Football League Championship
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| Countries |  England Wales |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2004-present 1992–2004 (as Division One) 1892–1992 (as Division Two) |
| Number of teams | 24 |
| Levels on pyramid | 2 |
| Promotion to | Premier League |
| Relegation to | League One |
| Domestic cup(s) | FA Cup League Cup |
| Current champions | Newcastle United (2009–10) |
| Website | Official site |
 2010–11 Football League Championship |
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The Football League Championship (often referred to as The Championship for short, or the Npower Championship for sponsorship reasons) is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the Premier League.
The Football League Championship was introduced for the 2004–05 season, having been previously known as the Football League First Division. According to Deloitte, in the 2004–05 season it was the wealthiest non-top flight football division in the world, and the sixth richest division in Europe.[1]
The winners of the Football League Championship receive the Football League Championship trophy which is the same trophy as the old First Division Champions (now the Premier League) were handed prior to the Premier League's inception in the 1992/1993 season.
The current champions are Newcastle United, who won promotion back to the Premier League at the first attempt, as did runners up West Bromwich Albion. After a surprising win of the promotion playoff scheme, Blackpool became the third club promoted to the Premier League for the 2010-11 season after 39 years out of the top flight of English football.[2] Burnley, Hull City and Portsmouth have all joined the Championship for the 2010-11 campaign, having all been relegated from the Premier League.[3]
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History
- For history before 2004, see Football League First Division after 1993 and Football League Second Division before that year
In 2004–05, the Football League Championship announced a total attendance (including postseason) of 9.8 million, which it said was the fourth highest total attendance for a European football division, behind the FA Premier League (12.88m), Spain's Primera división (11.57m) and Germany's Bundesliga (10.92m), but beating Italy's Serie A (9.77m) and France's Ligue 1 (8.17m).[4][5][6] The total figures were aided somewhat by the presence of 24 clubs, compared to 20 clubs in both Serie A and Ligue 1, and 18 in the Bundesliga. A major factor to the competition's success comes from television revenue.
On 30 September 2009 Coca-Cola announced they would end their sponsorship deal with the Football League at the end of the 2009-10 season.[7] On 16 March 2010, Npower were announced as the new title sponsors of the Football League, and from the start of the 2010-11 Football League season, the Football League Championship shall be known as the Npower Championship.[8]
Structure of the league
The league comprises 24 teams. Over the course of a season, which runs annually from August to the following May, each team plays twice against the others in the league, once at 'home' and once 'away', resulting in each team competing in 46 games in total. Three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. The teams are ranked in the league table by points gained, then goal difference and then goals scored. In the event that two or more teams finish the season equal in all these respects, teams are separated by alphabetical order, unless a promotion, relegation or play-off place (see below) is at stake, when the teams are separated by a playoff game.[9]
At the end of the season, the top two teams and the winner of the Football League Championship Play-Offs are promoted to the Premier League and the bottom three teams are relegated to Football League One. The Football League Championship Play-Offs is a knock-out competition for the teams finishing the season in third to sixth place with the winner being promoted to the Premier League. In the play-offs, the third-placed team plays against the sixth-placed team and the fourth-placed team plays against the fifth-placed team in two-legged semi-finals (home and away). The winners of each semi-final then compete in a single match with the prize being promotion to the Premier League and the Championship play-off trophy.
The three promoted teams are replaced in the division for the next season by the teams finishing in the bottom three in the Premier League and the relegated teams are replaced by the two teams finishing at the top of League One and the winner of the League One playoff final.
Broadcasting rights
From 2009–2012 Sky Sports will show 45 live matches, live coverage of both legs of both play off semi finals and the play off final live. The BBC has the rights to show 10 first choice live games for the regular season as well as the rights to show a highlight show. The deal is on a three year contract and is worth £264m that will mostly be paid by Sky.
Local radio stations with a local football team in The Championship usually offer audio coverage of every live game. BBC Sport holds exclusive national rights to broadcast Championship matches live to the whole of the United Kingdom; most matches are broadcast on local BBC radio stations for the area of their respective teams while some headline matches are broadcast on national stations, either BBC Radio Five Live or BBC Radio Five Live Sports Extra under their Five Live Sport banner. Most matches broadcast on BBC radio are also broadcast online to UK users on the BBC website.
talkSPORT also has rights to broadcast each of the Football League Play Off Finals.
In Australia, Fox Sports broadcasts live Championship matches every weekend, as well as a Highlights show every Tuesday night at 7 pm.
In Italy, Sportitalia has exclusive rights to broadcast live one match a week and highlights show.
In Sweden TV4 Sport shows one or two matches a week usually including a 3pm kick off on the Saturday.
Betfair and Bet365 both broadcast matches to most territories outside of the British Isles.
In Hungary Sport 1 and its sister channel Sport 2 broadcasts the matches.
History of the current 24 clubs in the Championship (2010–11 season)
The following table provides information on the 24 clubs currently in the Football League Championship.
Table codes (click individual codes to view season tables):
C = Champions, R-up = League runner-up, p.w. = Play-off Winner, R = Relegated from League.
| Club names | Finishing position
2009–10 season |
Member since
season |
Consecutive
seasons in league |
Total seasons
in league* |
Spells
in league* |
Relegated
to league* |
Promoted
from League* |
Relegated
from league* |
Promoted
to League* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnsley | 18th | 2006–07 | 4 | 5/7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (p.w) |
| Bristol City | 10th | 2007–08 | 3 | 4/7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (R-up) |
| Burnley | 18th in the Premier League | 2010–11 | 1 | 6/7 | 2 | 1(R) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Cardiff City1 |
4th | 2003–04 | 7 | 7/7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Coventry City | 19th | 2001–02 | 9 | 7/7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Crystal Palace | 21st | 2005–06 | 5 | 6/7 | 1 | 1(R) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Derby County | 14th | 2008–09 | 2 | 6/7 | 2 | 1(R) | 1 (p.w) | 0 | 0 |
| Doncaster Rovers | 12th | 2008–09 | 3 | 3/7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (p.w) |
| Hull City | 19th in the Premier League | 2010–11 | 1 | 5/7 | 2 | 1(R) | 1 | 0 | 1(R-up) |
| Ipswich Town | 15th | 2002–03 | 9 | 7/7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Leeds United | 2nd in League One | 2010–11 | 1 | 4/7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1(R) | 1 (R-up) |
| Leicester City | 5th | 2009–10 | 2 | 6/7 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1(R) | 1 (C) |
| Middlesbrough | 11th | 2009–10 | 2 | 2/7 | 1 | 1(R) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Millwall | 3rd in League One | 2010–11 | 1 | 4/7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1(R) | 1 (p.w) |
| Nottingham Forest | 3rd | 2008–09 | 3 | 4/7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1(R) | 1 (R-up) |
| Norwich City | 1st in League One | 2010–11 | 1 | 5/7 | 2 | 1(R) | 0 | 1(R) | 1(C) |
| Portsmouth | 20th in the Premier League | 2010–11 | 1 | 1/7 | 1 | 1(R) | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Preston North End | 17th | 2000–01 | 11 | 7/7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Queens Park Rangers | 13th | 2004–05 | 6 | 7/7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reading | 9th | 2008–09 | 2 | 5/7 | 2 | 1(R) | 1 (C) | 0 | 0 |
| Scunthorpe United | 20th | 2009–10 | 2 | 3/7 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1(R) | 2 (C)(p.w) |
| Sheffield United | 8th | 2007–08 | 3 | 6/7 | 2 | 1(R) | 1 (R-up) | 0 | 0 |
| Swansea City1 |
7th | 2008–09 | 2 | 3/7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 (C) |
| Watford | 16th | 2007–08 | 3 | 6/7 | 2 | 1(R) | 1 (p.w) | 0 | 0 |
Notes
1.Current spell of a club in the league may predate the creation of the championship.
2.Consecutive seasons in league total includes the clubs current spell only.
3.Total seasons in league/spells in league/relegation to/relegation from & promotion to and promotion from figures include "championship era" only. (last seven seasons)
4.Flagicons for clubs outside England. (1 Club is located in Wales)
Previous seasons
League champions, Runners-up & play-Off winners
| Season | League champions | points | Runner-Up | points | Promoted Play-Off Winner | Play-Off Runner-Ups |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–05 | Sunderland | 94 | Wigan Athletic | 87 | West Ham United | Preston North End |
| 2005–06 | Reading | 106 | Sheffield United | 90 | Watford | Leeds United |
| 2006–07 | Sunderland | 88 | Birmingham City | 86 | Derby County | West Bromwich Albion |
| 2007–08 | West Bromwich Albion | 81 | Stoke City | 79 | Hull City | Bristol City |
| 2008–09 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 90 | Birmingham City | 83 | Burnley | Sheffield United |
| 2009–10 | Newcastle United | 102 | West Bromwich Albion | 91 | Blackpool | Cardiff City |
For past winners at this level before 2004, see List of winners of English Football League Championship and predecessors.
Play-off results
Relegated teams (from the Championship to Football League One)
| Season | Clubs |
|---|---|
| 2004–05 | Gillingham, Nottingham Forest, Rotherham United |
| 2005–06 | Crewe Alexandra, Millwall, Brighton & Hove Albion |
| 2006–07 | Southend United, Luton Town, Leeds United |
| 2007–08 | Leicester City, Scunthorpe United, Colchester United |
| 2008–09 | Norwich City, Southampton, Charlton Athletic |
| 2009-10 | Sheffield Wednesday, Plymouth Argyle, Peterborough United |
Relegated teams (from the Premier League to the Championship)
| Season | Clubs |
|---|---|
| 2004–05 | Crystal Palace, Norwich City, Southampton |
| 2005–06 | Birmingham City, West Bromwich Albion, Sunderland |
| 2006–07 | Sheffield United, Charlton Athletic, Watford |
| 2007–08 | Reading, Birmingham City, Derby County |
| 2008–09 | Newcastle United, Middlesbrough, West Bromwich Albion |
| 2009–10 | Burnley, Hull City, Portsmouth |
Promoted teams (from Football League One to the Championship)
| Season | Clubs |
|---|---|
| 2004–05 | Luton Town, Hull City, Sheffield Wednesday |
| 2005–06 | Southend United, Colchester United, Barnsley |
| 2006–07 | Scunthorpe United, Bristol City, Blackpool |
| 2007–08 | Swansea City, Nottingham Forest, Doncaster Rovers |
| 2008–09 | Leicester City, Peterborough United, Scunthorpe United |
| 2009–10 | Norwich City, Leeds United, Millwall |
Top scorers
| Season | Top scorer | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004–05 | Nathan Ellington |
Wigan Athletic | 24 |
| 2005–06 |  Marlon King |
Watford | 21 |
| 2006–07 | Jamie Cureton |
Colchester United | 23 |
| 2007–08 | Sylvan Ebanks-Blake |
Plymouth Argyle/Wolverhampton Wanderers | 23 |
| 2008–09 | Sylvan Ebanks-Blake |
Wolverhampton Wanderers | 25 |
| 2009–10 | Peter Whittingham |
Cardiff City | 21 |
Championship Stadia 2010–11
| Team | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Leeds United | Elland Road | 39,460 |
| Middlesbrough | Riverside Stadium | 35,049 |
| Derby County | Pride Park Stadium | 33,597 |
| Sheffield United | Bramall Lane | 32,702 |
| Coventry City | Ricoh Arena | 32,609 |
| Leicester City | Walkers Stadium | 32,500 |
| Nottingham Forest | City Ground | 30,602 |
| Ipswich Town | Portman Road | 30,311 |
| Norwich City | Carrow Road | 27,000 |
| Cardiff City | Cardiff City Stadium | 26,828 |
| Crystal Palace | Selhurst Park | 26,309 |
| Hull City | KC Stadium | 25,404 |
| Preston North End | Deepdale | 24,500 |
| Reading | Madejski Stadium | 24,161 |
| Barnsley | Oakwell | 23,009 |
| Burnley | Turf Moor | 22,546 |
| Bristol City | Ashton Gate | 21,497 |
| Swansea City | Liberty Stadium | 20,532 |
| Portsmouth | Fratton Park | 20,224 |
| Millwall | The Den | 20,146 |
| Watford | Vicarage Road | 19,920 |
| Queens Park Rangers | Loftus Road | 19,128 |
| Doncaster Rovers | Keepmoat Stadium | 15,231 |
| Scunthorpe United | Glanford Park | 9,088 |
* ground contains some terracing.
See also
- Football League Championship Manager of the Month
- List of English football club owners
- List of attendance figures at domestic professional sports leagues — Championship attendance in a worldwide context
References
- ↑ First fall in Premiership wages, BBC News, 31 May 2006, reporting on Deloitte's review of football finance in 2004–05.
- ↑ http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/football_league/article7133840.ece
- ↑ http://www.premierleague.com/page/LeagueTables/0,,12306,00.html
- ↑ "Countdown underway to new season". BBC News. 6 August 2005. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4748403.stm. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ↑ Lansley, Peter (29 July 2005). "Championship glories in outstripping Serie A". The Times (London). http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,174-1712938,00.html. Retrieved 2 May 2010.
- ↑ TheFA.com - First class second division
- ↑ Coca-Cola end Football League sponsorship deal
- ↑ Football League names Npower as new sponsor
- ↑ "Coca Cola Championship". Sporting Life. http://www.sporting-life.com/football/live/tables/cc_champ.html. Retrieved 2008-04-02.
External links
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| Sporting positions | ||
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| Preceded by Football League First Division |
Second tier of English football 2004 – present |
Current league |