Football League First Division
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| Countries | England Wales |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1888 |
| Folded | 2004 |
| Number of teams | 24 |
| Level on pyramid | 2 (1992-2004) 1 (1888-1992) |
| Promotion to | Premier League (1992-) |
| Relegation to | Second Division |
| Domestic cup(s) | FA Cup League Cup |
| International cup(s) | European Cup (1956-1985, 1991-1992) European Cup Winners' Cup (1960-1985, 1990-2004) UEFA Cup (1971-1985, 1990-2004) Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (1955-1971) |
| Last champions | Norwich City (2003-04) |
The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest division in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992. The secondary tier in English football has since become known as the Championship.
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[edit] History
The Football League was founded in 1888 by Aston Villa director Charlie Fossey. It originally consisted of a single division of 12 clubs (Accrington, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Derby County, Everton, Notts County, Preston North End, Stoke (now Stoke City), West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers), simply known as The Football League. When the League admitted additional members from the rival Football Alliance in 1892, it was split into two divisions; the original League was expanded (the two best Alliance members joining) and renamed the First Division, while the rest of the Alliance members were admitted into the Second Division.
For the next 100 years, the First Division was the undisputed top professional league in English football. Then, in 1992 the 22 clubs making up the First Division elected to resign from the Football League and set up the Premier League. They did so largely to capitalise upon their status as the biggest and most wealthy clubs in the country, and negotiate more profitable television rights. The Football League was consequently re-organised, with the Second, Third and Fourth Divisions now renamed the First, Second and Third respectively. Thus, the First Division, while still the top level of the Football League, now became the second level of the entire English football league system, thus the top clubs inherited the promotion playoff system from the old Second Division.
The First Division was renamed as the Football League Championship prior to the start of the 2004–05 season, for commercial reasons.
[edit] One-time runners-up
Nine clubs were top-flight First Division runner-ups (but not champions) once, and have not repeated that performance: Bristol City (1907), Oldham Athletic (1915), Cardiff City (1924), Leicester City (1929), Charlton Athletic (1937), Blackpool (1956), Queens Park Rangers (1976), Watford (1983) and Southampton (1984).
[edit] Size
The First Division initially consisted of 12 founder clubs; since then it has undergone a series of expansions as football became more popular and the number of quality teams increased. There were also a series of contractions in the late 1980s, although they were soon reversed, as follows:
| No. of teams | From | To |
|---|---|---|
| 12 | 1888 | 1891 |
| 14 | 1891 | 1892 |
| 16 | 1892 | 1898 |
| 18 | 1898 | 1905 |
| 20 | 1905 | 1915 |
| 22 | 1919 | 1987 |
| 21 | 1987 | 1988 |
| 20 | 1988 | 1991 |
| 22† | 1991 | 1995 |
| 24 | 1995 | – |
† as the second tier of professional football in England (from 1992)
[edit] The trophy
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This section does not cite any references or sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (June 2011) |
The English Football League Championship trophy, designed and manufactured by Vaughtons of Birmingham in 1890, is the same one that England's champion team received until the Premier League came into existence in the summer of 1992.
Known sometimes as “The Lady” because the lid bears the figure of a woman, the trophy has been presented to some of English football’s legendary teams. They include the great Huddersfield Town triple title winners of the 1920s and the Arsenal teams that won five titles in eight seasons in the 1930s. Manchester United’s Busby Babes carried off the trophy in 1956 and 1957 before the Munich air disaster, and Liverpool collected the trophy 11 times in 18 seasons between 1972/73 and 1989/90. The last team to collect the trophy as English champions were Leeds United in 1991/92. Since then, as the prize of the second tier, no team can retain it due to being promoted to the Premier League.
[edit] Player's medals
As of the 1947–48 season making 7 appearances for their club during the season was not enough for a player to qualify for a winners medal.[1]
As of the 1975–76 season players had to make 14 appearances for their club during the season in order to qualify for a winners medal.[2]
[edit] First Division champions
[edit] 1888–1992
See List of English football champions.
[edit] 1993–2004
See List of winners of English Football League Championship and predecessors.
[edit] References
- ^ "Player profile: Bryn Jones". Arsenal player database. Arsenal.com. http://www.arsenal.com/history/profiles/357/bryn-jones. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
- ^ "Joey Jones: Profile". Liverpool FC. http://www.liverpoolfc.tv/history/past-players/joey-jones. Retrieved 20 May 2011.
[edit] External links
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| Sporting positions | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by N/A |
First tier of English football 1888-1992 |
Succeeded by Premier League |
| Preceded by Football League Second Division |
Second tier of English football 1992–2004 |
Succeeded by Football League Championship |
