DIVISION 3 (North)   1955/56
      P W D L F A Pts
  Leading goalscorer:
Bob Crosbie
 (Grimsby Town)
 36  goals

Despite their successful season in the League, Derby County suffered an embarrassing defeat in the FA Cup. Their 1-6 Second Round home defeat to Midland League Boston United still ranks as the worst home defeat by a League side against a non-league side in the competition (shared with Carlisle v Wigan in 1934/35).

   1 Grimsby Town 46 31 6 9 76 29 68

Promoted
    2 Derby County 46 28 7 11 110 55 63
    3 Accrington Stanley 46 25 9 12 92 57 59
    4 Hartlepools United 46 26 5 15 81 60 57
    5 Southport 46 23 11 12 66 53 57
    6 Chesterfield 46 25 4 17 94 66 54
    7 Stockport County 46 21 9 16 90 61 51
    8 Bradford City 46 18 13 15 78 64 49
    9 Scunthorpe & Lindsey Un. 46 20 8 18 75 63 48
    10 Workington 46 19 9 18 75 63 47
    11 York City 46 19 9 18 85 72 47
    12 Rochdale 46 17 13 16 66 84 47
    13 Gateshead 46 17 11 18 77 84 45
    14 Wrexham 46 16 10 20 66 73 42
    15 Darlington 46 16 9 21 60 73 41
    16 Tranmere Rovers 46 16 9 21 59 84 41
      17 Chester 46 13 14 19 52 82 40
      18 Mansfield Town 46 14 11 21 84 81 39
      19 Halifax Town 46 14 11 21 66 76 39
      20 Oldham Athletic 46 10 18 18 76 86 38
      21 Carlisle United 46 15 8 23 71 95 38
      22 Barrow 46 12 9 25 61 83 33
      23 Bradford Park Avenue 46 13 7 26 61 122 33 Re-election position
      24 Crewe Alexandra 46 9 10 27 50 105 28 Re-election position
     
     
R 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 3 non-league clubs. Voting -
47 votes Bradford Park Avenue Re-elected to the League
45 Crewe Alexandra Re-elected to the League
2 Wigan Athletic Not elected to the League
1 Burton Albion Not elected to the League
1 Nelson Not elected to the League