2014–15 Football League Championship Explained

Competition:	Football League Championship
Season:	2014–15
Winners:	Bournemouth 1st Championship title 1st 2nd tier title
Promoted:	Bournemouth Watford Norwich City
Relegated:	Millwall Wigan Athletic Blackpool
Matches:	552
Total Goals:	1474
League Topscorer:	Daryl Murphy (27 goals)^[1]
Biggest Home Win:	Derby County 5–0 Wolverhampton Wanderers (8 November 2014) Birmingham City 6–1 Reading (13 December 2014) Norwich City 5–0 Huddersfield Town (13 December 2014) Norwich City 6–1 Millwall (26 December 2014) Watford 5–0 Charlton Athletic (17 January 2015) Watford 7–2 Blackpool (24 January 2015) Wolverhampton Wanderers 5–0 Rotherham United (21 February 2015)
Biggest Away Win:	(25 October 2014)
Highest Scoring:	Watford 7–2 Blackpool (24 January 2015)
Longest Wins:	6 games^[2] Bournemouth Norwich City
Longest Unbeaten:	14 games Bournemouth
Longest Winless:	18 games Blackpool
Longest Losses:	6 games Blackpool
Highest Attendance:	33,381^[3] (2 May 2015)
Lowest Attendance:	8,250 Millwall 2–2 Blackburn Rovers (4 November 2014)
Average Attendance:	17,863
Attendance:	9,771,471
Prevseason:	2013–14
Nextseason:	2015–16
Updated:	2 May 2015

The 2014–15 Football League Championship (referred to as the Sky Bet Championship for sponsorship reasons), was the eleventh season of the Football League Championship under its current title and the twenty-third season under its current league structure. The 2014–15 season began on 8 August 2014 and ended on 2 May 2015.

Bournemouth won the league on the last day of the season, confirming their place in the top flight for the first time in their history. Watford were runners-up and took their place in the Premier League for the first time since the 2006–07 season. Norwich were the final promoted team, bouncing straight back from their relegation the previous season by beating Middlesbrough 2–0 in the Play Off Final.

At the other end of the table, Blackpool were relegated in April having been cut adrift at the bottom of the table for much of the season. Wigan and Millwall were the other two teams to be relegated on the penultimate weekend of the season.

Changes from last season

Team changes

The following teams have changed division since the 2013–14 season.^[4]

To Championship

Promoted from League One

• Wolverhampton Wanderers
• Brentford
• Rotherham United

Relegated from Premier League

• Norwich City
• Fulham
• Cardiff City

From Championship

Relegated to League One

• Doncaster Rovers
• Barnsley
• Yeovil Town

Promoted to Premier League

• Leicester City
• Burnley
• Queens Park Rangers

Rule changes

Changes to the Championship's financial fair play system allow clubs:^[5]

• Acceptable losses of £3 million during the 2014–15 season
• Acceptable shareholder equity investment of £3 million during the 2014–15 season (down from £5 million during the 2013–14 season).
• Sanctions for exceeding the allowances take effect from the set of accounts due to be submitted on 1 December 2014 for the 2013–14 season.

Team overview

Stadia and locations

Team	Stadium	Capacity
		30,016
		31,154
		17,338
		28,100
		12,000
		12,763
		30,750
Cardiff City		33,316
		27,111
		33,597
		25,700
		24,500
		30,311
		39,460
		34,742
		20,146
		27,244
		30,576
		24,224
		12,021
		39,812
		20,877
		25,133
		31,700

Personnel and sponsoring

Team	Manager	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor	Back sponsor	Shorts sponsor
Birmingham City		Carbrini^[6]	Zapaygo^[7]	None	None
Blackburn Rovers		Nike^[8]	Zebra Claims Ltd.^[9]	None	None
Blackpool		Erreà^[10]	Wonga^[11]	None	None
Bolton Wanderers		Macron	FibrLec^[12] /Wix.com (in FA Cup matches)	None	None
Bournemouth		Carbrini	Energy Consulting^[13]	Energy Consulting	None
Brentford		Adidas	Skyex	Matchbook	Matchbook
Brighton & Hove Albion		Nike^[14]	American Express	American Express	American Express
Cardiff City		Cosway Sports^[15]	Visit Malaysia	Visit Malaysia	Visit Malaysia
Charlton Athletic		Nike^[16]	University of Greenwich	Andrews Air Conditioning	Mitsubishi Electric
Derby County		Umbro^[17]	Just Eat^[18]	M&DH Insurance	M&DH Insurance
Fulham		Adidas^[19]		None	None
Huddersfield Town		Puma	Rekorderlig Cider (H)^[20] /RadianB (A)/Cavonia (T)	Northern Commercials (H)/Rekorderlig Cider (A & T)	Stafflex
Ipswich Town		Adidas	Marcus Evans	None	None
Leeds United		Macron^[21]	Enterprise Insurance	Help Link Direct	Help Link Direct
Middlesbrough		Adidas^[22]	Ramsdens^[23]	None	None
Millwall	Neil Harris	Macron^[24]	Euro Ferries	Wallis Teagan	Southwark Metals
Norwich City		Erreà^[25]		None	None
Nottingham Forest		Adidas^[26]	Fawaz International Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Company^[27]	ICM Capital	None
Reading		Puma	Waitrose^[28]	Thai	Legend Alliance Ltd
Rotherham United		Puma	Parkgate Shopping (H)/Shedlands (A & T)	Perrys (H)/Hughie Construction (A & T)	Balreed
Sheffield Wednesday		Sondico	Azerbaijan: Land of Fire	None	None
Watford		Puma^[29]	138.com	Football Manager (H)/Football Manager Handheld (A)	None
		MiFit	Intersport	Premier Range/Roofing Consultants Group	None
Wolverhampton Wanderers		Puma	WhatHouse?	Reconomy	None

Managerial changes

width-270	Team	Outgoing manager	Manner of departure	Date of vacancy	Position in table	Incoming manager	Date of appointment
Blackpool		End of contract	9 May 2014^[30]	Pre-season		11 June 2014^[31]
Brighton & Hove Albion		Resigned	12 May 2014^[32]			6 June 2014^[33]
Charlton Athletic		End of contract	27 May 2014			27 May 2014^[34]
Leeds United		Mutual consent	31 May 2014^[35]			19 June 2014^[36]
Huddersfield Town			10 August 2014^[37]	24th		3 September 2014
Leeds United		Sacked	28 August 2014^[38]	21st		23 September 2014
Watford		Resigned	1 September 2014^[39]	2nd		2 September 2014^[40]
Cardiff City			18 September 2014^[41]	17th		6 October 2014^[42]
Fulham		Sacked	18 September 2014^[43]	24th		29 October 2014^[44]
Watford		Resigned due to ill health	29 September 2014^[45]	4th		29 September 2014
Bolton Wanderers		Mutual consent	3 October 2014^[46]	23rd		12 October 2014^[47]
Watford			7 October 2014	3rd		7 October 2014^[48]
Birmingham City		Sacked	20 October 2014^[49]	21st		27 October 2014^[50]
Leeds United			26 October 2014^[51]	18th		1 November 2014^[52]
Blackpool			27 October 2014^[53]	24th		30 October 2014^[54]
Wigan Athletic			13 November 2014^[55]	22nd		19 November 2014^[56]
Reading			15 December 2014^[57]	16th		16 December 2014^[58]
Brighton & Hove Albion			Resigned	22 December 2014^[59]	22nd		31 December 2014^[60]
Norwich City		5 January 2015^[61]		7th		9 January 2015^[62]
Charlton Athletic		Sacked	11 January 2015^[63]	14th		13 January 2015^[64]
Nottingham Forest			1 February 2015^[65]	12th		1 February 2015^[66]
Millwall			10 March 2015^[67]	23rd		29 April 2015^[68]
Wigan Athletic			6 April 2015^[69]	23rd		7 April 2015^[70]

League table

Play-offs

See also: 2015 Football League play-offs.

Top scorers

Rank	Player	Club	Goals^[71]
1	Daryl Murphy	Ipswich Town	27
2	Troy Deeney	Watford	21
	Jordan Rhodes	Blackburn Rovers
4	Rudy Gestede	Blackburn Rovers	20
	Odion Ighalo	Watford
	Callum Wilson	Bournemouth
7	Cameron Jerome	Norwich City	18
	Chris Martin	Derby County
9	Patrick Bamford	Middlesbrough	17
	Ross McCormack	Fulham

Hat-tricks

See main article: List of Football League Championship hat-tricks.

Player	For	Against	Result	Date
			3–2^[72]	16 September 2014
			5–3^[73]	17 September 2014
			8–0^[74]	25 October 2014
			5–0^[75]	5 December 2014
			5–1^[76]	6 December 2014
			6–1^[77]	13 December 2014
			3–1^[78]	10 January 2015
			3–2^[79]	21 January 2015
^4			7–2^[80]	24 January 2015
			4–0^[81]	7 February 2015
			4–0^[82]	24 February 2015
			4–0^[83]	14 March 2015
			3–3^[84]	18 April 2015
			3–3^[85]	25 April 2015
			4–3^[86]	25 April 2015

⁴ Player scored 4 goals

Monthly awards

Month	Manager of the Month		Player of the Month		Ref.
	width=150	Manager	width=180	Club		width=150	Player	width=180	Club
August	Kenny Jackett	Wolverhampton Wanderers	Igor Vetokele	Charlton Athletic	^[87]
September	Mick McCarthy	Ipswich Town	Tyrone Mings	Ipswich Town	^[88]
October	Eddie Howe	Bournemouth	Callum Wilson	Bournemouth	^[89]
November	Mark Warburton	Brentford	Andre Gray	Brentford	^[90]
December	Eddie Howe	Bournemouth	Daryl Murphy	Ipswich Town	^[91]
January	Aitor Karanka	Middlesbrough	Lee Tomlin	Middlesbrough	^[92]
February	Alex Neil	Norwich City	Henri Lansbury	Nottingham Forest	^[93]
March	Eddie Howe		Troy Deeney	Watford	^[94]
April	Slaviša Jokanović		Tom Ince	Derby County	^[95]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Championship Top Scorers . 19 September 2014. 19 September 2014.
2. Web site: English League Championship 2014–15 . statto.com . 12 March 2015 . 27 March 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150327024033/http://www.statto.com/football/stats/england/league-championship/2014-2015/longest-sequences/full . dead .
3. Web site: English League Championship Statistics – 2014–15 . ESPN FC . Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN) . 21 February 2015.
4. Web site: Ups and Downs . https://archive.today/20140421200715/http://www.football-league.co.uk/latestnews/20140421/ups-and-downs_2293301_3748723 . dead . 21 April 2014 . Football League . 21 April 2014 .
5. Web site: Financial Fair Play in The Football League . Football League . 16 April 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20140604195858/http://www.football-league.co.uk/page/FLExplainedDetail/0%2C%2C10794~2748246%2C00.html . 4 June 2014 .
6. Web site: Birmingham City 2014/15 kit to be made by Carbrini. Birmingham Mail. 11 Jun 2014.
7. Web site: Lee Clark: Chris Burke and Nikola Zigic will be leaving. Birmingham Mail. 10 June 2014.
8. Web site: Rovers team up with Nike. Blackburn Rovers Fc. 9 May 2013.
9. Web site: Rovers strike new sponsorship deal. Blackburn Rovers FC. 17 July 2014.
10. Web site: Seasiders Announce New Kit Deal. Blackpool FC. 17 May 2013.
11. Web site: Seasiders New Kits. 25 July 2013.
12. Web site: Bolton graduates' company to sponsor Bolton Wanderers. University of Bolton. 2 August 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130809013848/http://www.bolton.ac.uk/MediaCentre/Articles/2013/June2013-04.aspx. 9 August 2013. dead.
13. Web site: Cherries: Mitchell delighted with huge Fila kit deal. Bournemouth Echo. 17 May 2013.
14. Web site: New Kit Partnership with Nike. seagulls. 3 June 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140606234056/http://www.seagulls.co.uk/news/article/brighton-and-hove-albion-announce-new-kit-partnership-with-nike-1432659.aspx/. 6 June 2014. dead.
15. Web site: New Cardiff City kit: Bluebirds unveil latest shirts ahead of their return to the Championship. Wales Online. 7 July 2014. 11 July 2014.
16. Web site: Charlton Athletic announce Nike Kit Deal. footballshirtculture.com. 17 May 2013.
17. Web site: Derby County Announce Umbro Kit Deal. 10 June 2014.
18. Web site: Derby County and JUST EAT Announce Three Year Shirt Sponsorship Deal. 27 July 2013. www.just-eat.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20150722150704/http://www.just-eat.com/derby-county-and-just-eat-announce-three-year-shirt-sponsorship-deal/. 22 July 2015. dead. dmy-all.
19. Web site: adidas announcement. Fulham FC. 17 May 2013.
20. Web site: Cider firm Rekorderlig to sponsor new Huddersfield Town shirt. examiner.co.uk. 17 May 2013.
21. Web site: LEEDS UNITED 13/14 MACRON HOME KIT. footyheadlines.com. 17 May 2013.
22. Web site: Boro FC unveil new kit deal with Adidas for the next three seasons. gazettelive.co.uk. 17 May 2013.
23. Web site: Ramsdens sign new five-year sponsorship deal with Middlesbrough. gazettelive.co.uk. 17 May 2013.
24. Web site: Millwall renew Macron kit deal. sportspromedia.com. 17 May 2013.
25. Web site: Video and poll: Norwich City release images of new kit for 2013/14 Premier League season. edp24.co.uk. 15 May 2013. 21 September 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130921062547/http://www.edp24.co.uk/sport/norwich-city-fc/video_and_poll_norwich_city_release_images_of_new_kit_for_2013_14_premier_league_season_1_2192615. dead.
26. Web site: Forest Team Up With Adidas . nottinghamforest.co.uk . 25 June 2013 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130917205803/http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/article/forest-team-up-with-adidas-878245.aspx . 17 September 2013 .
27. Web site: 2014-15 shirt sponsors announced. Nottingham Forest FC. 9 August 2014.
28. Web site: Waitrose signs three-year sponsorship deal with the England & Wales Cricket Board. The Drum. 17 May 2013.
29. Web site: 2013–14: Hornets Treble To Kick Off!. www.watfordfc.com. 7 June 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130610205649/http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/130607-hornets-2013-14-treble-857914.aspx. 2013-06-10. dead.
30. Web site: Blackpool: Barry Ferguson leaves as caretaker boss. 7 May 2014. BBC Sport.
31. Web site: Jose Riga: Blackpool confirm ex-Charlton Athletic boss as manager. 11 June 2014 . BBC Sport.
32. Web site: Brighton & Hove Albion head coach Oscar Garcia resigns. 12 May 2014 . BBC Sport.
33. Web site: Sami Hyypia: Brighton appoint ex-Liverpool defender as new boss . 6 June 2014 . BBC Sport.
34. Web site: Charlton Athletic appoint Belgian Bob Peeters as manager. 27 May 2014 . BBC Sport.
35. Web site: Brian McDermott leaves Leeds United by mutual consent. 27 May 2014 . BBC Sport.
36. Web site: Championship: Leeds United appoint David Hockaday as their new head coach . 19 June 2014. SkySports.
37. Web site: Mark Robins leaves Huddersfield Town. 10 August 2014 . Huddersfield Town F.C..
38. Web site: David Hockaday parts company with Leeds United.
39. Web site: Giuseppe Sannino parts leaves Watford.
40. Web site: Watford Appoint Óscar Garcia as new manager.
41. Web site: Ole Gunnar Solskjaer parts company with Cardiff City . 18 September 2014 . BBC Sport.
42. Web site: Russell Slade confirms Cardiff City as new manager . 6 October 2014 . BBC Sport.
43. Web site: Felix Magath parts company with Fulham. 18 September 2014 . BBC Sport.
44. Web site: Kit Symons is appointed as Fulham manager.. 29 October 2014 . BBC Sport.
45. Web site: Watford: Oscar Garcia replaced by Billy McKinlay as head coach.
46. Web site: Dougie Freedman: Bolton Wanderers manager leaves club . 3 October 2014 . BBC Sport.
47. Web site: Neil Lennon: Bolton Wanderers appoints Neil Lennon as new manager . 12 October 2014 . . 12 October 2014 . 18 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141018184023/http://www.bwfc.co.uk/news/article/neil-lennon-appointed-bolton-wanderers-manager-12.10.14-2011942.aspx . dead .
48. Web site: OFFICIAL: Slaviša Jokanović Appointed Head Coach . 7 October 2014 . . 7 October 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141007201828/http://www.watfordfc.com/news/article/141007-slavisa-jokanovic-watford-fc-2002228.aspx . 7 October 2014 . dead . dmy-all .
49. Web site: Lee Clark: Birmingham City sack manager and his assistant . 20 October 2014 . BBC Sport.
50. Web site: Gary Rowett: Birmingham City appoint Burton Albion manager . 27 October 2014 . BBC Sport.
51. Web site: Darko Milanič: Leeds United sack manager . 26 October 2014 . BBC Sport.
52. Web site: Neil Redfearn appointed as Leeds United head coach . 1 November 2014 . BBC Sport.
53. Web site: José Riga: Blackpool sack manager . 27 October 2014 . BBC Sport.
54. Web site: Lee Clark: Blackpool announce new manager . 30 October 2014 . Skysports.com.
55. Web site: Uwe Rosler: Wigan sack manager after poor start to season . 13 November 2014 . BBC Sport.
56. Web site: Malky Mackay: Wigan Athletic confirm new manager . 19 November 2014 . BBC Sport.
57. Web site: Nigel Adkins: Reading sack manager after 6-1 defeat . 15 December 2014 . BBC Sport.
58. Web site: Steve Clarke: Reading appoint ex-West Brom head coach . 16 December 2014 . BBC Sport.
59. Web site: Sami Hyypiä: Brighton Resign manager . 22 December 2014 . BBC Sport.
60. News: Brighton move for Chris Hughton as new manager . The Daily Telegraph . 31 December 2014 . 31 December 2014.
61. News: Neil Adams Resigns as Norwich City manager . BBC Sports . 5 January 2015 . 5 January 2015.
62. Web site: Alex Neil: Norwich City appoint Hamilton player-manager as boss . 9 January 2015 . BBC Sport.
63. News: Bob Peeters sacked as Charlton coach after 25 games . BBC Sports . 11 January 2015 . 11 January 2015.
64. Web site: Guy Luzon: Charlton Athletic appoint Israeli as head coach . 13 January 2015 . BBC Sport.
65. Web site: Stuart Pearce: Nottingham Forest manager leaves club . 1 February 2015 . 1 February 2015 . BBC Sport.
66. Web site: Nottingham Forest appoint Dougie Freedman after sacking Stuart Pearce. 1 February 2015. 11 February 2015.
67. Web site: Ian Holloway sacked as Millwall manager after 14 months . 10 March 2015 . BBC Sport.
68. Web site: Neil Harris has been appointed as manager after less than 24 hours of relegation to League One.. 29 April 2015 . BBC Sport.
69. Web site: Malky Mackay sacked as Wigan manager after 138 days in charge . 6 April 2015 . BBC Sport.
70. Web site: Wigan Athletic: Gary Caldwell named manager . 7 April 2015 . BBC Sport.
71. Web site: Championship Top Scorers . 2 May 2015. 2 May 2015.
72. News: Bolton Wanderers 3-2 Rotherham United. British Broadcasting Corporation . 16 September 2014 .
73. News: Nottingham Forest 5-3 Fulham. British Broadcasting Corporation . 17 September 2014 .
74. News: Birmingham City 0-8 AFC Bournemouth. British Broadcasting Corporation . 25 October 2014 .
75. News: Fulham 0-5 Watford. British Broadcasting Corporation . 5 December 2014 .
76. News: Millwall 1-5 Middlesbrough. British Broadcasting Corporation . 6 December 2014 .
77. News: Birmingham City 6-1 Reading. British Broadcasting Corporation . 13 December 2014 .
78. News: Birmingham City 3-1 Wigan Athletic. British Broadcasting Corporation . 10 January 2015 .
79. News: Fulham 3-2 Nottingham Forest. British Broadcasting Corporation . 21 January 2015 .
80. News: Watford 7-2 Blackpool. British Broadcasting Corporation . 24 January 2015 .
81. News: Norwich City 4-0 Blackpool. British Broadcasting Corporation . 7 February 2015 .
82. News: Brentford 4-0 Blackpool. British Broadcasting Corporation . 24 February 2015 .
83. News: AFC Bournemouth 4-0 Blackpool. British Broadcasting Corporation . 14 March 2015 .
84. News: Blackburn Rovers 3-3 Nottingham Forest. British Broadcasting Corporation . 18 April 2015 .
85. News: Millwall 3-3 Derby County. British Broadcasting Corporation . 25 April 2015 .
86. News: Fulham 4-3 Middlesbrough. British Broadcasting Corporation . 25 April 2015 .
87. News: Igor Vetokele wins Football league Championship Player of the Month for August while Kenny Jackett takes manager's award . skysports.com . 1 September 2014 .
88. News: Tyrone Mings wins Football league Championship Player of the Month for August while Mick McCarthy takes manager's award . skysports.com . 1 October 2014 .
89. News: Bournemouth's Howe and Wilson secure October awards . skysports.com . 7 November 2014 .
90. News: Brentford's Mark Warburton and Andre Gray secure November awards in Championship . skysports.com . 5 December 2014 .
91. News: Bournemouth's Eddie Howe and Daryl Murphy secure December awards in Championship . skysports.com . 9 January 2015 .
92. News: Aitor Karanka and Lee Tomlin win January's Sky Bet Championship awards . skysports.com . 6 February 2015 .
93. News: Alex Neil and Henri Lansbury win February awards in Championship . skysports.com . 6 March 2015 .
94. • News: AFC Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe named Sky Bet Championship Manager of the Month.
    • News: Watford striker Troy Deeney named Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month. football-league.co.uk. 10 April 2015. 10 April 2015.
95. • News: Watford boss Slavisa Jokanovic named manager of the month for April.
    • News: Derby County's Tom Ince named Sky Bet Championship Player of the Month. football-league.co.uk. 10 April 2015. 1 May 2015.