Rotherham United Football Club is an association football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. The club was formed in 1925 as a merger between Rotherham Town and Rotherham County when it was decided that having two professional clubs in the town was not sustainable. [1] After the merger, the club was elected to play in the Football League Third Division North. United played in the Third Division North until 1950–51, when they were champions of the division and were promoted to the Second Division. [2] During their first spell in the Second Division the club reached the fifth round of the FA Cup twice and were runners up in the inaugural Football League Cup, which is the furthest they have reached in these competitions. [3] Their furthest Football League Trophy run saw the club win the competition twice, in the 1995–96 season defeating Shrewsbury Town 2–1 in the final; and in the 2021–22 season defeating Sutton United 4–2 after extra time in the final. [4]
As of the end of 2022–23, the club's first team has remained in the English Football League since its formation. [3] Their highest finish came in 1954–55 when they finished in third place in the Second Division, missing out on promotion to the top division only on goal average. [1] In total the club has spent 27 seasons in the second tier of the English football league system, 47 in the third and 13 in the fourth. Rotherham has qualified for four Football League play-offs, in 1998–99 they lost in the Third Division semi-final to Leyton Orient, [5] in 2009–10 they reached the League Two final but lost 3–2 to Dagenham & Redbridge, [6] in 2013–14 they reached the League One final and defeated Leyton Orient in a penalty shoot-out to gain promotion the Football League Championship, [7] and in 2017–18 they again reached the League One final and defeated Shrewsbury Town 2–1 to gain promotion the EFL Championship. The table details their achievements in first-team competitions for each completed season since their first appearance in the Football League in 1925–26.
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Season | League record | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Trophy | Top scorer(s) [a] | |||||||||
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Division | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Pos | Player(s) | Goals | ||||
1925–26 | Division 3N | 42 | 17 | 7 | 18 | 69 | 92 | 41 | 14th | R3 | — | — | Joe Scott | 14 |
1926–27 | Division 3N | 42 | 10 | 12 | 20 | 70 | 92 | 32 | 19th | R1 | — | — | Cyril Hemingway | 11 |
1927–28 | Division 3N | 42 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 65 | 69 | 39 | 14th | R3 | — | — | Joe Scott | 21 |
1928–29 | Division 3N | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 60 | 77 | 39 | 16th | R1 | — | — | Billy Bottrill | 11 |
1929–30 | Division 3N | 42 | 11 | 8 | 23 | 67 | 113 | 30 | 20th | R3 | — | — | Egbert Murden | 21 |
1930–31 | Division 3N | 42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 81 | 83 | 38 | 14th | R1 | — | — | Billy Hick | 30 |
1931–32 | Division 3N | 40 | 14 | 4 | 22 | 63 | 72 | 32 | 19th | R1 | — | — | Albert Parkin | 15 |
1932–33 | Division 3N | 42 | 14 | 6 | 22 | 60 | 84 | 34 | 17th | R1 | — | — | John Nock | 10 |
1933–34 | Division 3N | 42 | 10 | 8 | 24 | 53 | 91 | 28 | 21st | R3 | — | — | Vic Wright | 18 |
1934–35 | Division 3N | 42 | 19 | 7 | 16 | 86 | 73 | 45 | 9th | R2 | — | — | Billy Dickinson | 25 |
1935–36 | Division 3N | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 69 | 66 | 41 | 11th | R2 | — | — | Billy Dickinson | 18 |
1936–37 | Division 3N | 42 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 78 | 91 | 35 | 17th | R1 | — | — | Ernest Smith | 22 |
1937–38 | Division 3N | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 68 | 56 | 50 | 6th | R2 | — | — | Arnold Bramham | 24 |
1938–39 | Division 3N | 42 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 64 | 64 | 42 | 11th | R1 | — | — | Arnold Bramham | 30 |
1939–40 | Division 3N | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 11th [b] | — | — | |||
1939–45 | No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1945 due to the Second World War. | |||||||||||||
1945–46 | N/A [c] | R4 | — | — | ||||||||||
1946–47 | Division 3N | 42 | 29 | 6 | 7 | 114 | 53 | 64 | 2nd | R3 | — | — | Wally Ardron | 40 |
1947–48 | Division 3N | 42 | 25 | 9 | 8 | 95 | 49 | 59 | 2nd | R1 | — | — | Wally Ardron | 30 |
1948–49 | Division 3N | 42 | 28 | 6 | 8 | 90 | 46 | 62 | 2nd | R3 | — | — | Wally Ardron | 33 |
1949–50 | Division 3N | 42 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 80 | 59 | 48 | 6th | R3 | — | — | Gladstone Guest | 18 |
1950–51 | Division 3N ↑ | 46 | 31 | 9 | 6 | 103 | 41 | 71 | 1st | R4 | — | — | Jack Shaw | 46 |
1951–52 | Division 2 | 42 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 73 | 71 | 42 | 9th | R4 | — | — | Jack Shaw | 25 |
1952–53 | Division 2 | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 75 | 74 | 41 | 12th | R5 | — | — | Jack Grainger | 18 |
1953–54 | Division 2 | 42 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 80 | 67 | 49 | 5th | R4 | — | — | Ronnie Burke | 33 |
1954–55 | Division 2 | 42 | 25 | 4 | 13 | 94 | 64 | 54 | 3rd | R4 | — | — | Jack Grainger | 19 |
1955–56 | Division 2 | 42 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 56 | 75 | 33 | 19th | R3 | — | — | Ian Wilson | 14 |
1956–57 | Division 2 | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 74 | 75 | 37 | 17th | R3 | — | — | Peter Johnson | 14 |
1957–58 | Division 2 | 42 | 14 | 5 | 23 | 65 | 101 | 33 | 18th | R3 | — | — | Barry Webster | 12 |
1958–59 | Division 2 | 42 | 10 | 9 | 23 | 42 | 82 | 29 | 20th | R3 | — | — | Barry Webster | 12 |
1959–60 | Division 2 | 42 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 61 | 60 | 47 | 8th | R4 | — | — | Brian Sawyer | 21 |
1960–61 | Division 2 | 42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 65 | 64 | 37 | 15th | R4 | RU | — | Ken Houghton | 14 |
1961–62 | Division 2 | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 70 | 76 | 41 | 9th | R3 | QF | — | Alan Kirkman | 22 |
1962–63 | Division 2 | 42 | 17 | 6 | 19 | 67 | 74 | 40 | 14th | R3 | R4 | — | Albert Bennett | 23 |
1963–64 | Division 2 | 42 | 19 | 7 | 16 | 90 | 78 | 45 | 7th | R3 | QF | — | Brian Tiler | 22 |
1964–65 | Division 2 | 42 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 70 | 69 | 40 | 14th | R4 | R3 | — | Albert Bennett | 27 |
1965–66 | Division 2 | 42 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 75 | 74 | 46 | 7th | R4 | R4 | — | John Galley | 22 |
1966–67 | Division 2 | 42 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 61 | 70 | 36 | 18th | R4 | R3 | — | Les Chappell | 17 |
1967–68 | Division 2 ↓ | 42 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 42 | 76 | 31 | 21st | R5 | R2 | — | John Galley | 7 |
1968–69 | Division 3 | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 56 | 50 | 45 | 11th | R2 | R1 | — | Jim Storrie | 15 |
1969–70 | Division 3 | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 62 | 54 | 44 | 14th | R3 | R3 | — | Steve Downes | 11 |
1970–71 | Division 3 | 46 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 64 | 60 | 50 | 8th | R3 | R2 | — | Dave Watson | 12 |
1971–72 | Division 3 | 46 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 69 | 52 | 55 | 5th | R4 | R1 | — | Carl Gilbert | 27 |
1972–73 | Division 3 ↓ | 46 | 17 | 7 | 22 | 51 | 65 | 41 | 21st | R2 | R3 | — | Bobby Ham | 10 |
1973–74 | Division 4 | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 56 | 58 | 43 | 15th | R2 | R2 | — | Ron Wigg | 15 |
1974–75 | Division 4 ↑ | 46 | 22 | 15 | 9 | 71 | 41 | 59 | 3rd | R3 | R2 | — | Richard Finney | 17 |
1975–76 | Division 3 | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 54 | 65 | 42 | 16th | R2 | R1 | — | Richard Finney | 11 |
1976–77 | Division 3 | 46 | 22 | 15 | 9 | 69 | 44 | 59 | 4th | R3 | R2 | — | Alan Crawford | 31 |
1977–78 | Division 3 | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 51 | 68 | 39 | 20th | R3 | R2 | — | Richard Finney | 16 |
1978–79 | Division 3 | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 49 | 55 | 44 | 17th | R3 | R3 | — | Dave Gwyther | 18 |
1979–80 | Division 3 | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 58 | 66 | 46 | 13th | R2 | R2 | — | Richard Finney | 13 |
1980–81 | Division 3 ↑ | 46 | 24 | 13 | 9 | 62 | 32 | 61 | 1st | R2 | R1 | — | Ronnie Moore | 25 |
1981–82 | Division 2 | 42 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 66 | 54 | 67 | 7th | R3 | R2 | — | Ronnie Moore | 25 |
1982–83 | Division 2 ↓ | 42 | 10 | 15 | 17 | 45 | 68 | 45 | 20th | R3 | R3 | — | John Seasman | 11 |
1983–84 | Division 3 | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 57 | 64 | 54 | 18th | R3 | QF | R1 | Kevin Kilmore | 21 |
1984–85 | Division 3 | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 55 | 55 | 65 | 12th | R1 | R3 | R1 | Tony Simmons | 14 |
1985–86 | Division 3 | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 61 | 59 | 57 | 14th | R4 | R1 | QF | Tommy Tynan | 17 |
1986–87 | Division 3 | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 48 | 57 | 57 | 14th | R1 | R2 | PR | Gareth Evans | 11 |
1987–88 | Division 3 ↓ | 46 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 50 | 66 | 52 | 21st | R2 | R2 | R1 | Paul Haycock | 14 |
1988–89 | Division 4 ↑ | 46 | 22 | 16 | 8 | 76 | 35 | 82 | 1st | R2 | R2 | R1 | Bobby Williamson | 28 |
1989–90 | Division 3 | 46 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 71 | 62 | 64 | 9th | R2 | R2 | QF | Bobby Williamson | 25 |
1990–91 | Division 3 ↓ | 46 | 10 | 12 | 24 | 50 | 87 | 42 | 23rd | R4 | R2 | R1 | Clive Mendonca | 12 |
1991–92 | Division 4 ↑ | 42 | 22 | 11 | 9 | 70 | 37 | 77 | 2nd | R2 | R1 | QF | Tony Cunningham | 20 |
1992–93 | Division 2 [d] | 46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 60 | 60 | 65 | 11th | R4 | R2 | R2 | Tony Cunningham | 12 |
1993–94 | Division 2 | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 63 | 60 | 58 | 15th | R1 | R2 | R2 | Imre Varadi | 21 |
1994–95 | Division 2 | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 57 | 61 | 56 | 17th | R2 | R1 | R2 | Shaun Goater | 25 |
1995–96 | Division 2 | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 54 | 62 | 56 | 16th | R1 | R2 | W | Earl Jean | 6 |
1996–97 | Division 2 ↓ | 46 | 7 | 14 | 25 | 39 | 70 | 35 | 23rd | R1 | R1 | R1 | Leo Fortune-West | 17 |
1997–98 | Division 3 | 46 | 16 | 19 | 11 | 67 | 61 | 67 | 9th | R3 | R1 | R2 | Lee Glover | 18 |
1998–99 | Division 3 | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 79 | 61 | 73 | 5th [e] | R3 | R1 | R1 | Leo Fortune-West Lee Glover | 12 |
1999–2000 | Division 3 ↑ | 46 | 24 | 12 | 10 | 72 | 36 | 84 | 2nd | R2 | R1 | R2 | Leo Fortune-West | 17 |
2000–01 | Division 2 ↑ | 46 | 27 | 10 | 9 | 79 | 55 | 91 | 2nd | R3 | R1 | R1 | Mark Robins | 26 |
2001–02 | Division 1 | 46 | 10 | 19 | 17 | 52 | 66 | 49 | 21st | R4 | R2 | — | Mark Robins | 16 |
2002–03 | Division 1 | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 62 | 62 | 59 | 15th | R3 | R4 | — | Alan Lee | 16 |
2003–04 | Division 1 | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 53 | 61 | 54 | 17th | R3 | R3 | — | Martin Butler | 15 |
2004–05 | Championship [f] ↓ | 46 | 5 | 14 | 27 | 35 | 69 | 29 | 24th | R3 | R2 | — | Martin Butler | 6 |
2005–06 | League 1 | 46 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 52 | 62 | 52 | 20th | R1 | R2 | R2 | Deon Burton | 14 |
2006–07 | League 1 ↓ | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 58 | 75 | 38 [g] | 23rd | R1 | R2 | R1 | Will Hoskins | 16 |
2007–08 | League 2 | 46 | 21 | 11 | 14 | 62 | 58 | 64 [g] | 9th | R1 | R1 | R2 | Derek Holmes Chris O'Grady | 11 |
2008–09 | League 2 | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 60 | 46 | 58 [h] | 14th | R1 | R4 | F(N) | Reuben Reid | 19 |
2009–10 | League 2 | 46 | 21 | 10 | 15 | 55 | 52 | 73 | 5th [i] | R2 | R2 | R1 | Adam Le Fondre | 30 |
2010–11 | League 2 | 46 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 75 | 60 | 66 | 9th | R1 | R1 | QF | Adam Le Fondre | 25 |
2011–12 | League 2 | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 67 | 63 | 67 | 10th | R2 | R1 | R2 | Lewis Grabban | 20 |
2012–13 | League 2 ↑ | 46 | 24 | 7 | 15 | 74 | 59 | 79 | 2nd | R3 | R1 | R1 | Daniel Nardiello | 13 |
2013–14 | League 1 ↑ | 46 | 24 | 14 | 8 | 86 | 58 | 86 | 4th [j] | R2 | R2 | SF | Kieran Agard | 18 |
2014–15 | Championship | 46 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 46 | 67 | 46 [k] | 21st | R3 | R2 | — | Matt Derbyshire | 10 |
2015–16 | Championship | 46 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 53 | 71 | 49 | 21st | R3 | R2 | — | Matt Derbyshire | 8 |
2016–17 | Championship ↓ | 46 | 5 | 8 | 33 | 40 | 98 | 23 | 24th | R3 | R1 | — | Danny Ward | 12 |
2017–18 | League 1 ↑ | 46 | 24 | 7 | 15 | 73 | 53 | 79 | 4th [l] | R1 | R2 | R1 | Kieffer Moore | 13 |
2018–19 | Championship ↓ | 46 | 8 | 16 | 22 | 36 | 77 | 40 | 22nd | R3 | R2 | — | Semi Ajayi Michael Smith Will Vaulks | 8 |
2019–20 | League 1 ↑ | 35 | 18 | 8 | 9 | 61 | 38 | 62 | 2nd [m] | R3 | R2 | GS | Freddie Ladapo | 17 |
2020–21 | Championship ↓ | 46 | 11 | 9 | 26 | 44 | 60 | 42 | 23rd | R3 | R1 | — | Michael Smith | 10 |
2021–22 | League 1 ↑ | 46 | 27 | 9 | 10 | 70 | 33 | 90 | 2nd | R3 | R1 | W | Michael Smith | 25 |
2022–23 | Championship | 46 | 11 | 17 | 18 | 49 | 60 | 50 | 19th | R3 | R2 | — | Chiedozie Ogbene | 9 |
2023–24 | Championship ↓ | 46 | 5 | 12 | 29 | 37 | 89 | 27 | 24th | R3 | R2 | — | Tom Eaves | 6 |
2024–25 | League 1 | 46 | 16 | 11 | 19 | 49 | 54 | 59 | 13th | R1 | R2 | QF | Sam Nombe | 13 |