The Football League

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This article is about the English football league. For the Greek football league with the same name, see Football
League (Greece.
The Football League
Country England
Other club(s) from Wales
Confederation !EF"
Founded #$$$
Divisions
Football League %hampionship
Football League &ne
Football League Two
Number of teams '( (() in each di*ision
Levels on pyramid (+)
Promotion to ,remier League
elegation to Football %onference
Domestic cup(s)
F" %up, Football League %up
Football League Trophy
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!nternational cup(s) !EF" Europa League
-(.
Current champions
Leicester %ity
((/#0+#)
"ost championships Li*erpool (#$ titles
T# partners
1ky 1ports
22% (3ighlights only
$ebsite football4league.co.uk
201415 Football League
The Football League is a league competition featuring professional men5s association football clubs from
England and Wales. Founded in #$$$, it is the oldest such competition in world football. 6t was the top4le*el
football league in England from its foundation in the #7th century until #77(, when the top (( clubs split away
to form the ,remier League. The Football League has been associated with a title sponsor since #7$0. "s this
sponsor has changed o*er the years the league too has been known by *arious names.
-0.
,resently, it is called the
%&y 'et Football League after its sponsor, 1ky 2etting and Gaming.
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1ince #778 it has had '( clubs e*enly di*ided into three di*isions, which are known as the %hampionship,
League &ne, and League Two, with () clubs in each di*ision. ,romotion and relegation between these di*isions
is a central feature of the League and is further e9tended to allow the top %hampionship clubs to e9change
places with the lowest placed clubs in the ,remier League, and the bottom clubs of League Two to switch with
the top clubs of the Football %onference, thus integrating the League into the English football league system.
"lthough primarily a competition for English clubs, two clubs from Wales, :ewport %ounty and %ardiff %ity,
also take part, while in the past 1wansea %ity, Wre9ham, ;erthyr Town and "berdare "thletic ha*e been
members.
The Football League is also the name of the go*erning body of the league competition, and this body also
organises two knock4out cup competitions, the Football League %up and the Football League Trophy. The
operations centre of The Football League is located in ,reston, while its commercial office is in London.
-8.
6t
was formerly based in Lytham 1t "nnes, after its original spell in ,reston.
-<.
Contents
# &*er*iew
( %ompetition
o (.# League
o (.( %up
0 3istory
o 0.# "ddition of the 1econd =i*ision
o 0.( (/th century
o 0.0 ,ost4World War 6
o 0.) ,ost4World War 66
o 0.8 #7'/s
o 0.< #7$/s
o 0.' #77(> the foundation of the ,remier League
) #77(+(//)> Three di*isions
o ).# (//) Football League rebranding
o ).( E*olution of logo
8 ?ecords
< League sponsorship
' ;edia rights
$ Go*ernance and management
o $.# 2oard
o $.( 1enior ;anagement
o $.0 Former ,residents
7 Football League clubs
#/ ,ast League winners
o #/.# #$$$+#$7(
o #/.( #$7(+#7(/
o #/.0 #7(/+#7(#
o #/.) #7(#+#78$
o #/.8 #78$+#77(
o #/.< #77(+(//)
o #/.' (//)+present
o #/.$ Titles by club
## Football League titles
#( ,lay4offs
o #(.# ,lay4off winners
#0 Footballs
#) 1ee also
#8 ?eferences
#< E9ternal links
Overvie(
The Football League consists of '( professional association football clubs in England and Wales. 6t runs the
oldest professional football league competition in the world. 6t also organises two knockout cup competitions.
The Football League was founded in #$$$ by then "ston @illa director William ;cGregor, originally with #(
member clubs. 1teady growth and the addition of more di*isions meant that by #78/ the League had 7( clubs.
Financial considerations led to a maAor shake4up in #77( when, in a step to ma9imise their re*enue, the leading
members of the Football League broke away to form their own competition, the F" ,remier League, which was
renamed in (//' as the ,remier League. The Football League therefore no longer includes the top (/ clubs who
belong to this group, although promotion and relegation between the Football League and the ,remier League
continues. 6n total, #0< teams ha*e played in the Football League
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up to (/#0 (including those in the ,remier
League, since clubs must pass through the Football League before reaching the former.
Competition
This section does not cite any references or sources. ,lease help impro*e this section by adding
citations to reliable sources. !nsourced material may be challenged and remo*ed. (September 2012)
League
The Football League5s '( member clubs are grouped into three di*isions> the Football League %hampionship,
Football League &ne, and Football League Two (pre*iously the Football League First =i*ision, Football
League 1econd =i*ision and Football League Third =i*ision respecti*elyB they were renamed for sponsorship
reasons. Each di*ision has () clubs, and in any gi*en season a club plays each of the others in the same
di*ision twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents. This makes for a total of )<
games played each season.
%lubs gain three points for a win, one for a draw, and none for a defeat. "t the end of the season, clubs at the
top of their di*ision may win promotion to the ne9t higher di*ision, while those at the bottom may be relegated
to the ne9t lower one. "t the top end of the competition, three %hampionship clubs win promotion from The
Football League to the ,remier League, with the bottom three ,remier League clubs taking their places. "t the
lower end, two League Two clubs lose their Football League status with relegation to the :ational di*ision of
the Football %onference, while two teams from %onference :ational Aoin League Two of The Football League
in their stead.
Division Promoted directly Promoted via playoffs elegated
The %hampionship Top ( clubs &ne from 0rd to <th place finishers 2ottom 0 clubs
League &ne Top ( clubs &ne from 0rd to <th place finishers 2ottom ) clubs
League Two Top 0 clubs &ne from )th to 'th place finishers 2ottom ( clubs
,romotion and relegation are determined by final league positions, but to sustain interest for more clubs o*er
the length of the season one promotion place from each di*ision is decided according to a playoff between four
clubs, which takes place at the end of the season. 6t is therefore possible for a team finishing si9th in the
%hampionship or League &ne, or se*enth in League Two, to be promoted rather than the clubs finishing
immediately abo*e them in the standings.
?eser*e teams of Football League clubs usually play in the %entral League (for the ;idlands and :orth or the
Football %ombination (for the 1outh.
1ince the (//)+/8 season, penalties ha*e e9isted for clubs entering financial administration during the season.
6f a club enters administration before 0# ;arch of any gi*en season, they will immediately be deducted #/
pointsB entering administration from # "pril onward will see the points deduction either held o*er until the end
of the season (if the club finishes outside the relegation places, or applied the following season (if the club was
relegated anyway. 6t is also reCuired that a club e9iting administration agree a %reditor5s @oluntary "greement,
and pay in full any other footballing creditors. Failure to do either of these will result in a second, potentially
unlimited (though in practise usually between #8 and (/ points deduction.
The other main situation in which is a club may lose points is by fielding an improperly registered or otherwise
ineligible player. 6f a club is found to ha*e done this, then any points earned from any match that player
participated in will be deductedB the opposing club(s do not earn any points from this, howe*er.
Cup
The Football League organises two knock4out cup competitions> the Football League %up (called the %apital
&ne %up for sponsorship reasons and the Football League Trophy (called the Dohnstone5s ,aint Trophy for
sponsorship reasons. The League %up was established in #7</ and is open to all Football League and ,remier
League clubs, with the winner eligible to participate in the !EF" Europa League. The Football League Trophy
is for clubs belonging to League &ne and League Two of the Football League. The Football League celebrated
its #//th birthday in #7$$ with a %entenary Tournament at Wembley between #< of its member clubs.
)istory
William ;cGregor, founder of The Football League
"fter four years of debate, The Football "ssociation finally permitted professionalism on (/ Duly #$$8. 2efore
that date many clubs made payments to EprofessionalE players to boost the competiti*eness of their teams,
breaking F" rules and arousing the contempt of those clubs abiding by the laws of the amateur Football
"ssociation code.
-citation needed.
"s more and more clubs became professional the ad4hoc fi9ture list of F" %up,
inter4county, and ordinary matches was seen by many as an unreliable stream of re*enue, and ways were
considered of ensuring a consistent income.
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" director of "ston @illa, William ;cGregor, was the first to set out to bring some order to a chaotic world
where clubs arranged their own fi9tures, along with *arious cup competitions.
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&n ( ;arch #$$$, he wrote to
the committee of his own club, "ston @illa, as well as to those of 2lackburn ?o*ers, 2olton Wanderers, ,reston
:orth End, 1toke and West 2romwich "lbionB suggesting the creation of a league competition that would
pro*ide a number of guaranteed fi9tures for its member clubs each season. 3is idea may ha*e been based upon
a description of a proposal for an early "merican college football league, publicised in the English media in
#$$' which stated> Emeasures would be taken to form a new football league ... -consisting of. a schedule
containing two championship games between e*ery two colleges composing the leagueE.
-7.-#/.
The first meeting was held at "nderton5s 3otel in London on (0 ;arch #$$$ on the e*e of the F" %up Final.
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The Football League was formally created and named in ;anchester at a further meeting on #' "pril at the
?oyal 3otel.
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The name E"ssociation Football !nionE was proposed by ;cGregor but this was felt too close
to E?ugby Football !nionE. 6nstead, EThe Football LeagueE was proposed ;aAor William 1udell, representing
,reston, and Cuickly agreed upon.
-$.
"lthough the ?oyal 3otel is long gone, the site is marked with a
commemorati*e red plaCue on The ?oyal 2uildings in ;arket 1treet. The first season of the Football League
began a few months later on $ 1eptember with #( member clubs from the ;idlands and :orth of England>
"ccrington, "ston @illa, 2lackburn ?o*ers, 2olton Wanderers, 2urnley, =erby %ounty, E*erton, :otts %ounty,
,reston :orth End, 1toke (renamed 1toke %ity in #7(<,
-#(.
West 2romwich "lbion and Wol*erhampton
Wanderers.
Each club played the other twice, once at home and once away, and two points were awarded for a win and one
for a draw. This points system was not agreed upon until after the season had startedB the alternati*e proposal
was one point for a win only. ,reston won the first league title without losing a game, and completed the first
league+cup double by also taking the F" %up.
6n #$7/ 1toke were not re4elected to the league, and were replaced for the #$7/+7# season by 1underland, who
won it in their second, third and fifth year. 1toke were (re4elected for the #$7#+7( season, along with =arwen,
to take the league to #) clubs.
,reston :orth End, "ston @illa and 1underland dominated the early years of the gameB in the first fourteen
seasons the only other clubs to win (single league titles were E*erton, 1heffield !nited and Li*erpool.
*ddition of the %econd Division
" new 1econd =i*ision was formed in #$7( with the absorption of the ri*al Football "lliance. "lliance clubs
:ottingham Forest, The Wednesday (later 1heffield Wednesday and :ewton 3eath (later ;anchester !nited
were added to the new First =i*ision, and =arwen were reallocated to the new 1econd, bringing the First
=i*ision total to #< clubs. With the addition of :orthwich @ictoria (from The %ombination, 2urslem ,ort @ale
(later ,ort @ale, from the ;idland League and 1heffield !nited (from the :orthern League, the 1econd
=i*ision started with #( clubs, as "lliance club 2irmingham 1t George5s disbanded at that point. The bottom
clubs of the lower di*ision were subseCuently reCuired to apply for re4election to the League at the end of each
season.
The 1econd =i*ision increased to #8 clubs for season #$70+7) with the addition of Li*erpool from the
Lancashire League, ;iddlesbrough 6ronopolis and :ewcastle !nited from the :orthern League, ?otherham
Town from the ;idland League, and Woolwich "rsenal (later "rsenal, who became the first team from the
1outh of England to compete. "ccrington, relegated from =i*ision #, and 2ootle resigned from the League. For
the following season #$7)+78 there was a net increase to #< with the addition of 2ury from the Lancashire
League, Leicester Fosse (later Leicester %ity and 2urton Wanderers (who later Aoined with e9isting 1econd
=i*ision club 2urton 1wifts to form 2urton !nited from the ;idland League along with Lincoln %ity F%,
while :orthwich resigned and ;iddlesbrough 6ronopolis disbanded.
2oth Li*erpool and 2ury won the di*ision at the first attempt.
6n #$78 Loughborough replaced Walsall Town 1wifts.
-#0.
6n #$7< 2lackpool from the Lancashire League and
Gainsborough Trinity from the ;idland League replaced 2urslem ,ort @ale and %rewe "le9andra.
-#).
6n #$7'
Luton Town from the !nited League replaced 2urton Wanderers.
-#8.
"utomatic promotion and relegation for two clubs was introduced in #$7$ when the pre*ious system of test
matches between the bottom two clubs of the First =i*ision and the top two clubs of the 1econd =i*ision was
brought into disrepute when 1toke and 2urnley colluded in the final match to ensure they were both in the First
=i*ision the ne9t season. "t this point both =i*isions of the League e9panded to eighteen, with the addition of
2arnsley from the ;idland and Forkshire Leagues, 2urslem ,ort @ale, Glossop from the ;idland League, and
:ew 2righton Tower from the Lancashire League to the 1econd =i*ision.
-#<.
The original logo of The Football League
+,th century
"fter a few years other northern clubs began to catch up, with the likes of :ewcastle !nited and ;anchester
!nited Aoining the League and ha*ing success. From #7//, "ston @illa (#$77+#7//, #7/7+#/, Li*erpool
(#7//+/#, #7/8+/<, 1underland (#7/#+/(, #7#(+#0, The Wednesday (#7/(+/0, #7/0+/), :ewcastle !nited
(#7/)+/8, #7/$+/7, ;anchester !nited (#7/'+/$, #7#/+## and 2lackburn ?o*ers (#7##+#(, #7#0+#) all
won two titles prior to the outbreak of World War 6, while E*erton added a second title to their much earlier
success in the last season, #7#)+#8.
6t was not until the early years of the (/th century, and the e9pansion of both Leagues to (/ clubs (in #7/8, that
further southern clubs such as %helsea and %lapton &rient (#7/8, Fulham (#7/', and Tottenham 3otspur
(#7/$ established themsel*es in the League. There would be a further wait until #70# before a southern club,
"rsenal, would win the League for the first time.
!nlike in most other Leagues in Europe, no single English club managed to remain an e*er present in the
di*ision during the one hundred and four years of its e9istence as the top di*ision in the country. E*erton come
closest, missing Aust four seasons through relegation, and remain one of only two clubs in England to ha*e
played o*er #// top4flight seasons, along with "ston @illa.
Post-$orld $ar !
The League was suspended for four seasons during World War 6 and resumed in #7#7 with the First and 1econd
=i*isions e9panded to (( clubs. &n resumption West 2romwich "lbion (#7#7+(/ and 2urnley (#7(/+(#,
both original #( clubs, won their first4e*er titles (in "lbion5s case their only title to date.
6n #7(/, leading clubs from the 1outhern League Aoined the League to form a new Third =i*ision, which in
#7(# was renamed the Third =i*ision 1outh upon the further addition of more clubs in a new Third =i*ision
:orth. &ne club from each of these di*isions would gain promotion to the 1econd =i*ision, with the two
relegated clubs being assigned to the more appropriate Third =i*ision. To accommodate potential difficulties in
this arrangement, clubs in the ;idlands such as ;ansfield Town or Walsall would sometimes be mo*ed from
one Third =i*ision to the other.
Following this burst of post4war growth, the League entered a prolonged period of relati*e stability with few
changes in the membership, although there were changes on the pitch. 6n #7(8, a new offside law reduced the
number of opponents between the player and the goal from three to two, leading to a large increase in goals,
and numbers on shirts were introduced in #707.
2etween #7(0 and #7(<, 3uddersfield Town were the first team to win three consecuti*e league titles (and
ne*er won another one, though they finished as runners4up for the following two years. This was eCualled by
"rsenal between #70( and #708, during a period from #70/ to #70$ in which they won fi*e titles out of eight.
;anchester %ity (#70<+0' became the only other club to be added to the list of Football League winners prior
to the outbreak of World War 66, the fourteenth club to achie*e the feat since #$$$+$7.
Post-$orld $ar !!
The League was suspended once more in #707 with the outbreak of World War 66, this time for se*en seasons.
The Third =i*isions were e9panded to () clubs each in #78/, bringing the total number of League clubs to 7(,
and in #78$ the decision was made to end the regionalisation of the Third =i*isions and reorganise the clubs
into a new nationwide Third =i*ision and Fourth =i*ision. To accomplish this, the clubs in the top half of both
the Third =i*ision :orth and 1outh Aoined together to form the new Third =i*ision, and those in the bottom
half made up the Fourth =i*ision. Four clubs were promoted and relegated between these two lower di*isions,
while two clubs e9changed places in the upper di*isions until #7'), when the number increased to three.
%lubs to win their first League titles in the Cuarter4century following World War 66 were ,ortsmouth (#7)$+)7
and #7)7+8/, Tottenham 3otspur (#78/+8# and #7</+<#, founder members of the League Wol*erhampton
Wanderers (#780+8), #78'+8$ and #78$+87, %helsea (#78)+88, 6pswich Town (#7<#+<( and Leeds !nited
(#7<$+<7.
Tottenham 3otspur became the first club in the (/th century to win the League and F.". %up 5=ouble5 in #7</+
<#, a season after Wol*erhampton Wanderers had come within a whisker of achie*ing the feat themsel*es
(Wol*es won the #787+</ F.". %up and were runners4up to 2urnley in the League by a single point.
,ost4World War 66 changes in league football included the use of white balls in #78# and the first floodlit game
(played between ,ortsmouth and :ewcastle !nited in #78<, opening up the possibility of midweek e*ening
matches.
2y far the biggest change for league clubs during this era was a new cup competition open to all the members
of the League, the Football League %up, which was held for the first time in #7</+<# to pro*ide clubs with a
new source of income. "ston @illa won the inaugural League %up and, despite an initial lack of enthusiasm on
the part of some other big clubs, the competition became firmly established in the footballing calendar,
although it was not until the dawn of the #7'/s that all 7( Football League clubs regularly participated in the
competition season after season.
1ubstitutes (# per team per match were first allowed for inAured players in #7<8, and for any reason the ne9t
year.
./0,s
2eginning with the #7'<+'' season, the clubs finishing le*el on points began to be separated according to goal
difference (the difference between goals scored and goals conceded rather than goal a*erage (goals scored
di*ided by goals conceded. This was an effort to pre*ent unduly defensi*e play encouraged by the greater
ad*antage in limiting goals allowed. 6n the e*ent that clubs had eCual points and eCual goal differences, priority
was gi*en to the club that had scored the most goals. There has been only one season, #7$$+$7, when this le*el
of differentiation was necessary to determine the League champion, and this was the occasion of one of the
most dramatic nights in League history, when "rsenal beat Li*erpool (+/ at "nfield in the last game of the
season to win the League on this tiebreaker + by a single ;ichael Thomas goal in the final minute of the final
game of the season.
Two clubs won their first League titles during the #7'/s> founder members of the League =erby %ounty (#7'#+
'( and #7')+'8 and :ottingham Forest (#7''+'$, both clubs managed by 2rian %lough and ,eter Taylor.
1ince then no clubs ha*e won their first Football League (,remier League since #77( title, so :ottingham
Forest are the (0rd and last club to acCuire the title for the first time in its history in #7''+'$.
The logo of The Football League from #7$$ until (//)
./1,s
"nother important change was made in #7$#, when it was decided to award three points for a win instead of
two, a further effort to increase attacking football. (This scoring rule was not added by F6F" to the World %ups
until the #77) cup after the percei*ed dominance of defensi*e play at 6talia 7/.
The early #7$/s also saw a significant decline in league attendances as a result of the recession and the ongoing
problem of hooliganism. This did no fa*ours for the financial position and league standing of numerous clubs,
and se*eral 4 including Wol*erhampton Wanderers, 1wansea %ity and ;iddlesbrough 4 were almost forced out
of business as a result. The fortunes of the First =i*ision clubs suffered a fresh blow in #7$8 when all English
clubs were banned from European competitions as a result of the 3eysel disaster, where rioting in*ol*ing
Li*erpool fans at the European %up final in 2elgium resulted in 07 spectator deaths.
6n a similar *ein, playoffs to determine promotion places were introduced for the #7$<+$' season so that more
clubs remained eligible for promotion closer to the end of the season, and at the same time to aid in the
reduction o*er two years of the number of clubs in the First =i*ision from (( to (/. For the first two seasons,
the playoffs were contested between the lowest placed team to a*oid automatic relegation and three highest
placed teams to miss out on automatic promotion in the di*ision below, before it was altered from the #7$$+$7
season to include Aust the four clubs who had missed out on automatic promotion in the 1econd, Third and
Fourth =i*isions. #7$<+$' was indeed the first season of the decade where Football League attendances
increased, helped by impro*ed economic conditions and falling unemployment nationally.
"t the same time, automatic promotion and relegation between the Fourth =i*ision and the Football %onference
was introduced for one club, replacing the annual application for re4election to the League of the bottom four
clubs and linking the League to the de*eloping :ational League 1ystem pyramid.
Emblematic of the confusion that was beginning to en*elop the game, the number of clubs at the top of the
league would return to (( for the #77#+7( season, which increased competiti*eness in the #77/+7# season as
four teams would be promoted from the 1econd and Third =i*isions instead of the normal three (with se*enth
place being the minimum position for the playoffs, while in the Fourth =i*ision an unprecedented fi*e
promotion places were up for grabs, with eighth place being high enough for the playoffs. The end of the ban
on English clubs in Europe also helped boost interest in English football. 3owe*er, the economy was now in
another recession, and added to that the clubs in the top two English di*isions were faced with the reCuirement
of ha*ing all4seater stadiums by #77)+78 in order to comply with the Taylor ?eport that followed the death of
7< Li*erpool fans as a result of the 3illsborough disaster in "pril #7$7.
The League also e9panded to 70 clubs for the #77#+7( season and planned to raise the number again to 7)
clubs for #77(+70, but after "ldershot and ;aidstone !nited both went out of business within a few months of
each other in mid4#77(, this plan was abandoned. The issues creating the uncertainty in the game all centred on
money.
The increasing influence of money in English football was e*ident with such e*ents as the first G#m transfer in
the game, that of Tre*or Francis from 2irmingham %ity to :ottingham Forest in February #7'7. The first
G(million player transferred between English clubs was Tony %ottee, who mo*ed from West 3am !nited to
E*erton in Duly #7$$ 4 although se*eral players had already been sold by English clubs to foreign clubs for e*en
higher fees.
2efore the formation of the F" ,remier League, the highest transfer fee paid was G(.7million for the transfer of
=ean 1aunders from =erby %ounty to Li*erpool during the #77# close season. The first G0million player was
"lan 1hearer, who mo*ed from 1outhampton to 2lackburn ?o*ers in Duly #77(, the summer before the first
,remier League season. "t the close of the #77# season, a proposal for the establishment of a new league was
tabled that would bring more money into the game o*erall. The Founder ;embers "greement, signed on #'
Duly #77# by the game5s top4flight clubs, established the basic principles for setting up the F" ,remier League.
-#'.
The newly formed top di*ision would ha*e commercial independence from the Football "ssociation and the
Football League, gi*ing the F" ,remier League licence to negotiate its own broadcast and sponsorship
agreements. The argument gi*en at the time was that the e9tra income would allow English clubs to compete
with teams across Europe.
-#$.
.//+2 the foundation of the Premier League
=uring the #77#+7( season, the First =i*ision clubs resigned from the Football League en masse and (/
February #77( ,remier League was formed as a limited company working out of an office at the Football
"ssociation5s then headCuarters in Lancaster Gate.
-#7.
This meant a break4up of the #/)4year4old Football
League that had operated until then with four di*isionsB the ,remier League would operate with a single
di*ision and the Football League with three. There was no change in competition formatB the same number of
teams competed in the top flight, and promotion and relegation between the ,remier League and the new First
=i*ision remained on the same terms as between the old First and 1econd =i*isions.
The #77#+7( season had ended with 7( clubs in the Football League, with the 70rd club, "ldershot, ha*ing
been declared bankrupt and forced to resign from the Fourth =i*ision a few weeks before the end of the season.
%olchester !nited, the G; @au9hall %onference champions, were promoted to the new =i*ision Three as the
'#st members of the reorganised Football League. 3owe*er, this number would soon drop to '/ due to the
closure of ;aidstone !nited at the beginning of the #77(+70 season, and the Football League abandoned its
e9pansion plan. This meant that there would once again be 7( clubs in the highest four di*isions of English
football.
.//+3+,,42 Three divisions
There were few maAor changes to the structure Football League in the #( seasons which followed the
breakaway that created the F" ,remier League, perhaps the only notable changes being an e9pansion to '(
clubs from '/ for the #778+7< season after the ,remier League was streamlined to (/ clubs from ((, and the
introduction of a second relegation place to the Football %onference from the end of the (//(+/0 season.
3owe*er, following the formation of the ,remier League, it became increasingly difficult for newly promoted
clubs to establish themsel*es in the top flight. Whereas newly promoted teams had once normally sur*i*ed for
at least a few seasons in the old First =i*ision, it was now the norm for at least one newly promoted club to be
relegated straight back from the ,remier League to =i*ision &ne. 6n the nine seasons that followed the
formation of the ,remier League, at least one newly promoted club suffered this fate 4 and in the #77'+7$
season it happened to all three newly promoted teams. There were e9ceptions, howe*erB including 2lackburn
?o*ers, who were promoted to the ,remier League on its formation and were champions a year later, and
:ewcastle !nited, who were promoted in #770 and finished in the top si9 for the ne9t four seasons, finishing
,remier League runners4up twice.
The trend of relegated clubs to win an instant promotion back to the top flight continued, howe*er. 6n the #(
seasons following the formation of the ,remier League, there were Aust three seasons where none of the newly
relegated sides failed to win an instant return to the ,remier League.
The widening gulf between the top two di*isions of English football can largely be put down to the increased
wealth of the ,remier League clubs, and the wealth gained by these clubs 4 combined with parachute payments
following relegation 4 has also made it easier for many of them to Cuickly win promotion back to the top flight.
6n spite of the economic prosperity between #77( and (//), many Football League clubs did run into financial
problems during this time, although none of them were forced out of business. These include &9ford !nited,
Luton Town, 1heffield Wednesday, :ottingham Forest, ,ortsmouth, 2radford %ity and Leicester %ity. 1ome of
these clubs were faced with financial problems as a result of the lost re*enue resulting from ,remier League
relegation and a failure to return to this le*el, as well as the collapse of 6T@ =igital in (//(.
-(/.
Dust after the end of the (//#+/( season, 1outh London based Wimbledon were gi*en permission to mo*e to
;ilton Heynes, some '/ miles from their traditional home. " relocation on this scale was unprecedented in
English football, and led to the maAority of the club5s fans switching their support to a new fan4formed club,
"F% Wimbledon, who Aoined the %ombined %ounties League. The club5s mo*e to ;ilton Heynes was
completed in 1eptember (//0, when they became tenants of the :ational 3ockey 1tadium until a new
permanent home was completed four years later, and the club5s name changed to ;ilton Heynes =ons in Dune
(//).
+,,4 Football League rebranding
(//)+/8 was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First =i*ision, 1econd =i*ision and
Third =i*ision were renamed the Football League %hampionship, Football League &ne and Football League
Two respecti*ely. %oca4%ola replaced the :ationwide 2uilding 1ociety as title sponsor.
The Football League5s collection of historic materials is held by the :ational Football ;useum.
5volution of logo

#$$$+#7$$

#7$$+(//)

(//)+present
ecords
;ain article> Football records in England
League sponsorship
1ee also> English football sponsorship
1ince #7$0 the League has accepted lucrati*e sponsorships for its main competition. 2elow is a list of sponsors
and the League5s name under their sponsorship>
#7$0+#7$<> %anon (%anon League
#7$<+#7$'> Today newspaper (Today League
#7$'+#770> 2arclays 2ank (2arclays League
"
#770+#77<> Endsleigh 6nsurance (Endsleigh League
#77<+(//)> :ationwide 2uilding 1ociety (:ationwide Football League
(//)+(/#/> %oca4%ola (%oca4%ola Football League
-(#.
(/#/+(/#0> npower (npower Football League
-((.
(/#0+(/#$> 1ky 2et (1ky 2et Football League
-).

"
!pon the breakaway of the first di*ision in #770 to form the ,remier League, 2arclays became a secondary sponsor in the
newly formed top di*ision, becoming the primary sponsor from (//# up to the present.
"fter the formation of the ,remier League the newly slimmed4down football League ('/ clubs until #778 and
'( clubs since renamed its di*isions to reflect the changes. The old 1econd =i*ision became the new First
=i*ision, the Third =i*ision became the 1econd =i*ision, and the Fourth =i*ision became the Third =i*ision.
The financial health of its clubs had become perhaps the highest League priority due to the limited resources
a*ailable. 3owe*er, there were some promising signs for the future, as the League planned to announce new
initiati*es beginning with the (//)+/8 season, coinciding with the start of a new sponsorship agreement with
%oca4%ola. The first of these changes was a rebranding of the League with the renaming of the First =i*ision as
The %hampionship, the 1econd =i*ision as League &ne and the Third =i*ision as League Two. The League5s
cup competitions ha*e had different sponsors.
"edia rights
The other maAor source of re*enue is tele*ision. The #7$/s saw competition between terrestrial broadcasters for
the rights to show League matches, but the arri*al on the scene of satellite broadcaster 2ritish 1ky 2roadcasting
(1ky T@, eagerly searching for attracti*e programming to build its customer base and willing to pay huge
sums, changed the picture entirely. The League5s top tier clubs had been agitating for se*eral years to be able to
keep more of the League5s re*enue for themsel*es, threatening to break away and form their own league if
necessary. 6n #77( the threat was realised as the First =i*ision clubs left to establish the F" ,remier League and
signed a contract for e9clusi*e li*e co*erage of their games with 1ky T@. The F" ,remier League agreed to
maintain the promotion and relegation of three clubs with The Football League, but The League was now in a
far weaker position I without its best clubs and without the clout to negotiate high4re*enue T@ deals. This
problem was e9acerbated with the collapse in (//( of 6T@ =igital, holder of T@ rights for The Football
League, which cost League clubs millions of pounds in re*enue.
6n (//# the league signed a G7// million deal with 6T@ =igital, but in ;arch (//( the channel was put into
administration by its parent companies when the league refused to accept a G#0/ million reduction in the deal.
6n :o*ember (//' the league announced a new domestic rights deal worth G(<) million with 1ky and the 22%
for the three seasons from (//7 to (/#(. 6t co*ers Football League, League %up and Football League Trophy
matches and the full range of media> terrestrial and pay tele*ision, broadband internet, *ideo4on4demand and
mobile ser*ices. The deal represents a #08J increase on the pre*ious deal and works out at an a*erage of o*er
G#.( million per club per season, though some clubs will recei*e more than others. 1ky will pro*ide the
maAority of the co*erage and the 22% broadcast #/ e9clusi*ely li*e matches from the %hampionship per season
and the semi4finals and finals of the League %up.
-(0.
6n (/#(, 1ky 1ports signed a new e9clusi*e deal to
broadcast all ;atches after the 22% pulled out of the deal owing the financial cuts that the 22% 1port
department was going through. 3owe*er the 22% signed a new deal to still broadcast The Football League
Show highlights programme.
?adio co*erage in the !nited Hingdom is also a maAor source of li*e football and is a maAor output source for
the Football League, with e*ery maAor game broadcast nationally on 22% ?adio Fi*e Li*e, Talk1,&?T and
digitally on 22% ?adio 8 Li*e 1ports E9tra which is a*ailable digitally online or *ia ="2 ?adio. Globally,
matches are sometimes broadcast on 22% World 1er*ice. ;any Football League matches are broadcast to local
audiences *ia 22% Local ?adio stations or by commercial stations.
&n #$ 1eptember (//$, the Football League un*eiled a new oca!ola Football League podcast, hosted by
22% ?adio Fi*e Li*e5s ;ark %lemmit to be released e*ery Thursday.
-().
6n the (/#( K (/#0 season the ,odcast
was renamed the npower "ootball league show but still hosted by ;ark %lemmit. ;ark %lemmit continued to
host the show as Trade,oint came on board in the (/#0 K (/#) season to be the title sponsor of the newly re4
branded 5Football League ?adio5. The programme is now produced by digital production studio, Engage 1ports
;edia.
6overnance and management
'oard
The Football League 2oard meets monthly and consists of two independent directors, three directors
representing the %hampionship, two representing League &ne, and one representing League Two. %urrent
("ugust (/#) members are>
-(8.

o Greg %larke 4 %hairman

o 1haun 3ar*ey 4 %hief E9ecuti*e
o =ebbie De*ans %2E 4 6ndependent =irector

o "ndy "mbler (;illwall

o Heith Lamb (;iddlesbrough F%
o Harl &yston (2lackpool F%
o Dames ?odwell (:otts %ounty
o ;att ,orter (Leyton &rient
o 6an Lenagan (&9ford !nited
%enior "anagement
"ndy Williamson &2E + %hief &perating &fficer
?ichard 3easelgra*e + %hief %ommercial &fficer
Former Presidents
William ;cGregor #$7(+7)
Dohn 2entley #$7)+#7#/
Dohn ;cHenna #7#/+0<
%harles 1utcliffe #70<+07
Will %uff #707+)7
"rthur =rewry #7)74#780
"rthur &akley #788+8'
Doseph ?ichards #78'+<<
Terry 1hipman #7<<+')
William Westwood #7')+$#
Dack =unnett #7$#+$<
,hilip %arter #7$<+$$
Football League clubs
2elow are listed the member clubs of The Football League for the (/#)+#8 season. 6n total there ha*e been #)#
Football League members. &riginally the bottom club(s of the bottom di*ision(s had to seek reapplication
each year, which was *oted by all the other members. %lubs occasionally e9ploited this by banding together to
*ote a weaker team in. Walsall holds the record for the most reapplications for the Football League. Former
Football League clubs include all (/ of the current members of the ,remier League along with *arious
relegated, remo*ed or defunct clubs.
Championship League One League T(o
2irmingham %ity 2arnsley "ccrington 1tanley
2lackburn ?o*ers 2radford %ity "F% Wimbledon
2lackpool 2ristol %ity 2urton "lbion
2olton Wanderers %hesterfield 2ury
2ournemouth %olchester !nited %ambridge !nited
2rentford %o*entry %ity %arlisle !nited
2righton L 3o*e "lbion %rawley Town %heltenham Town
%ardiff %ity %rewe "le9andra =agenham L ?edbridge
%harlton "thletic =oncaster ?o*ers E9eter %ity
=erby %ounty Fleetwood Town 3artlepool !nited
Fulham Gillingham Luton Town
3uddersfield Town Leyton &rient ;ansfield Town
6pswich Town ;ilton Heynes =ons ;orecambe
Leeds !nited :otts %ounty :ewport %ounty
;iddlesbrough &ldham "thletic :orthampton Town
;illwall ,eterborough !nited &9ford !nited
:orwich %ity ,ort @ale ,lymouth "rgyle
:ottingham Forest ,reston :orth End ,ortsmouth
?eading ?ochdale 1hrewsbury Town
?otherham !nited 1cunthorpe !nited 1outhend !nited
1heffield Wednesday 1heffield !nited 1te*enage
Watford 1windon Town Tranmere ?o*ers
Wigan "thletic Walsall Wycombe Wanderers
Wol*erhampton Wanderers Feo*il Town Fork %ity
Past League (inners
:2> League and F" %up =ouble winners are highlighted in bold.
.1113.1/+
When the Football League was first established, all #( clubs played in Aust one di*ision.
No7 %eason $inner
#. #$$$+$7 Preston North 5nd
(. #$$7+7/ ,reston :orth End
0. #$7/+7# E*erton
). #$7#+7( 1underland
.1/+3./+,
6n #$7( the Football League absorbed ## of the #( clubs in the ri*al Football "lliance after it folded, meaning
the League now had enough clubs to form another di*ision. The e9isting di*ision was renamed the First
=i*ision and the new di*ision was called the 1econd =i*ision.
No7 %eason First Division Champions %econd Division Champions
8. #$7(+70 1underland 1mall 3eath
<. #$70+7) "ston @illa Li*erpool
'. #$7)+78 1underland 2ury
$. #$78+7< "ston @illa Li*erpool
7. #$7<+7' *ston #illa :otts %ounty
#/. #$7'+7$ 1heffield !nited 2urnley
##. #$7$+77 "ston @illa ;anchester %ity
#(. #$77+#7// "ston @illa The Wednesday
#0. #7//+/# Li*erpool Grimsby Town
#). #7/#+/( 1underland West 2romwich "lbion
#8. #7/(+/0 The Wednesday ;anchester %ity
#<. #7/0+/) The Wednesday ,reston :orth End
#'. #7/)+/8 :ewcastle !nited Li*erpool
#$. #7/8+/< Li*erpool 2ristol %ity
#7. #7/<+/' :ewcastle !nited :ottingham Forest
(/. #7/'+/$ ;anchester !nited 2radford %ity
(#. #7/$+/7 :ewcastle !nited 2olton Wanderers
((. #7/7+#/ "ston @illa ;anchester %ity
(0. #7#/+## ;anchester !nited West 2romwich "lbion
(). #7##+#( 2lackburn ?o*ers =erby %ounty
(8. #7#(+#0 1underland ,reston :orth End
(<. #7#0+#) 2lackburn ?o*ers :otts %ounty
('. #7#)+#8 E*erton =erby %ounty
4 #7#8+#7 League suspended due to World War 6
($. #7#7+(/ West 2romwich "lbion Tottenham 3otspur
./+,3./+.
6n #7(/ the Football League admitted the clubs from the first di*ision of the 1outhern League (the 1outhern
League continued with its remaining clubs and Grimsby Town, who had failed to be re4elected to the 1econd
=i*ision the season before and been replaced by %ardiff %ity (of the 1outhern League. The clubs were placed
in the new Third =i*ision>
No7 %eason First Division Champions %econd Division Champions Third Division Champions
(7. #7(/+(# 2urnley 2irmingham %rystal ,alace
./+.3./81
"fter Aust one season under the old format, the League e9panded again. This time it admitted a number of clubs
from the north of England to balance things out, as the last e9pansion brought mainly clubs from the south. The
e9isting Third =i*ision was renamed the Third =i*ision 1outh, and the new di*ision was named the Third
=i*ision :orth. Grimsby Town transferred to the new northern di*ision. 2oth di*isions ran in parallel, with
clubs from both Third =i*isions being promoted to the national 1econd =i*ision at the end of each season>
No7 %eason
First Division
Champions
%econd Division
Champions
Third Division (North)
Champions
Third Division (%outh)
Champions
0/.
#7(#+
((
Li*erpool :ottingham Forest 1tockport %ounty 1outhampton
0#.
#7((+
(0
Li*erpool :otts %ounty :elson 2ristol %ity
0(.
#7(0+
()
3uddersfield Town Leeds !nited
Wol*erhampton
Wanderers
,ortsmouth
00.
#7()+
(8
3uddersfield Town Leicester %ity =arlington 1wansea Town
0).
#7(8+
(<
3uddersfield Town The Wednesday Grimsby Town ?eading
08.
#7(<+
('
:ewcastle !nited ;iddlesbrough 1toke %ity 2ristol %ity
0<.
#7('+
($
E*erton ;anchester %ity 2radford ,ark "*enue ;illwall
0'.
#7($+
(7
The Wednesday ;iddlesbrough 2radford %ity %harlton "thletic
0$.
#7(7+
0/
1heffield Wednesday 2lackpool ,ort @ale ,lymouth "rgyle
07.
#70/+
0#
"rsenal E*erton %hesterfield :otts %ounty
)/.
#70#+
0(
E*erton
Wol*erhampton
Wanderers
Lincoln %ity Fulham
)#.
#70(+
00
"rsenal 1toke %ity 3ull %ity 2rentford
)(.
#700+
0)
"rsenal Grimsby Town 2arnsley :orwich %ity
)0.
#70)+
08
"rsenal 2rentford =oncaster ?o*ers %harlton "thletic
)).
#708+
0<
1underland ;anchester !nited %hesterfield %o*entry %ity
)8.
#70<+
0'
;anchester %ity Leicester %ity 1tockport %ounty Luton Town
)<.
#70'+
0$
"rsenal "ston @illa Tranmere ?o*ers ;illwall
)'.
#70$+
07
E*erton 2lackburn ?o*ers 2arnsley :ewport %ounty
4
#707+
)<
League suspended due to World War 66
)7.
#7)<+
)'
Li*erpool ;anchester %ity =oncaster ?o*ers %ardiff %ity
8/.
#7)'+
)$
"rsenal 2irmingham %ity Lincoln %ity Mueens ,ark ?angers
8#.
#7)$+
)7
,ortsmouth Fulham 3ull %ity 1wansea Town
8(.
#7)7+
8/
,ortsmouth Tottenham 3otspur =oncaster ?o*ers :otts %ounty
80.
#78/+
8#
Tottenham 3otspur ,reston :orth End ?otherham !nited :ottingham Forest
8).
#78#+
8(
;anchester !nited 1heffield Wednesday Lincoln %ity ,lymouth "rgyle
88.
#78(+
80
"rsenal 1heffield !nited &ldham "thletic 2ristol ?o*ers
8<.
#780+
8)
Wol*erhampton
Wanderers
Leicester %ity ,ort @ale 6pswich Town
8'.
#78)+
88
%helsea 2irmingham %ity 2arnsley 2ristol %ity
8$.
#788+
8<
;anchester !nited 1heffield Wednesday Grimsby Town Leyton &rient
87.
#78<+
8'
;anchester !nited Leicester %ity =erby %ounty 6pswich Town
</.
#78'+
8$
Wol*erhampton
Wanderers
West 3am !nited 1cunthorpe !nited
2righton and 3o*e
"lbion
./813.//+
For the beginning of the #78$+87 season, national Third and Fourth =i*isions were introduced to replace the
regional Third =i*ision :orth and Third =i*ision 1outh>
No7 %eason
First Division
Champions
%econd Division
Champions
Third Division
Champions
Fourth Division
Champions
<#.
#78$+
87
Wol*erhampton
Wanderers
1heffield Wednesday ,lymouth "rgyle ,ort @ale
<(.
#787+
</
2urnley "ston @illa 1outhampton Walsall
<0.
#7</+
<#
Tottenham )otspur 6pswich Town 2ury ,eterborough !nited
<).
#7<#+
<(
6pswich Town Li*erpool ,ortsmouth ;illwall
<8.
#7<(+
<0
E*erton 1toke %ity :orthampton Town 2rentford
<<.
#7<0+
<)
Li*erpool Leeds !nited %o*entry %ity Gillingham
<'.
#7<)+
<8
;anchester !nited :ewcastle !nited %arlisle !nited 2righton L 3o*e "lbion
<$.
#7<8+
<<
Li*erpool ;anchester %ity 3ull %ity =oncaster ?o*ers
<7.
#7<<+
<'
;anchester !nited %o*entry %ity Mueens ,ark ?angers 1tockport %ounty
'/.
#7<'+
<$
;anchester %ity 6pswich Town &9ford !nited Luton Town
'#.
#7<$+
<7
Leeds !nited =erby %ounty Watford =oncaster ?o*ers
'(.
#7<7+
'/
E*erton 3uddersfield Town Leyton &rient %hesterfield
'0.
#7'/+
'#
*rsenal Leicester %ity ,reston :orth End :otts %ounty
').
#7'#+
'(
=erby %ounty :orwich %ity "ston @illa Grimsby Town
'8.
#7'(+
'0
Li*erpool 2urnley 2olton Wanderers 1outhport
'<.
#7'0+
')
Leeds !nited ;iddlesbrough &ldham "thletic ,eterborough !nited
''.
#7')+
'8
=erby %ounty ;anchester !nited 2lackburn ?o*ers ;ansfield Town
'$.
#7'8+
'<
Li*erpool 1underland 3ereford !nited Lincoln %ity
'7.
#7'<+
''
Li*erpool
Wol*erhampton
Wanderers
;ansfield Town %ambridge !nited
$/.
#7''+
'$
:ottingham Forest 2olton Wanderers Wre9ham Watford
$#.
#7'$+
'7
Li*erpool %rystal ,alace 1hrewsbury Town ?eading
$(.
#7'7+
$/
Li*erpool Leicester %ity Grimsby Town 3uddersfield Town
$0.
#7$/+
$#
"ston @illa West 3am !nited ?otherham !nited 1outhend !nited
$).
#7$#+
$(
Li*erpool Luton Town 2urnley 1heffield !nited
$8.
#7$(+
$0
Li*erpool Mueens ,ark ?angers ,ortsmouth Wimbledon
$<.
#7$0+
$)
Li*erpool %helsea &9ford !nited Fork %ity
$'.
#7$)+
$8
E*erton &9ford !nited 2radford %ity %hesterfield
$$.
#7$8+
$<
Liverpool :orwich %ity ?eading 1windon Town
$7.
#7$<+
$'
E*erton =erby %ounty 2ournemouth :orthampton Town
7/.
#7$'+
$$
Li*erpool ;illwall 1underland
Wol*erhampton
Wanderers
7#.
#7$$+
$7
"rsenal %helsea
Wol*erhampton
Wanderers
?otherham !nited
7(.
#7$7+
7/
Li*erpool Leeds !nited 2ristol ?o*ers E9eter %ity
70.
#77/+
7#
"rsenal &ldham "thletic %ambridge !nited =arlington
7).
#77#+
7(
Leeds !nited 6pswich Town 2rentford 2urnley
.//+3+,,4
Following the breakaway of the clubs in the First =i*ision to form the F" ,remier League, the Football League
no longer included the top clubs in England, and the Football League champions were no longer the national
champions of England. Therefore, the 1econd =i*ision became the First =i*ision, the Third =i*ision became
the 1econd =i*ision and the Fourth =i*ision became the Third =i*ision.
No7 %eason First Division Champions %econd Division Champions Third Division Champions
78. #77(+70 :ewcastle !nited 1toke %ity %ardiff %ity
7<. #770+7) %rystal ,alace ?eading 1hrewsbury Town
7'. #77)+78 ;iddlesbrough 2irmingham %ity %arlisle !nited
7$. #778+7< 1underland 1windon Town ,reston :orth End
77. #77<+7' 2olton Wanderers 2ury Wigan "thletic
#//. #77'+7$ :ottingham Forest Watford :otts %ounty
#/#. #77$+77 1underland Fulham 2rentford
#/(. #777+(/// %harlton "thletic ,reston :orth End 1wansea %ity
#/0. (///+/# Fulham ;illwall 2righton L 3o*e "lbion
#/). (//#+/( ;anchester %ity 2righton L 3o*e "lbion ,lymouth "rgyle
#/8. (//(+/0 ,ortsmouth Wigan "thletic ?ushden L =iamonds
#/<. (//0+/) :orwich %ity ,lymouth "rgyle =oncaster ?o*ers
+,,43present
6n (//), the Football League renamed its di*isions> the First =i*ision became the Football League
%hampionship, the 1econd =i*ision became Football League &ne and the Third =i*ision became Football
League Two.
No7 %eason Championship Champions League One Champions League T(o Champions
#/'. (//)+/8 1underland Luton Town Feo*il Town
#/$. (//8+/< ?eading 1outhend !nited %arlisle !nited
#/7. (//<+/' 1underland 1cunthorpe !nited Walsall
##/. (//'+/$ West 2romwich "lbion 1wansea %ity ;ilton Heynes =ons
###. (//$+/7 Wol*erhampton Wanderers Leicester %ity 2rentford
##(. (//7+#/ :ewcastle !nited :orwich %ity :otts %ounty
##0. (/#/+## Mueens ,ark ?angers 2righton L 3o*e "lbion %hesterfield
##). (/##+#( ?eading %harlton "thletic 1windon Town
##8. (/#(+#0 %ardiff %ity =oncaster ?o*ers Gillingham
##<. (/#0+#) Leicester %ity Wol*erhampton Wanderers %hesterfield
"t the end of the (//8+/< season, ?eading finished with a record #/< points, beating the pre*ious record of
#/8 held by 1underland.
Titles by club
=ue to the breakaway of the ,remier League in #77(, winning the Football League title no longer makes a team
the top tier champions of English football.
Club
Top flight
titles
Football League
titles
.11/3.//+
Premier League
titles
.//93+,.4
Football League
titles
.//93+,.4
"anchester :nited (/ ' #0 /
Liverpool #$ #$ / /
*rsenal #0 #/ 0 /
5verton 7 7 / /
*ston #illa ' ' / /
%underland < < / )
Chelsea ) # 0 /
"anchester City ) ( ( #
Ne(castle :nited ) ) / (
%heffield $ednesday ) ) / /
)uddersfield To(n 0 0 / /
Leeds :nited 0 0 / /
$olverhampton
$anderers
0 0 / (
'lac&burn overs 0 ( # /
'urnley ( ( / /
Portsmouth ( ( / #
Derby County ( ( / /
Preston North 5nd ( ( / /
Tottenham )otspur ( ( / /
Nottingham Forest # # / #
!ps(ich To(n # # / /
%heffield :nited # # / /
$est 'rom(ich *lbion # # / #
eading / / / (
'olton $anderers / / / #
Cardiff City / / / #
Charlton *thletic / / / (
Crystal Palace / / / #
Fulham / / / #
Club
Top flight
titles
Football League
titles
.11/3.//+
Premier League
titles
.//93+,.4
Football League
titles
.//93+,.4
Leicester City / / / #
"iddlesbrough / / / #
Nor(ich City / / / #
;ueens Par& angers / / / #
Football League titles
6ncludes ,remier League titles.
Team First tier %econd tier Third tier Fourth tier Total Titles
;anchester !nited (/ ( ((
Li*erpool #$ ) ((
"rsenal #0 #0
E*erton 7 # #/
"ston @illa ' ( # #/
1underland < 8 # #(
1heffield Wednesday ) 8 7
:ewcastle !nited ) 0 '
%helsea ) ( <
;anchester %ity ) ' ##
Wol*erhampton Wanderers 0 0 0 # #/
Leeds !nited 0 0 <
3uddersfield Town 0 # # 8
=erby %ounty ( ) # '
,reston :orth End ( 0 ( # $
2urnley ( ( # # <
Tottenham 3otspur ( ( )
,ortsmouth ( # 0 <
2lackburn ?o*ers 0 # # 8
6pswich Town # 0 ( <
:ottingham Forest # 0 # 8
1heffield !nited # # # 0
West 2romwich "lbion # 0 )
Leicester %ity ' # $
2irmingham %ity 8 # <
;iddlesbrough ) )
:otts %ounty 0 ( 0 $
:orwich %ity 0 ( 8
2olton Wanderers 0 # )
Grimsby Town ( 0 # <
?eading ( 0 # <
Fulham ( ( )
1toke %ity ( ( )
%rystal ,alace ( # 0
West 3am !nited ( (
;illwall # 0 # 8
2ristol %ity # 0 )
Team First tier %econd tier Third tier Fourth tier Total Titles
%harlton "thletic # 0 )
2rentford # ( 0 <
2radford %ity # ( 0
2ury # ( 0
%o*entry %ity # ( 0
&ldham "thletic # ( 0
&9ford !nited # ( 0
Mueens ,ark ?angers ( ( )
%ardiff %ity # # # 0
Luton Town # # # 0
2lackpool # #
=oncaster ?o*ers ) ( <
,lymouth "rgyle ) # 8
Lincoln %ity 0 # )
2arnsley 0 0
3ull %ity 0 0
2righton and 3o*e "lbion 0 ( 8
%hesterfield ( ) <
,ort @ale ( # 0
?otherham !nited ( # 0
1tockport %ounty ( # 0
1wansea %ity ( # 0
Watford ( # 0
2ristol ?o*ers ( (
Leyton &rient ( (
1outhampton ( (
%arlisle !nited # ( 0
1windon Town # ( 0
=arlington # # (
%ambridge !nited # # (
;ansfield Town # # (
:orthampton Town # # (
1hrewsbury Town # # (
1outhend !nited # # (
Wigan "thletic # # (
2ournemouth # #
2radford ,ark "*enue # #
3ereford !nited # #
:elson # #
:ewport %ounty # #
1cunthorpe !nited # #
Tranmere ?o*ers # #
Wre9ham # #
Gillingham ( (
,eterborough !nited ( (
Walsall ( (
E9eter %ity # #
;ilton Heynes =ons # #
?ushden L =iamonds # #
Team First tier %econd tier Third tier Fourth tier Total Titles
1outhport # #
Wimbledon # #
Feo*il Town # #
Fork %ity # #
Play-offs
;ain article> Football League play4offs
%hampionship ,lay4off final, (//<. (Leeds !nited *. Watford, ;illennium 1tadium
The Football League ,lay4&ffs are used as a means of determining the final promotion place from each of the
league5s three di*isions. This is a way of keeping the possibility of promotion open for more clubs towards the
end of the season.
The format was first introduced in #7$', after the decision was made to reduce the top flight from (( to (/
clubs o*er the ne9t two seasonsB initially, the play4offs in*ol*ed the team finishing immediately abo*e the
relegation places in a gi*en di*ision and the three teams who finished immediately below the promotion places
in the di*ision below + essentially one team was fighting to keep their place in the higher di*ision while the
other three teams were attempting to take it from them. 6n #7$7, this was changedIinstead of teams from
different di*isions playing each other, the four teams below the automatic promotion places contested the play4
offs. The first season of this arrangement saw the final being contested in home and away legs. The four teams
play off in two semi4finals and a final, with the team winning the final being promoted. &riginally the semi4
finals and the final were all two4legged home4and4away affairs, but from #77/ onwards the final is a one4off
match . 6t is in this format that the play4offs continue today. " proposal to ha*e si9 teams rather than four
competing for the final place was defeated at the league5s "G; in (//0.
-(<.
Play-off (inners
%eason Division T(o Division Three Division Four
#7$<+$' %harlton "thletic 1windon Town "ldershot
#7$'+$$ ;iddlesbrough Walsall 1wansea %ity
#7$$+$7 %rystal ,alace ,ort @ale Leyton &rient
#7$7+7/ 1windon Town
#
:otts %ounty %ambridge !nited
#77/+7# :otts %ounty Tranmere ?o*ers TorCuay !nited
#77#+7( 2lackburn ?o*ers ,eterborough !nited 2lackpool
%eason Division One Division T(o Division Three
#77(+70 1windon Town West 2romwich "lbion Fork %ity
#770+7) Leicester %ity 2urnley Wycombe Wanderers
#77)+78 2olton Wanderers 3uddersfield Town %hesterfield
#778+7< Leicester %ity 2radford %ity ,lymouth "rgyle
#77<+7' %rystal ,alace %rewe "le9andra :orthampton Town
#77'+7$ %harlton "thletic Grimsby Town %olchester !nited
#77$+77 Watford ;anchester %ity 1cunthorpe !nited
#7774// 6pswich Town Gillingham ,eterborough !nited
(///+/# 2olton Wanderers Walsall 2lackpool
(//#+/( 2irmingham %ity 1toke %ity %heltenham Town
(//(+/0 Wol*erhampton Wanderers %ardiff %ity 2ournemouth
(//0+/) %rystal ,alace 2righton L 3o*e "lbion 3uddersfield Town
%eason Championship League One League T(o
(//)+/8 West 3am !nited 1heffield Wednesday 1outhend !nited
(//8+/< Watford 2arnsley %heltenham Town
(//<+/' =erby %ounty 2lackpool 2ristol ?o*ers
(//'+/$ 3ull %ity =oncaster ?o*ers 1tockport %ounty
(//$+/7 2urnley 1cunthorpe !nited Gillingham
(//7+#/ 2lackpool ;illwall =agenham L ?edbridge
(/#/+## 1wansea %ity ,eterborough !nited 1te*enage
(/##+#( West 3am !nited 3uddersfield Town %rewe "le9andra
(/#(+#0 %rystal ,alace Feo*il Town 2radford %ity
(/#0+#) Mueens ,ark ?angers ?otherham !nited Fleetwood Town
#> =ue to financial irregularities, 1windon were pre*ented from taking their place in the top di*ision, which was awarded to the losing
finalists, 1underland.
Footballs
The ;itre ,ro #//T is the official match football of the Football League and is used by all '( teams from the
%hampionship and Leagues &ne and Two. ;itre5s current deal started in the (//'+/$ season and runs until the
end of the (/#/+## season. "s of the (//'+/$ season, e*ery Football League %hampionship team has their own
;itre football for home matches. The balls sport the home team5s crest and colours.
3uddersfield Town played the (//$+/7 season with a customised ;itre ball to celebrate their centenary. The
Football League rules ha*e not allowed this before, but they were rela9ed as ;itre were formerly based in
3uddersfield.
%ee also
English football league system
Football =ata%o
Football League #// Legends
Football League "wards
List of English Football League managers by date of appointment
List of English football championship winning managers
:ational Football ;useum + holder of the Football League %ollection
,remiership4Football League gulf
1ports league attendances
1t. ;ary5s %hurch, 3andsworth + burial place of the League5s founder
eferences
#. League &ne and Two clubs only, Football League Trophy
(. F" %up or League %up winners
0. "fter its title sponsors, the Football League has formerly been known as the %anon League, the
Today League, the 2arclays League, the Endsleigh League, the :ationwide Football League, the %oca4
%ola Football League and the npower Football League
). E1ky 2et to sponsor the Football LeagueE. The Football League. (/#04/'4#$. ?etrie*ed (/#04
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