Football League First Division

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Football League First Division

Country	England Wales
Founded	1888
Folded	2004
Number of teams	24
Level on pyramid	2 (1992–2004) 1 (1888–1992)
Promotion to	Premier League (1992–2004)
Relegation to	Second Division
Domestic cup(s)	FA Cup League Cup Full Members Cup (1985–1992)
International cup(s)	European Cup (1956–1985, 1991–1992) European Cup Winners' Cup (1960–1985, 1990–1999) UEFA Cup (1971–1985, 1990–2004) Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (1955–1971)
Last champions	Norwich City (2003–04)
Most championships	Liverpool (18 titles)

The First Division was a division of The Football League between 1888 and 2004 and the highest tier in English football until the creation of the Premier League in 1992, when the highest division in the reduced Football League became the second tier in English football. Since a 2004 rebrand it has been known as the Football League Championship.

1 History
2 Size
3 Player's medals
4 First Division champions
- 4.1 1888–1992
- 4.2 1993–2004
5 References
6 External links

History [edit]

For more details on this topic, see Football in England#History of English football.

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. 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, as part of a league-wide rebrand.

Size [edit]

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	1992
24†	1992

† as the second tier of professional football in England from 1992

Player's medals [edit]

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]

First Division champions [edit]

1888–1992 [edit]

See List of English football champions.

1993–2004 [edit]

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

References [edit]

^ "Player profile: Bryn Jones". Arsenal player database. Arsenal.com. Retrieved 13 June 2011.
^ "Joey Jones: Profile". Liverpool FC. Retrieved 20 May 2011.

External links [edit]

Football League Second Division / Football League First Division / Football League Championship seasons

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v t e Men's football in England

The FA PFA LMA

National teams	England B C U-21 U-20 U-19 U-18 U-17 U-16

National Football Centre	St George's Park (Burton)

League system	Premier League The Football League Championship League One League Two Football Conference National North South Northern Premier Southern League Isthmian League Lower levels

Domestic cups	FA Cup Football League Cup FA Community Shield Football League Trophy FA Trophy Conference League Cup FA Vase FA Inter-League Cup

Others	Masters Football Emirates Cup

Lists	List of clubs Current managers Stadiums by capacity

Venues Competitions Trophies and awards History Records

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

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