Football League Second Division

Did You Know?

• Leicester City and Manchester City both hold the record for most second tier championships (8).
• Grimsby Town, last in 1919–20, was relegated to form the new Third Division with southern clubs.

Early history

William McGregor, a director of Aston Villa, was the driving force behind meetings in London and Manchester in 1888 involving 12 clubs, which became the Football League's founder members. The meetings began on 22 March in London, with finalisation on 17 April in Manchester. McGregor opposed the name "The Football League," fearing association with the Irish Land League, but the name was adopted by majority vote. The league guaranteed fixtures for all members, split equally between the North and the Midlands. A rival league, the Football Alliance, operated from 1889 to 1892. In 1892 the two leagues merged, forming the Football League Second Division, mostly from Alliance clubs, while existing League clubs and three strong Alliance clubs formed the First Division.

Overview

The Second Division began in 1892 with 12 clubs, most formerly in the Football Alliance: Ardwick (now Manchester City), Bootle, Burton Swifts, Crewe Alexandra, Darwen, Grimsby Town, Lincoln City, Northwich Victoria, Port Vale, Sheffield United, Small Heath (now Birmingham City), and Walsall. The division expanded over time, reaching 24 clubs by 1988. Initially, promotion was decided by test matches between top Second Division and bottom First Division teams. Small Heath, 1892–93 champions, lost their test match to Newton Heath and were denied promotion; runners-up Sheffield United beat Accrington to become the first promoted side. Test matches were abolished in 1898 after Burnley and Stoke conspired to a 0–0 draw, promoting Burnley and saving Stoke. Relegation to the Third Division began in 1919–20, with Grimsby Town making way for Cardiff City.