ðə jˈɪɹz ˈæftɚ ðə sˈɛkənd wˈɜːld wˈɔːɹ wʌz pɹˈɑːbəbli wɛn ðə lˈiːɡ wʌz æɾ ɪts stɹˈɔŋɡɪst, wɪð mˈɛni plˈeɪɚz lˈiːvɪŋ ðə lˈiːɡ tə tˈɜːn pɹəfˈɛʃənəl.
The years after the Second World War was probably when the league was at its strongest, with many players leaving the league to turn professional.