By Martin Graham
London, Birmingham, Manchester, Liverpool, and Leeds have all had a long-standing presence in England’s top football division. But among the major cities still without a Premier League representative, Bristol stands out.
Home to nearly 480,000 residents, Bristol remains the largest English city yet to see its name in the Premier League fixture list. While Bristol City have come close in the past, they have never quite broken through. Their most promising attempt was in the 2007-08 season, when they reached the Championship play-off final, only to fall short against Hull City.
The club now finds itself in the play-offs once again, facing Sheffield United in the semi-finals, with a potential final against either Coventry or Sunderland. After a decade in the Championship, promotion to the top tier would mark the end of a 25-year wait.
Their city rivals, Bristol Rovers, have never reached higher than the third division since being relegated in 1992–93. With both clubs grounded in long histories, Premier League football in Bristol remains an ambition yet to be achieved.
Doncaster, which gained city status in 2022, is home to over 314,000 people. Doncaster Rovers were demoted to League Two in 2021-22 and missed out on promotion through the play-offs last season. However, they have now earned a return to League One, although the top tier remains a long way off.
Milton Keynes is one of England’s fastest-growing cities, with a population nearing 300,000. MK Dons were formed in 2004 following the relocation of Wimbledon FC, and while they technically share some of Wimbledon’s history, the move was controversial enough that many view them as a new club entirely. Since their establishment, the team has played in all divisions except the Premier League.
Salford, overshadowed by neighboring Manchester, is home to around 282,000 people. Salford City received a boost through investment from several former Manchester United players and businessman Peter Lim. Since 2019-20, they have been part of the Football League, but the Premier League remains a distant goal.
Plymouth, a coastal city with roughly 256,000 residents, has also never hosted top-tier football. Plymouth Argyle recently secured a place in the Championship for the 2024-25 season but were immediately relegated. Since their founding in 1886, they have never featured in England’s top division.
Preston, with an estimated population of 252,000, has not reached the Premier League either. The club was a founding member of the Football League in 1888 and last played in the top division in 1960-61. In recent years, they have had several close calls, including four playoff appearances in the 2000s, but have yet to win promotion.
Peterborough’s best finish came in 1992-93, when they placed 10th in Division One. Despite a population of over 218,000, they have mostly competed in League One or League Two, with no serious push for a Premier League spot in sight.
York has been outside the Football League for most of the past decade. With a population of around 202,000, it is one of several Yorkshire cities still waiting for Premier League football. York City finished second in the National League in 2024-25 and now face a play-off semi-final, hoping to return to League Two.
Southend-on-Sea, home to about 180,000, has spent the majority of its football history between the third and fourth tiers. A brief stint in the Championship in 2006 ended quickly with relegation. Financial troubles have seen them drop to the National League.
Oxford, Exeter, and Colchester are three more examples of cities with Football League clubs that have never played in the Premier League. Northampton, a town of 250,000, has not featured in the Premier League either, though it did enjoy a single season in the top division back in 1965-66.
Several cities, such as Wakefield, Bath, Salisbury, Wells, and Worcester, have not had teams in the Football League at all. Their absence highlights the vast range of places in England still dreaming of footballing glory.
