Division 1 name before the EPL was formed

[BillyManutd]

Does anyone know what was the english division 1 known as before the EPL was formed?( like in Spain-La Liga, Germany-Bundesliga) Was it known just as Division 1 or with another name?

[655321]

Just plain old "Division 1" , "the first division".

[billf]

The formal name I remember was Barclay's First Division or Barclay's League First Division. Commonly it was just division one or the first division.

[Snuffles]

Generally it was something along the lines of First Division, when you think you're the centre of the football world, you don't need anything else. :D

[addickfan]

To really confuse you, what is now division one was then called division two. What is now the Premier league was called division one.

[addickfan]

Originally posted by billf
The formal name I remember was Barclay's First Division or Barclay's League First Division. Commonly it was just division one or the first division.

I'm not sure but I don't think that there was sponsorship of the leagues before the premier league came along so I doubt that it was called the Barclay's first division although I may be wrong.

[Achtung]

Originally posted by addickfan
I'm not sure but I don't think that there was sponsorship of the leagues before the premier league came along so I doubt that it was called the Barclay's first division although I may be wrong.

I didn't think so either, but the other day I saw Fever Pitch on TV, and I believe right before the Liverpool-Arsenal game at the end, it shows the league standings when he is watching TV and it says "Barclay's Division One".

[Maczebus]

There was indeed sponsorship of the First Division for sometime before the Premiership was initiated.
Canon sponsored it for a few years and 'Today' (a now defunct daily newspaper) had it for a season or so and yes Barclaycard had it too.
We're only going back to the early/mid 80's I think.

[RichardL]

Originally posted by Achtung
I didn't think so either, but the other day I saw Fever Pitch on TV, and I believe right before the Liverpool-Arsenal game at the end, it shows the league standings when he is watching TV and it says "Barclay's Division One".
the league, when it was 4 divisions, had been sponsored by Barclays, as well as Canon, and the Today Newspaper.

Semi-pro leagues were sponsored for quite a few years before that. You should have heard the scratching of heads when the senior semi-pro league was named the GM Vauxhall conference. This was when US sports had zero coverage and nobody had a clue what a 'conference' was, other than its "large meeting" meaning.

Where does the term conference come from anyway?

[Toon³]

A meeting for consultation or discussion.

An exchange of views.

A meeting of committees to settle differences between two legislative bodies.

An assembly of clerical or of clerical and lay members from a particular district in various Protestant churches.

Sports. An association of teams. <-------(This one)

The act of conferring, as of an academic degree.

[Norfolk]

Before all the sponsorship came along, wasn't it formally known as

The Football League, Division 1

I could be wrong, but I seem to remember the announcer on the BBC always introducing it as that.

[pff.co.uk]

Apart from the sponsor's name at the time (canon, Today etc) it was just plain old Division one, two, three and four.

But can you remember when it used to be division three - north and division three - south?

[greenbill]

Originally posted by Norfolk
Before all the sponsorship came along, wasn't it formally known as

The Football League, Division 1

I could be wrong, but I seem to remember the announcer on the BBC always introducing it as that.
Yes, I can't find a picture of the old crest anywhere, but I remember watching games on TV circa 1991/1992 and seeing the old crest of the First Division. On the crest it said "The Football League".

[RichardL]

Originally posted by pff.co.uk
Apart from the sponsor's name at the time (canon, Today etc) it was just plain old Division one, two, three and four.

But can you remember when it used to be division three - north and division three - south?
Not personally, but it was from 1921 to 1958

[pff.co.uk]

1958 - I didn't relaise it was that long ago. For some reason I thought it was changed in the early 60s.

Makes me feel even older than I did before.

[Clan]

I do remember the time when a team coming up from the second division - especially the champions - would be looked upon as a team with a legitimate shot at doing quite well for themselves in division 1.
Several teams did in fact do well.
We did it, and who can forget what Forrest did eh?

Today it's a different story as they are the first bets to go right back down.

[usscouse]

Originally posted by Clanblue
I do remember the time when a team coming up from the second division - especially the champions - would be looked upon as a team with a legitimate shot at doing quite well for themselves in division 1.
Several teams did in fact do well.
We did it, and who can forget what Forrest did eh?

Today it's a different story as they are the first bets to go right back down. Didn't Wimbledon have a good run. Like 3 divisions in 3 seasons? With a trophy or two thrown in.
Now I don't even know if there's still a Wimbledon.

[John Boy]

Originally posted by usscouse
Didn't Wimbledon have a good run. Like 3 divisions in 3 seasons? With a trophy or two thrown in.
Now I don't even know if there's still a Wimbledon.

From http://www.afcwimbledon.com/club/chonours.html

1976-77 Southern League Champions
London Senior Cup winners
1977-78 Joined Football League Division Four
1978-79 Missed runner-up spot on goal difference
Promoted to Division Three
1980-81 Promoted to Division Three
1982-83 Football League Division Four Champions
Promoted to Division Three
1983-84 Football League Division Three runner-up
Promoted to Division Two
1985-86 Promoted to Division One
1987-88 FA Cup winners
1992-93 Founder members of FA Premiership

[Achtung]

The History of English Football (http://www.the-english-football-archive.com/football_history.htm)

In 1982 sponsorship of football begins when the league cup is sponsored by the milk marketing board and becomes The Milk Cup.

In 1983 sponsorship of the leagues is introduced for the first time. With Divisions, One, Two, Three and Four becoming Canon Divisions, One, Two, Three and Four.

In 1986 sponsorship of all four divisions was taken over by the 'Today' newspaper and the league cup was taken over by Littlewoods.

In 1987 sponsorship of all four divisions was taken over by Barclays. Also Division One was reduced to twenty-one clubs, while Division Two was expanded to twenty-three clubs.

[BillyManutd]

Originally posted by Achtung
The History of English Football (http://www.the-english-football-archive.com/football_history.htm)

In 1982 sponsorship of football begins when the league cup is sponsored by the milk marketing board and becomes The Milk Cup.

In 1983 sponsorship of the leagues is introduced for the first time. With Divisions, One, Two, Three and Four becoming Canon Divisions, One, Two, Three and Four.

In 1986 sponsorship of all four divisions was taken over by the 'Today' newspaper and the league cup was taken over by Littlewoods.

In 1987 sponsorship of all four divisions was taken over by Barclays. Also Division One was reduced to twenty-one clubs, while Division Two was expanded to twenty-three clubs.

Thanks for the information Achtung. very interesting