ENGLISH CLUB RECORDS
For many years, the structure of the Football League remained very much the same with Divisions One, Two, Three and Four being in place. Very little changed apart from the introduction of Division Three and Four in place of the regional Division Threes in 1958, three up/three down between the top three divisions at the end of the 1973-74 season.
Goal average was scrapped and goal difference was introduced for deciding league placings for the 1976-77 season and 3 points for a win replaced the 2 point win system from the start of the 1981-82 season. Further details on how league places are decided can be found here.
However, with the split in clubs of the top division from the Football League during the summer of 1992, the FA Premiership was born and the start of sponsorship.
Therefore, that is why some of the League records appear a little strange! Here is an explanation on the League structure from its inception:
1888-1892 | 1892-1920 | 1920-1921 | 1921-1958 | 1958-1992 | 1992-2004 | 2004 to date | |
First tier | Football League | Division One | Division One | Division One | Division One | Premiership | Premier League |
Second tier | Division Two | Division Two | Division Two | Division Two | Division One | Championship | |
Third tier | Division Three | Division Three (North)
Division Three (South) | Division Three | Division Two | League One | ||
Fourth tier | Division Four | Division Three | League Two |
At the base of the League pyramid, the annual re-election system was replaced by automatic promotion and relegation from the then Conference when Lincoln City were relegated and replaced by Scarborough for the start of the 1987-88 season.
This was followed by the bottom two sides in the basement division being replaced by the champions in the Conference (now Blue Square Premier) automatically and the winners of the play-offs for the start of the 2003-04 season.
For information about the leagues below level Four, visit the following link: English football league system
For those of you all who ever wondered what your club has won, their worst ever defeat, their best win - the answers are all here. For a list of clubs, select from the following list: