| Country: | England |
| Other Countries: | Wales |
| Organiser: | The Football League |
| Founded: | 17 April 1888 |
| Folded: | 2004 |
| Teams: | 24 (1992–1992) |
| Promotion: | Premier League (1992–2004) |
| Relegation: | Second Division |
| Level: | 1 (1888–1992) 2 (1992–2004) |
| Domest Cup: | FA Cup FA Community Shield |
| League Cup: | League Cup |
| Confed Cup: | European Cup (1956–1985, 1991–1992) UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1960–1985, 1990–1999) UEFA Cup (1971–1985, 1990–2004) Inter-Cities Fairs Cup (1955–1971) |
| Champions: | Leeds United (1st tier) (1991–92) Norwich City (2nd tier) |
| Season: | 2003–04 |
| Most Successful Club: | Liverpool (18 titles) |
| Most Appearances: | Peter Shilton (849) |
| Top Goalscorer: | Jimmy Greaves (357) |
The Football League First Division was a division of the Football League in England from 1888 until 2004. It was the top division in the English football league system until the end of the 1991-92 season, at which point all of its teams broke away to form the Premier League. From 1992 to 2004, the name First Division was given to what had previously been called the Second Division. After the 2003–04 season, the division was renamed the Football League Championship (now EFL Championship).
The First Division contained between 12 and 24 clubs, playing each other home and away in a double round robin. The competition was based on two points for a win from 1888 until the increase to three points for a win in 1981.
The Football League was founded in 1888 by Aston Villa director William McGregor. It originally consisted of a single division of 12 clubs (Accrington, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Derby County, Everton, Notts County, Preston North End, Stoke (now Stoke City), West Bromwich Albion, and Wolverhampton Wanderers), known as The Football League. When the League admitted additional members from the rival Football Alliance in 1892, it was split into two divisions.
For the next 100 years, the First Division was the top professional league in English football. In 1992, the 22 clubs making up the First Division elected to resign from the Football League and set up the Premier League. The Football League was consequently re-organised, with the Second, Third, and Fourth Divisions renamed the First, Second, and Third respectively. Thus, the First Division, while still the top level of the Football League, became the second level of the entire English football league system.
The First Division was renamed the Football League Championship prior to the start of the 2004–05 season, as part of a league-wide rebrand. The Football League rebranded itself as the English Football League prior to the 2016–17 season, with its top level becoming the EFL Championship at that time.
Liverpool were the most frequent winners of the First Division when it was the top flight of English football, winning it a total of 18 times.
The Football League First Division trophy was first awarded in 1891, and was presented to the winners through to 1992.[1]
As of the 1947–48 season, making seven appearances for their club during the season was not enough for a player to qualify for a winners medal.[2]
As of the 1975–76 season, players had to make 14 appearances for their club during the season in order to qualify for a winners medal.[3]
See also: List of English football champions and List of winners of the EFL Championship and predecessors. The Football League First Division between 1888 and 1992 was the top tier in English football.
| Club | Titles | Winning seasons | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1900–01, 1905–06, 1921–22, 1922–23, 1946–47, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90 | |||
| 1930–31, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1937–38, 1947–48, 1952–53, 1970–71, 1988–89, 1990–91 | |||
| 1890–91, 1914–15, 1927–28, 1931–32, 1938–39, 1962–63, 1969–70, 1984–85, 1986–87 | |||
| 1907–08, 1910–11, 1951–52, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1964–65, 1966–67 | |||
| 1893–94, 1895–96, 1896–97, 1898–99, 1899–1900, 1909–10, 1980–81 | |||
| 1891–92, 1892–93, 1894–95, 1901–02, 1912–13, 1935–36 | |||
| 1902–03, 1903–04, 1928–29, 1929–30 | |||
| Newcastle United | 1904–05, 1906–07, 1908–09, 1926–27 | ||
| 1968–69, 1973–74, 1991–92 | |||
| 1953–54, 1957–58, 1958–59 | |||
| 1923–24, 1924–25, 1925–26 | |||
| 1971–72, 1974–75 | |||
| 1936–37, 1967–68 | |||
| 1920–21, 1959–60 | |||
| 1948–49, 1949–50 | |||
| Blackburn Rovers | 1911–12, 1913–14 | ||
| Preston North End | 1888–89, 1889–90 | ||
| 1977–78 | |||
| 1961–62 | |||
| 1954–55 | |||
| 1919–20 | |||
| 1897–98 |
| Rank | Player | Years | Goals | Matches | Ratio | Club(s) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Jimmy Greaves | 357 | 516 | 0.69 | Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham United | ||
| 2 | Steve Bloomer | 1892–1914 | 314 | 535 | 0.59 | Derby County, Middlesbrough | |
| 3 | Dixie Dean | 1924–1938 | 310 | 362 | 0.86 | Everton | |
| 4 | Gordon Hodgson | 1925–1940 | 288 | 455 | 0.63 | Liverpool, Aston Villa, Leeds United | |
| 5 | Charlie Buchan | 1912–1928 | 258 | 481 | 0.53 | Sunderland, Arsenal | |
| 6 | David Jack | 1920–1934 | 257 | 476 | 0.54 | Bolton Wanderers, Arsenal | |
| 7 | Nat Lofthouse | 1946–1960 | 255 | 452 | 0.56 | Bolton Wanderers | |
| 8 | Joe Bradford | 1921–1935 | 248 | 410 | 0.60 | Birmingham City | |
| 9 | Hughie Gallacher | 1925–1938 | 246 | 355 | 0.69 | ||
| 10 | Joe Smith | 1908–1927 | 243 | 416 | 0.58 | Bolton Wanderers |