The Football League First Division was the top division of the Football League in England from 1888 until the end of the 1991–92 season, when its teams broke away to form the Premier League. From 1992 to 2004, the name First Division was given to what had previously been called the Second Division. After the 2003–04 season, the division was renamed the Football League Championship (now EFL Championship, with the division below it called EFL League One).

The First Division contained between 12 and 24 clubs, playing each other home and away in a double round robin. The competition was based on two points for a win from 1888 until the increase to three points for a win in the year 1981.

History

The Football League was founded in 1888 by Aston Villa director William McGregor. 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), known as The Football League. When the League admitted additional members from the rival Football Alliance in 1892, it was split into two divisions.

For the next 100 years, the First Division was the top professional league in English football. In 1992, the 22 clubs making up the First Division elected to resign from the Football League and set up the Premier League. The Football League was consequently re-organised, with the Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions renamed the First, Second, and Third respectively. Thus, the First Division, while still the top level of the Football League, became the second level of the entire English football league system.

The First Division was renamed the Football League Championship prior to the start of the 2004–05 season, as part of a league-wide rebrand. The Football League rebranded itself as the English Football League prior to the 2016–17 season, with its top level becoming the EFL Championship at that time.

Liverpool were the most frequent winners of the First Division when it was the top flight of English football, winning it a total of 18 times.

Trophy and players' medals

The Football League First Division trophy was first awarded in 1891, and was presented to the winners through to 1992. The Football League First Division trophy was temporarily retired in 1983-84 through to 1985-86 and replaced by League sponsors Canon's very own trophy.

As of the 1947–48 season, making seven appearances for their club during the season was not enough for a player to qualify for a winners medal.

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.

First Division champions

The Football League First Division between 1888 and 1992 was the highest tier in English football.

Football League First Division Champions
ClubTitlesWinning seasons
Liverpool181900–01, 1905–06, 1921–22, 1922–23, 1946–47, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90
Arsenal101930–31, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1937–38, 1947–48, 1952–53, 1970–71, 1988–89, 1990–91
Everton91890–91, 1914–15, 1927–28, 1931–32, 1938–39, 1962–63, 1969–70, 1984–85, 1986–87
Manchester United71907–08, 1910–11, 1951–52, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1964–65, 1966–67
Aston Villa71893–94, 1895–96, 1896–97, 1898–99, 1899–1900, 1909–10, 1980–81
Sunderland61891–92, 1892–93, 1894–95, 1901–02, 1912–13, 1935–36
Newcastle United41904–05, 1906–07, 1908–09, 1926–27
Sheffield Wednesday41902–03, 1903–04, 1928–29, 1929–30
Huddersfield Town31923–24, 1924–25, 1925–26
Wolverhampton Wanderers31953–54, 1957–58, 1958–59
Leeds United31968–69, 1973–74, 1991–92
Preston North End21888–89, 1889–90
Blackburn Rovers21911–12, 1913–14
Portsmouth21948–49, 1949–50
Burnley21920–21, 1959–60
Tottenham Hotspur21950–51, 1960–61
Manchester City21936–37, 1967–68
Derby County21971–72, 1974–75
Sheffield United11897–98
West Bromwich Albion11919–20
Chelsea11954–55
Ipswich Town11961–62
Nottingham Forest11977–78

From the start of the 1992–93 season, the first division became the second tier in English football. The champions would now be promoted to the Premier League. The 2003–04 season would be the last before rebranding as the Championship.

ClubTitlesWinning seasons
Sunderland21995–96, 1998–99
Newcastle United11992–93
Crystal Palace11993–94
Middlesbrough11994–95
Bolton Wanderers11996–97
Nottingham Forest11997–98
Charlton Athletic11999–2000
Fulham12000–01
Manchester City12001–02
Portsmouth12002–03
Norwich City12003–04

First Division all-time top scorers

RankPlayerYearsGoalsMatchesRatioClub(s)
1England Jimmy Greaves1957–19723575160.69Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United
2England Steve Bloomer1892–19143145350.59Derby County, Middlesbrough
3England Dixie Dean1924–19383103620.86Everton
4England Gordon Hodgson1925–19402884550.63Liverpool, Aston Villa, Leeds United
5England Charlie Buchan1912–19282584810.53Sunderland, Arsenal
6England David Jack1920–19342574760.54Bolton Wanderers, Arsenal
7England Nat Lofthouse1946–19602554520.56Bolton Wanderers
8England Joe Bradford1921–19352484100.60Birmingham City
9Scotland Hughie Gallacher1925–19382463550.69Newcastle United, Chelsea, Derby County, Grimsby Town
10England Joe Smith1908–19272434160.58Bolton Wanderers

First Division all-time most appearances

RankPlayerYearsMatchesGoalsClub(s)
1England Peter Shilton1965–19918481Leicester City, Stoke City, Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Derby County
2England John Hollins1963–198371460Chelsea, Queens Park Rangers, Arsenal
3England Ray Clemence1968–19887100Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur
4Northern Ireland Pat Jennings1964–19857090Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal
5England Martin Peters1961–1980688169West Ham United, Tottenham Hotspur, Norwich City
6England Mick Mills1965–198566025Ipswich Town, Southampton
7England Alan Ball1962–1983632158Blackpool, Everton, Arsenal, Southampton
8England Stanley Matthews1933–196563167Stoke City, Blackpool
9England Steve Perryman1969–198763030Tottenham Hotspur, Oxford United
10England Ian Callaghan1962–197861049Liverpool

See also