View source for English Football League

{{short description|Association football league}}
{{Redirect|Football League|other uses|Football league (disambiguation){{!}}Football league}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox football league
| image           = [[File:English Football League Logo.svg|150px]]
| country         = England (68 teams)
| other countries = Wales (4 teams)
| confed          = [[UEFA]]
| founded         = {{Start date and age|1888|04|17|df=y}}
| divisions       = {{ubl|[[EFL Championship]]|[[EFL League One]]|[[EFL League Two]]}}
| teams           = [[#Current member clubs|72]]
| promotion       = [[Premier League]]
| relegation      = [[National League (division)|National League]]
| levels          = 1 (until 1992)<br>2–4
| domest_cup      = [[FA Cup]]
| league_cup      = {{ubl|[[EFL Cup]]|[[EFL Trophy]]{{Cref2|NB1}}}}
| champions       = [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]
| season          = [[2024–25 EFL Championship|2024–25]]
| tv              = {{ubl|[[Sky Sports]]|[[ITV Sport]] (highlights)}}
| website         = {{url|https://www.efl.com/}}
| current         = [[2025–26 English Football League]]
}}

The '''English Football League''' ('''EFL''') is a league of professional [[association football|football]] clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the '''Football League''', it is the oldest football league in [[Association football around the world|the world]], and was the top-level football league in England from its foundation until 1992, when the top 22 clubs split from it to form the [[Premier League]]. The Football League was rebranded as the "English Football League" (EFL) starting with the 2016–17 season.<ref>{{cite news |last=Rumsby |first=Ben |title=Rebranded Football League changing its name to English Football League as EFL unveils new logo |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/11991553/Rebranded-Football-League-changing-its-name-to-English-Football-League-as-EFL-unveils-new-logo.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/11991553/Rebranded-Football-League-changing-its-name-to-English-Football-League-as-EFL-unveils-new-logo.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=7 August 2016 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London|date=12 November 2015}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="Sky Bet" />

The EFL is divided into the [[EFL Championship|Championship]], [[EFL League One|League One]] and [[EFL League Two|League Two]], with 24 clubs in each division, 72 in total, with promotion and relegation between them; the top Championship division clubs change places with the lowest-placed clubs in the Premier League, and the bottom clubs of League Two with the top clubs of the [[National League (division)|National League]]. Currently four of the EFL clubs are from Wales – [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]], [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]], [[Wrexham A.F.C.|Wrexham]] and [[Newport County A.F.C.|Newport County]]&nbsp;– the other 68 are located in England.

The Football League had a sponsor from the 1983–84 season, and thus was known by various names.<ref>[[Canon (company)|Canon]] League, the [[Today (UK newspaper)|Today]] League, the [[Barclays]] League, the [[Endsleigh Insurance|Endsleigh]] League, the [[Nationwide Building Society|Nationwide]] Football League, the [[Coca-Cola]] Football League and the [[RWE npower|npower]] The Football League, [[Sky Bet]] Football League</ref>

The English Football League also organises two knock-out cup competitions, the [[EFL Cup]] and the [[EFL Trophy]]. The operations centre of the Football League is in [[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]], while its commercial office is in London.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efl.com/-more/all-about-the-efl/contact-us/|title=Contact The Football League|work=English Football League|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-date=13 September 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180913185551/https://www.efl.com/-more/all-about-the-efl/contact-us|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name=Gillatt>{{cite book |last=Gillatt |first=Peter |title=Blackpool FC On This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year |publisher=Pitch Publishing Ltd |date=30 November 2007 |isbn=978-1-905411-50-4}}</ref>

==Overview==
The Football League consists of 68 professional association football clubs in England and 4 in Wales. It runs the oldest professional football league competition in the world. It also organises two knockout cup competitions, the [[EFL Cup]] and [[EFL Trophy]]. The Football League was founded in 1888 by [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] director [[William McGregor (football)|William McGregor]], originally with twelve 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 [[Premier League|FA Premier League]], which was renamed the Premier League in 2007.<ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.premierleague.com/staticFiles/22/65/0,,12306~91426,00.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090304205428/http://www.premierleague.com/staticFiles/22/65/0%2C%2C12306~91426%2C00.pdf |archive-date=4 March 2009 |title=Premier League and Barclays Announce Competition Name Change |work=Premier League |access-date=22 November 2006 |url-status=dead }}</ref> The Football League therefore no longer includes the top twenty clubs who belong to this group, although [[promotion and relegation]] between the Football League and the Premier League continues. In total, 145 teams have played in the Football League<ref name="footballrates.com">{{cite web|url=https://footballrates.com/alltimetable.html |title=All-Time League Table |website=FootballRates.com |access-date=8 September 2024 |url-status=live |archive-date=25 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240925201002/https://footballrates.com/alltimetable.html}}</ref> up to 2024 (including those in the Premier League, since clubs must pass through the Football League before reaching the former).

==Competition==
{{unreferenced section|date=September 2012}}

===League===
The EFL's 72 member clubs are grouped into three divisions: the [[EFL Championship]], [[EFL League One]], and [[EFL 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. Every season each club plays the others in its division twice, at home and away, for a total of 46 games.

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 win promotion to the next higher division, while those at the bottom are 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 League (division)|National]] division of the [[National League (English football)|National League]], while two teams from that division join League Two of The Football League in their stead.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Division
! Promoted directly
! Promoted via [[Football League play-offs|playoffs]]
! Relegated
|-
| [[EFL Championship]]
| Top two clubs
| One from 3rd to 6th-place finishers
| Bottom three clubs
|-
| [[EFL League One]]
| Top two clubs
| One from 3rd to 6th-place finishers
| Bottom four clubs
|-
| [[EFL League Two]]
| Top three clubs
| One from 4th to 7th-place finishers
| Bottom two clubs
|}

Promotion 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 among four clubs, which takes place at the end of the season. It is 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.

Since the 2004–05 season, penalties have existed for clubs entering financial administration during the season. If a club enters administration before 31 March of any given season, they will immediately be deducted twelve points; entering administration from 1&nbsp;April onwards will see the points deduction either held over 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). Also, it is required that a club exiting administration agrees to a Creditor's Voluntary Agreement and pays in full any other footballing creditors. Failure to do either of these will result in a second, potentially unlimited (though in practice usually between fifteen and twenty) points deduction.

The other main situation in which is a club may lose points is by fielding an improperly registered or otherwise ineligible player. If a club is found to have done this, then any points earned from any match that player participated in will be deducted; the opposing club(s) do not earn any points from this, however.

===Cup===
The EFL organises two knock-out cup competitions: the [[EFL Cup]] (officially known as the Carabao Cup for sponsorship reasons) and the [[EFL Trophy]] (officially known as the Vertu Trophy also for sponsorship reasons). The EFL Cup was established in 1960 and is open to all EFL and Premier League clubs, with the winner eligible to participate in the [[UEFA Europa Conference League]]. The EFL Trophy, established in 1983, is for clubs belonging to EFL League One and EFL League Two. The organisation celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1988 with a [[Football League Centenary Tournament|Centenary Tournament]] at Wembley between 16 of its member clubs.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Cup
! Clubs
|-
| [[EFL Cup]]
| [[List of football clubs in England|92]]
|-
| [[EFL Trophy]]
| [[List of football clubs in England|64]]
|}

==History==
[[File:mcgregor.jpg|thumb|right|upright=0.75|[[William McGregor (football)|William McGregor]], founder of The Football League]]
After four years of debate, [[the Football Association]] finally permitted professionalism on 20 July 1885. Before that date many clubs made payments to "professional" players to boost the competitiveness of their teams, breaking FA rules and arousing the contempt of those clubs abiding by the laws of the amateur Football Association code.{{Citation needed|date=March 2009}} As more and more clubs became professional the ad-hoc fixture list of FA Cup, inter-county, and [[Exhibition game#Association football|ordinary]] matches was seen by many as an unreliable stream of revenue, and ways were considered of ensuring a consistent income.<ref name=BBCMcGregor/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0,,10794,00.html |title=The History of The Football League |website=The Football League |access-date=30 November 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411034859/http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/History/0%2C%2C10794%2C00.html |archive-date=11 April 2008}}</ref>

A Scottish director of Birmingham-based [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]], William McGregor, was the first to set out to bring some order to a chaotic world where clubs arranged their own fixtures, along with various cup competitions.<ref name=BBCMcGregor>{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21492352 |title=One letter, two meetings and 12 teams – the birth of league football |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122101749/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/21492352 |archive-date=22 January 2016 |url-status=live |work=BBC News|first=Paul |last=Fletcher |date=26 February 2013}}</ref> On 22&nbsp;March 1888, he wrote to the committee of his own club, Aston Villa, as well as to those of [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]], [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]], [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]], [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke]] and [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]]; suggesting the creation of a league competition that would provide a number of guaranteed fixtures for its member clubs each season. His idea might have been based upon a description of a proposal for an early American college football league, publicised in the English media in 1887 which stated: "measures would be taken to form a new football league&nbsp;... [consisting of] a schedule containing two championship games between every two colleges composing the league".<ref>''[[The New York Times]]'', 27 March 1887</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=December 2024}}<ref>'' The Leeds Mercury'' Issue 15289, 9 April 1887.</ref>{{Full citation needed|date=December 2024}}

[[File:Preston north end 1888.jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.15|Preston North End FC, the first champions in 1888]]
The first meeting was held at Anderton's Hotel in London on 23&nbsp;March 1888 on the eve of the FA Cup Final.<ref name="Butler">{{cite book |last=Butler |first=Bryon |title=100 Seasons of League Football |year=1998 |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=England |isbn=1-85291-595-1 |page=392}}</ref> The Football League was formally created and named in Manchester at a further meeting on 17&nbsp;April at the Royal Hotel.<ref name="Butler" /> The name "Association Football Union" was proposed by McGregor but this was felt too close to "[[Rugby Football Union]]". Instead, "The Football League" was proposed by Major [[William Sudell]], representing Preston, and quickly agreed upon.<ref name=BBCMcGregor/> Although the Royal Hotel is long gone, the site is marked with a commemorative red plaque on the Royal Buildings in [[Market Street, Manchester|Market Street]]. The first season of the Football League began a few months later on 8&nbsp;September with twelve member clubs from the [[The Midlands|Midlands]] and [[Northern England|north of England]]: [[Accrington F.C.|Accrington]], Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]], [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]], [[Everton F.C.|Everton]], [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]], Preston North End, Stoke (renamed Stoke City in 1926),<ref name="oatcake">{{cite news|url=http://www.oatcake.co.uk/default.asp?sid=944&p=2&stid=7961133|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051024065731/http://www.oatcake.co.uk/default.asp?sid=944&p=2&stid=7961133|title=History of Stoke City F.C. |work=The Oatcake |archive-date=24 October 2005 |date=19 July 2000|access-date=8 April 2009}}</ref> West Bromwich Albion and [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]].

Each club played the others 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 (association football)|double]] by also taking the [[FA Cup]]. Teams finishing at the bottom of the table were required to reapply for their position in the league for the following year in a process called "[[Re-election (Football League)|re-election]]".

In 1890, Stoke were not re-elected to the league and was replaced for the 1890–91 season by [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]], who won it in their second, third, and fifth year. Stoke was re-elected for the 1891–92 season, along with [[Darwen F.C. (1870)|Darwen]], to take the league to fourteen clubs.

Preston North End, Aston Villa, and [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] dominated the early years of the game. In the first ten seasons, the only other clubs to win a league title were Everton and Sheffield United.

===Addition of the Second Division===
[[File:AstonVilla1896-97.jpg|thumb|upright=1.05|The [[Aston Villa]] team in 1897, after winning both the [[FA Cup]] and the Football League.]]
A new Second Division was formed in 1892 with the absorption of the rival 12-club [[Football Alliance]]. Alliance clubs [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]], [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|The Wednesday]] (later renamed Sheffield Wednesday) and [[Manchester United F.C.|Newton Heath]] (later renamed Manchester United) joined thirteen League clubs in the new First Division, giving it sixteen members. Darwen from the League was allocated to the new Second, and Alliance club [[Birmingham St George's F.C.|Birmingham St George's]] disbanded at that point. The Second Division started with twelve clubs, eight remaining Alliance clubs with the addition of [[Northwich Victoria F.C.|Northwich Victoria]] (from [[The Combination]]), [[Port Vale F.C.|Burslem Port Vale]] (later renamed Port Vale, from the [[Midland Football League (1889)|Midland League]]), and [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] (from the [[Northern Football League|Northern League]]), plus Darwen. The bottom clubs of the lower division were subsequently required to apply for re-election to the League at the end of each season.

In 1893, two clubs were relegated from the First Division and two promoted from the Second, but one of those relegated, Accrington, chose to resign from the Football League rather than play in the Second Division. Meanwhile [[Bootle F.C. (1879)|Bootle]] was dissolved because of financial problems. Yet the Second Division expanded to fifteen clubs for season 1893–94 (net increase three) by adding five new clubs: [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] from the [[Lancashire League (football)|Lancashire League]], [[Middlesbrough Ironopolis F.C.|Middlesbrough Ironopolis]] and [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] from the Northern League, [[Rotherham Town F.C. (1878)|Rotherham Town]] from the Midland League, and [[Arsenal F.C.|Woolwich Arsenal]] (later Arsenal), who became the first team from the [[Southern England|South of England]] to compete.

For its third season 1894–95, the Second Division expanded to sixteen (net increase one) with the addition of [[Bury F.C.|Bury]] from the Lancashire League, [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester Fosse]] (later Leicester City) and [[Burton Wanderers F.C.|Burton Wanderers]] (who later joined with existing Second Division club [[Burton Swifts F.C.|Burton Swifts]] to form [[Burton United F.C.|Burton United]]) from the Midland League, while Northwich resigned and Middlesbrough Ironopolis disbanded.

Both Liverpool and Bury won the division at the first attempt.

In 1895, [[Loughborough F.C.|Loughborough]] replaced [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall Town Swifts]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fchd.info/lghist/fl1895.htm|title=Football Club History Database – Football League 1894–95|work=fchd.info|access-date=9 October 2012|archive-date=9 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109040802/http://www.fchd.info/lghist/fl1895.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1896, [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]] from the Lancashire League and [[Gainsborough Trinity F.C.|Gainsborough Trinity]] from the Midland League replaced Burslem Port Vale and [[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fchd.info/lghist/fl1896.htm|title=Football Club History Database – Football League 1895–96|work=fchd.info|access-date=9 October 2012|archive-date=9 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109040647/http://www.fchd.info/lghist/fl1896.htm|url-status=live}}</ref> In 1897, [[Luton Town]] from the United League replaced Burton Wanderers.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fchd.info/lghist/fl1897.htm|title=Football Club History Database – Football League 1896–97|work=fchd.info|access-date=9 October 2012|archive-date=8 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130108025116/http://www.fchd.info/lghist/fl1897.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

Automatic promotion and relegation for two clubs in each division were introduced in 1898. The previous system of [[Football League test matches|test matches]] between the bottom two clubs of the First Division and the top two clubs of the Second Division was brought into disrepute when Stoke and Burnley colluded in the final match to ensure they were both in the First Division the next season.{{when|date=March 2024}} At this point both divisions of the League expanded to eighteen, with the addition of [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]] from the Midland and [[Yorkshire Football League|Yorkshire]] Leagues, Burslem Port Vale, [[Glossop North End A.F.C.|Glossop]] from the Midland League, and [[New Brighton Tower F.C.|New Brighton Tower]] from the Lancashire League to the Second Division.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fchd.info/lghist/fl1898.htm|title=Football Club History Database – Football League 1897–98|work=fchd.info|access-date=9 October 2012|archive-date=9 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109040807/http://www.fchd.info/lghist/fl1898.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Early 20th century===
After a few years, other northern clubs began to catch up, with the likes of [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] and Manchester United having success. From 1900, Aston Villa ([[1899–1900 AVFC season|1899–1900]], [[1909–10 AVFC season|1909–10]]), Liverpool (1900–01, 1905–06), Sunderland (1901–02, 1912–13), The Wednesday (1902–03, 1903–04), Newcastle United (1904–05, 1908–09), Manchester United (1907–08, 1910–11) and Blackburn Rovers (1911–12, 1913–14) all won two titles prior to the outbreak of the [[First World War]], while Everton added a second title to their much earlier success in the last season, 1914–15.

It was not until the early years of the 20th century, and the expansion of both Leagues to 20 clubs (in 1905), that further southern clubs such as [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] and [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Clapton Orient]] (later [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]]) (1905), [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] (1907) and [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] (1908) established themselves in the League. There would be a further wait until 1931 before a southern club, [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] would win the League for the first time.

Unlike in most other Leagues in Europe, no single English club managed to remain ever-present in the division during the 104 years of its existence as the top division in the country. [[Everton F.C.|Everton]] comes closest, missing just four seasons through relegation, and remains one of only three clubs in England to have played more than 100 top-flight seasons, along with [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] and [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]. Arsenal are also the longest serving member of the top division, present since 1919.

===Post-First World War===
The League was suspended for four seasons during the [[World War I|First World War]] and resumed in 1919 with the First and Second Divisions expanded to 22 clubs. On resumption [[West Bromwich Albion]] (1919–20) and [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] (1920–21), both original twelve clubs, won their first-ever titles (in [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|Albion's]] case their only title to date).

In 1920, leading clubs from the [[Southern Football League|Southern League]] joined the League to form a new Third Division, which in 1921 was renamed the [[Football League Third Division South|Third Division South]] upon the further addition of more clubs in a new [[Football League Third Division North|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 F.C.|Mansfield Town]] or [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]] would sometimes be moved from one-Third Division to the other.

Following this burst of post-war growth, the League entered a prolonged period of relative stability with few changes in the membership, although there were changes on the pitch. In 1925, a new [[Offside (association football)|offside]] law reduced the number of defending opponents between the attacking player and the goal from three to two, leading to a large increase in goals, and numbers on shirts were introduced in 1939.

Between 1923 and 1926, [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] were the first team to win three consecutive league titles (and never won another one, though they finished as runners-up for the following two years). This was equalled by [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] between 1932 and 1935, during a period from 1930 to 1938 in which they won five titles out of eight.

[[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] (1936–37) became the only other club to be added to the list of Football League winners prior to the outbreak of the [[Second World War]], the fourteenth club to achieve the feat since 1888–89.

In the [[1938–39 Football League|1938–39]] season [[Everton F.C|Everton]] won the title for the fifth time but suffered the same fate as in [[1914–15 Football League|1915]], being champions when football was suspended due to the World War.

===Post-Second World War===
The League was suspended once more in 1939 with the outbreak of the Second World War, 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 [[Football League Fourth Division|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. An earlier suggestion that the [[Football League Third Division South|Third Division South]] should become the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] and the [[Football League Third Division North|Third Division North]] become the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] on the basis of better attendances and that they tended to fare better when promoted was rejected.<ref name=" D3 / D4 – an original suggestion">{{Cite book | last = Bowser | first = Paul | title = Bootham Crescent: A Second Home – Part 1 | year = 2019 | publisher =Minsterman Books | isbn = 978-1-9996907-0-0 | page = 219}}</ref> 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.

Clubs to win their first League titles in the quarter-century following the Second World War were [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] (1948–49 and 1949–50), [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] (1950–51 and 1960–61), founder members of the League Wolverhampton Wanderers (1953–54, 1957–58 and 1958–59), [[Chelsea F.C|Chelsea]] (1954–55), [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]] (1961–62) and [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] (1968–69).

Tottenham Hotspur became the first club in the 20th century to win the League and FA Cup "double" in 1960–61, a season after Wolverhampton Wanderers had nearly achieved the feat themselves (Wolves won the 1959–60 FA Cup and were runners-up to Burnley in the League by a single point).

Post-Second World War changes in league football included the use of white balls in 1951 and the first [[Floodlight#Association football|floodlight game]] (played between Portsmouth and Newcastle United) in 1956, opening up the possibility of midweek evening matches.

By 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 Cup]]. The League Cup was held for the first time in 1960–61 to provide clubs with a new source of income with Aston Villa winning that inaugural year. Despite an initial lack of enthusiasm on the part of some other big clubs, the competition became firmly established in the footballing calendar. It was not until the dawn of the 1970s, though, that all 92 Football League clubs regularly participated in the competition.

Substitutes (one per team per match) were first allowed in 1965 for injured players and for any reason the following year.

===1970s===
The first ever League game to be held on a Sunday took place on 20 January 1974 (11:30 kick-off) and was played between Second Division rivals Millwall and Fulham at [[The Old Den|The Den]]. Millwall won 1–0. The first ever Sunday top-flight game was between Chelsea and Stoke a week later.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/jan/23/first-sunday-football-1974-millwall-fulham | title=20 January 1974: The first Sunday football | date=23 January 2010 | newspaper=The Guardian | access-date=29 December 2018 | archive-date=30 December 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181230130445/https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/jan/23/first-sunday-football-1974-millwall-fulham | url-status=live }}</ref>

Beginning with the 1976–77 season, the 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 unduly 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 [[Liverpool F.C. 0–2 Arsenal F.C. (26 May 1989)|Arsenal beat Liverpool 2–0]] at [[Anfield]] in the last game of the season to win the League on this tiebreaker – by a single [[Michael Thomas (footballer, born 1967)|Michael Thomas]] goal in the final minute of the final game of the season. Both teams would finish with the same amount of goal difference, but Arsenal had scored more goals during the season.

Two clubs won their first League titles during the 1970s: founder members of the League Derby County (1971–72 and 1974–75) and [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] (1977–78), both clubs managed by [[Brian Clough]] and [[Peter Taylor (footballer, born 1928)|Peter Taylor]]. Nottingham Forest's title in 1977–78 turned out to be the last occasion that a first-time champion won the First Division title during The Football League era, before the First Division clubs formed the Premier League in 1992. The next first-time League champion club would be Leicester City in the [[2015–16 Premier League|2015–16]] season, the first such during the Premier League era.
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:The Football League logo (1988–2004).svg|frame|The logo of The Football League from 1988 until 2004]] -->

===1980s: 3 points era===
Another important change was made at the start of the 1981–82 season 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 [[FIFA World Cup|World Cup]]s until the [[1994 FIFA World Cup|1994 cup]] after the perceived dominance of defensive play at [[1990 FIFA World Cup|Italia 90]]).

The early 1980s also saw a very significant decline in league attendances as a result of the [[Early 1980s recession|recession]] and the ongoing problem of [[Football hooliganism|hooliganism]]. This did no favours for the financial position and league standing of numerous clubs, and several – including Wolverhampton Wanderers, [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]] and [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] – were almost forced out of business as a result. The fortunes of the First Division clubs suffered a fresh blow in 1985 when all English clubs were banned from European competitions as a result of the [[Heysel disaster]], where crowd trouble involving Liverpool fans at the [[1985 European Cup Final|European Cup final]] in Belgium resulted in 39 spectator deaths during a crush in a Juventus fan section. The loss of life occurred when a surge in the crowd (moving away from clashes between rival supporters) caused a wall to collapse. Inadequate segregation, stewarding and policing as well the generally poor condition of the ageing stadium were attributed as contributory factors.

In a similar vein, playoffs to determine promotion places were introduced for the 1986–87 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 over two years of the number of clubs in the First Division from 22 to 20. For the first two seasons, the playoffs were contested between the lowest placed team to avoid automatic relegation and three highest-placed teams to miss out on automatic promotion in the division below before it was altered from the 1988–89 season to include just the four clubs who had missed out on automatic promotion in the Second, Third and Fourth Divisions. 1986–87 was the first season of the decade where Football League attendances increased, helped by improved economic conditions and falling unemployment nationally.

At the same time, automatic promotion and relegation between the Fourth Division and the [[Football Conference]] were 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, which increased competitiveness in the 1990–91 season as four teams would be promoted from the Second and Third Divisions instead of the normal three (with the seventh-place being the minimum position for the playoffs), while in the Fourth Division an unprecedented five promotion places were up for grabs, with the 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. However, the economy was now in another [[Early 1990s recession|recession]] and added to that the clubs in the top two English divisions were faced with the requirement of having all-seater stadiums by 1994–95 to comply with the [[Taylor Report]] that followed the death of 97 Liverpool fans as a result of the [[Hillsborough disaster]] in April 1989.

The League also expanded to 93 clubs for the 1991–92 season and planned to raise the number again to 94 clubs for 1992–93, but after [[Aldershot F.C.|Aldershot]] and [[Maidstone United F.C. (1897)|Maidstone United]] both went out of business within a few months of each other in mid-1992, this plan was abandoned. 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 F.C.|Birmingham City]] to Nottingham Forest in February 1979. The first £2&nbsp;million player transferred between English clubs was [[Tony Cottee]], who moved from West Ham United to Everton in July 1988 – although several players had already been sold by English clubs to foreign clubs for even higher fees.

Before the formation of the FA Premier League, the highest transfer fee paid was £2.9&nbsp;million for the transfer of [[Dean Saunders]] from Derby County to Liverpool during the 1991 close season. The first £3&nbsp;million player was [[Alan Shearer]], who moved from [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] to Blackburn Rovers in July 1992, the summer before the first Premier League season. At the close of the 1991 season, a proposal for the establishment of a new league was tabled that would bring more money into the game overall. The Founder Members Agreement, signed on 17 July 1991 by the game's top-flight clubs, established the basic principles for setting up the FA Premier League.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/judgmentsfiles/j9/pljmtint.htm |title=In the matter of an agreement between the Football Association Premier League Limited and the Football Association Limited and the Football League Limited and their respective member clubs |work=HM Courts Service |year=2006 |access-date=8 August 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927222536/http://www.hmcourts-service.gov.uk/judgmentsfiles/j9/pljmtint.htm |archive-date=27 September 2007 }}</ref> The newly formed top division would have commercial independence from the Football Association and the Football League, giving the FA Premier League license to negotiate its own [[Broadcasting|broadcast]] and [[sponsor (commercial)|sponsor]]ship agreements. The argument given at the time was that the extra income would allow English clubs to compete with teams across Europe.<ref name="premsitehistory" />

===1992: Foundation of the Premier League===
During the 1991–92 season, the First Division clubs resigned from the Football League ''[[en masse]]'' and on 20 February 1992, the Premier League was formed as a [[private limited company by shares|limited company]] working out of an office at the Football Association's then headquarters in [[Lancaster Gate]].<ref name="premsitehistory">{{cite web | url = http://www.premierleague.com/page/History/0,,12306,00.html | title = A History of The Premier League | work = Premier League | access-date = 22 November 2007 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111118121453/http://www.premierleague.com/page/History/0%2C%2C12306%2C00.html | archive-date = 18 November 2011 }}</ref> This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions; the Premier League would operate with a single division and the Football League with three. There was no change in competition format; the same number of teams competed in the top flight, and promotion and relegation between the Premier League and the new First Division remained on the same terms as between the old First and Second Divisions.

The 1991–92 season had ended with 92 clubs in the Football League, with the 93rd club, Aldershot, having been declared bankrupt and forced to resign from the Fourth Division a few weeks before the end of the season. [[Colchester United F.C.|Colchester United]], the Football Conference champions, were promoted to the new Division Three as the 71st members of the reorganised Football League. However, this number would soon drop to 70 due to the closure of Maidstone United at the beginning of the 1992–93 season, and the Football League abandoned its expansion plan. This meant that there would once again be 92 clubs in the highest four divisions of English football.

===1992–2004: Three divisions===
There were few major changes to the structure Football League in the 12 seasons which followed the breakaway that created the FA Premier League, perhaps the only notable changes being an expansion to 72 clubs from 70 for the 1995–96 season after the Premier League was streamlined to 20 clubs from 22, and the introduction of a second relegation place to the Football Conference from the end of the 2002–03 season.

However, following the formation of the Premier League, it became increasingly difficult for newly promoted clubs to establish themselves in the top flight. Whereas newly promoted teams had once normally survived for at least a few seasons in the old First Division, it was now the norm for at least one newly promoted club to be relegated straight back from the Premier League to Division One. In the nine seasons that followed the formation of the Premier League, at least one newly promoted club suffered this fate – and in the 1997–98 season, it happened to all three newly promoted teams. There were exceptions, however, including Blackburn Rovers, who were promoted to the Premier League on its formation and were champions three years later, and Newcastle United, who were promoted in 1993 and finished in the top six for the next four seasons, finishing Premier League runners-up twice.

The trend of relegated clubs to win an instant promotion back to the top flight continued, however. In the 12 seasons following the formation of the Premier League, there were just three seasons where none of the newly relegated sides failed to win an instant return to the Premier League.

The widening gulf between the top two divisions of English football can largely be put down to the increased wealth of the Premier League clubs, and the wealth gained by these clubs – combined with parachute payments following relegation – has also made it easier for many of them to quickly win promotion back to the top flight.

In spite of the economic prosperity between 1992 and 2004, many Football League clubs did run into financial problems during this time, although none of them were forced out of business. These include [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]], [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]], Sheffield Wednesday, Nottingham Forest, Portsmouth, [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]] and Leicester City. Some of these clubs were faced with financial problems as a result of the lost revenue resulting from Premier League relegation and a failure to return to this level, as well as the collapse of [[ITV Digital]] in 2002.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1896732.stm |title=ITV Digital goes broke |date=27 March 2002 |access-date=10 August 2014 |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC |archive-date=4 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070304095909/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/1896732.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

Just after the end of the 2001–02 season, [[South London]] based [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]] were given permission to move to [[Milton Keynes]], some 70 miles from their traditional home. A relocation on this scale was unprecedented in English football and led to the majority of the club's fans switching their support to a new fan-formed club, [[AFC Wimbledon]], who joined the [[Combined Counties Football League|Combined Counties League]]. The club's move to Milton Keynes was completed in September 2003, when they became tenants of the [[National Hockey Stadium (Milton Keynes)|National Hockey Stadium]] until a new permanent home was completed four years later, and the club's name changed to [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]] in June 2004.
<!-- Deleted image removed: [[File:The Football League.png|thumb|100px|Football League logo, 2004–2016{{FFDC|The Football League.png|log=2020 September 14|date=September 2020}}]] -->

===2004 Football League rebranding===
[[2004-05 in English football|2004–05]] was the first season to feature the rebranded Football League. The First Division, Second Division and Third Division were renamed the Football League Championship, Football League One, and Football League Two respectively. [[The Coca-Cola Company|Coca-Cola]] replaced the [[Nationwide Building Society]] as title sponsor.

The Football League's collection of historic materials is held by the [[National Football Museum]].

===2016 rebranding===
On 12 November 2015, The Football League announced that it would be officially renamed the English Football League, with the abbreviation ''EFL'' to be emphasised, effective from the beginning of the 2016–17 season. The rebranding would include a new logo consisting of a circle composed of three swathes of 24 smaller circles each. The three swathes are to represent the three divisions and the 24 circles in each swathe (making a total of 72 circles) represent the 72 clubs in the league system. Each club is to be presented with its own bespoke version of the logo. Football League Chief Executive Shaun Harvey said:<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/news/article/2015/football-league-to-be-re-named-the-english-football-league-2798210.aspx |title=Football League to be re-named the English Football League |date=12 November 2015 |access-date=10 January 2017 |website=The Football League |archive-date=29 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160529163717/http://www.football-league.co.uk/news/article/2015/football-league-to-be-re-named-the-english-football-league-2798210.aspx |url-status=dead}}</ref>
{{cquote|The new EFL name rightly emphasises the central role our clubs play at the heart of English professional football. In an increasingly challenging global sports market, it is absolutely essential that sports properties can project a modern identity that not only resonates with their regular audience but is also easily recognisable to a broader audience of potential fans, viewers, and commercial partners. We believe the EFL name and brand will give our competitions an identity that is new and distinct, while at the same time retaining our unique heritage. As such, it will be something that all fans can identify with – whether they be young or old, at home or abroad.}}

===2019 review of EFL financial regulations===
The EFL expulsion of [[Bury F.C.|Bury]] and the threatened expulsion of [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] after both League One clubs became insolvent during the summer of 2019 prompted the EFL to commission an independent review of its regulations concerning the financial sustainability of member clubs.<ref name="BBC-05Sep2019">{{cite news |title=Bury: EFL commissions independent review of regulations after club's demise |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49595246 |access-date=5 September 2019 |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |date=5 September 2019 |archive-date=5 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190905170454/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49595246 |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Project Big Picture===
{{main|Project Big Picture}}
"[[Project Big Picture]]" was a plan announced in October 2020 to reunite the top Premier League clubs with the EFL, proposed by leading Premier League clubs [[Manchester United]] and [[Liverpool FC|Liverpool]].<ref>{{Cite news|last1=MacInnes|first1=Paul|last2=Hytner|first2=David|date=11 October 2020|title=Project Big Picture: leading clubs' plan to reshape game sparks anger|language=en-GB|work=[[The Guardian]]|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/oct/11/project-big-picture-premier-league-and-efl-plan-radical-reform-to-avoid-crisis|access-date=12 October 2020|issn=0261-3077|archive-date=12 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201012052144/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/oct/11/project-big-picture-premier-league-and-efl-plan-radical-reform-to-avoid-crisis|url-status=live}}</ref> The plan was criticised by the Premier League leadership and the UK government's [[Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=de Menezes |first=Jack |date=12 October 2020|title='Project Big Picture' condemned by government as EFL chief Rick Parry launches defence of secret talks|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/premier-league-project-big-picture-efl-rick-parry-liverpool-man-united-government-b967130.html|access-date=12 October 2020|website=[[The Independent]]|language=en|archive-date=17 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201017180522/https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/news/premier-league-project-big-picture-efl-rick-parry-liverpool-man-united-government-b967130.html|url-status=live}}</ref> The Premier League rejected the proposal a few days later.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12103872/premier-league-clubs-reject-project-big-picture-proposal-but-agree-bailout-for-league-one-and-two-clubs|title=Premier League clubs reject Project Big Picture proposal but agree bailout for League One and Two clubs|work=[[Sky Sports]]|date=15 October 2020|access-date=23 August 2021|archive-date=18 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210418182050/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11095/12103872/premier-league-clubs-reject-project-big-picture-proposal-but-agree-bailout-for-league-one-and-two-clubs|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Records==
{{Main|Football records in England}}

==Current member clubs==
Below are listed the member clubs of the English Football League. Since 1888, in total there have been 145<ref name="footballrates.com" /> Football League members. Originally the bottom club(s) of the bottom division(s) had to apply for re-election each year, which was voted by all the other members. Walsall holds the record for the most reapplications for the Football League. [[List of former English Football League clubs|Former Football League clubs]] include all 20 of the current members of the Premier League along with various relegated, removed or defunct clubs.

{{location map+ |England |float=right |width=400 |caption=Locations of the Football League clubs by division<br />[[File:ButtonYellow.svg|8px]] – Championship [[File:ButtonLightBlue.svg|8px]] – League One [[File:ButtonRed.svg|8px]] – League Two |places=

{{location map~ |England |lat=53.7654 |long=-2.3710 |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Accrington Stanley |label_size=0}}
{{Location map~ |England |lat=51.602599|long=-0.291785 |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Barnet|label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=54.1233 |long=-3.2349 |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Barrow |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.4862 |long=-2.5831 |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Bristol Rovers |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.3901 |long=0.0211  |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Bromley |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.2121 |long=0.1541  |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Cambridge United |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.9062 |long=-2.0602 |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Cheltenham Town |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.2536 |long=-1.4250 |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Chesterfield |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.9229 |long=0.8970  |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Colchester United |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.0997 |long=-0.1947 |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Crawley Town |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.0874 |long=-2.4357 |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Crewe Alexandra |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.9165 |long=-3.0247 |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Fleetwood Town |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.3842 |long=0.5608  |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Gillingham |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.5702 |long=-0.0464 |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Grimsby Town |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.9921 |long=-1.5418 |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Harrogate Town |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.0096 |long=-0.7335 |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Milton Keynes Dons |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.5553 |long=-2.1286 |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Oldham Athletic |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.5882 |long=-2.9880 |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Newport County |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.9426 |long=-1.1372 |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Notts County |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.5136 |long=-2.2768 |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Salford City |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.6886 |long=-2.7493 |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Shrewsbury Town |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.5645 |long=-1.7711 |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Swindon Town |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.3738 |long=-3.0325 |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Tranmere Rovers |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.5654 |long=-1.9904 |mark=ButtonRed.svg |label=Walsall |label_size=0}}




{{location map~ |England |lat=51.4051 |long=-0.2819| mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=AFC Wimbledon |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.5523 |long=-1.4676 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Barnsley |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.8049 |long=-3.0481 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Blackpool |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.5806 |long=-2.5356 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Bolton Wanderers |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.8042 |long=-1.7590 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg|label=Bradford City |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.8220 |long=-1.6269 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Burton Albion |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.4728 |long=-3.2030 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Cardiff City |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.5098 |long=-1.1138 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Doncaster Rovers |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=50.7307 |long=-3.5211 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Exeter City |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.654271 |long=-1.768365 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Huddersfield Town |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.5602 |long=-0.0126 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Leyton Orient  |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.2183 |long=-0.5408 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Lincoln City |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.88423 |long=-0.43163|mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Luton Town |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.1381 |long=-1.2007 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Mansfield Town |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.2352 |long=-0.9335 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Northampton Town |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.5647 |long=-0.2404 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Peterborough United |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=50.3881 |long=-4.1509 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Plymouth Argyle |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.0501 |long=-2.1926 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Port Vale |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.4224 |long=-0.9826 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Reading |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.4279 |long=-1.3620 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Rotherham United |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.8898 |long=-0.1937 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Stevenage |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.3997 |long=-2.1663 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Stockport County |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.5477 |long=-2.6540 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Wigan Athletic |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.6306 |long=-0.8002 |mark=ButtonLightBlue.svg |label=Wycombe Wanderers |label_size=0}}



{{location map~ |England |lat=52.4757 |long=-1.8681 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=Birmingham City |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.4401 |long=-2.6203 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=Bristol City |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.7286 |long=-2.4892 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=Blackburn Rovers |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.4865 |long=0.0366  |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=Charlton Athletic |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.4481 |long=-1.4956 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=Coventry City |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.9149 |long=-1.4472 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=Derby County |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.746111 |long=-0.367778 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=Hull City |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.055 |long= 1.145 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=Ipswich Town |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.62  |long=-1.142 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg|label=Leicester City |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=54.578333 |long=-1.216944 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=Middlesbrough |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.4860 |long=-0.0510 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=Millwall |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.622128 |long= 1.308653 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=Norwich City |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.7165 |long=-1.2079 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=Oxford United |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=50.7963 |long=-1.0638 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=Portsmouth |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.7722 |long=-2.6884 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=Preston North End |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.5093 |long=-0.2321 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=Queens Park Rangers |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.37004 |long=-1.46994 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=Sheffield United |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.4114 |long=-1.5007 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=Sheffield Wednesday |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.9884 |long=-2.1754 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=Stoke City |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=50.906 |long=-1.392 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=Southampton |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.6428 |long=-3.9346 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=Swansea City |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=51.649906 |long=-0.401531 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=Watford |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=52.5092 |long=-1.9639 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg |label=West Bromwich Albion |label_size=0}}
{{location map~ |England |lat=53.0519 |long=-3.0038 |mark=ButtonYellow.svg  |label=Wrexham |label_size=0}}

}}

===Championship===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
*[[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]]
*[[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]
*[[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]]
*[[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]
*[[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]
*[[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]
*[[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]]
*[[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]]
*[[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]
*[[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]
*[[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]
*[[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]
*[[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]]
*[[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]
*[[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]
*[[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]]
*[[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]]
*[[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]]
*[[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]]
*[[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]]
*[[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]]
*[[Watford F.C.|Watford]]
*[[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]]
*[[Wrexham A.F.C.|Wrexham]]
{{div col end}}

===League One===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
*[[AFC Wimbledon]]
*[[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]]
*[[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]]
*[[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]
*[[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]]
*[[Burton Albion F.C.|Burton Albion]]
*[[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]]
*[[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]]
*[[Exeter City F.C.|Exeter City]]
*[[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]]
*[[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]]
*[[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]]
*[[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]]
*[[Mansfield Town F.C.|Mansfield Town]]
*[[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]]
*[[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]]
*[[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]]
*[[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]]
*[[Reading F.C.|Reading]]
*[[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]]
*[[Stevenage F.C.|Stevenage]]
*[[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]]
*[[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]]
*[[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]]


{{div col end}}

===League Two===
{{div col|colwidth=12em}}
*[[Accrington Stanley F.C.|Accrington Stanley]]
*[[Barnet F.C.|Barnet]]
*[[Barrow A.F.C.|Barrow]]
*[[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]]
*[[Bromley F.C.|Bromley]]
*[[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]]
*[[Cheltenham Town F.C.|Cheltenham Town]]
*[[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]]
*[[Colchester United F.C.|Colchester United]]
*[[Crawley Town F.C.|Crawley Town]]
*[[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]]
*[[Fleetwood Town F.C.|Fleetwood Town]]
*[[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]]
*[[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby Town]]
*[[Harrogate Town A.F.C.|Harrogate Town]]
*[[Milton Keynes Dons F.C|Milton Keynes Dons]]
*[[Newport County A.F.C.|Newport County]]
*[[Notts County F.C|Notts County]]
*[[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]]
*[[Salford City F.C.|Salford City]]
*[[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]]
*[[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]]
*[[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]]
*[[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]]
{{div col end}}

==Past League winners==
NB: League and FA Cup double winners are '''highlighted in bold'''.

===1888–1892===
When the Football League was first established, all 12 clubs played in just one division.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No.
! Season
! Champions
|-
| align=center | 1
| [[1888–89 Football League|1888–89]]
| [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]
|-
| align=center | 2
| [[1889–90 Football League|1889–90]]
| [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]
|-
| align=center | 3
| [[1890–91 Football League|1890–91]]
| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]
|-
| align=center | 4
| [[1891–92 Football League|1891–92]]
| [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
|}

===1892–1920===
In 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 named the Second Division, which comprised most of the Football Alliance's clubs.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No.
! Season
! First Division champions
! Second Division champions
|-
| align=center | 5
| [[1892–93 Football League|1892–93]]
| [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
| [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham]]
|-
| align=center | 6
| [[1893–94 Football League|1893–94]]
| [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
|-
| align=center | 7
| [[1894–95 Football League|1894–95]]
| [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
| [[Bury F.C.|Bury]]
|-
| align=center | 8
| [[1895–96 Football League|1895–96]]
| [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
|-
| align=center | 9
| [[1896–97 Football League|1896–97]]
| [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]
| [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]]
|-
| align=center | 10
| [[1897–98 Football League|1897–98]]
| [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]]
| [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]]
|-
| align=center | 11
| [[1898–99 Football League|1898–99]]
| [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]
| [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]
|-
| align=center | 12
| [[1899–1900 Football League|1899–1900]]
| [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]
| [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|The Wednesday]]
|-
| align=center | 13
| [[1900–01 Football League|1900–01]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| [[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby Town]]
|-
| align=center | 14
| [[1901–02 Football League|1901–02]]
| [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
| [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]]
|-
| align=center | 15
| [[1902–03 Football League|1902–03]]
| [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|The Wednesday]]
| [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]
|-
| align=center | 16
| [[1903–04 Football League|1903–04]]
| [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|The Wednesday]]
| [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]
|-
| align=center | 17
| [[1904–05 Football League|1904–05]]
| [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
|-
| align=center | 18
| [[1905–06 Football League|1905–06]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]]
|-
| align=center | 19
| [[1906–07 Football League|1906–07]]
| [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]
| [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]
|-
| align=center | 20
| [[1907–08 Football League|1907–08]]
| [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
| [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]]
|-
| align=center | 21
| [[1908–09 Football League|1908–09]]
| [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]
| [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]
|-
| align=center | 22
| [[1909–10 Football League|1909–10]]
| [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]
| [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]
|-
| align=center | 23
| [[1910–11 Football League|1910–11]]
| [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
| [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]]
|-
| align=center | 24
| [[1911–12 Football League|1911–12]]
| [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]
| [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]
|-
| align=center | 25
| [[1912–13 Football League|1912–13]]
| [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
| [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]
|-
| align=center | 26
| [[1913–14 Football League|1913–14]]
| [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]
| [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]]
|-
| align=center | 27
| [[1914–15 Football League|1914–15]]
| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]
| [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]
|-
| align=center | –
| 1915–19
| colspan=2 | League suspended due to [[World War I]]
|-
| align=center | 28
| [[1919–20 Football League|1919–20]]
| [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]]
| [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]
|}

===1920–1921===
In 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 F.C.|Grimsby Town]], who had failed to be re-elected to the Second Division the season before and been replaced by [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]] (of the Southern League). The clubs were placed in the new Third Division:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No.
! Season
! First Division champions
! Second Division champions
! Third Division champions
|-
| align=center | 29
| [[1920–21 Football League|1920–21]]
| [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]]
| [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham]]
| [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]
|}

===1921–1958===
After 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:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No.
! Season
! First Division champions
! Second Division champions
! Third Division (North) champions
! Third Division (South) champions
|-
| align=center | 30
| [[1921–22 Football League|1921–22]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]
| [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]]
| [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]]
|-
| align=center | 31
| [[1922–23 Football League|1922–23]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]]
| [[Nelson F.C.|Nelson]]
| [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]]
|-
| align=center | 32
| [[1923–24 Football League|1923–24]]
| [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]]
| [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]
| [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]
| [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]
|-
| align=center | 33
| [[1924–25 Football League|1924–25]]
| [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]]
| [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]
| [[Darlington F.C.|Darlington]]
| [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea Town]]
|-
| align=center | 34
| [[1925–26 Football League|1925–26]]
| [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]]
| [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|The Wednesday]]
| [[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby Town]]
| [[Reading F.C.|Reading]]
|-
| align=center | 35
| [[1926–27 Football League|1926–27]]
| [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]
| [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]
| [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]]
| [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]]
|-
| align=center | 36
| [[1927–28 Football League|1927–28]]
| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]
| [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]
| [[Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.|Bradford Park Avenue]]
| [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]
|-
| align=center | 37
| [[1928–29 Football League|1928–29]]
| [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|The Wednesday]]
| [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]
| [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]]
| [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]
|-
| align=center | 38
| [[1929–30 Football League|1929–30]]
| [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]]
| [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]]
| [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]]
| [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]]
|-
| align=center | 39
| [[1930–31 Football League|1930–31]]
| [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]
| [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]]
| [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]]
|-
| align=center | 40
| [[1931–32 Football League|1931–32]]
| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]
| [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]
| [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]]
| [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]
|-
| align=center | 41
| [[1932–33 Football League|1932–33]]
| [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]]
| [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]]
| [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]]
|-
| align=center | 42
| [[1933–34 Football League|1933–34]]
| [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| [[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby Town]]
| [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]]
| [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]
|-
| align=center | 43
| [[1934–35 Football League|1934–35]]
| [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]]
| [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]]
| [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]
|-
| align=center | 44
| [[1935–36 Football League|1935–36]]
| [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
| [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
| [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]]
| [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]
|-
| align=center | 45
| [[1936–37 Football League|1936–37]]
| [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]
| [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]
| [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]]
| [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]]
|-
| align=center | 46
| [[1937–38 Football League|1937–38]]
| [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]
| [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]]
| [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]
|-
| align=center | 47
| [[1938–39 Football League|1938–39]]
| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]
| [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]
| [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]]
| [[Newport County F.C.|Newport County]]
|-
| align=center | 48
| [[1939–40 Football League|1939–40]]
| colspan=4 | League aborted due to [[World War II]]
|-
| align=center | –
| 1940–46
| colspan=4 | League suspended due to [[World War II]]
|-
| align=center | 49
| [[1946–47 Football League|1946–47]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]
| [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]]
| [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]]
|-
| align=center | 50
| [[1947–48 Football League|1947–48]]
| [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]]
| [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]]
| [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]]
|-
| align=center | 51
| [[1948–49 Football League|1948–49]]
| [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]
| [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]
| [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]]
| [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea Town]]
|-
| align=center | 52
| [[1949–50 Football League|1949–50]]
| [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]
| [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]
| [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]]
| [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]]
|-
| align=center | 53
| [[1950–51 Football League|1950–51]]
| [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]
| [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]
| [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]]
| [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]
|-
| align=center | 54
| [[1951–52 Football League|1951–52]]
| [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
| [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]]
| [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]]
| [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]]
|-
| align=center | 55
| [[1952–53 Football League|1952–53]]
| [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]]
| [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]]
| [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]]
|-
| align=center | 56
| [[1953–54 Football League|1953–54]]
| [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]
| [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]
| [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]]
| [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]]
|-
| align=center | 57
| [[1954–55 Football League|1954–55]]
| [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]
| [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]]
| [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]]
| [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]]
|-
| align=center | 58
| [[1955–56 Football League|1955–56]]
| [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
| [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]]
| [[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby Town]]
| [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]]
|-
| align=center | 59
| [[1956–57 Football League|1956–57]]
| [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
| [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]
| [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]
| [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]]
|-
| align=center | 60
| [[1957–58 Football League|1957–58]]
| [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]
| [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]
| [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]]
| [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]]
|}

===1958–1992===
For 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:

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No.
! Season
! First Division champions
! Second Division champions
! Third Division champions
! Fourth Division champions
|-
| align=center | 61
| [[1958–59 Football League|1958–59]]
| [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]
| [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]]
| [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]]
| [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]]
|-
| align=center | 62
| [[1959–60 Football League|1959–60]]
| [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]]
| [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]
| [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]]
| [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]]
|-
| align=center | 63
| [[1960–61 Football League|1960–61]]
| [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]
| [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]]
| [[Bury F.C.|Bury]]
| [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]]
|-
| align=center | 64
| [[1961–62 Football League|1961–62]]
| [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]
| [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]
|-
| align=center | 65
| [[1962–63 Football League|1962–63]]
| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]
| [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]]
| [[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]]
| [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]]
|-
| align=center | 66
| [[1963–64 Football League|1963–64]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]
| [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]
| [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]]
|-
| align=center | 67
| [[1964–65 Football League|1964–65]]
| [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
| [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]
| [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]]
| [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]]
|-
| align=center | 68
| [[1965–66 Football League|1965–66]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]
| [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]]
| [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]]
|-
| align=center | 69
| [[1966–67 Football League|1966–67]]
| [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
| [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]
| [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]]
| [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]]
|-
| align=center | 70
| [[1967–68 Football League|1967–68]]
| [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]
| [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]]
| [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]]
| [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]]
|-
| align=center | 71
| [[1968–69 Football League|1968–69]]
| [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]
| [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]
| [[Watford F.C.|Watford]]
| [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]]
|-
| align=center | 72
| [[1969–70 Football League|1969–70]]
| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]
| [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]]
| [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]]
| [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]]
|-
| align=center | 73
| [[1970–71 Football League|1970–71]]
| [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]
| [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]
| [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]]
|-
| align=center | 74
| [[1971–72 Football League|1971–72]]
| [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]
| [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]
| [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]
| [[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby Town]]
|-
| align=center | 75
| [[1972–73 Football League|1972–73]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]]
| [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]
| [[Southport F.C.|Southport]]
|-
| align=center | 76
| [[1973–74 Football League|1973–74]]
| [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]
| [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]
| [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]]
| [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]]
|-
| align=center | 77
| [[1974–75 Football League|1974–75]]
| [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]
| [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]
| [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]
| [[Mansfield Town F.C.|Mansfield Town]]
|-
| align=center | 78
| [[1975–76 Football League|1975–76]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
| [[Hereford United F.C.|Hereford United]]
| [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]]
|-
| align=center | 79
| [[1976–77 Football League|1976–77]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]
| [[Mansfield Town F.C.|Mansfield Town]]
| [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]]
|-
| align=center | 80
| [[1977–78 Football League|1977–78]]
| [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]
| [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]
| [[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]]
| [[Watford F.C.|Watford]]
|-
| align=center | 81
| [[1978–79 Football League|1978–79]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]
| [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]]
| [[Reading F.C.|Reading]]
|-
| align=center | 82
| [[1979–80 Football League|1979–80]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]
| [[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby Town]]
| [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]]
|-
| align=center | 83
| [[1980–81 Football League|1980–81]]
| [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]
| [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]
| [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]]
| [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]]
|-
| align=center | 84
| [[1981–82 Football League|1981–82]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]]
| [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]]
| [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]]
|-
| align=center | 85
| [[1982–83 Football League|1982–83]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]]
| [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]
| [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]]
|-
| align=center | 86
| [[1983–84 Football League|1983–84]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]
| [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]]
| [[York City F.C.|York City]]
|-
| align=center | 87
| [[1984–85 Football League|1984–85]]
| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]
| [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]]
| [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]]
| [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]]
|-
| align=center | 88
| [[1985–86 Football League|1985–86]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]
| [[Reading F.C.|Reading]]
| [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]]
|-
| align=center | 89
| [[1986–87 Football League|1986–87]]
| [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]
| [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]
| [[AFC Bournemouth]]
| [[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]]
|-
| align=center | 90
| [[1987–88 Football League|1987–88]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]
| [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
| [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]
|-
| align=center | 91
| [[1988–89 Football League|1988–89]]
| [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]
| [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]
| [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]]
|-
| align=center | 92
| [[1989–90 Football League|1989–90]]
| [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]
| [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]]
| [[Exeter City F.C.|Exeter City]]
|-
| align=center | 93
| [[1990–91 Football League|1990–91]]
| [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]]
| [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]]
| [[Darlington F.C.|Darlington]]
|-
| align=center | 94
| [[1991–92 Football League|1991–92]]
| [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]
| [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]]
| [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]]
| [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]]
|}

===1992–2004===
Following the breakaway of the 22 clubs in the First Division to form the FA Premier League, the Football League no longer included the top division in England, and the Football League champions were no longer the national champions of England. Therefore, the Second Division became the First Division, the Third Division became the Second Division and the Fourth Division became the Third Division.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No.
! Season
! First Division champions
! Second Division champions
! Third Division champions
|-
| align=center | 95
| [[1992–93 Football League|1992–93]]
| [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]
| [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]]
| [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]]
|-
| align=center | 96
| [[1993–94 Football League|1993–94]]
| [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]
| [[Reading F.C.|Reading]]
| [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]]
|-
| align=center | 97
| [[1994–95 Football League|1994–95]]
| [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]
| [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]]
| [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]]
|-
| align=center | 98
| [[1995–96 Football League|1995–96]]
| [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
| [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]]
| [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]
|-
| align=center | 99
| [[1996–97 Football League|1996–97]]
| [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]
| [[Bury F.C.|Bury]]
| [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]]
|-
| align=center | 100
| [[1997–98 Football League|1997–98]]
| [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]
| [[Watford F.C.|Watford]]
| [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]]
|-
| align=center | 101
| [[1998–99 Football League|1998–99]]
| [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
| [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]
| [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]]
|-
| align=center | 102
| [[1999–2000 Football League|1999–2000]]
| [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]
| [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]
| [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]]
|-
| align=center | 103
| [[2000–01 Football League|2000–01]]
| [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]
| [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]
| [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]]
|-
| align=center | 104
| [[2001–02 Football League|2001–02]]
| [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]
| [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]]
| [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]]
|-
| align=center | 105
| [[2002–03 Football League|2002–03]]
| [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]
| [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]]
| [[Rushden & Diamonds F.C.|Rushden & Diamonds]]
|-
| align=center | 106
| [[2003–04 Football League|2003–04]]
| [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]
| [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]]
| [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]]
|}

===2004–present===
In 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.

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! No.
! Season
! Championship champions
! League One champions
! League Two champions
|-
| align=center | 107
| [[2004–05 Football League|2004–05]]
| [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
| [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]]
| [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]]
|-
| align=center | 108
| [[2005–06 Football League|2005–06]]
| [[Reading F.C.|Reading]]
| [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]]
| [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]]
|-
| align=center | 109
| [[2006–07 Football League|2006–07]]
| [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
| [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]]
| [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]]
|-
| align=center | 110
| [[2007–08 Football League|2007–08]]
| [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]]
| [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]]
| [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]]
|-
| align=center | 111
| [[2008–09 Football League|2008–09]]
| [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]
| [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]
| [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]]
|-
| align=center | 112
| [[2009–10 Football League|2009–10]]
| [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]
| [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]
| [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]]
|-
| align=center | 113
| [[2010–11 Football League|2010–11]]
| [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]]
| [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]]
| [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]]
|-
| align=center | 114
| [[2011–12 Football League|2011–12]]
| [[Reading F.C.|Reading]]
| [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]
| [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]]
|-
| align=center | 115
| [[2012–13 Football League|2012–13]]
| [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]]
| [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]]
| [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]]
|-
| align=center | 116
| [[2013–14 Football League|2013–14]]
| [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]
| [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]
| [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]]
|-
| align=center | 117
| [[2014–15 Football League|2014–15]]
| [[AFC Bournemouth]]
| [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]]
| [[Burton Albion F.C.|Burton Albion]]
|-
| align=center | 118
| [[2015–16 Football League|2015–16]]
| [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]]
| [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]]
| [[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]]
|-
| align=center | 119
| [[2016–17 English Football League|2016–17]]
| [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]
| [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]]
| [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]
|-
| align=center | 120
| [[2017–18 English Football League|2017–18]]
| [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]
| [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]]
| [[Accrington Stanley F.C.|Accrington Stanley]]
|-
| align=center | 121
| [[2018–19 English Football League|2018–19]]
| [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]
| [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]]
| [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]]
|-
| align=center | 122
| [[2019–20 English Football League|2019–20]]
| [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]
| [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]
| [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]]
|-
| align=center | 123
| [[2020–21 English Football League|2020–21]]
| [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]
| [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]]
| [[Cheltenham Town F.C.|Cheltenham Town]]
|-
| align=center | 124
| [[2021–22 English Football League|2021–22]]
| [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]
| [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]]
| [[Forest Green Rovers F.C.|Forest Green Rovers]]
|-
| align=center | 125
| [[2022–23 English Football League|2022–23]]
| [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]]
| [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]]
| [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]]
|-
| align=center | 126
| [[2023–24 English Football League|2023–24]]
| [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]
| [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]
| [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]]
|-
| align=center | 127
| [[2024–25 English Football League|2024–25]]
| [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]
| [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]]
| [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]]
|}

At the end of the 2005–06 season, [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] finished with a record 106 points, beating the previous record of 105 held by Sunderland.

===Titles by club===
Due 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.

{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center"
|-
! Club
! National Crowns
! Football League titles<br /> 1889–1992
! Premier League titles<br /> 1993–2025
! Football League titles<br /> 1993–2025
! Total Football League titles<br />
|-
| align=left |[[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] || 20 || 18 || 2 || 0 || 18
|-
| align=left |[[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] || 20 || 7 || 13 || 0 || 7
|-
| align=left |[[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] || 13 || 10 || 3 || 0 || 10
|-
| align=left |[[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] || 10 || 2 || 8 || 1 || 3
|-
| align=left |[[Everton F.C.|Everton]] || 9 || 9 || 0 || 0 || 9
|-
| align=left |[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] || 7 || 7 || 0 || 0 || 7
|-
| align=left |[[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]] || 6 || 6 || 0 || 4 || 10
|-
| align=left |[[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] || 6 || 1 || 5 || 0 || 1
|-
| align=left |[[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]] || 4 || 4 || 0 || 3 || 7
|-
| align=left |[[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]] || 4 || 4 || 0 || 0 || 4
|-
| align=left |[[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]] || 3 || 3 || 0 || 2 || 5
|-
| align=left |[[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] || 3 || 3 || 0 || 0 || 3
|-
| align=left |[[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] || 3 || 3 || 0 || 2 || 5
|-
| align=left |[[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] || 3 || 2 || 1 || 0 || 2
|-
| align=left |[[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] || 2 || 2 || 0 || 4 || 4
|-
| align=left |[[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]] || 2 || 2 || 0 || 1 || 3
|-
| align=left |[[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]] || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2
|-
| align=left |[[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]] || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2
|-
| align=left |[[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] || 2 || 2 || 0 || 0 || 2
|-
| align=left |[[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]] || 1 || 0 || 1 || 2 || 2
|-
| align=left |[[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]] || 1 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 2
|-
| align=left |[[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]] || 1 || 1 || 0 || 1 || 2
|-
| align=left |[[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]] || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1
|-
| align=left |[[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]] || 1 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 1
|-
| align=left |[[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]] || 0 || 0 || 0 || 3 || 3
|-
| align=left |[[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]] || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 2
|-
| align=left |[[Reading F.C.|Reading]] || 0 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 2
|-
| align=left |[[AFC Bournemouth]] || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1
|-
| align=left |[[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1
|-
| align=left |[[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]] || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1
|-
| align=left |[[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]] || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1
|-
| align=left |[[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]] || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1
|-
| align=left |[[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]] || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1
|-
| align=left |[[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]] || 0 || 0 || 0 || 1 || 1
|}

==Football League titles==
Includes [[List of English football champions|Premier League titles]].
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Team
! First tier
! Second tier
! Third tier
! Fourth tier
! Total Titles
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]]
| 20
| 4
|
|
| 24
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Manchester United]]
| 20
| 2
|
|
| 22
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]]
| 13
|
|
|
| 13
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]
| 10
| 7
|
|
| 17
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Everton F.C.|Everton]]
| 9
| 1
|
|
| 10
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]
| 7
| 2
| 1
|
| 10
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]
| 6
| 5
| 1
|
| 12
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]]
| 6
| 2
|
|
| 8
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]]
| 4
| 5
|
|
| 9
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]]
| 4
| 4
|
|
| 8
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]
| 3
| 4
| 3
| 1
| 11
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]]
| 3
| 5
|
|
| 8
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]
| 3
| 1
| 1
|
| 5
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]]
| 3
| 1
|
| 1
| 5
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]]
| 2
| 4
| 1
| 1
| 8
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]
| 2
| 4
| 1
|
| 7
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]
| 2
| 3
| 2
| 1
| 8
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]
| 2
| 2
|
|
| 4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Portsmouth F.C.|Portsmouth]]
| 2
| 1
| 4
| 1
| 8
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]
| 1
| 8
| 1
|
| 10
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]]
| 1
| 3
| 2
|
| 6
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]
| 1
| 3
| 1
|
| 5
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]]
| 1
| 3
|
|
| 4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]]
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]
|
| 5
| 2
|
| 7
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]]
|
| 4
| 2
|
| 6
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]
|
| 4
|
|
| 4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]]
|
| 3
| 2
| 3
| 8
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]
|
| 3
| 2
|
| 5
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]
|
| 3
| 1
|
| 4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby Town]]
|
| 2
| 3
| 1
| 6
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Reading F.C.|Reading]]
|
| 2
| 3
| 1
| 6
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]]
|
| 2
| 2
|
| 4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]]
|
| 2
| 2
|
| 4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]
|
| 2
| 1
|
| 3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]
|
| 2
|
|
| 2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Bristol City F.C.|Bristol City]]
|
| 1
| 5
|
| 6
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]
|
| 1
| 3
| 1
| 5
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]
|
| 1
| 3
|
| 4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]
|
| 1
| 3
|
| 4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]]
|
| 1
| 2
| 3
| 6
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]]
|
| 1
| 2
| 1
| 4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]]
|
| 1
| 2
|
| 3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Bury F.C.|Bury]]
|
| 1
| 2
|
| 3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Oldham Athletic A.F.C.|Oldham Athletic]]
|
| 1
| 2
|
| 3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]]
|
| 1
| 2
|
| 3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]]
|
| 1
| 1
| 1
| 3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[AFC Bournemouth]]
|
| 1
| 1
|
| 2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]]
|
| 1
|
|
| 1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]]
|
|
| 5
| 1
| 6
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]]
|
|
| 4
| 4
| 8
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Wigan Athletic F.C.|Wigan Athletic]]
|
|
| 4
| 1
| 5
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]]
|
|
| 4
|
| 4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]]
|
|
| 3
| 2
| 5
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Lincoln City F.C.|Lincoln City]]
|
|
| 3
| 2
| 5
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]]
|
|
| 3
|
| 3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]]
|
|
| 2
| 4
| 6
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]]
|
|
| 2
| 2
| 4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]]
|
|
| 2
| 1
| 3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]]
|
|
| 2
| 1
| 3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]]
|
|
| 2
| 1
| 3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]]
|
|
| 2
| 1
| 3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Watford F.C.|Watford]]
|
|
| 2
| 1
| 3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]]
|
|
| 2
|
| 2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]]
|
|
| 2
|
| 2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]]
|
|
| 1
| 3
| 4
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]]
|
|
| 1
| 2
| 3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]]
|
|
| 1
| 2
| 3
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Darlington F.C.|Darlington]]
|
|
| 1
| 1
| 2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]]
|
|
| 1
| 1
| 2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Mansfield Town F.C.|Mansfield Town]]
|
|
| 1
| 1
| 2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Shrewsbury Town F.C.|Shrewsbury Town]]
|
|
| 1
| 1
| 2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]]
|
|
| 1
| 1
| 2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C.|Bradford Park Avenue]]
|
|
| 1
|
| 1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Hereford United F.C.|Hereford United]]
|
|
| 1
|
| 1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Nelson F.C.|Nelson]]
|
|
| 1
|
| 1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Newport County A.F.C.|Newport County]]
|
|
| 1
|
| 1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]]
|
|
| 1
|
| 1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]]
|
|
| 1
|
| 1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Wrexham F.C.|Wrexham]]
|
|
| 1
|
| 1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]]
|
|
|
| 2
| 2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]]
|
|
|
| 2
| 2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]]
|
|
|
| 2
| 2
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Accrington Stanley F.C.|Accrington Stanley]]
|
|
|
| 1
| 1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Burton Albion F.C.|Burton Albion]]
|
|
|
| 1
| 1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Cheltenham Town F.C.|Cheltenham Town]]
|
|
|
| 1
| 1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Forest Green Rovers F.C.|Forest Green Rovers]]
|
|
|
| 1
| 1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Exeter City F.C.|Exeter City]]
|
|
|
| 1
| 1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Milton Keynes Dons F.C.|Milton Keynes Dons]]
|
|
|
| 1
| 1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Rushden & Diamonds F.C.|Rushden & Diamonds]]
|
|
|
| 1
| 1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Southport F.C.|Southport]]
|
|
|
| 1
| 1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Wimbledon F.C.|Wimbledon]]
|
|
|
| 1
| 1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]]
|
|
|
| 1
| 1
|-
| style="text-align:left;" | [[York City F.C.|York City]]
|
|
|
| 1
| 1
|}

==Play-offs==
{{Main|Football League play-offs}}
[[File:Milleniumstadiumchampionshipplayofffinal06.jpg|thumb|upright=1.15|Championship Play-off final, 2006. (Leeds United v. Watford, [[Millennium Stadium]])]]
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 is a one-off match. 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.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/2966968.stm |title=Play-off plans shelved |work=BBC Sport |date=5 June 2003 |access-date=25 March 2009 |archive-date=14 May 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080514010512/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/2966968.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Play-off winners===
{| class=wikitable
|-
! Season
! Second Division
! Third Division
! Fourth Division
|-
|[[1987 Football League play-offs|1986–87]]||[[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]||[[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]]||[[Aldershot F.C.|Aldershot]]
|-
|[[1988 Football League play-offs|1987–88]]||[[Middlesbrough F.C.|Middlesbrough]]||[[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]]||[[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]]
|-
|[[1989 Football League play-offs|1988–89]]||[[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]||[[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]]||[[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]]
|-
|[[1990 Football League play-offs|1989–90]]||[[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]]<sup>1</sup>||[[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]]||[[Cambridge United F.C.|Cambridge United]]
|-
|[[1991 Football League play-offs|1990–91]]||[[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]]||[[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]]||[[Torquay United F.C.|Torquay United]]
|-
|[[1992 Football League play-offs|1991–92]]||[[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]||[[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]]||[[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]]
|-
! Season
! First Division
! Second Division
! Third Division
|-
|[[1993 Football League play-offs|1992–93]]||[[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]]||[[West Bromwich Albion F.C.|West Bromwich Albion]]||[[York City F.C.|York City]]
|-
|[[1994 Football League play-offs|1993–94]]||[[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]||[[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]]||[[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]]
|-
|[[1995 Football League play-offs|1994–95]]||[[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]||[[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]]||[[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]]
|-
|[[1996 Football League play-offs|1995–96]]||[[Leicester City F.C.|Leicester City]]||[[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]]||[[Plymouth Argyle F.C.|Plymouth Argyle]]
|-
|[[1997 Football League play-offs|1996–97]]||[[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]||[[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]]||[[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]]
|-
|[[1998 Football League play-offs|1997–98]]||[[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]||[[Grimsby Town F.C.|Grimsby Town]]||[[Colchester United F.C.|Colchester United]]
|-
|[[1999 Football League play-offs|1998–99]]||[[Watford F.C.|Watford]]||[[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]]||[[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]]
|-
|[[2000 Football League play-offs|1999-00]]||[[Ipswich Town F.C.|Ipswich Town]]||[[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]]||[[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]]
|-
|[[2001 Football League play-offs|2000–01]]||[[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]]||[[Walsall F.C.|Walsall]]||[[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]]
|-
|[[2002 Football League play-offs|2001–02]]||[[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]]||[[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]]||[[Cheltenham Town F.C.|Cheltenham Town]]
|-
|[[2003 Football League play-offs|2002–03]]||[[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]||[[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]]||[[AFC Bournemouth]]
|-
|[[2004 Football League play-offs|2003–04]]||[[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]||[[Brighton & Hove Albion F.C.|Brighton & Hove Albion]]||[[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]]
|-
! Season
! Championship
! League One
! League Two
|-
|[[2005 Football League play-offs|2004–05]]||[[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]||[[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]]||[[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]]
|-
|[[2006 Football League play-offs|2005–06]]||[[Watford F.C.|Watford]]||[[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]]||[[Cheltenham Town F.C.|Cheltenham Town]]
|-
|[[2007 Football League play-offs|2006–07]]||[[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]||[[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]]||[[Bristol Rovers F.C.|Bristol Rovers]]
|-
|[[2008 Football League play-offs|2007–08]]||[[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]]||[[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]]||[[Stockport County F.C.|Stockport County]]
|-
|[[2009 Football League play-offs|2008–09]]||[[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]]||[[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]] || [[Gillingham F.C.|Gillingham]]
|-
|[[2010 Football League play-offs|2009–10]]||[[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]]||[[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]] || [[Dagenham & Redbridge F.C.|Dagenham & Redbridge]]
|-
|[[2011 Football League play-offs|2010–11]]||[[Swansea City A.F.C.|Swansea City]]||[[Peterborough United F.C.|Peterborough United]]||[[Stevenage F.C.|Stevenage]]
|-
|[[2012 Football League play-offs|2011–12]]||[[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]]||[[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]]||[[Crewe Alexandra F.C.|Crewe Alexandra]]
|-
|[[2013 Football League play-offs|2012–13]]||[[Crystal Palace F.C.|Crystal Palace]]||[[Yeovil Town F.C.|Yeovil Town]]||[[Bradford City A.F.C.|Bradford City]]
|-
|[[2014 Football League play-offs|2013–14]]||[[Queens Park Rangers F.C.|Queens Park Rangers]]||[[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]]||[[Fleetwood Town F.C.|Fleetwood Town]]
|-
|[[2015 Football League play-offs|2014–15]]||[[Norwich City F.C.|Norwich City]]||[[Preston North End F.C.|Preston North End]]||[[Southend United F.C.|Southend United]]
|-
|[[2016 Football League play-offs|2015–16]]||[[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]]||[[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]]||[[AFC Wimbledon]]
|-
|[[2017 English Football League play-offs|2016–17]]||[[Huddersfield Town A.F.C.|Huddersfield Town]]||[[Millwall F.C.|Millwall]]||[[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]]
|-
|[[2018 English Football League play-offs|2017–18]]||[[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]||[[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]]||[[Coventry City F.C.|Coventry City]]
|-
|[[2019 English Football League play-offs|2018–19]]||[[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]||[[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]||[[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]]
|-
|[[2020 English Football League play-offs|2019–20]]||[[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]||[[Wycombe Wanderers F.C.|Wycombe Wanderers]]||[[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]]
|-
|[[2021 English Football League play-offs|2020–21]]||[[Brentford F.C.|Brentford]]||[[Blackpool F.C.|Blackpool]]||[[Morecambe F.C.|Morecambe]]
|-
|[[2022 English Football League play-offs|2021–22]]||[[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]||[[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]||[[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]]
|-
|[[2023 English Football League play-offs|2022–23]]||[[Luton Town F.C.|Luton Town]]||[[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]]||[[Carlisle United F.C.|Carlisle United]]
|-
|[[2024 English Football League play-offs|2023–24]]||[[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]]||[[Oxford United F.C.|Oxford United]]||[[Crawley Town F.C.|Crawley Town]]
|-
|[[2025 English Football League play-offs|2024–25]]||[[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]]||[[Charlton Athletic F.C.|Charlton Athletic]]||[[AFC Wimbledon]]
|}

:<small>1: Due to financial irregularities, Swindon were prevented from taking their place in the First Division, which was awarded to the losing finalists, [[Sunderland A.F.C.|Sunderland]].</small>

==League sponsorship==
{{see also|English football sponsorship}}
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:

{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
!Years
!Sponsor
!Name
|-
|1983–1986
| [[Canon Inc.|Canon]]
|Canon League
|-
|1986–1987
|[[Today (UK newspaper)|Today]]
|Today League
|-
|1987–1993
| [[Barclays]]
|Barclays League<sup>A</sup>
|-
|1993–1996
|[[Endsleigh Insurance|Endsleigh]]
|Endsleigh League
|-
|1996–2004
|[[Nationwide Building Society|Nationwide]]
|Nationwide Football League
|-
|2004–2010
| [[The Coca-Cola Company|Coca-Cola]]
|Coca-Cola Football League<ref>{{cite press release |url=http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/press-centre/2007/march/football_league_deal_signed.html |title=Coca-Cola and the Football League Sign New Deal |date=12 March 2007 |work=The Coca-Cola Company |access-date=26 May 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101224115946/http://www.coca-cola.co.uk/press-centre/2007/march/football_league_deal_signed.html |archive-date=24 December 2010}}</ref>
|-
|2010–2013
| [[Npower (United Kingdom)|npower]]
|npower Football League<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/8570749.stm |title=Football League names Npower as new sponsor |date=16 March 2010 |work=BBC News |access-date=13 September 2010 |archive-date=15 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191115043938/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/8570749.stm |url-status=live }}</ref>
|-
|2013–2016
|rowspan=2|[[Sky Bet]]
|Sky Bet Football League<ref name="Sky Bet">{{cite web|url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/footballleaguenews/20130718/sky-bet-to-sponsor-the-football-league_2293334_3318506 |title=Sky Bet to sponsor The Football League |website=The Football League |date=18 July 2013 |access-date=18 July 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130721163828/http://www.football-league.co.uk/footballleaguenews/20130718/sky-bet-to-sponsor-the-football-league_2293334_3318506 |archive-date=21 July 2013}}</ref>
|-
|2016–2029
|Sky Bet EFL
|}
* <small><sup>A</sup> Upon the breakaway of the First Division in 1992 to form the [[Premier League]], Barclays became a secondary sponsor in the newly formed top division, becoming the primary sponsor from 2001 until 2016. </small>

After the formation of the Premier League the newly slimmed-down football 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 had become perhaps the highest League priority due to the limited resources available. However, there were 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 as The Championship, the Second Division as League One and the Third Division as League Two. The League's cup competitions have had different sponsors. The current sponsor Sky Bet commissioned a suite of trophies for the league from silversmith [[Thomas Lyte]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.footballbusinessawards.com/2014_shortlist_summaries.html|title=The Football Business Awards 2015|website=FootballBusinessAwards.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151118064251/http://www.footballbusinessawards.com/2014_shortlist_summaries.html|archive-date=18 November 2015}}</ref>

==Media rights==
===United Kingdom and Ireland===
====Live matches====
{|class="wikitable" style="float:right"
|+ Matches broadcast in the United Kingdom and Ireland since 1996 (when Sky began to show live matches)
|- style="font-size:85%"
!Seasons
!Sky
!BBC
!{{tooltip|Total|Total number of games broadcast}}
|- style="font-size:75%"
|1996–2001||colspan="3" align=center|?
|- style="font-size:75%"
|2001–2002||colspan="3" align=center| Exclusively on ITV Digital
|- style="font-size:75%"
|2002–2009||colspan="3" align=center|?
|- style="font-size:75%"
|2009–2012||65||10||75
|- style="font-size:75%"
|2012–2015||75||rowspan="4" align=center|–||75
|- style="font-size:75%"
|2015–2018||112||112
|- style="font-size:75%"
|2019–2024||138||138
|- style="font-size:75%"
|2024–2029||1,059||1,059
|}
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 [[Sky (United Kingdom)|British Sky Broadcasting]] (Sky TV), eagerly searching for attractive programming{{clarify|date=June 2020}} 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.

In 2001 the league signed a £315&nbsp;million deal with [[ITV Digital]], but in March 2002 the broadcaster was put into administration by its parent companies when the league refused to accept a £130&nbsp;million reduction in the deal. As a result, ITV Digital's parent companies [[Granada plc|Granada]] and [[Carlton Communications|Carlton]] both cut off the deal with the EFL and consequently, ITV Digital suffered the losses. In November 2007 the league announced a new domestic rights deal worth £264&nbsp;million with Sky and the BBC for the three seasons from 2009 to 2012. It covers Football League, League Cup and Football League 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 more than £1.2&nbsp;million per club per season, though some clubs will receive more than others. Sky will provide the majority of the coverage and the BBC broadcast 10 exclusively live matches from the Championship per season and the semi-finals and finals of the League Cup.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10794~1160914,00.html |title=Football League Agrees Historic Deal with Sky Sports and BBC |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071215071405/http://www.football-league.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10794~1160914%2C00.html |archive-date=15 December 2007 |url-status=dead |website=football-league.premiumtv.co.uk |date=6 November 2007}}</ref> In 2012, Sky Sports signed a new exclusive deal to broadcast all matches after the BBC pulled out of the deal owing the financial cuts that the BBC Sport department was going through. However the BBC signed a new deal to still broadcast ''The Football League Show'' highlights programme.

In May 2017, it was announced that [[talkSPORT]] had secured exclusive national radio rights to the English Football League.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.efl.com/news/2017/may/efl-new-radio-rights-deals-to-maximise-broadcast-coverage-for-clubs-and-competitions/|title=EFL: New radio rights deals to maximise broadcast coverage for clubs and competitions|work=English Football League|date=25 May 2017|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823164933/https://www.efl.com/news/2017/may/efl-new-radio-rights-deals-to-maximise-broadcast-coverage-for-clubs-and-competitions/}}</ref> It gave them the ability to broadcast up to up 110 EFL fixtures a season. Many Football League matches are also broadcast to local audiences via [[BBC Local Radio]] stations or by commercial stations.

On 18 September 2008, the Football League unveiled a new ''Coca-Cola Football League [[podcast]]'', hosted by [[BBC Radio 5 Live]]'s [[Mark Clemmit]] to be released every Thursday.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/PodcastsDetail/0,,10794~1397084,00.html |title=Podcast Top of the League |website=The Football League |access-date=25 March 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081206005917/http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/PodcastsDetail/0,,10794~1397084,00.html |archive-date=6 December 2008}}</ref> In the 2012–13 season the Podcast was renamed the ''npower football league show'' but still hosted by Mark Clemmit. Mark Clemmit continued to host the show as TradePoint came on board in the 2013–14 season to be the title sponsor of the newly re-branded 'Football League Radio'. The programme is now produced by digital production studio, Engage Sports Media.

In November 2018, Sky Sports announced a new five-year deal with EFL. Starting from the 2019–20 season,<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/46267320 |title=Sky Sports: EFL agrees new five-year television deal worth £595m with broadcaster |work=BBC Sport|location=London |access-date=13 January 2020 |archive-date=8 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191208205405/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/46267320 |url-status=live }}</ref> Sky would show 138 league matches per season, with an option to increase the number of matches to 158 in the final two years of the agreement.<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11688/11558301/sky-sports-extends-efl-contract-until-2024-broadcasting-138-live-games-per-season |title=Sky Sports extends EFL contract until 2024, broadcasting 138 live games per season |work=Sky Sports|date=20 November 2018|access-date=13 January 2020 |archive-date=26 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230226183219/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11688/11558301/sky-sports-extends-efl-contract-until-2024-broadcasting-138-live-games-per-season |url-status=live }}</ref>

On 6 May 2023, Sky Sports agreed a new five-year EFL deal from 2024–25 to 2028–29 for more than 1,000 matches, including 328 Championship, 248 League One, 248 League Two, all 15 play-off, all 93 Carabao Cup and all 127 EFL Trophy matches respectively.<ref>{{Cite press release|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/21564/12873679/sky-sports-agrees-new-five-year-efl-deal-over-1000-matches-per-season |title=Sky Sports agrees new five-year EFL deal: Over 1000 matches per season! |work=Sky Sports|access-date=2 November 2023 |date=20 May 2024 |archive-date=8 June 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230608165607/https://www.skysports.com/amp/football/news/21564/12873679/sky-sports-agrees-new-five-year-efl-deal-over-1000-matches-per-season |url-status=live }}</ref>

====Highlights====
{| class="wikitable"
|-
!Highlights programme
!Duration
!Broadcaster
|-
|[[Football League Extra]]
|1994–95 to 2003–04
|rowspan=2|ITV
|-
|[[Championship Goals|The Championship]]{{small|''*''}}
|2004–05 to 2008–09
|-
|[[The Football League Show]]
|2009–10 to 2014–15
|[[BBC One]]
|-
|[[Football League Tonight]]**
|2015–16 to 2017–18
|[[Channel 5 (UK)|Channel 5]]
|-
|[[EFL on Quest]]<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.efl.com/news/2018/may/quest-becomes-new-home-of-efl-highlights/|title=Quest becomes new home of EFL highlights|work=English Football League|date=4 May 2018|access-date=21 June 2018|language=en-gb|archive-date=21 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180621093628/https://www.efl.com/news/2018/may/quest-becomes-new-home-of-efl-highlights/|url-status=dead}}</ref>
|2018–19 to 2021–22
|[[Quest (TV channel)|Quest]]
|-
|[[English Football League Highlights]]
|2022–
|[[ITV4]]
|}

{{small|''*Between January 2008 to May 2008, the programme was renamed Championship Goals.''}}

{{small|**''The programme was split into two shows part way through the 2015/16 season, and renamed 'The Championship' for Championship highlights, and 'Goal Rush' for League One and League Two highlights.''}}

===International broadcasters===
{{update section|date=August 2024}}
* Andorra – [[DAZN]]
* Armenia – [[Setanta Sports Eurasia|Setanta Sports]]
* Argentina – [[Fox Sports (Argentina)|Fox Sports]]
* Australia – [[BeIN Sports (Australia)|beIN Sports]]<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=2024-08-19 |title=beIN MEDIA GROUP Extends Broadcast Rights for English Football League Until 2028 Across 27 Countries - beIN EN |url=https://www.beinmediagroup.com/article/bein-media-group-extends-broadcast-rights-for-english-football-league-until-2028-across-27-countries/ |access-date=2025-04-14 |language=en-GB}}</ref>
* Azerbaijan – [[Setanta Sports Eurasia|Setanta Sports]]
* Belarus – [[Setanta Sports Eurasia|Setanta Sports]]
* Belgium – TBA
* Bosnia and Herzegovina - [[Arena Sport]]
* Brazil – [[ESPN (Brazil)|ESPN]]
* Bulgaria – [[Diema Sport]] and [[Nova Sport (Bulgaria)|Nova Sport]]
* Canada – [[DAZN]]
* Caribbean – [[:es: Sports Max|Sports Max]]
* Central Asia – [[Setanta Sports Eurasia|Setanta Sports]]
* China – TBA
* Croatia – [[Arena Sport]]
* Cyprus – Cablenet Sports
* Czech Republic – Premier Sport
* Estonia – [[Viaplay]]
* France and Monaco – [[BeIN Sports (France)|beIN Sports]]<ref name=":0" />
* Georgia – [[Setanta Sports Eurasia|Setanta Sports]]
* Austria, Germany, Liechtenstein and Switzerland – [[sportdigital.tv]] and [[DAZN]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=EFL Championship on TV |url=https://www.soccersat.com/matches/1673116/leeds-vs-leicester-city#top?continent=2#top |access-date=23 February 2024 |website=SoccerSat.com|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240223222503/https://www.soccersat.com/matches/1673116/leeds-vs-leicester-city#top?continent=2#top|archive-date=23 February 2024}}</ref>
* Greece – [[Cosmote Sport]]
* Hong Kong - [[TVB|mytvSUPER]]
* Hungary – Arena4
* Iceland – [[Viaplay]]
* India and the subcontinent – [[Fancode]]
* Indonesia - [[Emtek]] 
* Iran - [[IRIB TV3|TV3]]
* Israel – Charlton
* Italy – [[DAZN]]
* Japan – [[DAZN]]
* Kosovo – ArtMotion
* Latin America – [[ESPN (Latin America)|ESPN]] and [[Star+]]
* Latvia – [[Viaplay]]
* Lithuania – [[Viaplay]]
* Luxembourg – [[sportdigital.tv]]
* Macau – TBA
* Malaysia - TBA
* MENA Region – [[BeIN Sports (Arabic)|beIN Sports]]<ref name=":0" />
* Moldova – [[Setanta Sports Eurasia|Setanta Sports]]
* Montenegro – [[Arena Sport]]
* The Netherlands - [[Viaplay]]
* New Zealand – [[BeIN Sports (Australia)|beIN Sports]]<ref name=":0" />
* Nordic countries – [[Viasat Sport Norway|Viasat Sport]]
* North Macedonia – [[Arena Sport]]
* Philippines – [[Setanta Sports Asia|Setanta Sports]]
* Poland – [[Viaplay]]
* Portugal – [[Sport TV]]
* {{strikethrough|Russia}} – ''(suspended)''
* Serbia – [[Arena Sport]]
* Singapore - TBA
* Slovakia – Premier Sport
* Slovenia – [[Arena Sport]]
* South Korea – Coupang
* Sub-Saharan Africa – [[ESPN Africa|ESPN]] and [[SuperSport (South African TV channel)|SuperSport]]
* Spain – [[DAZN]]
* Thailand - BG Media and [[Thairath TV]]
* Turkey – [[beIN Sports (Turkish TV channel)|beIN Sports]]
* Ukraine – [[Setanta Sports Eurasia|Setanta Sports]]
* United States – [[CBS Sports]]<ref>{{cite web |last=Benge |first=James |website=[[CBSSports.com]] |url=https://www.cbssports.com/soccer/news/cbs-sports-lands-efl-and-carabao-remains-home-of-the-thrilling-serie-a/ | title=CBS Sports lands EFL and Carabao, remains home of the thrilling Serie A | date=19 July 2024 }}</ref>
* Vietnam – Q.net Television
* Streaming – [[Betfair]] and [[Bet365]] both broadcast matches internationally. Betfair notes that the territories to which they are able to stream events varies from sport to sport.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://livevideo.betfair.com/ |title=Terms & Conditions on Betfair Live Video website |website=livevideo.betfair.com |access-date=9 August 2020 |archive-date=9 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200809063734/https://livevideo.betfair.com/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Bet365 notes that some events are not permitted to stream within the host country.<ref>[The FAQ on the Bet365 streaming website]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=International Broadcast Partners|url=https://www.efl.com/iFollow/international-broadcasters/|access-date=24 September 2018|work=English Football League|location=[[Preston, Lancashire|Preston]]|language=en-gb|archive-date=14 July 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220714194420/https://www.efl.com/iFollow/international-broadcasters/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Governance and management==
The EFL operates as a limited company with the 72 member clubs acting as shareholders.<ref name="CHgovUK">{{cite web |url=https://find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk/company/00080612/filing-history |title=The Football League Limited, Memorandum and Articles of Association / Group of companies' accounts made up to 28 July 2022 |access-date=21 February 2024 |website=Companies House}}</ref> Its revenue for the financial year ending July 2022 was £190.8&nbsp;million, the majority of which was derived from broadcasting revenues.<ref name="CHgovUK"/>

===Board===
The EFL Board of Directors is responsible for providing the organisation's strategic direction.

The Board consists of nine directors, six of whom are divisional representatives elected by Member Clubs. The divisional representatives include three directors from Championship Clubs, two from League One Clubs and one from a League Two Club. The remaining three directors are independent of Clubs.<ref>{{Cite web |title=EFL Board |url=https://efl.com/about-the-efl/efl-board |access-date=18 September 2023 |work=English Football League |language=en |archive-date=2 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231002175401/https://www.efl.com/about-the-efl/efl-board/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Current members are:
* [[Rick Parry]] – Chairman
* [[Trevor Birch]] – Chief Executive
* Steve Kavanagh
* [[Peter Ridsdale]]
* Neil Bausor
* [[Jez Moxey]]
* Steven Curwood
* Charles Grant

===Senior management===
*Andy Williamson OBE – Chief Operating Officer

===Former presidents===
*[[William McGregor (football)|William McGregor]] 1892–1894
*[[John Bentley (football manager)|John Bentley]] 1894–1910
*[[John McKenna]] 1910–1936
*[[Charles Sutcliffe]] 1936–1939
*[[Will Cuff]] 1939–1949
*[[Arthur Drewry]] 1949–1955
*Arthur Oakley 1955–1957
*Joe Richards 1957–1966
*Len Shipman 1966–1974
*[[William Westwood, 2nd Baron Westwood|Lord Westwood]] 1974–1981
*[[Jack Dunnett]] 1981–1986
*[[Philip Carter]] 1986–1988
*Bill Fox 1988–1991

==Arms==
{{Infobox COA wide
| image             = Football_League_CoA.svg
| year_adopted      = 25 March 1974
| crest             = On a grassy mount a football surmounted by a swift volant all proper.
| escutcheon		= Argent on a cross gules a lion passant guardant between two lions' faces in pale or.
| motto             = '''VIS UNITA FORTIOR'''<ref>{{cite journal |last=Llewelyn Phillips |first=David |date=Spring 2015 |title=Badges and 'Crests': The Twentieth-Century Relationship Between Football and Heraldry |url=https://www.theheraldrysociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/CoA-229-Phillips-paper.pdf |journal=The Coat of Arms |volume=11 |issue=229 |access-date=9 November 2022 |archive-date=24 December 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211224161126/https://www.theheraldrysociety.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/CoA-229-Phillips-paper.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>
}}

==See also==
* [[Football DataCo]]
* [[Football League 100 Legends]]
* [[Football League Awards]]
* [[List of English football championship winning managers]]
* [[List of English Football League managers by date of appointment]]
* [[List of sports attendance figures]]
* [[Premier League–Football League gulf]]

==Notes==
{{Cnote2 Begin}}
{{Cnote2|NB1|League One, Two and select under 21 teams from [[Premier League]] and Championship clubs}}
{{Cnote2|NB2|FA Cup or League Cup winners}}
{{Cnote2 End}}

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
* [https://www.rsssf.org/engpaul/FLA/league.html RSSSF Football League archive, 1888–]

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{{Authority control}}

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