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This article concerns football records in England. Unless otherwise stated, records are taken from the Football League or Premier League. Where a different record exists for the top flight (Football League First Division 1888–1992, and Premier League 1992–present), this is also given. This article includes clubs based in Wales that compete in English leagues.
The original league saw twelve teams become the founding members of the Football League in 1888–89: Accrington, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Everton, Preston North End, Aston Villa, Derby County, Notts County, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers. [1]
Three of the teams (Blackburn Rovers, Everton and Aston Villa) also played in the first Premier League season in 1992–93, but Notts County missed out, finishing in the relegation zone in 1991–92. [2] [3]
A second division was added four years later for the 1892–93 season, resulting in the Football League now becoming the Football League First Division, the top division for the next one hundred years. The Southern League became Division 3 in 1920. A Northern League formed the following year that became Division Three North. In 1958 the regional divisions combined to form the Third Division and a national Fourth Division. The top 12 sides from the Northern and Southern divisions formed the Third Division, whilst the bottom 12 of the respective divisions formed the new fourth tier. [4]
Nine clubs have reached double figures of league titles, with Liverpool and Manchester United leading the chasing pack. Five clubs have managed to win all four divisions, a rare achievement while a further seven clubs need the top title to complete the full set. [5] Luton Town can claim a quadruple of titles when they won the National League, after becoming the non-league champions in 2014. [6]
Rank | Club | Division 1: Premier League | Division 2: Championship | Division 3: League 1 | Division 4: League 2 | Totals |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | Manchester United | 20 | 2 | 22 | ||
1 | Liverpool | 19 | 4 | 23 | ||
4 | Arsenal | 13 | 13 | |||
3 | Manchester City | 10 | 7 | 17 | ||
8 | Everton | 9 | 1 | 10 | ||
7 | Aston Villa | 7 | 2 | 1 | 10 | |
5 | Sunderland | 6 | 5 | 1 | 12 | |
10 | Sheffield Wednesday | 4 | 5 | 9 | ||
6 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 11 |
9 | Leicester City | 1 | 8 | 1 | 10 |
Rank | Club | Division 1: Premier League | Division 2: Championship | Division 3: League 1 | Division 4: League 2 |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 3 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
2 | Burnley | 2 | 4 | 1 | 1 |
3 | Preston North End | 2 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
4 | Portsmouth | 2 | 1 | 3 | 1 |
5 | Sheffield United | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
Rank | Club | Division 2: Championship | Division 3: League 1 | Division 4: League 2 |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Notts County | 3 | 2 | 3 |
2 | Grimsby Town | 2 | 3 | 1 |
3 | Reading | 2 | 3 | 1 |
4 | Brentford | 1 | 2 | 3 |
5 | Luton Town | 1 | 3 | 1 |
6 | Millwall | 1 | 3 | 1 |
7 | Cardiff City | 1 | 1 | 1 |
For the 1919–20 season, the first season after the First World War, Arsenal were controversially elected in to the first division, despite finishing fifth in the last season before the outbreak of war in the second division. However, they have remained at this level ever since. [4] [7] Arsenal had once previously won promotion after finishing second behind Preston North End in the 1903–04 season, staying there until finishing bottom in 1912–13. Other clubs won elections to play in the first division. Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United in 1898, Bury and Notts County in 1905 and Chelsea (alongside Arsenal) in 1919 were also elected to the top flight. [4] Blackburn later won division 2 in 1938–39, and Newcastle United finished runners-up in 1947–48. Notts County became second division champions in 1913–14, while Bury would finish runners-up in 1923–24. In the 1929–30 season, Chelsea finished second behind Blackpool. [8]
Holding the record of continuous seasons, Arsenal are some way ahead of other clubs who have suffered relegation, returning by winning the division, finishing in an automatic promotion place or, more recently, via the play offs. Everton spent three years in the second division before finishing as runners-up to Leicester City in the 1953–54 season. Neighbours Liverpool, after having spent eight years outside the top division, won the second division title in the 1961–62 season. Manchester United bounced straight back up in 1974–75, after finishing second bottom in 1973–74. This would be Manchester United's last football league title before the birth of the Premier League, in their only time outside the top division since the end of the Second World War. Tottenham Hotspur also spent a season in the Second Division; similarly to Manchester United, it is the only time they have been outside the top flight since 1950. In 1976–77, Spurs conceded 72 goals as they finished bottom; the following season, they finished third in the second division to earn promotion back to the top flight. [9] Chelsea have been in the top flight since 1989 after winning the second division, while Manchester City were present there since their 2002 promotion as Division 1 (2nd Tier) Winners. The 1998–99 season saw Manchester City earn promotion from Division 2 (currently known as League One), after winning a penalty shootout against Gillingham in the play-off final. City finished as runners-up to Charlton Athletic in Division 1 (currently known as the Championship) the following season, then made an immediate return after relegation in 2001, before securing their seventh second division title.
Unlike many European clubs that have never played outside their country's top division, no English club can claim that achievement. 65 clubs have played at the top level, six clubs have never returned, and the rest, apart from Arsenal, have secured promotion from the second division. [10] Glossop, Leyton Orient, Northampton Town, Carlisle United, Swindon Town, and Barnsley have completed only one season in the top flight. [11] The club that can boast playing the most seasons in the top tier is Everton, who are about to play their 121st season there (out of a possible 125 league seasons). [10] The city of Liverpool has always been represented in footballs top tier. While Everton suffered relegation in 1930, Liverpool remained, though Everton instantly returned to the top flight a year later. After three years in the second division from 1951 to 1954, Everton won promotion to the First Division, swapping places with Liverpool who had been relegated; it would be eight years later that under Bill Shankly, Liverpool were promoted from the second division. [10]
Rank | Club | No. seasons |
---|---|---|
1 | Everton | 122 |
2 | Aston Villa | 111 |
3 | Liverpool | 110 |
4 | Arsenal | 108 |
5 | Manchester United | 100 |
6 | Manchester City | 96 |
7 | Newcastle United | 93 |
8 | Chelsea | 90 |
9 | Tottenham Hotspur | 90 |
10 | Sunderland | 87 |
* Division 1 and Premier League, as of the 2024–25 season
Rank | Club | First season | No. seasons |
---|---|---|---|
1 | Arsenal | 1919–20 | 98** |
2 | Everton | 1954–55 | 70 |
3 | Liverpool | 1962–63 | 62 |
4 | Manchester United | 1975–76 | 49 |
5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1978–79 | 46 |
6 | Chelsea | 1989–90 | 35 |
7 | Manchester City | 2002–03 | 22 |
8 | West Ham United | 2012–13 | 12 |
9 | Crystal Palace | 2013–14 | 11 |
10 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 2017–18 | 7 |
Newcastle United |
* Division 1 and Premier League, as of the 2023–24 season
** Six seasons lost due to World War II, and one season abandoned, total seven seasons lost.
Rank | Club | First season | Season relegated | No. seasons |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Arsenal | 1919–20 | 98** | |
2 | Everton | 1954–55 | 70 | |
3 | Liverpool | 1962–63 | 62 | |
4 | Sunderland | 1890–91 | 1957–58 | 57 |
5 | Manchester United | 1975–76 | 49 | |
6 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1978–79 | 46 | |
7 | Aston Villa | 1888–89 | 1935–36 | 43 |
Blackburn Rovers | ||||
9 | Sheffield United | 1893–94 | 1933–34 | 36 |
Chelsea | 1989–90 | 35 | ||
11 | Coventry City | 1967–68 | 2000–01 | 33 |
12 | Newcastle United | 1898–99 | 1933–34 | 31 |
13 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1932–33 | 1964–65 | 27 |
Southampton | 1978–79 | 2004–05 | 27 | |
15 | Huddersfield Town | 1920–21 | 1951–52 | 25 |
Portsmouth | 1927–28 | 1958–59 | 25 | |
17 | Blackpool | 1937–38 | 1966–67 | 23 |
West Bromwich Albion | 1949–50 | 1972–73 | 23 | |
Burnley | 1947–48 | 1970–71 | 23 | |
20 | Bolton Wanderers | 1935–36 | 1963–64 | 22 |
Manchester City | 2002–03 | 22 | ||
22 | Derby County | 1926–27 | 1952–53 | 20 |
* Division 1 and Premier League, as of the 2023–24 season
** Six seasons lost due to World War II, and one season abandoned, total seven seasons lost.
Twenty four different football clubs have been crowned English champions since the league began in 1888. [12] Some clubs have enjoyed regular success with others not so fortunate. In 2020, Liverpool ended a 30-year wait to become league champions again, however this is nowhere near the longest wait in history to once again be the English champions. [13] Preston North End won the first two league titles but have never won it since 1890. Sheffield United won in 1898 but no second title has yet arrived. Their neighbours, Sheffield Wednesday, have won the league more recently than them, but have not added to their tally of four league titles, with their most recent success coming in 1930. Huddersfield Town won a hat-trick of titles between 1924 and 1926, but nearly a century later no fourth title has been added.
It is approaching 100 years since Newcastle United were English champions while Tottenham Hotspur have now gone 62 years without any league titles. Chelsea had to wait 50 years before their Premier League success in 2005, although they did win the second division twice in the 1980s. [8]
Manchester City endured a 44-year spell before winning the league title in 2012. Manchester United went 41 years without the top title, but that time period includes two world wars, with eleven seasons lost. Arsenal, meanwhile, are currently in their longest period without a league title since first becoming English champions in 1931, with their last triumph coming in 2004, the year of the Invincibles. Before that, Arsenal went 18 years without a title twice, 1953 until 1971, then again until 1989. [14]
Club | First title | Longest time between titles | Years | Current time since last title | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
From | Until | Last title won | Years | |||
Preston North End ** | 1888–89 | 1889–90 | 134 | |||
Sunderland * | 1891–92 | 1912–13 | 1935–36 | 23 | 1935–36 | 88 |
Aston Villa ** | 1893–94 | 1909–10 | 1980–81 | 71 | 1980–81 | 43 |
Sheffield United ** | 1897–98 | 1897–98 | 1897–98 | 126 | ||
Liverpool | 1900–01 | 1989–90 | 2019–20 | 30 | 2019–20 | 4 |
Sheffield Wednesday * | 1902–03 | 1903–04 | 1928–29 | 24 | 1929–30 | 94 |
Newcastle United * | 1904–05 | 1908–09 | 1926–27 | 18 | 1926–27 | 97 |
Manchester United ** | 1907–08 | 1910–11 | 1951–52 | 41 | 2012–13 | 11 |
Blackburn Rovers ** | 1911–12 | 1913–14 | 1994–95 | 81 | 1994–95 | 29 |
West Bromwich Albion * | 1919–20 | 1919–20 | 1919–20 | 104 | ||
Burnley | 1920–21 | 1920–21 | 1959–60 | 39 | 1959–60 | 64 |
Huddersfield Town * | 1923–24 | 1925–26 | 98 | |||
Arsenal | 1930–31 | 1952–53 | 1970–71 | 18 | 2003–04 | 20 |
Manchester City | 1936–37 | 1967–68 | 2011–12 | 44 | 2023–24 | |
Portsmouth | 1948–49 | 1949–50 | 74 | |||
Tottenham Hotspur | 1950–51 | 1950–51 | 1960–61 | 10 | 1960–61 | 63 |
Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1953–54 | 1953–54 | 1957–58 | 4 | 1958–59 | 65 |
Chelsea | 1954–55 | 1954–55 | 2004–05 | 50 | 2016–17 | 7 |
Ipswich Town | 1961–62 | 1961–62 | 62 | |||
Derby County | 1971–72 | 1971–72 | 1974–75 | 3 | 1974–75 | 49 |
Nottingham Forest | 1977–78 | 1977–78 | 46 | |||
Everton | 1890–91 | 1890–91 | 1914–15 | 24 | 1986–87 | 37 |
Leeds United | 1968–69 | 1973–74 | 1991–92 | 18 | 1991–92 | 32 |
Leicester City | 2015–16 | 2015–16 | 8 |
Position | Club | season | No. clubs |
---|---|---|---|
2nd | Bristol City | 1906–07 | 8 |
Oldham Athletic | 1914–15 | ||
Cardiff City | 1923–24 | ||
Charlton Athletic | 1936–37 | ||
Blackpool | 1955–56 | ||
Queens Park Rangers | 1975–76 | ||
Watford | 1982–83 | ||
Southampton | 1983–84 | ||
3rd | Bolton Wanderers | 1891–92 | 6 |
1920–21 | |||
1924–25 | |||
Crystal Palace | 1990–91 | ||
Middlesbrough | 1913–14 | ||
Norwich City | 1992–93 | ||
Notts County | 1890–91 | ||
1900–01 | |||
West Ham United | 1985–86 | ||
4th | Bury | 1925–26 | 2 |
Stoke City | 1935–36 | ||
1946–47 | |||
5th | Bradford City | 1910–11 | 3 |
Grimsby Town | 1934–35 | ||
Brentford | 1935–36 | ||
6th | Wimbledon | 1986–87 | 6 |
1993–94 | |||
Accrington | 1889–90 | ||
Swansea City | 1981–82 | ||
Coventry City | 1969–70 | ||
Birmingham City | 1955–56 | ||
Brighton & Hove Albion | 2022–23 | ||
7th | Luton Town | 1986–87 | 2 |
Fulham | 2008–09 | ||
8th | Reading | 2006–07 | 1 |
9th | Bournemouth | 2016–17 | 2 |
Bradford Park Avenue | 1914–15 | ||
10th | Millwall | 1988–89 | 2 |
Wigan Athletic | 2001–02 | ||
14th | Darwen | 1891–92 | 1 |
16th | Hull City | 2013–14 | 1 |
18th | Oxford United | 1985–86 | 2 |
1986–87 | |||
Glossop | 1899–1900 | ||
19th | Barnsley | 1997–98 | 1 |
21st | Northampton Town | 1965–66 | 1 |
22nd | Leyton Orient | 1962–63 | 3 |
Carlisle United | 1974–75 | ||
Swindon Town | 1993–94 |
* Division 1 and Premier League, as of the 2023–24 season
These tables list the clubs that have won honours an English record number of times. It lists all international competitions organised by UEFA and FIFA as well as competitions organised by the English governing bodies the English Football League, the Premier League, and The Football Association.
This table follows the elite criteria above. It also includes any competitions that were not directly run by the governing bodies but were precursors to such competitions. Note: Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was replaced with UEFA Cup and Intercontinental Cup was replaced with FIFA Club World Cup.
Throughout his amazing 30-year career he played for 11 English league clubs through which he accumulated a record 1005 League appearances.
The 2003–04 FA Premier League was the 12th season of the Premier League. Arsenal were crowned champions ending the season without a single defeat – the first team ever to do so in a 38-game league season. Chelsea finished second to Arsenal.
The 2004–05 FA Premier League was the 13th season of the Premier League. It began on 14 August 2004 and ended on 15 May 2005. Arsenal were the defending champions after going unbeaten the previous season. Chelsea won the title with a then record 95 points, which was previously set by Manchester United in the 1993–94 season, and later surpassed by Manchester City in the 2017–18 season (100), securing the title with a 2–0 win at the Reebok Stadium against Bolton Wanderers. Chelsea also broke a number of other records during their campaign, most notably breaking the record of most games won in a single Premier League campaign, securing 29 wins in the league in home and away matches, which was later surpassed by themselves in the 2016–17 season.
The 2002–03 season was the 123rd season of competitive football in England.
The 2004–05 season was the 125th season of competitive football in England.
The 1993–94 FA Premier League was the second season of the FA Premier League, the top division of professional football in England. Manchester United won the league by eight points over nearest challengers Blackburn Rovers, their second consecutive league title. Swindon Town finished bottom of the league in their first season of top-flight football and were relegated along with Sheffield United and Oldham Athletic. Manchester United also broke their own record of the most points in a season, set by themselves the previous season. This would be surpassed by Chelsea in the 2004–05 season.
The 1995–96 FA Premier League was the fourth season of the competition, since its formation in 1992. Due to the decision to reduce the number of clubs in the FA Premier League from 22 to 20, only two clubs, Middlesbrough and Bolton Wanderers, were promoted instead of the usual three.
The 1998–99 FA Premier League was the seventh season of the Premier League, the top division of English football, since its establishment in 1992. Manchester United won a treble of the league title, the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League. They secured their fifth league title in seven seasons after outlasting Arsenal and Chelsea in a closely fought title race, losing just three league games all season.
The 1999–2000 FA Premier League was the eighth season of the FA Premier League, and Manchester United secured their sixth Premiership title. Like the previous season, they lost only three league games all season. Unlike in 1998–99 season, they won by a comfortable margin – 18 points as opposed to a single point.
The 2005–06 FA Premier League was the 14th season of the Premier League. It began on 13 August 2005, and concluded on 7 May 2006. The season saw Chelsea retain their title after defeating Manchester United 3–0 at Stamford Bridge towards the end of April. On the same day, West Bromwich Albion and Birmingham City were relegated, joining Sunderland in the Championship for the following season. Chelsea drew the record they set the previous season, with 29 wins in home and away campaigns.
The 1992–93 season was the 113th season of competitive football in England. The season saw the Premier League in its first season, replacing Division One of the Football League as the top league in England. Every team in the Premier League played each other twice within the season, one game away and one at home, and were awarded three points for a win and one for a draw.
The 1996–97 season was the 117th season of competitive football in England. Promotion to and relegation from the Football League returned after a three-season absence, with one relegation spot in Division Three.
1840s – 1850s – 1860s – 1870s – 1880s – 1890s – 1900s – 1910s – 1920s – 1930s – 1940s – 1950s – 1960s – 1970s – 1980s – 1990s – 2000s – 2010s – 2020s
The 1979–80 season was the 100th season of competitive football in England.
The 1978–79 season was the 99th season of competitive football in England.
The 1976–77 season was the 97th season of competitive football in England. This year The Football League revamped the tie-breaking criteria for teams level on points, replacing the traditional goal average tiebreaker with one based on goal difference to try to encourage more scoring. Coloured red and yellow cards were introduced for the first time in domestic English football.
The 1993–94 season was the 114th season of competitive football in England.
The 1995–96 season was the 116th season of competitive football in England.
The 1997–98 season was the 118th season of competitive football in England.
The 1999–2000 season was the 120th season of competitive football in England.
Everton Football Club have a long and complex history. The club's roots loosely lie with a Methodist New Connexion congregation who had a chapel on the corner of Breckfield Road North and St. Domingo Vale in Everton, Liverpool. Initially formed as St. Domingo FC, named after the chapel, the football team was renamed Everton in 1879 after the district of Everton. Since then Everton have had a successful history winning the Cup Winners' Cup, the league title nine times and the FA Cup five times. They were the first club to play over 100 seasons in the top flight of English football, the 2023–24 season will be their 120th.