| Related sites for http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League |
| Webster_Girls_Hockey_12U_Travel_Team Webster, NY. Girls 12U Travel Team. Site includes practice and game schedules, tryout information, roster, statistics, and a photo album. | | RCMC Specialize in design, consulting, and construction of custom cement skate parks. Includes photos of completed skate parks, information about the company, and staff skater photos. | | F_A_S_T__Riding_School Advanced riding program on Canadian tracks. Bilingual site with course descriptions, schedule, contact information and links. | | PuPu_\'O_Hawai\'i_Outrigger_Club Canoes on Las Gatos Lake and Santa Barbara Harbor, California. History, event schedule, news, and photo gallery. | | Oak_Grove_Disc_Golf_Club Located in the Hahamonga Watershed Park, Pasadena, California. Contains a map of their course, member list, how to offer help, and results. | | Turks_and_Caicos_Islands This Wikipedia encyclopaedia entry describes the national team. General information and statistics. | | Mod_Series_Scene News, schedule, race results, message board, points and photographs from series. | | Pivotal_Pony Fell Pony breed description, good and bad points about the breed, pictures and what the ponies can do. | | Soxtalk News, forum discussion and chat concerning the team. | | NFL_com_-_Rob_Kelly Listing of player statistics and career highlights. | | Life_of_a_NY_Mets_Fan Weblog that features the webmaster's opinionated commentary on the team. | | Yahoo!_Sports__NCAA_Football Latest news and information. [RSS] | | Mandala_Riding_and_Awareness_Center Located in Nova Scotia, Canada, Olga Comeau, certified TTEAM, Centered Riding, TTouch and Therapeutic Touch practitioner offers horseback riding workshops, camps and individual lessons for both adults | | Go_Kan_Ryu_Karate_Do Newcastle branch of an Australian based school teaching the style based on Goju Kai and Kei Shin Kan. Includes information on the style development, dojo locations, class times, contact details, gradi | | Streamline___Front_Engine_Dragster Car construction photo gallery, driver and crew profiles and pictures, and current schedule. | | Hudson_\'Hurricane\'_Kennaugh Official site for this South African superbike champion. Includes news, photos, personal profile and links. | | Ducky\'s_Sweet_Sixteen Site dedicated to NHL players that include Modano, Shanahan, Nolan, Hull, and Messier, among others. Contains a biography of each of the 16 players profiled. | | Fight_and_Fitness A Muay Thai camp located in San Francisco, Ca. Trainers include former Thai National Champions, Bunkerd Faphimai and Neungsiam Samphusri. | | Belgische_Darts_Bond Belgische Darts Bond waar alles te vinden is over darts in België, BDB, BDBE, WDF, BDO | | Baptist_Bible_College_(PA)_Women\'s_Basketball Defenders - official web site with roster, schedule, news. Member of the NCCAA, Division II. |
|
The Football League - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia /**/ /**/ if (wgNotice != '') document.writeln(wgNotice); The Football League From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Jump to: navigation, search  This article needs additional citations for verification.Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (May 2008)The Football League CountriesEngland and WalesConfederationUEFAFounded1888DivisionsFootball League ChampionshipFootball League OneFootball League TwoNumber of teams72 (24 in each division)Promotion toPremier LeagueRelegation toFootball ConferenceLevels on pyramidLevel 2-4Domestic cup(s)FA CupFootball League CupFootball League Trophy (League One and Two clubs only)International cup(s)UEFA Cup (League Cup winners)Current championsWest Bromwich Albion F.C. (2007–08)TV partnersBSkyB (live)ITV (highlights)Websitehttp://www.football-league.co.uk/ 2008–09 seasonThe Football League, also known as the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons, is a league competition featuring professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888, it is the oldest such competition in world football. It was the top level football league in England from its foundation in the 19th century until 1992, when the top 22 clubs split away to form the FA Premier League. Since 1995 it has had 72 clubs evenly divided into three divisions, which are currently known as The Championship, League One, and League Two. Promotion and relegation between these divisions is a central feature of the League and is further extended to allow the top Championship clubs to exchange places with the lowest placed clubs in the Premier League, and the bottom clubs of League Two to switch with the top clubs of the Football Conference, thus integrating the League into the English football league system. Although primarily a competition for English clubs, two clubs from Wales also take part (three prior to the relegation of Wrexham in 2008).The Football League is also the name of the governing body of the league competition and this body also organises two knockout cup competitions, the Football League Cup and the Football League Trophy.Contents1 Overview2 Competition2.1 League2.2 Cup3 History4 Media rights5 Football League clubs6 Past League winners6.1 1888-18926.2 1892-19206.3 1920-19216.4 1921-19586.5 1958-19926.6 1992-20046.7 2004-present6.8 Titles by club7 Play-offs7.1 Controversy7.2 Play-Off winners8 Footballs9 See also10 References11 External links//[edit] OverviewThe Football League consists of 72 professional football clubs in England and Wales, and runs the oldest professional football league competition in the world. It also organises two knockout cup competitions. The Football League was founded in 1888 by William McGregor, originally with 12 member clubs. Steady growth and the addition of more divisions meant that by 1950 the League had 92 clubs. Financial considerations led to a major shake-up in 1992 when, in a step to maximise their revenue, the leading members of the Football League broke away to form their own competition, the FA Premier League, which was renamed in 2007 as the Premier League. The Football League therefore no longer includes the top 20 clubs who belong to this group, although promotion and relegation between the Football League and the Premier League continues. In total, 130 teams have played in the Football League [1] up to 2007 (including those in the Premier League, since clubs must pass through the Football League before reaching the former).[edit] Competition[edit] LeagueThe Football League's 72 member clubs are grouped into three divisions: the Football League Championship, Football League One, and Football League Two (previously the Football League First Division, Football League Second Division and Football League Third Division respectively; they were renamed for sponsorship reasons). Each division has 24 clubs, and in any given season a club plays each of the others in the same division twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents. This makes for a total of 46 games played each season.Clubs gain three points for a win, one for a draw, and none for a defeat. At the end of the season, clubs at the top of their division may win promotion to the next higher division, while those at the bottom may be relegated to the next lower one. At the top end of the competition, three Championship clubs win promotion from The Football League to the Premier League, with the bottom three Premier League clubs taking their places. At the lower end, two League Two clubs lose their Football League status with relegation to the National division of the Football Conference, while two teams from Conference National join League Two of The Football League in their stead.DivisionPromotedRelegated Directly Up Via PlayoffThe ChampionshipTop 2 clubsOne from 3rd to 6thplace finishersBottom 3 clubsLeague OneTop 2 clubsOne from 3rd to 6thplace finishersBottom 4 clubsLeague TwoTop 3 clubsOne from 4th to 7thplace finishersBottom 2 clubsPromotion and relegation are determined by final league positions, but to sustain interest for more clubs over the length of the season one promotion place from each division is decided according to a playoff between four clubs, which takes place at the end of the season. It is therefore possible for a team finishing sixth in the Championship or League One, or seventh in League Two, to be promoted rather than the clubs finishing immediately above them in the standings.Two professional football clubs from Wales, Cardiff City and Swansea City, play in The Football League. This disqualifies them from participation in the Welsh Premier League and the Welsh Cup, and so also deprives them of the chance to qualify for UEFA competitions by this route. One English club, Berwick Rangers, plays in the Scottish football league system.Reserve teams of Football League clubs usually play in the Pontin's Holidays League (for the Midlands and North) or the Pontin's Holidays Combination (for the South).[edit] CupThe Football League organises two knockout cup competitions, the Football League Cup (currently called the Carling Cup) and the Football League Trophy (or for sponsorship reasons, the Johnstone's Paint Trophy). The League Cup was established in 1960 and is open to all Football League and Premier League clubs, with the winner eligible to participate in the UEFA Cup. The Football League Trophy is for clubs belonging to League One and League Two and the Football League celebrated its 100th birthday in 1988 with a Centenary Tournament at Wembley between 16 of its member clubs.[edit] History  William McGregor, founder of The Football LeagueAfter four years of debate, The Football Association finally legalised professionalism on 20 July 1885. Before that date many clubs made illegal payments to "professional" players to boost the competitiveness of their teams, arousing the contempt of those clubs abiding by the laws of the amateur Football Association code. As more and more clubs became professional the ad-hoc fixture list of FA Cup, inter-county, and 'friendly' matches was seen by many as an unreliable stream of revenue, and ways were considered of ensuring a consistent income.A Scottish draper and director of Aston Villa, William McGregor, was the first to set out to bring some order to a chaotic world where clubs arranged their own fixtures. On 2 March 1888, he wrote to the Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Preston North End, West Bromwich Albion and to the secretary of Aston Villa about the formation of a football league.The first meeting was held at Anderson's Hotel in London on 23 March 1888 on the eve of the FA Cup Final with the name of the Football League being settled at a further meeting on 17 April at Manchester's Royal Hotel. The first season of the Football League began a few months later on 8 September with 12 member clubs.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 started; the alternative proposal was one point for a win only. Preston won the first league title without losing a game, and completed the first league-cup double by also taking the FA Cup.Every original Football League club has at least one relegation to their credit, unlike some European leagues such as Spain, Scotland or Republic of Ireland.Original Football League clubs, 1888-89v • d • eAccrington | Aston Villa | Blackburn Rovers | Bolton Wanderers | Burnley | Derby County | Everton | Notts County | Preston North End | Stoke | West Bromwich Albion | Wolverhampton WanderersThe early years of the League saw the addition of more clubs, and a new Second Division was formed in 1892 with the absorption of the rival Football Alliance. The bottom clubs of the lower division were required to apply for re-election to the League at the end of each season. Automatic promotion and relegation for two clubs was introduced after the League expanded to two divisions of eighteen in 1898; this came into effect when the previous system of test matches between the bottom two clubs of the First Division and the top two clubs of the Second Division was brought in to disrepute when Stoke and Burnley colluded in the final match to ensure they were both in the First Division the next season. The original logo of The Football LeagueAston Villa and Sunderland dominated the early years of the game, but after a few years other northern clubs began to catch up, with the likes of Newcastle United and Manchester United joining the League and having success. Liverpool won the first of their record 18 League titles in 1901. It was not until the early years of the 20th century that southern clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur established themselves in the League, and there would be a further wait until 1931 before a southern club, Arsenal, would win the League for the first time.The League was suspended for four seasons during World War I and resumed in 1919 with the First and Second Divisions expanded to 22 clubs. The following year, 1920, leading clubs from the Southern League joined the League to form a new Third Division, which in 1921 was renamed the Third Division South upon the further addition of more clubs in a new Third Division North. One club from each of these divisions would gain promotion to the Second Division, with the two relegated clubs being assigned to the more appropriate Third Division. To accommodate potential difficulties in this arrangement, clubs in the Midlands such as Mansfield Town or Walsall would sometimes be moved from one Third Division to the other.Following this burst of postwar growth, the League entered into a prolonged period of relative stability with few changes in the membership, although there were changes on the pitch. A new offside law in 1925 reducing the number of opponents between the player and the goal from three to two led to a large increase in goals. Numbers on shirts were introduced in 1939 and white balls in 1951. The first floodlit game was played between Portsmouth and Newcastle United in 1956, opening up the possibility of midweek evening matches.The League was suspended once more in 1939 with the outbreak of World War II, this time for seven seasons. The Third Divisions were expanded to 24 clubs each in 1950, bringing the total number of League clubs to 92, and in 1958 the decision was made to end the regionalisation of the Third Divisions and reorganise the clubs into a new nationwide Third Division and Fourth Division. To accomplish this the clubs in the top half of both the Third Division North and South joined together to form the new Third Division, and those in the bottom half made up the Fourth Division. Four clubs were promoted and relegated between these two lower divisions, while two clubs exchanged places in the upper divisions until 1974, when the number increased to three.A new cup competition open to all the members of the League, the Football League Cup, was held for the first time in 1960-61 to provide clubs a new source of income. Aston Villa won the inaugural League Cup and, despite an initial lack of enthusiasm on the part of some of the bigger clubs, the competition became firmly established in the footballing calendar.Substitutes were first allowed for injured players in 1965, and for any reason the next year.Beginning with the 1976-77 season, clubs finishing level on points began to be separated according to goal difference (the difference between goals scored and goals conceded) rather than goal average (goals scored divided by goals conceded). This was an effort to prevent overly defensive play encouraged by the greater advantage in limiting goals allowed. In the event that clubs had equal points and equal goal differences, priority was given to the club that had scored the most goals. There has been only one season, 1988-89, when this level 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 Arsenal beat Liverpool 2-0 at Anfield in the last game of the season to win the League on this tiebreaker. The logo of The Football League from 1988 until 2004Another important change was made in 1981, 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 FIFA to the World Cups until the 1994 cup.) In a similar vein, playoffs to determine promotion places were introduced in 1987 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 over two years of the number of clubs in the First Division from 22 to 20. At the same time, automatic promotion and relegation between the Fourth Division and the Football Conference was introduced for one club, replacing the annual application for re-election to the League of the bottom four clubs and linking the League to the developing National League System pyramid. Emblematic of the confusion that was beginning to envelop the game, the number of clubs at the top of the league would return to 22 for the 1991-92 season, before once more dropping to 20 for 1995-96. The issues creating the uncertainty in the game all centered on money.The increasing influence of money in English football was evident with such events as the first £1m transfer in the game, that of Trevor Francis from Birmingham City to Nottingham Forest in February 1979. The first £2million player was Tony Cottee (West Ham United to Everton, July 1988). Prior to the formation of the FA Premier League, the highest transfer fee paid was £2.9million for the transfer of Dean Saunders from Derby County to Liverpool during the 1991 close season. The first £3million player was Alan Shearer, who moved from Southampton to Blackburn Rovers in July 1992, the summer prior to the first Premier League season.Since 1983 the League has accepted lucrative sponsorships for its main competition. Below is a list of sponsors and the League's name under their sponsorship:1983-1986: Canon (Canon League)1986-1987: Today newspaper (Today League)1987-1993: Barclays Bank (Barclays League)1993-1996: Endsleigh Insurance (Endsleigh League)1996-2004: Nationwide Building Society (Nationwide Football League)2004-2007: Coca-Cola (Coca-Cola Football League)The League's cup competitions have different sponsors (see English football sponsorship for more information).The other major source of revenue is television. The 1980s saw competition between terrestrial broadcasters for the rights to show League matches, but the arrival on the scene of satellite broadcaster British Sky Broadcasting (Sky TV), eagerly searching for attractive programming to build its customer base and willing to pay huge sums, changed the picture entirely. The League's top tier clubs had been agitating for several years to be able to keep more of the League's revenue for themselves, threatening to break away and form their own league if necessary. In 1992 the threat was realised as the First Division clubs left to establish the FA Premier League and signed a contract for exclusive live coverage of their games with Sky TV. The FA Premier 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 — without its best clubs and without the clout to negotiate high revenue TV deals. This problem was exacerbated with the collapse in 2002 of ITV Digital, holder of TV rights for The Football League, which cost League clubs millions of pounds in revenue.The new, slimmed down League, 70 clubs until 1995 and 72 clubs since, renamed its divisions to reflect the changes. The old Second Division became the new First Division, the Third Division became the Second Division, and the Fourth Division became the Third Division. The financial health of its clubs has become perhaps the highest League priority due to the limited resources available. However there are some promising signs for the future, as the League planned to announce new initiatives beginning with the 2004-05 season, coinciding with the start of a new sponsorship agreement with Coca-Cola. The first of these changes was a rebranding of the League with the renaming of the First Division to The Championship, the Second Division to League One and the Third Division to League Two.The Football League's collection is held by the National Football Museum.[edit] Media rightsIn 2001 the league signed a £315 million deal with ITV Digital, but in March 2002 the channel was put into administration by its parent companies when the league refused to accept a £130 million reduction in the deal. As of 2007, UK television rights are held by Sky Sports. In November 2007 the league announced a new domestic rights deal worth £264 million with Sky and the BBC for the three seasons from 2009-2012. It covers Football League, Carling Cup and Johnstone's Paint Trophy matches and the full range of media: terrestrial and pay television, broadband internet, video-on-demand and mobile services. The deal represents a 135% increase on the previous deal and works out at an average of over £1.2 million per club per season, though some clubs will receive more than others. Sky will provide the majority of the coverage, but the BBC will have some of the higher profile matches, namely 10 exclusively live matches from the Coca-Cola Championship per season and the semi-finals and finals of the Carling Cup. [1]On Thursday, 18 September 2008, the Football League unveiled a new Coca-Cola Football League podcast, hosted by BBC Radio Five Live's Mark Clemmit. It will be a weekly podcast released every Thursday.[2][edit] Football League clubsBelow are listed the member clubs of The Football League for the 2008–09 season. Former Football League clubs include all 20 of the current members of the Premier League along with various relegated, removed or defunct clubs. Although the competition is primarily for English clubs, two of the sides competing in 2008–09 are from Wales—Cardiff City and Swansea City.The ChampionshipBarnsleyBirmingham CityBlackpoolBristol CityBurnleyCardiff CityCharlton AthleticCoventry CityCrystal PalaceDerby CountyDoncaster RoversIpswich TownNorwich CityNottingham ForestPlymouth ArgylePreston North EndQueens Park RangersReadingSheffield UnitedSheffield WednesdaySouthamptonSwansea CityWatfordWolverhampton Wanderers League OneBrighton and Hove AlbionBristol RoversCarlisle UnitedCheltenham TownColchester UnitedCrewe AlexandraHartlepool UnitedHereford UnitedHuddersfield TownLeeds UnitedLeicester CityLeyton OrientMilton Keynes DonsMillwallNorthampton TownOldham AthleticPeterborough UnitedScunthorpe UnitedSouthend UnitedStockport CountySwindon TownTranmere RoversWalsallYeovil Town League TwoA.F.C. BournemouthAccrington StanleyAldershot TownBarnetBradford CityBrentfordBuryChester CityChesterfieldDagenham & RedbridgeDarlingtonExeter CityGillinghamGrimsby TownLincoln CityLuton TownMacclesfield TownMorecambeNotts CountyPort ValeRochdaleRotherham UnitedShrewsbury TownWycombe Wanderers[edit] Past League winnersNB: League and FA Cup Double winners are highlighted in bold.[edit] 1888-1892When the Football League was first established, all 12 clubs played in just one division.SeasonThe Football League1888-89Preston North End1889-90Preston North End1890-91Everton1891-92Sunderland[edit] 1892-1920In 1892 the Football League absorbed 11 of the 12 clubs in the rival Football Alliance after it folded, meaning the League now had enough clubs to form another division. The existing division was renamed the First Division and the new division was called the Second Division.SeasonFirst DivisionSecond Division1892-93SunderlandSmall Heath1893-94Aston VillaLiverpool1894-95SunderlandBury1895-96Aston VillaLiverpool1896-97Aston VillaNotts County1897-98Sheffield UnitedBurnley1898-99Aston VillaManchester City1899-1900Aston VillaThe Wednesday1900-01LiverpoolGrimsby Town1901-02SunderlandWest Bromwich Albion1902-03The WednesdayManchester City1903-04The WednesdayPreston North End1904-05Newcastle UnitedLiverpool1905-06LiverpoolBristol City1906-07Newcastle UnitedNottingham Forest1907-08Manchester UnitedBradford City1908-09Newcastle UnitedBolton Wanderers1909-10Aston VillaManchester City1910-11Manchester UnitedWest Bromwich Albion1911-12Blackburn RoversDerby County1912-13SunderlandPreston North End1913-14Blackburn RoversNotts County1914-15EvertonDerby County1915-19League suspended due to World War I1919-20West Bromwich AlbionTottenham Hotspur[edit] 1920-1921In 1920 the Football League admitted the clubs from the first division of the Southern League (the Southern League continued with its remaining clubs) and Grimsby Town, who had failed to be re-elected to the Second Division the season before and been replaced by Cardiff City (of the Southern League). The clubs were placed in the new Third Division:SeasonFirst DivisionSecond DivisionThird Division1920-21BurnleyBirminghamCrystal Palace[edit] 1921-1958After just one season under the old format, the League expanded again. This time it admitted a number of clubs from the north of England to balance things out, as the last expansion brought mainly clubs from the south. The existing Third Division was renamed the Third Division South, and the new division was named the Third Division North. Grimsby Town transferred to the new northern division. Both divisions ran in parallel, with clubs from both Third Divisions being promoted to the national Second Division at the end of each season:SeasonFirst DivisionSecond DivisionThird Division NorthThird Division South1921-22LiverpoolNottingham ForestStockport CountySouthampton1922-23LiverpoolNotts CountyNelsonBristol City1923-24Huddersfield TownLeeds UnitedWolverhampton WanderersPortsmouth1924-25Huddersfield TownLeicester CityDarlingtonSwansea City1925-26Huddersfield TownThe WednesdayGrimsby TownReading1926-27Newcastle UnitedMiddlesbroughStoke CityBristol City1927-28EvertonManchester CityBradford (Park Avenue)Millwall1928-29The WednesdayMiddlesbroughBradford CityCharlton Athletic1929-30Sheffield WednesdayBlackpoolPort ValePlymouth Argyle1930-31ArsenalEvertonChesterfieldNotts County1931-32EvertonWolverhampton WanderersLincoln CityFulham1932-33ArsenalStoke CityHull CityBrentford1933-34ArsenalGrimsby TownBarnsleyNorwich City1934-35ArsenalBrentfordDoncaster RoversCharlton Athletic1935-36SunderlandManchester UnitedChesterfieldCoventry City1936-37Manchester CityLeicester CityStockport CountyLuton Town1937-38ArsenalAston VillaTranmere RoversMillwall1938-39EvertonBlackburn RoversBarnsleyNewport County1939-40League abandoned due to World War II1940-46League suspended due to World War II1946-47LiverpoolManchester CityDoncaster RoversCardiff City1947-48ArsenalBirmingham CityLincoln CityQueens Park Rangers1948-49PortsmouthFulhamHull CitySwansea City1949-50PortsmouthTottenham HotspurDoncaster RoversNotts County1950-51Tottenham HotspurPreston North EndRotherham UnitedNottingham Forest1951-52Manchester UnitedSheffield WednesdayLincoln CityPlymouth Argyle1952-53ArsenalSheffield UnitedOldham AthleticBristol Rovers1953-54Wolverhampton WanderersLeicester CityPort ValeIpswich Town1954-55ChelseaBirmingham CityBarnsleyBristol City1955-56Manchester UnitedSheffield WednesdayGrimsby TownLeyton Orient1956-57Manchester UnitedLeicester CityDerby CountyIpswich Town1957-58Wolverhampton WanderersWest Ham UnitedScunthorpe UnitedBrighton & Hove Albion[edit] 1958-1992For the beginning of the 1958-59 season, national Third and Fourth Divisions were introduced to replace the regional Third Division North and Third Division South:SeasonFirst DivisionSecond DivisionThird DivisionFourth Division1958-59Wolverhampton WanderersSheffield WednesdayPlymouth ArgylePort Vale1959-60BurnleyAston VillaSouthamptonWalsall1960-61Tottenham HotspurIpswich TownBuryPeterborough United1961-62Ipswich TownLiverpoolPortsmouthMillwall1962-63EvertonStoke CityNorthampton TownBrentford1963-64LiverpoolLeeds UnitedCoventry CityGillingham1964-65Manchester UnitedNewcastle UnitedCarlisle UnitedBrighton & Hove Albion1965-66LiverpoolManchester CityHull CityDoncaster Rovers1966-67Manchester UnitedCoventry CityQueens Park RangersStockport County1967-68Manchester CityIpswich TownOxford UnitedLuton Town1968-69Leeds UnitedDerby CountyWatfordDoncaster Rovers1969-70EvertonHuddersfield TownLeyton OrientChesterfield1970-71ArsenalLeicester CityPreston North EndNotts County1971-72Derby CountyNorwich CityAston VillaGrimsby Town1972-73LiverpoolBurnleyBolton WanderersSouthport1973-74Leeds UnitedMiddlesbroughOldham AthleticPeterborough United1974-75Derby CountyManchester UnitedBlackburn RoversMansfield Town1975-76LiverpoolSunderlandHereford UnitedLincoln City1976-77LiverpoolWolverhampton WanderersMansfield TownCambridge United1977-78Nottingham ForestBolton WanderersWrexhamWatford1978-79LiverpoolCrystal PalaceShrewsbury TownReading1979-80LiverpoolLeicester CityGrimsby TownHuddersfield Town1980-81Aston VillaWest Ham UnitedRotherham UnitedSouthend United1981-82LiverpoolLuton TownBurnleySheffield United1982-83LiverpoolQueens Park RangersPortsmouthWimbledon1983-84LiverpoolChelseaOxford UnitedYork City1984-85EvertonOxford UnitedBradford CityChesterfield1985-86LiverpoolNorwich CityReadingSwindon Town1986-87EvertonDerby CountyBournemouthNorthampton Town1987-88LiverpoolMillwallSunderlandWolverhampton Wanderers1988-89ArsenalChelseaWolverhampton WanderersRotherham United1989-90LiverpoolLeeds UnitedBristol RoversExeter City1990-91ArsenalOldham AthleticCambridge UnitedDarlington1991-92Leeds UnitedIpswich TownBrentfordBurnley[edit] 1992-2004Following the breakaway of the clubs in the First Division to form the FA Premier League, the Football League no longer included the top clubs in England. Therefore, the Second Division became the First Division, the Third Division became the Second Division and the Fourth Division became Third Division.SeasonFirst DivisionSecond DivisionThird Division1992-93Newcastle UnitedStoke CityCardiff City1993-94Crystal PalaceReadingShrewsbury Town1994-95MiddlesbroughBirmingham CityCarlisle United1995-96SunderlandSwindon TownPreston North End1996-97Bolton WanderersBuryWigan Athletic1997-98Nottingham ForestWatfordNotts County1998-99SunderlandFulhamBrentford1999-2000Charlton AthleticPreston North EndSwansea City2000-01FulhamMillwallBrighton & Hove Albion2001-02Manchester CityBrighton & Hove AlbionPlymouth Argyle2002-03PortsmouthWigan AthleticRushden & Diamonds2003-04Norwich CityPlymouth ArgyleDoncaster Rovers[edit] 2004-presentIn 2004, the Football League renamed its divisions: the First Division became the Football League Championship, the Second Division became Football League One and the Third Division became Football League Two.SeasonChampionshipLeague OneLeague Two2004-05SunderlandLuton TownYeovil Town2005-06ReadingSouthend UnitedCarlisle United2006-07SunderlandScunthorpe UnitedWalsall2007-08West Bromwich AlbionSwansea CityMilton Keynes DonsAt the end of the 2005/06 season, Reading finished with a record 106 points, beating the previous record of 105 held by Sunderland.[edit] Titles by clubDue to the breakaway of the Premier League in 1992, winning the Football League title no longer makes a team the top tier champions of English football.ClubTop flight titlesLeague titles 1889-1992Premier League titles 1993-2008Football League titles 1993-2008Liverpool181800Manchester United177100Arsenal131030Everton9900Aston Villa7700Sunderland6604Newcastle United4401Sheffield Wednesday4400Huddersfield Town3300Leeds United3300Wolverhampton Wanderers3300Blackburn Rovers3210Chelsea3120Burnley2200Manchester City2201Portsmouth2201Derby County2200Preston North End2200Tottenham Hotspur2200Nottingham Forest1101Ipswich Town1100Sheffield United1100West Bromwich Albion1101Bolton Wanderers0001Charlton Athletic0001Crystal Palace0001Fulham0001Middlesbrough0001Norwich City0001Reading0001[edit] Play-offsMain article: Football League play-offs Championship Play-off final, 2006. (Leeds vs. Watford)The Football League Play-Offs are used as a means of determining the final promotion place from each of the league's three divisions. 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 1987, after the decision was made to reduce the top flight from 22 to 20 clubs over the next two seasons; initially, the play-offs involved the team finishing immediately above the relegation places in a given division and the three teams who finished immediately below the promotion places in the division below - essentially one team was fighting to keep their place in the higher division while the other three teams were attempting to take it from them. In 1989, this was changed—instead of teams from different divisions playing each other, the four teams below the automatic promotion places contested the play-offs. The first season of this arrangement saw the final being contested in home and away legs. The four teams play off in two semi-finals and a final, with the team winning the final being promoted. Originally the semi-finals and the final were all two-legged home-and-away affairs, but from 1990 onwards the final was a one-off match (usually at Wembley or, during its rebuilding, the Millennium Stadium). It is in this format that the play-offs continue today. A proposal to have six teams rather than four competing for the final place was defeated at the league's AGM in 2003. [3][edit] ControversyFor all the excitement the play-offs generate, the concept causes significant controversy, because a team that has proved itself the third best in its division over the course of a season would have to play an additional two-legged semi-final and a one-off final in order to win promotion. The Football League Championship play-off final has often been called "the richest game of football in the world" due to the money on offer through gaining promotion to the Premier League.Some fans have also noticed the prevalence of a curse over the playoffs, in which the team who loses in the final of the promotion playoff is relegated the next season. [2][edit] Play-Off winnersSeasonDivision TwoDivision ThreeDivision Four1986-87Charlton AthleticSwindon TownAldershot1987-88MiddlesbroughWalsallSwansea City1988-89Crystal PalacePort ValeLeyton Orient1989-90Swindon Town1Notts CountyCambridge United1990-91Notts CountyTranmere RoversTorquay United1991-92Blackburn RoversPeterborough UnitedBlackpoolDivision OneDivision TwoDivision Three1992-93Swindon TownWest Bromwich AlbionYork City1993-94Leicester CityBurnleyWycombe Wanderers1994-95Bolton WanderersHuddersfield TownChesterfield1995-96Leicester CityBradford CityPlymouth Argyle1996-97Crystal PalaceCrewe AlexandraNorthampton Town1997-98Charlton AthleticGrimsby TownColchester United1998-99WatfordManchester CityScunthorpe United1999-00Ipswich TownGillinghamPeterborough United2000-01Bolton WanderersWalsallBlackpool2001-02Birmingham CityStoke CityCheltenham Town2002-03Wolverhampton WanderersCardiff CityBournemouth2003-04Crystal PalaceBrighton & Hove AlbionHuddersfield TownChampionshipLeague OneLeague Two2004-05West Ham UnitedSheffield WednesdaySouthend United2005-06WatfordBarnsleyCheltenham Town2006-07Derby CountyBlackpoolBristol Rovers2007-08Hull CityDoncaster RoversStockport County1: Due to financial irregularities, Swindon were prevented from taking their place in the top division, which was awarded to the losing finalists, Sunderland.[edit] FootballsThe Mitre Pro 100T is the official match football of the Football League and is used by all 72 teams from the Championship and Leagues One and Two. Mitre's current deal started in the 2007–08 season and runs until the end of the 2010–11 season. As of the 2007–08 season, every Football League Championship team has their own Mitre football for home matches. The balls sport the home team's crest and colours.Huddersfield Town will play the 2008–09 season with a customised Mitre ball to celebrate their centenary. The Football League rules have not allowed this before, but they have been relaxed as Mitre were formerly based in Huddersfield.[edit] See alsoEnglish football league systemFootball DataCoFootball League 100 LegendsFootball League AwardsFootball League RefereesNational Football Museum - holder of the Football League CollectionPremiership-Football League gulfSt. Mary's Church, Handsworth - burial place of the League's founderSports league attendances[edit] References^ Football League Agrees Historic Deal with Sky Sports and BBC, www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk, 6 November 2007.^ Podcast Top of the League^ BBC SPORT | Football | Play-off plans shelved[edit] External linksHistory of football kit by clubThe Football League official websiteRSSSF Football League archive, 1888-Football League Championship 2008–09v • d • eBarnsley | Birmingham City | Blackpool | Bristol City | Burnley | Cardiff City | Charlton Athletic | Coventry City | Crystal Palace | Derby County | Doncaster Rovers | Ipswich Town | Norwich City | Nottingham Forest | Plymouth Argyle | Preston North End | Queens Park Rangers | Reading | Sheffield United | Sheffield Wednesday | Southampton | Swansea City | Watford | Wolverhampton WanderersFootball League One 2008–09v • d • eBrighton & Hove Albion | Bristol Rovers | Carlisle United | Cheltenham Town | Colchester United | Crewe Alexandra | Hartlepool United | Hereford United | Huddersfield Town | Leeds United | Leicester City | Leyton Orient | Millwall | Milton Keynes Dons | Northampton Town | Oldham Athletic | Peterborough United | Scunthorpe United | Southend United | Stockport County | Swindon Town | Tranmere Rovers | Walsall | Yeovil Town Football League Two 2008–09v • d • eAccrington Stanley | Aldershot Town | AFC Bournemouth | Barnet | Bradford City | Brentford | Bury | Chester City | Chesterfield | Dagenham & Redbridge | Darlington | Exeter City | Gillingham | Grimsby Town | Lincoln City | Luton Town | Macclesfield Town | Morecambe | Notts County | Port Vale | Rochdale | Rotherham United | Shrewsbury Town | Wycombe WanderersThe Football League seasonsv • d • e1880–81 | 1881–82 | 1882–83 | 1883–84 | 1884–85 | 1885–86 | 1886–87 | 1887–88 | 1888–89 | 1889–90001890–91 | 1891–92 | 1892–93 | 1893–94 | 1894–95 | 1895–96 | 1896–97 | 1897–98 | 1898–99 | 1899–19001900–01 | 1901–02 | 1902–03 | 1903–04 | 1904–05 | 1905–06 | 1906–07 | 1907–08 | 1908–09 | 1909–101910–11 | 1911–12 | 1912–13 | 1913–14 | 1914–15 | 1915–16 | 1916–17 | 1917–18 | 1918–19 | 1919–201920–21 | 1921–22 | 1922–23 | 1923–24 | 1924–25 | 1925–26 | 1926–27 | 1927–28 | 1928–29 | 1929–301930–31 | 1931–32 | 1932–33 | 1933–34 | 1934–35 | 1935–36 | 1936–37 | 1937–38 | 1938–39 | 1939–401940–41 | 1941–42 | 1942–43 | 1943–44 | 1944–45 | 1945–46 | 1946–47 | 1947–48 | 1948–49 | 1949–501950–51 | 1951–52 | 1952–53 | 1953–54 | 1954–55 | 1955–56 | 1956–57 | 1957–58 | 1958–59 | 1959–601960–61 | 1961–62 | 1962–63 | 1963–64 | 1964–65 | 1965–66 | 1966–67 | 1967–68 | 1968–69 | 1969–701970–71 | 1971–72 | 1972–73 | 1973–74 | 1974–75 | 1975–76 | 1976–77 | 1977–78 | 1978–79 | 1979–801980–81 | 1981–82 | 1982–83 | 1983–84 | 1984–85 | 1985–86 | 1986–87 | 1987–88 | 1988–89 | 1989–90001990–91 | 1991–92 | 1992–93 | 1993–94 | 1994–95 | 1995–96 | 1996–97 | 1997–98 | 1998–99 | 1999–20002000–01 | 2001–02 | 2002–03 | 2003–04 | 2004–05 | 2005–06 | 2006–07 | 2007–08 | 2008–09 | 2009–10English football league system – Level 2 - 4Promotion to: FA Premier LeagueRelegation to: Football ConferenceFootball in England  v • d • eLeague competitionsThe FACup competitionsPremier LeagueEngland (B) (C)FA CupThe Football League (Champ, 1, 2)(U-21) (U-20) (U-19)Football League CupFootball Conference (Nat, N, S)(U-18) (U-17) (U-16)FA Community ShieldNorthern Premier (Prem, 1N, 1S)List of clubsFootball League TrophySouthern League (Prem, 1Mid, 1S&W)List of venuesFA TrophyIsthmian League (Prem, 1N, 1S)(by capacity)Conference League CupEnglish football league systemList of leaguesFA VaseRecordsFA NLS CupForeign playersv • d • eSports governing bodies in EnglandAmateur Boxing Association of England ·England and Wales Cricket Board · Test and County Cricket Board · Middlesex Cricket Board · English Orienteering Council The Football Association · The Football League · English Golf Union · English Ladies' Golf Association · England Hockey · English Lacrosse Association · Rugby Football Union · Rugby Football League ·Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League" Categories: The Football League | English football competitions | Sports leagues | 1888 establishmentsHidden category: Articles needing additional references from May 2008 Views Article Discussion Edit this page History Personal tools Log in / create account if (window.isMSIE55) fixalpha(); Navigation Main page Contents Featured content Current events Random article Search Interaction About Wikipedia Community portal Recent changes Contact Wikipedia Donate to Wikipedia Help Toolbox What links here Related changesUpload fileSpecial pages Printable version Permanent linkCite this page Languages বাংলা Беларуская (тарашкевіца) Bosanski Català Cymraeg Dansk Deutsch Ελληνικά Español 한국어 Italiano עברית Lietuvių Malti Nederlands 日本語 Norsk (bokmål) Polski Português Română Русский Simple English Suomi Svenska Українська 中文   This page was last modified on 10 November 2008, at 18:36. All text is available under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License. (See Copyrights for details.) Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a U.S. registered 501(c)(3) tax-deductible nonprofit charity. Privacy policy About Wikipedia Disclaimers if (window.runOnloadHook) runOnloadHook(); |
|
