Football League First Division
England · From 1888 to 1992
The top level of English football from 1888 to 1992 was known as the Football League First Division. It was founded in 1888 as part of the Football League, initially featuring 12 clubs competing in a round-robin format. Over time, the league expanded and evolved, eventually including up to 22–24 teams, reflecting the growing popularity and professionalism of the sport in England.
For more than a century, the First Division represented the pinnacle of English football. Clubs played each other home and away, and the team with the most points at the end of the season was crowned champion. The league also introduced important changes over time, such as switching from two points for a win to three points in 1981, which encouraged more attacking play.
For more than a century, the First Division represented the pinnacle of English football. Clubs played each other home and away, and the team with the most points at the end of the season was crowned champion. The league also introduced important changes over time, such as switching from two points for a win to three points in 1981, which encouraged more attacking play.
| Season | Champion | Runner-up | 3rd place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991-92 |
Leeds United FC
|
Manchester United FC
|
Sheffield Wednesday FC
|
| 1990-91 |
Arsenal FC
|
Liverpool FC
|
Crystal Palace FC
|
| 1989-90 |
Liverpool FC
|
Aston Villa FC
|
Tottenham Hotspur FC
|
| 1988-89 |
Arsenal FC
|
Liverpool FC
|
Nottingham Forest FC
|
| 1987-88 |
Liverpool FC
|
Manchester United FC
|
Nottingham Forest FC
|
| 1986-87 |
Everton FC
|
Liverpool FC
|
Tottenham Hotspur FC
|
| 1985-86 |
Liverpool FC
|
Everton FC
|
West Ham United FC
|
| 1984-85 |
Everton FC
|
Liverpool FC
|
Tottenham Hotspur FC
|
| 1983-84 |
Liverpool FC
|
Southampton FC
|
Nottingham Forest FC
|
| 1982-83 |
Liverpool FC
|
Watford FC
|
Manchester United FC
|
| 1981-82 |
Liverpool FC
|
Ipswich Town FC
|
Manchester United FC
|
| 1980-81 |
Aston Villa FC
|
Ipswich Town FC
|
Arsenal FC
|
| 1979-80 |
Liverpool FC
|
Manchester United FC
|
Ipswich Town FC
|
| 1978-79 |
Liverpool FC
|
Nottingham Forest FC
|
West Bromwich Albion FC
|
| 1977-78 |
Nottingham Forest FC
|
Liverpool FC
|
Everton FC
|
| 1976-77 |
Liverpool FC
|
Manchester City FC
|
Ipswich Town FC
|
| 1975-76 |
Liverpool FC
|
Queens Park Rangers FC
|
Manchester United FC
|
| 1974-75 |
Derby County FC
|
Liverpool FC
|
Ipswich Town FC
|
| 1973-74 |
Leeds United FC
|
Liverpool FC
|
Derby County FC
|
| 1972-73 |
Liverpool FC
|
Arsenal FC
|
Leeds United FC
|
| 1971-72 |
Derby County FC
|
Leeds United FC
|
Liverpool FC
|
| 1970-71 |
Arsenal FC
|
Leeds United FC
|
Tottenham Hotspur FC
|
| 1969-70 |
Everton FC
|
Leeds United FC
|
Chelsea FC
|
| 1968-69 |
Leeds United FC
|
Liverpool FC
|
Everton FC
|
| 1967-68 |
Manchester City FC
|
Manchester United FC
|
Liverpool FC
|
| 1966-67 |
Manchester United FC
|
Nottingham Forest FC
|
Tottenham Hotspur FC
|
| 1965-66 |
Liverpool FC
|
Leeds United FC
|
Burnley FC
|
| 1964-65 |
Manchester United FC
|
Leeds United FC
|
Chelsea FC
|
| 1963-64 |
Liverpool FC
|
Manchester United FC
|
Everton FC
|
| 1962-63 |
Everton FC
|
Tottenham Hotspur FC
|
Burnley FC
|
| 1961-62 |
Ipswich Town FC
|
Burnley FC
|
Tottenham Hotspur FC
|
| 1960-61 |
Tottenham Hotspur FC
|
Sheffield Wednesday FC
|
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
|
| 1959-60 |
Burnley FC
|
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
|
Tottenham Hotspur FC
|
| 1958-59 |
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
|
Manchester United FC
|
Arsenal FC
|
| 1957-58 |
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
|
Preston North End FC
|
Tottenham Hotspur FC
|
| 1956-57 |
Manchester United FC
|
Tottenham Hotspur FC
|
Preston North End FC
|
| 1955-56 |
Manchester United FC
|
Blackpool FC
|
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
|
| 1954-55 |
Chelsea FC
|
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
|
Portsmouth FC
|
| 1953-54 |
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
|
West Bromwich Albion FC
|
Huddersfield Town AFC
|
| 1952-53 |
Arsenal FC
|
Preston North End FC
|
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
|
| 1951-52 |
Manchester United FC
|
Tottenham Hotspur FC
|
Arsenal FC
|
| 1950-51 |
Tottenham Hotspur FC
|
Manchester United FC
|
Blackpool FC
|
| 1949-50 |
Portsmouth FC
|
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
|
Sunderland AFC
|
| 1948-49 |
Portsmouth FC
|
Manchester United FC
|
Derby County FC
|
| 1947-48 |
Arsenal FC
|
Manchester United FC
|
Burnley FC
|
| 1946-47 |
Liverpool FC
|
Manchester United FC
|
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
|
| 1938-39 |
Everton FC
|
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
|
Charlton Athletic FC
|
| 1937-38 |
Arsenal FC
|
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
|
Preston North End FC
|
| 1936-37 |
Manchester City FC
|
Charlton Athletic FC
|
Arsenal FC
|
| 1935-36 |
Sunderland AFC
|
Derby County FC
|
Huddersfield Town AFC
|
| 1934-35 |
Arsenal FC
|
Sunderland AFC
|
Sheffield Wednesday FC
|
| 1933-34 |
Arsenal FC
|
Huddersfield Town AFC
|
Tottenham Hotspur FC
|
| 1932-33 |
Arsenal FC
|
Aston Villa FC
|
Sheffield Wednesday FC
|
| 1931-32 |
Everton FC
|
Arsenal FC
|
Sheffield Wednesday FC
|
| 1930-31 |
Arsenal FC
|
Aston Villa FC
|
Sheffield Wednesday FC
|
| 1929-30 |
Sheffield Wednesday FC
|
Derby County FC
|
Manchester City FC
|
| 1928-29 |
Sheffield Wednesday FC
|
Leicester City FC
|
Aston Villa FC
|
| 1927-28 |
Everton FC
|
Huddersfield Town AFC
|
Leicester City FC
|
| 1926-27 |
Newcastle United FC
|
Huddersfield Town AFC
|
Sunderland AFC
|
| 1925-26 |
Huddersfield Town AFC
|
Arsenal FC
|
Sunderland AFC
|
| 1924-25 |
Huddersfield Town AFC
|
West Bromwich Albion FC
|
Bolton Wanderers FC
|
| 1923-24 |
Huddersfield Town AFC
|
Cardiff City FC
|
Sunderland AFC
|
| 1922-23 |
Liverpool FC
|
Sunderland AFC
|
Huddersfield Town AFC
|
| 1921-22 |
Liverpool FC
|
Tottenham Hotspur FC
|
Burnley FC
|
| 1920-21 |
Burnley FC
|
Manchester City FC
|
Bolton Wanderers FC
|
| 1919-20 |
West Bromwich Albion FC
|
Burnley FC
|
Chelsea FC
|
| 1914-15 |
Everton FC
|
Oldham Athletic AFC
|
Blackburn Rovers FC
|
| 1913-14 |
Blackburn Rovers FC
|
Aston Villa FC
|
Middlesbrough FC
|
| 1912-13 |
Sunderland AFC
|
Aston Villa FC
|
Sheffield Wednesday FC
|
| 1911-12 |
Blackburn Rovers FC
|
Everton FC
|
Newcastle United FC
|
| 1910-11 |
Manchester United FC
|
Aston Villa FC
|
Sunderland AFC
|
| 1909-10 |
Aston Villa FC
|
Liverpool FC
|
Blackburn Rovers FC
|
| 1908-09 |
Newcastle United FC
|
Everton FC
|
Sunderland AFC
|
| 1907-08 |
Manchester United FC
|
Aston Villa FC
|
Manchester City FC
|
| 1906-07 |
Newcastle United FC
|
Bristol City FC
|
Everton FC
|
| 1905-06 |
Liverpool FC
|
Preston North End FC
|
Sheffield Wednesday FC
|
| 1904-05 |
Newcastle United FC
|
Everton FC
|
Manchester City FC
|
| 1903-04 |
Sheffield Wednesday FC
|
Manchester City FC
|
Everton FC
|
| 1902-03 |
Sheffield Wednesday FC
|
Aston Villa FC
|
Sunderland AFC
|
| 1901-02 |
Sunderland AFC
|
Everton FC
|
Newcastle United FC
|
| 1900-01 |
Liverpool FC
|
Sunderland AFC
|
Notts County FC
|
| 1899-00 |
Aston Villa FC
|
Sheffield United FC
|
Sunderland AFC
|
| 1898-99 |
Aston Villa FC
|
Liverpool FC
|
Burnley FC
|
| 1897-98 |
Sheffield United FC
|
Sunderland AFC
|
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
|
| 1896-97 |
Aston Villa FC
|
Sheffield United FC
|
Derby County FC
|
| 1895-96 |
Aston Villa FC
|
Derby County FC
|
Everton FC
|
| 1894-95 |
Sunderland AFC
|
Everton FC
|
Aston Villa FC
|
| 1893-94 |
Aston Villa FC
|
Sunderland AFC
|
Derby County FC
|
| 1892-93 |
Sunderland AFC
|
Preston North End FC
|
Everton FC
|
| 1891-92 |
Sunderland AFC
|
Preston North End FC
|
Bolton Wanderers FC
|
| 1890-91 |
Everton FC
|
Preston North End FC
|
Notts County FC
|
| 1889-90 |
Preston North End FC
|
Everton FC
|
Blackburn Rovers FC
|
| 1888-89 |
Preston North End FC
|
Aston Villa FC
|
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
|
| # | Club | Count | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Liverpool FC
|
18 | 1900-01, 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 |
| 10 | 1898-99, 1909-10, 1968-69, 1973-74, 1974-75, 1977-78, 1984-85, 1986-87, 1988-89, 1990-91 | ||
| 2 | 1967-68, 1971-72 | ||
| 2 |
Arsenal FC
|
10 | 1930-31, 1932-33, 1933-34, 1934-35, 1937-38, 1947-48, 1952-53, 1970-71, 1988-89, 1990-91 |
| 3 | 1925-26, 1931-32, 1972-73 | ||
| 4 | 1936-37, 1951-52, 1958-59, 1980-81 | ||
| 3 |
Everton FC
|
9 | 1890-91, 1914-15, 1927-28, 1931-32, 1938-39, 1962-63, 1969-70, 1984-85, 1986-87 |
| 7 | 1889-90, 1894-95, 1901-02, 1904-05, 1908-09, 1911-12, 1985-86 | ||
| 7 | 1892-93, 1895-96, 1903-04, 1906-07, 1963-64, 1968-69, 1977-78 | ||
| 4 |
Manchester United FC
|
7 | 1907-08, 1910-11, 1951-52, 1955-56, 1956-57, 1964-65, 1966-67 |
| 10 | 1946-47, 1947-48, 1948-49, 1950-51, 1958-59, 1963-64, 1967-68, 1979-80, 1987-88, 1991-92 | ||
| 3 | 1975-76, 1981-82, 1982-83 | ||
| 5 |
Aston Villa FC
|
7 | 1893-94, 1895-96, 1896-97, 1898-99, 1899-00, 1909-10, 1980-81 |
| 9 | 1888-89, 1902-03, 1907-08, 1910-11, 1912-13, 1913-14, 1930-31, 1932-33, 1989-90 | ||
| 2 | 1894-95, 1928-29 | ||
| 6 |
Sunderland AFC
|
6 | 1891-92, 1892-93, 1894-95, 1901-02, 1912-13, 1935-36 |
| 5 | 1893-94, 1897-98, 1900-01, 1922-23, 1934-35 | ||
| 8 | 1899-00, 1902-03, 1908-09, 1910-11, 1923-24, 1925-26, 1926-27, 1949-50 | ||
| 7 |
Sheffield Wednesday FC
|
4 | 1902-03, 1903-04, 1928-29, 1929-30 |
| 1 | 1960-61 | ||
| 7 | 1905-06, 1912-13, 1930-31, 1931-32, 1932-33, 1934-35, 1991-92 | ||
| 8 |
Newcastle United FC
|
4 | 1904-05, 1906-07, 1908-09, 1926-27 |
| 0 | — | ||
| 2 | 1901-02, 1911-12 | ||
| 9 |
Wolverhampton Wanderers FC
|
3 | 1953-54, 1957-58, 1958-59 |
| 5 | 1937-38, 1938-39, 1949-50, 1954-55, 1959-60 | ||
| 6 | 1888-89, 1897-98, 1946-47, 1952-53, 1955-56, 1960-61 | ||
| 10 |
Leeds United FC
|
3 | 1968-69, 1973-74, 1991-92 |
| 5 | 1964-65, 1965-66, 1969-70, 1970-71, 1971-72 | ||
| 1 | 1972-73 | ||
| 11 |
Huddersfield Town AFC
|
3 | 1923-24, 1924-25, 1925-26 |
| 3 | 1926-27, 1927-28, 1933-34 | ||
| 3 | 1922-23, 1935-36, 1953-54 | ||
| 12 |
Preston North End FC
|
2 | 1888-89, 1889-90 |
| 6 | 1890-91, 1891-92, 1892-93, 1905-06, 1952-53, 1957-58 | ||
| 2 | 1937-38, 1956-57 | ||
| 13 |
Tottenham Hotspur FC
|
2 | 1950-51, 1960-61 |
| 4 | 1921-22, 1951-52, 1956-57, 1962-63 | ||
| 9 | 1933-34, 1957-58, 1959-60, 1961-62, 1966-67, 1970-71, 1984-85, 1986-87, 1989-90 | ||
| 14 |
Derby County FC
|
2 | 1971-72, 1974-75 |
| 3 | 1895-96, 1929-30, 1935-36 | ||
| 4 | 1893-94, 1896-97, 1948-49, 1973-74 | ||
| 15 |
Manchester City FC
|
2 | 1936-37, 1967-68 |
| 3 | 1903-04, 1920-21, 1976-77 | ||
| 3 | 1904-05, 1907-08, 1929-30 | ||
| 16 |
Burnley FC
|
2 | 1920-21, 1959-60 |
| 2 | 1919-20, 1961-62 | ||
| 5 | 1898-99, 1921-22, 1947-48, 1962-63, 1965-66 | ||
| 17 |
Blackburn Rovers FC
|
2 | 1911-12, 1913-14 |
| 0 | — | ||
| 3 | 1889-90, 1909-10, 1914-15 | ||
| 18 |
Portsmouth FC
|
2 | 1948-49, 1949-50 |
| 0 | — | ||
| 1 | 1954-55 | ||
| 19 |
Ipswich Town FC
|
1 | 1961-62 |
| 2 | 1980-81, 1981-82 | ||
| 3 | 1974-75, 1976-77, 1979-80 | ||
| 20 |
Nottingham Forest FC
|
1 | 1977-78 |
| 2 | 1966-67, 1978-79 | ||
| 3 | 1983-84, 1987-88, 1988-89 | ||
| 21 |
West Bromwich Albion FC
|
1 | 1919-20 |
| 2 | 1924-25, 1953-54 | ||
| 1 | 1978-79 | ||
| 22 |
Sheffield United FC
|
1 | 1897-98 |
| 2 | 1896-97, 1899-00 | ||
| 0 | — | ||
| 23 |
Chelsea FC
|
1 | 1954-55 |
| 0 | — | ||
| 3 | 1919-20, 1964-65, 1969-70 | ||
| 24 |
Leicester City FC
|
0 | — |
| 1 | 1928-29 | ||
| 1 | 1927-28 | ||
| 25 |
Charlton Athletic FC
|
0 | — |
| 1 | 1936-37 | ||
| 1 | 1938-39 | ||
| 26 |
Blackpool FC
|
0 | — |
| 1 | 1955-56 | ||
| 1 | 1950-51 | ||
| 27 |
Bristol City FC
|
0 | — |
| 1 | 1906-07 | ||
| 0 | — | ||
| 28 |
Oldham Athletic AFC
|
0 | — |
| 1 | 1914-15 | ||
| 0 | — | ||
| 29 |
Cardiff City FC
|
0 | — |
| 1 | 1923-24 | ||
| 0 | — | ||
| 30 |
Queens Park Rangers FC
|
0 | — |
| 1 | 1975-76 | ||
| 0 | — | ||
| 31 |
Watford FC
|
0 | — |
| 1 | 1982-83 | ||
| 0 | — | ||
| 32 |
Southampton FC
|
0 | — |
| 1 | 1983-84 | ||
| 0 | — | ||
| 33 |
Bolton Wanderers FC
|
0 | — |
| 0 | — | ||
| 3 | 1891-92, 1920-21, 1924-25 | ||
| 34 |
Notts County FC
|
0 | — |
| 0 | — | ||
| 2 | 1890-91, 1900-01 | ||
| 35 |
Middlesbrough FC
|
0 | — |
| 0 | — | ||
| 1 | 1913-14 | ||
| 36 |
West Ham United FC
|
0 | — |
| 0 | — | ||
| 1 | 1985-86 | ||
| 37 |
Crystal Palace FC
|
0 | — |
| 0 | — | ||
| 1 | 1990-91 |