Clubs that have only ever played in the top two divisions

[johntheclaret]

Following on from a post in the Promotion / Relegation Thread, by Drebin, I thought i would follow it up with a bit of background

Who are the other 8 mate?

Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham.

along with Leicester City


Arsenal
Arsenal Football Club began life when a group of workers at the Woolwich Arsenal Armament Factory decided to form a football team in late 1886. The Club played under the name of Dial Square. Their first match was a 6-0 victory over Eastern Wanderers, on December 11, 1886. Soon after, the name Royal Arsenal was adopted and the Club continued playing in friendlies and local cup competitions for the next few years.

In 1891 the Club turned professional and changed its name to Woolwich Arsenal, finally joining the Football League in 1893. The Gunners moved to their current home at Highbury in 1913, as a Second Division side. Following the First World War Arsenal were voted into the newly expanded First Division, where they have remained ever since.

Season League
2007/2008 English Premier League
2006/2007 English Premier League
2005/2006 English Premier League
2004/2005 English Premier League
2003/2004 English Premier League
2002/2003 English Premier League
2001/2002 English Premier League
2000/2001 English Premier League
1999/2000 English Premier League
1998/1999 English Premier League
1997/1998 English Premier League
1996/1997 English Premier League
1995/1996 English Premier League
1994/1995 English Premier League
1993/1994 English Premier League
1992/1993 English Premier League
1991/1992 English Division One (old)
1990/1991 English Division One (old)
1989/1990 English Division One (old)
1988/1989 English Division One (old)
1987/1988 English Division One (old)
1986/1987 English Division One (old)
1985/1986 English Division One (old)
1984/1985 English Division One (old)
1983/1984 English Division One (old)
1982/1983 English Division One (old)
1981/1982 English Division One (old)
1980/1981 English Division One (old)
1979/1980 English Division One (old)
1978/1979 English Division One (old)
1977/1978 English Division One (old)
1976/1977 English Division One (old)
1975/1976 English Division One (old)
1974/1975 English Division One (old)
1973/1974 English Division One (old)
1972/1973 English Division One (old)
1971/1972 English Division One (old)
1970/1971 English Division One (old)
1969/1970 English Division One (old)
1968/1969 English Division One (old)
1967/1968 English Division One (old)
1966/1967 English Division One (old)
1965/1966 English Division One (old)
1964/1965 English Division One (old)
1963/1964 English Division One (old)
1962/1963 English Division One (old)
1961/1962 English Division One (old)
1960/1961 English Division One (old)
1959/1960 English Division One (old)
1958/1959 English Division One (old)
1957/1958 English Division One (old)
1956/1957 English Division One (old)
1955/1956 English Division One (old)
1954/1955 English Division One (old)
1953/1954 English Division One (old)
1952/1953 English Division One (old)
1951/1952 English Division One (old)
1950/1951 English Division One (old)
1949/1950 English Division One (old)
1948/1949 English Division One (old)
1947/1948 English Division One (old)
1946/1947 English Division One (old)
1945/1946 Cup Only
1938/1939 English Division One (old)
1937/1938 English Division One (old)
1936/1937 English Division One (old)
1935/1936 English Division One (old)
1934/1935 English Division One (old)
1933/1934 English Division One (old)
1932/1933 English Division One (old)
1931/1932 English Division One (old)
1930/1931 English Division One (old)
1929/1930 English Division One (old)
1928/1929 English Division One (old)
1927/1928 English Division One (old)
1926/1927 English Division One (old)
1925/1926 English Division One (old)
1924/1925 English Division One (old)
1923/1924 English Division One (old)
1922/1923 English Division One (old)
1921/1922 English Division One (old)
1920/1921 English Division One (old)
1919/1920 English Division One (old)
1914/1915 English Division Two (old)
1913/1914 English Division Two (old)
1912/1913 English Division One (old)
1911/1912 English Division One (old)
1910/1911 English Division One (old)
1909/1910 English Division One (old)
1908/1909 English Division One (old)
1907/1908 English Division One (old)
1906/1907 English Division One (old)
1905/1906 English Division One (old)
1904/1905 English Division One (old)
1903/1904 English Division Two (old)
1902/1903 English Division Two (old)
1901/1902 English Division Two (old)
1900/1901 English Division Two (old)
1899/1900 English Division Two (old)
1898/1899 English Division Two (old)
1897/1898 English Division Two (old)
1896/1897 English Division Two (old)
1895/1896 English Division Two (old)
1894/1895 English Division Two (old)
1893/1894 English Division Two (old)
1892/1893 Cup Only
1891/1892 Cup Only
1890/1891 Cup Only

[johntheclaret]

Liverpool

Season League
2007/2008 English Premier League
2006/2007 English Premier League
2005/2006 English Premier League
2004/2005 English Premier League
2003/2004 English Premier League
2002/2003 English Premier League
2001/2002 English Premier League
2000/2001 English Premier League
1999/2000 English Premier League
1998/1999 English Premier League
1997/1998 English Premier League
1996/1997 English Premier League
1995/1996 English Premier League
1994/1995 English Premier League
1993/1994 English Premier League
1992/1993 English Premier League
1991/1992 English Division One (old)
1990/1991 English Division One (old)
1989/1990 English Division One (old)
1988/1989 English Division One (old)
1987/1988 English Division One (old)
1986/1987 English Division One (old)
1985/1986 English Division One (old)
1984/1985 English Division One (old)
1983/1984 English Division One (old)
1982/1983 English Division One (old)
1981/1982 English Division One (old)
1980/1981 English Division One (old)
1979/1980 English Division One (old)
1978/1979 English Division One (old)
1977/1978 English Division One (old)
1976/1977 English Division One (old)
1975/1976 English Division One (old)
1974/1975 English Division One (old)
1973/1974 English Division One (old)
1972/1973 English Division One (old)
1971/1972 English Division One (old)
1970/1971 English Division One (old)
1969/1970 English Division One (old)
1968/1969 English Division One (old)
1967/1968 English Division One (old)
1966/1967 English Division One (old)
1965/1966 English Division One (old)
1964/1965 English Division One (old)
1963/1964 English Division One (old)
1962/1963 English Division One (old)
1961/1962 English Division Two (old)
1960/1961 English Division Two (old)
1959/1960 English Division Two (old)
1958/1959 English Division Two (old)
1957/1958 English Division Two (old)
1956/1957 English Division Two (old)
1955/1956 English Division Two (old)
1954/1955 English Division Two (old)
1953/1954 English Division One (old)
1952/1953 English Division One (old)
1951/1952 English Division One (old)
1950/1951 English Division One (old)
1949/1950 English Division One (old)
1948/1949 English Division One (old)
1947/1948 English Division One (old)
1946/1947 English Division One (old)
1945/1946 Cup Only
1938/1939 English Division One (old)
1937/1938 English Division One (old)
1936/1937 English Division One (old)
1935/1936 English Division One (old)
1934/1935 English Division One (old)
1933/1934 English Division One (old)
1932/1933 English Division One (old)
1931/1932 English Division One (old)
1930/1931 English Division One (old)
1929/1930 English Division One (old)
1928/1929 English Division One (old)
1927/1928 English Division One (old)
1926/1927 English Division One (old)
1925/1926 English Division One (old)
1924/1925 English Division One (old)
1923/1924 English Division One (old)
1922/1923 English Division One (old)
1921/1922 English Division One (old)
1920/1921 English Division One (old)
1919/1920 English Division One (old)
1914/1915 English Division One (old)
1913/1914 English Division One (old)
1912/1913 English Division One (old)
1911/1912 English Division One (old)
1910/1911 English Division One (old)
1909/1910 English Division One (old)
1908/1909 English Division One (old)
1907/1908 English Division One (old)
1906/1907 English Division One (old)
1905/1906 English Division One (old)
1904/1905 English Division Two (old)
1903/1904 English Division One (old)
1902/1903 English Division One (old)
1901/1902 English Division One (old)
1900/1901 English Division One (old)
1899/1900 English Division One (old)
1898/1899 English Division One (old)
1897/1898 English Division One (old)
1896/1897 English Division One (old)
1895/1896 English Division Two (old)
1894/1895 English Division One (old)
1893/1894 English Division Two (old)

[johntheclaret]

Depending how you view it, ther could be a few more clubs to add to the list
e.g. Accrington FC

Season League
1893/1894 Cup Only
1892/1893 English Division One (old)
1891/1892 English Football League
1890/1891 English Football League
1889/1890 English Football League
1888/1889 English Football League
1887/1888 Cup Only

On this basis they never played league football outside the top division.

[johntheclaret]

Another stat that might raise a few eyebrows.

If you take every win draw and loss for each club and put them into a table based on total points gained the top 10 would look like this:

Pos..Team.Pts
1 Man Utd 5524
2 Liverpool 5469
3 Arsenal 5308
4 Wolves 5082
5 Preston 5072
6 Aston V 4975
7 Sunderland 4975
8 Sheff Utd 4964
9 Everton 4961
10 Burnley 4942

It was always going to be the top 10

[Royal City]

Sunderland have only played one season in the third tier, 1987/88, and won it in a canter. I still have the championship video from that season!

Man City also only spent one season there as well I think.

[Dirko]

Derby have dropped down to the third division, twice. Spent a year there then the following got promoted, 4 years total in the lower divisions...

[johntheclaret]

Sunderland have only played one season in the third tier, 1987/88, and won it in a canter. I still have the championship video from that season!

Man City also only spent one season there as well I think.

Here ya go RC

Season 87/88
..................P....GD Pt
1 Sunderland 46 +44 93
2 Brighton & HA 46 +22 84
3 Walsall 46 +18 82
4 Notts Co 46 +33 81
5 Bristol City 46 +15 75
6 Northampton 46 +19 73
7 Wigan Ath 46 +9 72
8 Bristol Rov 46 +12 66
9 Fulham 46 +9 66
10 Blackpool 46 +9 65
11 Port Vale 46 +2 65
12 Brentford 46 -6 62
13 Gillingham 46 +16 59
14 Bury 46 +1 59
15 Chester 46 -11 58
16 Preston NE 46 -11 58
17 Southend 46 -18 55
18 Chesterfield 46 -29 55
19 Mansfield 46 -11 54
20 Aldershot 46 -10 53
21 Rotherham 46 -16 52
22 Grimsby Town 46 -10 50
23 York City 46 -43 33
24 Doncaster Rov 46 -44 33

There are 3 EPL sides in the 3rd div this season, Wigan, Fulham and Sunderland

And 2 teams that are no longer in the league, York and Aldershot

[johntheclaret]

Sunderland have only played one season in the third tier, 1987/88, and won it in a canter. I still have the championship video from that season!

Man City also only spent one season there as well I think.

Spot on RC. City played 3rd Division football in 98/99 season

19 Port Vale 46 (56) 49
20 Portsmouth 46 (51) 49
20 Q P R 46 (51) 49
----------------------------
22 Manchester City 46 (56) 48
23 Stoke City 46 (44) 46
24 Reading 46 (39) 42

PS. Look who finished bottom and look who finshed 5th bottom, 1 point away.

Another good year for the cats though, they won promotion to the 1st Div (EPL).
Another shocker Oxford Utd finished 12th in Div 2 this year, and within 8 years they were relegated out of the league. And how's this for coincidence, Oxford Utd replaced Accrington Stanley in the league 44 years ago, guess who replaced Oxford Utd in the league, yep you guessed it Accrington Stanley.

Speaking of titanic falls, Burnley finished 6th in the old 1st Div (EPL as it is now) and within 10 years they had to win their last game to stay in the league. 18,000 were at Turf Moor to witness The Clarets beat Leyton Orient 2 -1. That year Oreint needed a draw to get in the play-off's. Burnley survived in Div 4 and the rest as they say, is history.

[Dogwatcher]

What happened to York and Aldershot?

[johntheclaret]

What happened to York and Aldershot?

Aldershot went bust in the 90/91 season and couldn't complete their fixtures. I remember this year Burnley beat them 2 but had their 6 points deducted as did everyone else who beat them. they have since re-formed and have just won the Blue Sq Conference Premiership and will be joining the league next year.

As for York city, they were relegated to teh non leagues in 2003/2004 season and have been in the Conference ever since. Burnley won their 4th Division Championship at York and Chris Brass, ex-Clarets Skipper was the manager there when they were relegation to the Conference

[McAlmanac]

Following on from a post in the Promotion / Relegation Thread, by Drebin, I thought i would follow it up with a bit of background

Who are the other 8 mate?

Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham.

along with Leicester City

... who are having a fair crack at spoiling their record this season!

[drebin]

Following on from a post in the Promotion / Relegation Thread, by Drebin, I thought i would follow it up with a bit of background

Who are the other 8 mate?

Arsenal, Chelsea, Everton, Liverpool, Manchester United, Newcastle, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham.

along with Leicester City

... who are having a fair crack at spoiling their record this season!

Ain't that the truth. Frustrations boiled over last Sat. when a good mate of a mate of mine ran out onto the Walkers, stopped play (ironically when Leicester were attacking). "Mac" sprinted across the pitch up the wing and stopped in front of the Coaches Dugout and looked up at the Directors Box and waved his season ticket in the direction of Mandric and the directors and then he tore it up.

He got arrested and charged an looks like facing a life ban although rumours are that the club might show some sympathy in the circmstances - especially after Radio BBC Commentators said at the time it was the only display of pace outwide that Leicester showed all day! Funny considering he is in his late 40's, this is a guy who admins and runs a LCFC Fans Forum - Bentley's Roof and is as diehard as you get. I'll try and find the pic sent to me by my mate and post it.

He's feeling pretty stupid now although he has somewhat obtained cult staus as a result of "flying the flag" on behalf of the supporters who are enduring a horrible season where we have failed to win 2 games in a row but now will have to to avoid the dreaded drop to league 1.

[Royal City]

Can certainly sympathise. Sometimes such drastic action is the only thing that directors understand ie. the fan protests at Brighton over a decade ago. I was at one of those 'Fans United' days at the Goldstone Ground in the 96 season and the actions of those games probably saved Brighton as a club.

[drebin]

Here's the pic



This is a copy of the article that appeared this week in the Leicester Mercury:

A lifelong Leicester City fan who invaded the pitch during a match to try to hand his season ticket back to club owner Milan Mandaric now says he regrets his actions.

Robert McCoy, 46, was arrested during Saturday's game at the Walkers Stadium against Colchester United. Speaking to the Leicester Mercury for the first time about his protest, he said felt "embarrassed" by his actions.

Mr McCoy, who has been going to games for 36 years runs a website called Bentley's Roof. He said: "It was a spur of the moment thing and wasn't something I had planned."

He is now due to appear at Leicester Magistrates' Court charged with going on to the playing area at a football match under the Football Offences Act 1991. He has said he will be pleading guilty at the hearing on Tuesday, April 29. The Football Offences Act allows magistrates to impose a ban from grounds or a restriction order.

Mr McCoy said that he had originally not planned to go to the game on the day and was in the club's memorial garden before the match. He said: "It was my brother's birthday on that day and he had died eight years ago. It started to rain and I thought I might as well go into the stadium. It was a really frustrating game and at the time I felt I needed to say or do something to show how upset I was. I just walked on to the pitch. It wasn't a protest against Ian Holloway, but Milan Mandaric because I felt fed up with how the club has gone backwards in the last four years. I felt embarrassed and regretted doing it almost immediately. It's not something I ever contemplated doing when I went into the game. I just love the club and I'm sad at how it's going."

Rupert Mathias, a spokesman for Bentley's Roof, was sitting next to him during the game and described it as a "moment of madness". He said: "I can remember him saying he had enough and was going to do something. I told him not to and we should just leave the match. As I was making my way to the exit, he walked past the stewards and calmly strolled across the pitch to wave his season ticket. I know he regretted it straightaway. It's just not something you would expect him to do."

Mr Mathias said that Mr McCoy was a loyal fan who had also done a lot of fund-raising for the family of Bernard Murphy, an Everton fan killed when he was hit by flying debris as he walked to the Walkers Stadium for a game in March, 2004.

A Leicester City spokesman said: "We are treating this matter very seriously, but whilst police investigations are on-going, we are unable to comment further at this time."

[Dogwatcher]

I know your mate says he regrets those actions now - but what a great stand for a passionate club man! It takes a small voice to sow the seeds of change.
He should not be embarrassed by his actions. That is a fantastic photo and one, if I was him, would have over my bar.
This is a much more impressive show of support for a club, then those who indulge in hooliganism.

How do you know him Drebin?

[drebin]

I know your mate says he regrets those actions now - but what a great stand for a passionate club man! It takes a small voice to sow the seeds of change.
He should not be embarrassed by his actions. That is a fantastic photo and one, if I was him, would have over my bar.
This is a much more impressive show of support for a club, then those who indulge in hooliganism.

How do you know him Drebin?

I only know "Mac" via the net / forums, I have never met him personally but hope to one day (as well as a heap of others who use the bentleys roof forum) but one of his best mates, who now lives in Adelaide and is a life long passionate LCFC supporter is a very close mate of mine.

If you come down the bay most Sundays you will see Geoff and me, kitted out in a variety of Leicester shirts from over the years, drowning our sorrows at another mates bar / bistro (Fizz on the Beach) at Holdfast Shores.

[Dogwatcher]

If I lived in the city it would sound like a lovely option for a slow Sunday!