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Football records and statistics in England

This article concerns football records in England. Unless otherwise stated, records are taken from the Football League or Premier League. Where a different record exists for the top flight (Football League First Division 1888–1992, and Premier League 1992–present), this is also given. This article includes clubs based in Wales that compete in English leagues.

League

The original league saw twelve teams become the founding members of the Football League in 1888–89: Accrington, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Everton, Preston North End, Aston Villa, Derby County, Notts County, Stoke, West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Three of the teams (Blackburn Rovers, Everton and Aston Villa) also played in the first Premier League season in 1992–93, but Notts County missed out, finishing in the relegation zone in 1991–92.

A second division was added four years later for the 1892–93 season, resulting in the Football League now becoming the Football League First Division, the top division for the next one hundred years. The Southern League became Division 3 in 1920. A Northern League formed the following year that became Division Three North. In 1958 the regional divisions combined to form the Third Division and a national Fourth Division. The top 12 sides from the Northern and Southern divisions formed the Third Division, whilst the bottom 12 of the respective divisions formed the new fourth tier.

Nine clubs have reached double figures of league titles, with Liverpool and Manchester United leading the chasing pack. Five clubs have managed to win all four divisions, while a further seven clubs need the top title to complete the full set. Luton Town have technically also won four different divisions, albeit one of these was the National League (the first tier of English non-league football) in 2014.

For the 1919–20 season, the first season after the First World War, Arsenal were controversially elected in to the first division, despite finishing fifth in the last season before the outbreak of war in the second division. However, they have remained at this level ever since. Arsenal had once previously won promotion after finishing second behind Preston North End in the 1903–04 season, staying there until finishing bottom in 1912–13. Other clubs won elections to play in the first division. Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United in 1898, Bury and Notts County in 1905 and Chelsea (alongside Arsenal) in 1919 were also elected to the top flight. Blackburn later won division 2 in 1938–39, and Newcastle United finished runners-up in 1947–48. Notts County became second division champions in 1913–14, while Bury would finish runners-up in 1923–24. In the 1929–30 season, Chelsea finished second behind Blackpool. Arsenal, still to this day, have the unenviable record as being the only club who have never earned their place in the top flight, through their league position, after being elected in the 1919–20 season.

Holding the record of continuous seasons, Arsenal are some way ahead of other clubs who have suffered relegation. Everton spent three years in the second division before finishing as runners-up to Leicester City in the 1953–54 season. Neighbours Liverpool, after having spent eight years outside the top division, won the second division title in the 1961–62 season. Manchester United bounced straight back up in 1974–75, after finishing second bottom in 1973–74. This would be Manchester United's last football league title before the birth of the Premier League, in their only time outside the top division since the end of the Second World War. Tottenham Hotspur also spent a season in the Second Division; similarly to Manchester United, it is the only time they have been outside the top flight since 1950. In 1976–77, Spurs conceded 72 goals as they finished bottom; the following season, they finished third in the second division to earn promotion back to the top flight. Chelsea have been in the top flight since 1989 after winning the second division, while Manchester City one of the founders of the premier league spent 5 years out of the top flight but were present there since their 2002 promotion as Division 1 (2nd Tier) Winners. The 1998–99 season saw Manchester City earn promotion from Division 2 (currently known as League One), after winning a penalty shootout against Gillingham in the play-off final. City finished as runners-up to Charlton Athletic in Division 1 (currently known as the Championship) the following season, then made an immediate return after relegation in 2001, before securing their seventh second division title.

Unlike many European clubs that have never played outside their country's top division, no English club can claim that achievement. 65 clubs have played at the top level, six clubs have never returned, and the rest, apart from Arsenal, have secured promotion from the second division. Glossop, Leyton Orient, Northampton Town, Carlisle United, Swindon Town, and Barnsley have completed only one season in the top flight. The club that can boast playing the most seasons in the top tier is Everton, who are about to play their 121st season there (out of a possible 125 league seasons). The city of Liverpool has always been represented in footballs top tier. While Everton suffered relegation in 1930, Liverpool remained, though Everton instantly returned to the top flight a year later. After three years in the second division from 1951 to 1954, Everton won promotion to the First Division, swapping places with Liverpool who had been relegated; it would be eight years later that under Bill Shankly, Liverpool were promoted from the second division.

Division 1 and Premier League, as of the 2025–26 season

Division 1 and Premier League, as of the 2025–26 season

<nowiki>**</nowiki> Six seasons lost due to World War II, and one season abandoned.

Division 1 and Premier League, as of the 2025–26 season

<nowiki>**</nowiki> Six seasons lost due to World War II, and one season abandoned.

Champions of England

Twenty four different football clubs have been crowned English champions since the league began in 1888. In 2020, Liverpool ended a 30-year wait to become league champions again, however this is nowhere near the longest wait in history to once again be the English champions. Preston North End won the first two league titles but have never won it since 1890. Sheffield United won in 1898 but no second title has yet arrived. Their neighbours, Sheffield Wednesday, have won the league more recently than them, but have not added to their tally of four league titles, with their most recent success coming in 1930. Huddersfield Town won a hat-trick of titles between 1924 and 1926, but nearly a century later no fourth title has been added.

It is approaching 100 years since Newcastle United were English champions while Tottenham Hotspur have now gone 63 years without any league titles. Chelsea had to wait 50 years before their first Premier League success in 2005, although they did win the second division twice in the 1980s.

Manchester City endured 44 barren years before winning the league title in 2012. Manchester United went 41 years without the top title, but that time period includes two world wars, with eleven seasons lost. Arsenal, meanwhile, are currently in their longest period without a league title since first becoming English champions in 1931, with their last triumph coming in 2004. Arsenal went 18 years without a title twice, 1953 until 1971, then again until 1989.

In the lower leagues Leicester City hold the record for most second tier titles with eight. Behind are Sunderland, Sheffield Wednesday and Norwich City all with five. The third tier record is held by Plymouth Argyle. Winning League 1 in the 2022-23 season moved them to outright holders, ahead of Portsmouth, Bristol City, Doncaster Rovers, Wigan Athletic and Hull City. Doncaster Rovers and Chesterfield share the fourth tier record, both with four titles, ahead of Notts County, Brentford and Swindon Town with three titles.

Titles

Representation

Wins

Draws

Losses

Points

Games without a win

Games without defeat

Goals

Scorelines

Disciplinary

Transfers

Individual

Appearances

  • Most career league appearances: 1,005 (Record 848 in the top-flight), Peter Shilton
  • Most career league appearances by an outfield player: 931, Tony Ford (1975 to 2002)
  • Most career league appearances at one club: 789, Dean Lewington (Milton Keynes Dons)
  • Most career top-flight league appearances by an outfield player: 714 John Hollins 1963 to 1984
  • Most career top-flight league appearances at one club: 672, Ryan Giggs (Manchester United, 2 March 1991 to 6 May 2014)
  • Most career consecutive league appearances: 375, Harold Bell (Tranmere Rovers), 1946 to 1955 (401 consecutive club games including 26 FA Cup appearances)

Goals

Hat-trick of penalties

Other records

FA Cup

Final

Team

Individual

All rounds

Top scorers

League Cup

Final

All rounds

All-time top scorers

FA Charity / Community Shield

Final

All competitions

  • Fastest century of goals scored during a Premier League season (in fewest no. of games played): 103 goals scored in 34 games by Manchester City in season 2013–14. Previous record: 100 goals scored in 42 games by Chelsea in season 2012–13 (excludes games played / goals scored in FA Community Shield (1/2), UEFA Super Cup (1/1) and FIFA Club World Cup (2/3)).
  • Fastest century of goals scored during a Premier League season (in elapsed calendar days): 103 goals scored on 18 January 2014 by Manchester City in 2013–14. Previous record: 100 goals scored on 21 February 2013 by Chelsea in season 2012–13 (excludes games played / goals scored in FA Community Shield (1/2), UEFA Super Cup (1/1) and FIFA Club World Cup (2/3)).
  • Most consecutive penalty shoot-out wins: 9 by Bradford City between 6 October 2009 and 11 December 2012
  • Football League Cup (fifth round), 11 December 2012, Bradford City beat Arsenal 3–2 on penalties (score 1–1 after extra time)
  • FA Cup (second round proper replay), 13 November 2012, Bradford City beat Northampton Town 4–2 on penalties (score 3–3 after extra time)
  • Football League Cup (fourth round), 30 October 2012, Bradford City beat Wigan Athletic 4–2 on penalties (score 0–0 after extra time)
  • Football League Trophy (second round), 9 October 2012, Bradford City beat Hartlepool United 3–2 on penalties (score 0–0 after normal time)
  • Football League Trophy (quarter-finals), 8 November 2011, Bradford City beat Sheffield United 6–5 on penalties (score 1–1 after normal time)
  • Football League Trophy (second round), 4 October 2011, Bradford City beat Huddersfield Town 4–3 on penalties (score 2–2 after normal time)
  • Football League Trophy (first round), 30 August 2011, Bradford City beat Sheffield Wednesday 3–1 on penalties (score 0–0 after normal time)
  • Football League Trophy (quarter-finals), 10 November 2009, Bradford City beat Port Vale 5–4 on penalties (score 2–2 after normal time)
  • Football League Trophy (second round), 6 October 2009, Bradford City beat Notts County 3–2 on penalties (score 2–2 after normal time)
  • Fastest penalty awarded: 6 seconds. Chester v Witton Albion – 13 December 2016. Referee Joseph Johnson awarded a penalty when Blaine Hudson upended Tolani Omotola after six seconds.

Attendance records

List of English record competition winners

These tables list the clubs that have won honours an English record number of times. It lists all international competitions organised by UEFA and FIFA as well as competitions organised by the English governing bodies the English Football League, the Premier League, and The Football Association.

Managers

Footnotes

See also

References

External links