FOOTBALL LEAGUE FIRST DIVISION

The Football League First Division was the highest division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004, and the highest division of English football overall between 1888 and 1992. The last time the League was contested as the top professional league in English football Leeds United ran out winners at the end of the season.

History

For more details on this topic, see History of English football.

The Football League was founded in 1888 and originally consisted of a single division of 12 clubs, 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.

From 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 FA Premier League. They did so largely to capitalize 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.

The First Division was renamed as the Football League Championship prior to the start of the 2004-05 season, for commercial reasons. However, it remains as the second tier of English football.

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:

Previous First Division champions

1888-1992

See English football champions.

1993-2004

See List of winners of English Football League Championship and predecessors.

Football in the United Kingdom
National teams: England | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland | UK
UK-wide national team competitions: British Home Championship | Rous Cup
UK-wide club competitions: Coronation Cup | Texaco Cup | Anglo-Scottish Cup
Football in... England | Scotland | Wales | Northern Ireland