Champions |
| 2nd | Hartlepools United | 46 | 25 | 9 | 12 | 90 | 63 | 1.429 | 59 | Runners Up |
| 3rd | Accrington Stanley | 46 | 25 | 8 | 13 | 95 | 64 | 1.484 | 58 | - |
| 4th | Workington | 46 | 24 | 10 | 12 | 93 | 63 | 1.476 | 58 | - |
| 5th | Stockport County | 46 | 23 | 8 | 15 | 91 | 75 | 1.213 | 54 | - |
| 6th | Chesterfield | 46 | 22 | 9 | 15 | 96 | 79 | 1.215 | 53 | - |
| 7th | York City | 46 | 21 | 10 | 15 | 75 | 61 | 1.230 | 52 | - |
| 8th | Hull City | 46 | 21 | 10 | 15 | 84 | 69 | 1.217 | 52 | - |
| 9th | Bradford City | 46 | 22 | 8 | 16 | 78 | 68 | 1.147 | 52 | - |
| 10th | Barrow | 46 | 21 | 9 | 16 | 76 | 62 | 1.226 | 51 | - |
| 11th | Halifax Town | 46 | 21 | 7 | 18 | 65 | 70 | 0.929 | 49 | - |
| 12th | Wrexham | 46 | 19 | 10 | 17 | 97 | 74 | 1.311 | 48 | - |
| 13th | Rochdale | 46 | 18 | 12 | 16 | 65 | 65 | 1.000 | 48 | - |
| 14th | Scunthorpe & Lindsey United | 46 | 15 | 15 | 16 | 71 | 69 | 1.029 | 45 | - |
| 15th | Carlisle United | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 76 | 85 | 0.894 | 45 | - |
| 16th | Mansfield Town | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 91 | 90 | 1.011 | 44 | - |
| 17th | Gateshead | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 72 | 90 | 0.800 | 44 | - |
| 18th | Darlington | 46 | 17 | 8 | 21 | 82 | 95 | 0.863 | 42 | - |
| 19th | Oldham Athletic | 46 | 12 | 15 | 19 | 66 | 74 | 0.892 | 39 | - |
| 20th | Bradford Park Avenue | 46 | 16 | 3 | 27 | 66 | 93 | 0.710 | 35 | - |
| 21st | Chester | 46 | 10 | 13 | 23 | 55 | 84 | 0.655 | 33 | - |
| 22nd | Southport | 46 | 10 | 12 | 24 | 52 | 94 | 0.553 | 32 | - |
| 23rd | Tranmere Rovers | 46 | 7 | 13 | 26 | 51 | 91 | 0.560 | 27 | Re Elected |
| 24th | Crewe Alexandra | 46 | 6 | 9 | 31 | 43 | 110 | 0.391 | 21 | 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 5 non-league clubs. | ||
| Votes | Club | End Result |
| 48 | Tranmere Rovers | Re Elected to the League |
| 47 | Crewe Alexandra | Re Elected to the League |
| 1 | Burton Albion | Not Elected to the League |
| 1 | Wigan Athletic | Not Elected to the League |
| 0 | Morecambe | Not Elected to the League |
| 0 | Nelson | 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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▼Bury were Relegated from the Football League Second Division |
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▲Derby County were Promoted to the Football League Second Division |
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- Tranmere Rovers were Re-Elected to the League |
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- Crewe Alexandra were Re-Elected to the League |
