EFL League Two

Last updated

EFL League Two
EFL League Two Logo.svg
Founded2004;21 years ago (2004)
  • 1992–2004 (as Division Three)
  • 1958–1992 (as Division Four)
CountryEngland
Other club(s) fromWales
Number of clubs 24
Level on pyramid 4
Promotion to EFL League One
Relegation to National League
Domestic cup(s) FA Cup
League cup(s)
International cup(s)
Current champions Doncaster Rovers
1st League Two title
4th fourth tier title
(2024–25)
Most championships Chesterfield (2 Fourth tier titles and 2 EFL League Two) Doncaster Rovers (2 Fourth tier titles and 2 EFL League Two)
Broadcaster(s) List of broadcasters
Website efl.com/league-two
Current: 2025–26 EFL League Two

The English Football League Two, simply known as League Two and for sponsorship purposes as Sky Bet League Two, is a professional association football league in England. EFL League Two is the third division of the English Football League (EFL) and fourth-highest tier overall in the English football league system, after the Premier League, EFL Championship and the EFL League One and is contested by 24 clubs.

Contents

Introduced for the 2004–05 English football season as Football League Two, it is a rebrand of the former Football League Third Division.

As of the 2025-26 season, Newport County hold the longest tenure in this division following their promotion in the 2012–13 season. There are currently two former Premier League clubs competing in this division: Oldham Athletic (1992–94) and Swindon Town (1993–94).

The current holders are Doncaster Rovers.

Structure

There are 24 clubs in this division. Each club plays each of the other clubs twice (once at home and once away) for a total of 46 matches per season and is awarded three points for a win, one for a draw and no points for a loss. From these points a league table is constructed.

At the end of each season the top three teams, together with the winner of the play-offs between the teams which finished in the fourth to seventh positions, are promoted to EFL League One and are replaced by the four teams that finished at the bottom of that division.

Similarly, the two teams that finished at the bottom of League Two are relegated to the National League and are replaced by the team that finished first and the team that won the second through seventh place play-off in that division. Technically a team can be reprieved from relegation if the team replacing them does not have a ground suitable for League football, but in practice this is a non-factor because every team currently in the National League has a ground that meets the League criteria (and even if they did not, a ground-sharing arrangement with another team could be made until their stadium was upgraded). The other way that a team can be spared relegation is if another team either resigns or is expelled from the EFL.

Final league position is determined, in order, by points obtained, goal difference, goals scored, a mini-league of the results between two or more teams ranked using the previous three criteria, and finally a series of one or more play-off matches.

There is a mandatory wage cap in this division that limits spending on players' wages to 55% of club turnover.

Current members

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
Accrington Stanley Accrington Crown Ground 5,450
Barnet London (Canons Park) The Hive Stadium 6,418
Barrow Barrow-in-Furness Holker Street 6,500
Bristol Rovers Bristol (Horfield) Memorial Stadium 9,832
Bromley London (Bromley) Hayes Lane 5,300
Cambridge United Cambridge Abbey Stadium 8,127
Cheltenham Town Cheltenham Whaddon Road 7,066
Chesterfield Chesterfield SMH Group Stadium 10,504
Colchester United Colchester Colchester Community Stadium 10,105
Crawley Town Crawley Broadfield Stadium 5,996
Crewe Alexandra Crewe Gresty Road 10,153
Fleetwood Town Fleetwood Highbury Stadium 5,327
Gillingham Gillingham Priestfield Stadium 11,582
Grimsby Town Cleethorpes Blundell Park 9,052
Harrogate Town Harrogate Wetherby Road 5,222
Milton Keynes Dons Milton Keynes (Denbigh) Stadium MK 30,500
Newport County Newport Rodney Parade 7,850
Notts County Nottingham Meadow Lane 19,841
Oldham Athletic Oldham Boundary Park 13,513
Salford City Salford Moor Lane 5,108
Shrewsbury Town Shrewsbury New Meadow 9,875
Swindon Town Swindon County Ground 15,728
Tranmere Rovers Birkenhead (Prenton) Prenton Park 16,789
Walsall Walsall (Bescot) Bescot Stadium 11,300

Teams promoted from League Two

SeasonWinnerPointsRunner-upPointsThird placePointsPromoted via play-offLeague positionPoints
2004–05 Yeovil Town 83 Scunthorpe United 80 Swansea City 80 Southend United 4th78
2005–06 Carlisle United 86 Northampton Town 83 Leyton Orient 81 Cheltenham Town 5th72
2006–07 Walsall 89 Hartlepool United 88 Swindon Town 85 Bristol Rovers 6th72
2007–08 Milton Keynes Dons 97 Peterborough United 92 Hereford United 88 Stockport County 4th82
2008–09 Brentford 85 Exeter City 79 Wycombe Wanderers 78 Gillingham 5th75
2009–10 Notts County 93 Bournemouth 83 Rochdale 82 Dagenham & Redbridge 7th72
2010–11 Chesterfield 86 Bury 81 Wycombe Wanderers 81 Stevenage 6th69
2011–12 Swindon Town 93 Shrewsbury Town 88 Crawley Town 84 Crewe Alexandra 7th72
2012–13 Gillingham 83 Rotherham United 79 Port Vale 78 Bradford City 7th69
2013–14 Chesterfield 84 Scunthorpe United 81 Rochdale 81 Fleetwood Town 4th76
2014–15 Burton Albion 94 Shrewsbury Town 89 Bury 85 Southend United 5th84
2015–16 Northampton Town 99 Oxford United 86 Bristol Rovers 85 AFC Wimbledon 7th75
2016–17 Portsmouth 87 Plymouth Argyle 87 Doncaster Rovers 85 Blackpool 7th70
2017–18 Accrington Stanley 93 Luton Town 88 Wycombe Wanderers 84 Coventry City 6th75
2018–19 Lincoln City 85 Bury 79 Milton Keynes Dons 79 Tranmere Rovers 6th73
2019–20 [n 1] Swindon Town 88.32 Crewe Alexandra 85.56 Plymouth Argyle 84.64 Northampton Town 7th72.22
2020–21 Cheltenham Town 82 Cambridge United 80 Bolton Wanderers 79 Morecambe 4th78
2021–22 Forest Green Rovers 84 Exeter City 84 Bristol Rovers 80 Port Vale 5th78
2022–23 Leyton Orient 91 Stevenage 85 Northampton Town 83 Carlisle United 5th76
2023–24 Stockport County 92 Wrexham 88 Mansfield Town 86 Crawley Town 7th70
2024–25 Doncaster Rovers 84 Port Vale 80 Bradford City 78 AFC Wimbledon 5th73
  1. The teams listed for this season were ranked using points per game following the curtailment of the season due to the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.

Play-off results

SeasonSemi-final (1st leg)Semi-final (2nd leg)Final
2004–05 Lincoln City 1–0 Macclesfield Town
Northampton Town 0–0 Southend United
Macclesfield Town 1–1 Lincoln City
Southend United 1–0 Northampton Town
Lincoln City 0–2 Southend United
2005–06 Lincoln City 0–1 Grimsby Town
Wycombe Wanderers 1–2 Cheltenham Town
Grimsby Town 2–1 Lincoln City
Cheltenham Town 0–0 Wycombe Wanderers
Grimsby Town 0–1 Cheltenham Town
2006–07 Bristol Rovers 2–1 Lincoln City
Shrewsbury Town 0–0 Milton Keynes Dons
Lincoln City 3–5 Bristol Rovers
Milton Keynes Dons 1–2 Shrewsbury Town
Bristol Rovers 3–1 Shrewsbury Town
2007–08 Darlington 2–1 Rochdale
Wycombe Wanderers 1–1 Stockport County
Rochdale 2–1 Darlington
(Rochdale won 5–4 on penalties, a.e.t.)
Stockport County 1–0 Wycombe Wanderers
Rochdale 2–3 Stockport County
2008–09 Shrewsbury Town 0–1 Bury
Rochdale 0–0 Gillingham
Bury 0–1 Shrewsbury Town
(Shrewsbury won 4–3 on penalties, a.e.t.)
Gillingham 2–1 Rochdale
Gillingham 1–0 Shrewsbury Town
2009–10 Dagenham & Redbridge 6–0 Morecambe
Aldershot Town 0–1 Rotherham United
Morecambe 2–1 Dagenham & Redbridge
Rotherham United 2–0 Aldershot Town
Dagenham & Redbridge 3–2 Rotherham United
2010–11 Torquay United 2–0 Shrewsbury Town
Stevenage 2–0 Accrington Stanley
Shrewsbury Town 0–0 Torquay United
Accrington Stanley 0–1 Stevenage
Stevenage 1–0 Torquay United
2011–12 Crewe Alexandra 1–0 Southend United
Cheltenham Town 2–0 Torquay United
Southend United 2–2 Crewe Alexandra
Torquay United 1–2 Cheltenham Town
Cheltenham Town 0–2 Crewe Alexandra
2012–13 Bradford City 2–3 Burton Albion
Northampton Town 1–0 Cheltenham Town
Burton Albion 1–3 Bradford City
Cheltenham Town 0–1 Northampton Town
Bradford City 3–0 Northampton Town
2013–14 Burton Albion 1–0 Southend United
York City 0–1 Fleetwood Town
Southend United 2–2 Burton Albion
Fleetwood Town 0–0 York City
Burton Albion 0–1 Fleetwood Town
2014–15 Stevenage 1–1 Southend United
Plymouth Argyle 2–3 Wycombe Wanderers
Southend United 3–1 Stevenage
(a.e.t.)
Wycombe Wanderers 2–1 Plymouth Argyle
Southend United 1–1 Wycombe Wanderers
(Southend won 7–6 on penalties, a.e.t. )
2015–16 Portsmouth 2–2 Plymouth Argyle
AFC Wimbledon 1–0 Accrington Stanley
Plymouth Argyle 1–0 Portsmouth
Accrington Stanley 2–2 AFC Wimbledon
(a.e.t.)
AFC Wimbledon 2–0 Plymouth Argyle
2016–17 Blackpool 3–2 Luton Town
Carlisle United 3–3 Exeter City
Luton Town 3–3 Blackpool
Exeter City 3–2 Carlisle United
Blackpool 2–1 Exeter City
2017–18 Lincoln City 0–0 Exeter City
Coventry City 1–1 Notts County
Exeter City 3–1 Lincoln City
Notts County 1–4 Coventry City
Coventry City 3–1 Exeter City
2018–19 Newport County 1–1 Mansfield Town
Tranmere Rovers 1–0 Forest Green Rovers
Mansfield Town 0–0 Newport County
(Newport won 5–3 on penalties, a.e.t.)
Forest Green Rovers 1–1 Tranmere Rovers
Newport County 0–1 Tranmere Rovers
(a.e.t.)
2019–20 Colchester United 1–0 Exeter City
Northampton Town 0–2 Cheltenham Town
Exeter City 3–1 Colchester United
Cheltenham Town 0–3 Northampton Town
Exeter City 0–4 Northampton Town
2020–21 Newport County 2–0 Forest Green Rovers
Tranmere Rovers 1–2 Morecambe
Forest Green Rovers 4–3 Newport County (a.e.t.)
Morecambe 1–1 Tranmere Rovers
Morecambe 1–0 Newport County
2021–22 Mansfield Town 2–1 Northampton Town
Swindon Town 2–1 Port Vale
Northampton Town 0-1 Mansfield Town
Port Vale 1–1 Swindon Town
(Port Vale won 6–5 on penalties, a.e.t.)
Mansfield Town 0–3 Port Vale
2022–23 Salford City 1–0 Stockport County
Bradford City 1–0 Carlisle United
Stockport County 2–1 Salford City
(Stockport County won 3–1 on penalties, a.e.t.)
Carlisle United 3–1
(a.e.t.) Bradford City
Stockport County 1–1 Carlisle United
(Carlisle won 5–4 on penalties, a.e.t. )
2023–24 Crawley Town 3–0 Milton Keynes Dons
Crewe Alexandra 0–2 Doncaster Rovers
Milton Keynes Dons 1–5 Crawley Town
Doncaster Rovers 0–2 Crewe Alexandra
(Crewe Alexadra won 4-3 on penalties, a.e.t.)
Crawley Town 2–0 Crewe Alexandra
2024–25 Notts County 0–1 AFC Wimbledon
Chesterfield 0–2 Walsall
AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Notts County
Walsall 2-1 Chesterfield
AFC Wimbledon 1-0 Walsall

Relegated teams

SeasonClubs
2004–05 Kidderminster Harriers, Cambridge United
2005–06 Oxford United, Rushden & Diamonds
2006–07 Boston United, Torquay United
2007–08 Mansfield Town, Wrexham
2008–09 Chester City, Luton Town [1]
2009–10 Darlington, Grimsby Town
2010–11 Lincoln City, Stockport County
2011–12 Macclesfield Town, Hereford United
2012–13 Aldershot Town, Barnet
2013–14 Bristol Rovers, Torquay United
2014–15 Cheltenham Town, Tranmere Rovers
2015–16 York City, Dagenham & Redbridge
2016–17 Hartlepool United, Leyton Orient
2017–18 Barnet, Chesterfield
2018–19 Notts County, Yeovil Town, Bury
2019–20 Macclesfield Town [a] , Bury
2020–21 Southend United, Grimsby Town
2021–22 Oldham Athletic, Scunthorpe United
2022–23 Hartlepool United, Rochdale
2023–24 Sutton United, Forest Green Rovers
2024–25 Carlisle United, Morecambe

Top scorers

SeasonTop scorer(s)Club(s)Goals
2004–05 Flag of England.svg Phil Jevons Yeovil Town 27
2005–06 Flag of England.svg Karl Hawley Carlisle United 22
2006–07 Flag of England.svg Richie Barker Hartlepool United 21
Flag of England.svg Izale McLeod Milton Keynes Dons
2007–08 Flag of England.svg Aaron McLean Peterborough United 29
2008–09 Flag of England.svg Grant Holt Shrewsbury Town 20
Flag of England.svg Jack Lester Chesterfield
2009–10 Flag of England.svg Lee Hughes Notts County 30
2010–11 Flag of Jamaica.svg Clayton Donaldson Crewe Alexandra 28
2011–12 Flag of England.svg Adebayo Akinfenwa Northampton Town 18
Flag of England.svg Jack Midson AFC Wimbledon
Flag of England.svg Izale McLeod Barnet
Flag of England.svg Lewis Grabban Rotherham United
2012–13 Flag of England.svg Tom Pope Port Vale 31
2013–14 Flag of England.svg Sam Winnall Scunthorpe United 23
2014–15 Flag of England.svg Matt Tubbs Portsmouth 21
2015–16 Flag of England.svg Matty Taylor Bristol Rovers 27
2016–17 Flag of England.svg John Akinde Barnet 26
Flag of England.svg John Marquis Doncaster Rovers
2017–18 Ulster Banner.svg Billy Kee Accrington Stanley 25
2018–19 Flag of England.svg James Norwood Tranmere Rovers 29
2019–20 Flag of Ireland.svg Eoin Doyle Bradford City, Swindon Town 25
2020–21 Flag of England.svg Paul Mullin Cambridge United 32
2021–22 Flag of England.svg Dom Telford Newport County 25
2022–23 Flag of England.svg Andy Cook Bradford City 28
2023–24 Flag of England.svg Macaulay Langstaff Notts County 28
2024–25 Flag of England.svg Michael Cheek Bromley 25

Attendances

EL League Two Average Attendances.png

League Two is the most watched fourth-tier domestic sports league in the world, and the 14th most watched football league in Europe of any tier. [3] The total number of spectators who watched a League Two game in the 2023–24 season was 3,458,968. [4]

Since the restructuring into League Two in 2004, the average attendance across all seasons is 4,602. The highest average attendance was 6,274 in the 2023–24 season. The highest average attendance for an individual club was achieved in the 2022–23; 17,967 for Bradford City. The lowest average attendance was 3,856 in the 2009–10 season.

SeasonLeague average attendanceHighest average
ClubAttendance
2004–05 4,499 Swansea City 8,458 [5]
2005–06 4,194 Carlisle United 7,218 [6]
2006–07 4,130 Swindon Town 7,419 [7]
2007–08 4,346 Bradford City 13,659 [8]
2008–09 4,185Bradford City12,704 [9]
2009–10 3,856Bradford City11,423 [10]
2010–11 4,166Bradford City11,128 [11]
2011–12 4,407Bradford City10,170 [12]
2012–13 4,390Bradford City11,999 [13]
2013–14 4,352 Portsmouth 15,460 [14]
2014–15 4,676Portsmouth15,241 [15]
2015–16 4,881Portsmouth16,442 [16]
2016–17 4,751Portsmouth16,822 [17]
2017–18 4,491 Coventry City 11,218 [18]
2018–19 4,467 Lincoln City 9,005 [19]
2019–20 4,687Bradford City14,253 [20]
2020–21 No attendances due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22 4,907Bradford City15,450 [21]
2022–23 5,786Bradford City17,967 [22]
2023–24 6,274Bradford City17,547 [23]
2024–25 6,221Bradford City17,762 [24]

Historic performance

Since the restructuring into League Two in 2004, 69 teams have spent at least one season in the division, including 2 of the 20 teams in the 2025–26 Premier League.

Morecambe have spent the longest in League Two; 16 seasons in total, as well as having had the joint-longest spell in the division, 13 consecutive seasons between 2005 and 2019. Newport County have the current longest tenure, with 13 consecutive seasons.

Northampton Town and Bristol Rovers have each been promoted four times from League Two. There have been 18 different champions, with Swindon Town and Chesterfield champions on two occasions. 23 teams have been both promoted and relegated from League Two.

Key


ClubTotal SeasonsNumber of SpellsLongest Spell (Seasons)Highest PositionLowest PositionSeason
2004–05
2005–06
2006–07
2007–08
2008–09
2009–10
2010–11
2011–12
2012–13
2013–14
2014–15
2015–16
2016–17
2017–18
2018–19
2019–20
2020–21
2021–22
2022–23
2023–24
2024–25
2025–26
Accrington Stanley 152121212017161551418151741311721
AFC Bournemouth 212221212
AFC Wimbledon 82552116202015721105
Aldershot Town 515624156141124
Barnet 123812231814121721222223151523
Barrow 61682221229816
Blackpool 111777
Bolton Wanderers 111333
Boston United 3131123161123
Bradford City 1226318109141818791514693
Brentford 212114141
Bristol Rovers 9533231212613142333
Bromley 212111111
Burton Albion 616119131917461
Bury 1037221171921134921232
Cambridge United 93722424199111221162
Carlisle United 11391231211061011181020523
Cheltenham Town 154612314522176517232117164115
Chester City 51515232015182223
Chesterfield 9441248108181247
Colchester United 10110622813862015202210
Coventry City 111666
Crawley Town 1139322320191419131212227
Crewe Alexandra 113421818107171512213613
Dagenham & Redbridge 8257232087192291423
Darlington 616624881161224
Doncaster Rovers 42311831851
Exeter City 11210216210161014549592
Fleetwood Town 42241413414
Forest Green Rovers 625124215106124
Gillingham 8341175881171217
Grimsby Town 153642418415162223141817152411219
Harrogate Town 61613191719191318
Hartlepool United 7342232192216231723
Hereford United 523323163162123
Kidderminster Harriers 111232323
Leyton Orient 8341241138241711131
Lincoln City 9271236751513202371
Luton Town 5242242481142
Macclesfield Town 10285245172219201915242224
Mansfield Town 152113231316172311211212842116783
Milton Keynes Dons 633119413419
Morecambe 16214424111142015161811211822182241524
Newport County 13113522149222211714511151822
Northampton Town 13471217211162062112115743
Notts County 1336123192113211911716523146
Oldham Athletic 524142314191823
Oxford United 826223152312998132
Peterborough United 3132109102
Plymouth Argyle 7262212121107523
Port Vale 1135220181011123202081352
Portsmouth 414116131661
Rochdale 103632491495631231824
Rotherham United 61621491459102
Rushden & Diamonds 21222242224
Salford City 717720118107208
Scunthorpe United 53322422202224
Shrewsbury Town 10382212110718712422
Southend United 7354234134115523
Stevenage 102922366181016102314212
Stockport County 63312422842441
Sutton United 31382381423
Swansea City 111333
Swindon Town 10451193191316101912
Torquay United 725524202417751924
Tranmere Rovers 83662424679121620
Walsall 827119112191616114
Wrexham 4232241319242
Wycombe Wanderers 123632210612733152241393
Yeovil Town 524124119201924
York City 4147241771824

See also

Notes

  1. As a result of Bury's expulsion from League One, only one team was relegated to maintain League Two at 24 teams. [2]

References

  1. Luton were deducted 30 points for financial irregularities
  2. "Bury FC: Membership of the League withdrawn". EFL. 27 August 2019.
  3. "Highest League attendances for 70 years as nearly 22 million attend EFL competitions". EFL. 9 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2023.
  4. "EFL highest attended league body in Europe". EFL . 11 June 2024. Retrieved 5 February 2025.
  5. "Coca Cola League Two | Average Attendances | Home Matches | 2004-2005". Football Web Pages. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023.
  6. "Coca Cola League Two | Average Attendances | Home Matches | 2005-2006". Football Web Pages. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023.
  7. "Coca Cola League Two | Average Attendances | Home Matches | 2006-2007". Football Web Pages. Archived from the original on 1 June 2023.
  8. "Coca Cola League Two | Average Attendances | Home Matches | 2007-2008 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  9. "Coca Cola League Two | Average Attendances | Home Matches | 2008-2009 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  10. "Coca Cola League Two | Average Attendances | Home Matches | 2009-2010 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  11. "npower League Two | Average Attendances | Home Matches | 2010-2011 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  12. "npower League Two | Average Attendances | Home Matches | 2011-2012 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  13. "npower League Two | Average Attendances | Home Matches | 2012-2013 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  14. "Sky Bet League Two | Average Attendances | Home Matches | 2013-2014 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  15. "Sky Bet League Two | Average Attendances | Home Matches | 2014-2015 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  16. "Sky Bet League Two | Average Attendances | Home Matches | 2015-2016 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  17. "Sky Bet League Two | Average Attendances | Home Matches | 2016-2017 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  18. "Sky Bet League Two | Average Attendances | Home Matches | 2017-2018 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  19. "Sky Bet League Two | Average Attendances | Home Matches | 2018-2019 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  20. "Sky Bet League Two | Average Attendances | Home Matches | 2019-2020 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  21. "Sky Bet League Two | Average Attendances | Home Matches | 2021-2022 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  22. "Sky Bet League Two | Average Attendances | Home Matches | 2022-2023 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  23. "Sky Bet League Two | Average Attendances | Home matches | 2023-2024 | Football Web Pages". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.
  24. "Sky Bet League Two | Average Attendances | Home matches | 2024-2025 | Football Web Page". www.footballwebpages.co.uk.