Question about relegation

[soccerphan]

When was the last time a "top" team like Everton, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool or Man United was relagated to the Football League?
Has it ever happened?

[(TxT)]

Last year Leeds Utd was relegated, just a few years after playing in the Champions League.

[RichardL]

When was the last time a "top" team like Everton, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool or Man United was relagated to the Football League?
Has it ever happened?
Everton have been outside the top division only twice, once in 1930/31 and once from 1951/2 to 1953/4.

Arsenal have been in the top flight since the end of world war one (being the only club to have been dubiously voted to promotion)
They joined the football league division 2 in 1893/94 where they stayed until promotion in 1903/4. They also had a short spell back in Div 2 in 1913/14 & 1914/15. At the time they were still playing in Plumstead, south of the Thames, near Charlton.

Chelsea have been outside the top division 1905-07, 1910-12, 1924-30, 1962-63, 1975-77, 1979-84, 1988-89

Liverpool 1893-94, 1895-96, 1904-05, 1954-62

Man Utd 1894-1906, 1922-25, 1931-36, 1937-38, 1974-75

ps, until 1992 "The Football League" was the entire professional game, with leagues numbered 1-4. The top 22 clubs resigned and formed their own league.

[mschofield]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Man City rank among the 10 biggest clubs on earth the year before they returned to the EPL? What was that, three years ago.
Course, for sheer drop, no one in England can match Fiorentina, though Leed's looked to be trying.

[RichardL]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but didn't Man City rank among the 10 biggest clubs on earth the year before they returned to the EPL? What was that, three years ago.

depends how you rank them. They averaged 'only' 33,000 but that was with Maine Road sold out every week. I'd say it's very unlikely.

Course, for sheer drop, no one in England can match Fiorentina, though Leed's looked to be trying.
Fiorentina didn't get relegated - the club folded and a completely new club formed playing at the old stadium. They bought the rights to use the name Fiorentina later. Same now with Napoli.

Not quite the same thing, but Carlisle, Barnsley, Blackpool, Bolton, Bradford, Brentford, Brighton, Bristol City, Burnley, Bury, Cardiff, Coventry, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Grimsby, Huddersfield, Leyton Orient, Luton, Millwall, Wimbledon, Northampton, Notts County, Oldham, Oxford, Portsmouth, Preston, Sheffield United, Swansea, Swindon, Watford & Wolves have all played in all 4 professional divisions.

[mschofield]

depends how you rank them. They averaged 'only' 33,000 but that was with Maine Road sold out every week. I'd say it's very unlikely.

Fiorentina didn't get relegated - the club folded and a completely new club formed playing at the old stadium. They bought the rights to use the name Fiorentina later. Same now with Napoli.

Not quite the same thing, but Carlisle, Barnsley, Blackpool, Bolton, Bradford, Brentford, Brighton, Bristol City, Burnley, Bury, Cardiff, Coventry, Crystal Palace, Fulham, Grimsby, Huddersfield, Leyton Orient, Luton, Millwall, Wimbledon, Northampton, Notts County, Oldham, Oxford, Portsmouth, Preston, Sheffield United, Swansea, Swindon, Watford & Wolves have all played in all 4 professional divisions.
The ManCity thing came from an old article, no idea where but maybe 4-4-2 since i read that, and dealt with attendence and assets and maybe something else. Not familar enough with city to know why they'd make such a list, but they were pretty high on it.
And next season you'll be adding Reading to the list. When was Oxford last in the top?

[RichardL]

The ManCity thing came from an old article, no idea where but maybe 4-4-2 since i read that, and dealt with attendence and assets and maybe something else. Not familar enough with city to know why they'd make such a list, but they were pretty high on it.
And next season you'll be adding Reading to the list. When was Oxford last in the top?
Oxford were there for three years -1985/6 - 1987/8. They even won the league cup. I can feel generous towards our rivals, as they now play rubbish football in a dreary 3-sided MFI flatpack stadium next to a sewage farm and a notorious chav-infested council estate, in what is really Division 4.


For the record, 13 of the 20 current premiership clubs have played in the lower divisions.

[royalstilton]

For the record, 13 of the 20 current premiership clubs have played in the lower divisions.
---
Another team that has plummeted into football oblivion is Bradford City -- whose kit is atrocious, IMO. In the Prem 2001, after relegation, they are now 6th place in Division One, up from 10th last week. If it were not for Windass, they probably would wind fighting it out with FG Rovers for worst side in English football.

[FleetFan]

---
Another team that has plummeted into football oblivion is Bradford City -- whose kit is atrocious, IMO. In the Prem 2001, after relegation, they are now 6th place in Division One, up from 10th last week. If it were not for Windass, they probably would wind fighting it out with FG Rovers for worst side in English football.

Since the Premiership started the biggest "droppers" have been Bradford, Swindon, Sheffield Wed., and Barnsley.All played in the Prem at one point now all are playing in League 1(called Div.2 last year). However it looks like the biggest droppers are Oldham(played in the first Premiership season) and Wimbledon(now called Milton Keynes), they're fighting against relegation in League 1. I might be wrong but I think Queens Park Rangers had fallen into L1(Div.2) at one point, but are now in champ.league(Div1) fighting for promotion to the Prem.

[royalstilton]

I might be wrong but I think Queens Park Rangers had fallen into L1(Div.2) at one point, but are now in champ.league(Div1) fighting for promotion to the Prem.
---
i remember when QPR, Crystal Palace and Notts Forest were all top flyte sides, in the early 70s. to me, as a Yank, one of the transcendental aspects of English football is relegation/promotion. i wish such a practice existed within baseball, which is probably the only sport that could sustain it.

the problem there is that there is no such tradition or precedent. alas!

[Flyin Ryan]

I've thought about it too and baseball and perhaps ice hockey (that's a bit of a stretch though) are the only American sports that could sustain promotion/relegation (outside of soccer of course). The only thing against that hypothesis though, is that all the players in the minor leagues are owned by the major league teams.

[PokerNSoccer]

The team with the longest record in the top flight is ARSENAL!!!!

[Wide Boy]

I can feel generous towards our rivals, as they now play rubbish football in a dreary 3-sided MFI flatpack stadium next to a sewage farm and a notorious chav-infested council estate, in what is really Division 4.


Surely there must be some redeeming features?

[Gloucestershire Lad]

---
Another team that has plummeted into football oblivion is Bradford City -- whose kit is atrocious, IMO. In the Prem 2001, after relegation, they are now 6th place in Division One, up from 10th last week. If it were not for Windass, they probably would wind fighting it out with FG Rovers for worst side in English football.

Now don't start on Forest Green Rovers, the best team in Gloucestershire after Cheltenham Town (we call our County "Cheltenhamshire").

Yes, a somewhat dodgy start to the season, but there's still plenty of time ! If I had to put money on the worst team in the country, I would say without any hesitation, Gloucester City.

[royalstilton]

Now don't start on Forest Green Rovers...
---
I was born in Toledo Ohio, and I'm sure you're not a Buckeye, else you would have a more objective, Mid-West view point. As it stands, you may be saddled with a West Midlands viewpoint, even if you have no real connexion there, which has left you daft. ;)

But I hope your side evades the drop. Cheers!

[Gloucestershire Lad]

---
I was born in Toledo Ohio, and I'm sure you're not a Buckeye, else you would have a more objective, Mid-West view point. As it stands, you may be saddled with a West Midlands viewpoint, even if you have no real connexion there, which has left you daft. ;)

But I hope your side evades the drop. Cheers!

No, although we currently live in Columbus, I am most definitely NOT a Buckeye -- actually, I can't stand the sport.

I was born in London with Tooting & Mitcham (Ryman League Division 1) being my local team. When my family moved to Glos, even though Aston Villa, Birmingham City, WBA etc were within easy driving distance, I plumped for Cheltenham Town.

We've watched Columbus Crew many, painful times but I'm hoping they can turn around their 0-1 1st Leg play-off loss to New England.

[Flyin Ryan]

^ The word Buckeye is used to describe all Ohioans. It has nothing to deal with the football team. Just as the word Tarheel is used to describe all North Carolinians (like myself), even if I hate the school with the Tarheel nickname, the University of North Carolina (Wolfpack Pride!)

[Gloucestershire Lad]

^ The word Buckeye is used to describe all Ohioans. It has nothing to deal with the football team. Just as the word Tarheel is used to describe all North Carolinians (like myself), even if I hate the school with the Tarheel nickname, the University of North Carolina (Wolfpack Pride!)
Thanks for pointing out the distinction. Funnily enough, we've recently returned from a holiday in the Outer Banks, beautiful area. It's our third trip there, this time we stayed at Corolla.

Should you be in the Outer Banks area of North Carolina, I thoroughly recommend the Outer Banks Brewing Station, at Milepost 8 1/2, Kill Devil Hills. Their Sunshower Pale Ale is one of the best American Pale Ales I have ever had. Not that this has much to do with the beautiful game......


....well, beer does ! :D

[royalstilton]

No, although we currently live in Columbus, I am most definitely NOT a Buckeye -- actually, I can't stand the sport.
---
A Buckeye is any Ohio native, like a Liverpudlian is, by definition, a Scouser. Has nothing to do with American football.

( BTW this part is an edit: I didn't read the later posts. But mine stands in confirmation. I hope you enjoy Ohio. Some of the people are actually nice, I hear. )

[Flyin Ryan]

If sanctions come along for the football team there won't be any nice people!