My Football Facts ⇒ England Football ⇒ English Football League
1st Level |
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20 clubs, 3 relegations | |||||||||||||||
2nd Level |
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“The League” |
24 clubs, 3 promotions, 3 relegations |
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3rd Level |
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24 clubs, 3 promotions, 4 relegations | |||||||||||||||
4th Level |
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24 clubs, 4 promotions, 2 relegations | |||||||||||||||
5th Level |
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“Non-League Football” |
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5th Level and Lower |
23 clubs, 2 promotions, 3 relegations |
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6th Level |
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6th Level | ||||||||||||
22 clubs, 2 p, 2 r |
21 clubs, 2 p, 1 r |
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7th Level | 7th Level | 7th Level | 7th Level | ||||||||||||
Premier Division | Central Division | South Division | Premier Division | ||||||||||||
22 clubs, 2 p, 4 r |
21 clubs, 2 p, 3 r |
22 clubs, 2 p, 4 r |
22 clubs, 2 p, 4 r |
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8th Level | 8th Level | 8th Level | 8th Level | 8th Level | 8th Level | 8th Level | 8th Level | ||||||||
Division One North East | Division One Midlands | Division One West | Division One Central | Division One South | Division One South Central | Division One North | Division One South East | ||||||||
19 Clubs | 20 Clubs | 20 Clubs | 20 Clubs | 19 Clubs | 19 Clubs | 20 Clubs | 20 Clubs | ||||||||
2 p, 1-3 r | 2 p, 2-4 r | 2 p, 2-4 r | 2 p, 2-4 r | 2 p, 1-3 r | 2 p, 1-3 r | 2 p, 2-4 r | 2 p, 2-4 r | ||||||||
9th Level | ||
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Combined Counties League Premier Division North – 18 clubs — 1–2p, 2r | Northern League Division One – 20 clubs — 1–2p, 2r | |
Combined Counties League Premier Division South – 20 clubs — 1–2p, 2r | Southern Combination League Premier Division – 20 clubs — 1–2p, 2r | |
Eastern Counties League Premier Division – 20 clubs — 1–2p, 2r | Southern Counties East League Premier Division – 20 clubs — 1–2p, 2r | |
Essex Senior League – 21 clubs — 1–2p, 2r | Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division – 20 clubs — 1–2p, 2r | |
Hellenic League Premier Division – 20 clubs — 1–2p, 2r | United Counties League Premier Division North – 18 clubs — 1–2p, 2r | |
Midland League Premier Division – 19 clubs — 1–2p, 2r | United Counties League Premier Division South – 21 clubs – 1-2p, 2r | |
North West Counties League Premier Division – 21 clubs — 1–2p, 2r | Wessex League Premier Division – 21 clubs – 1–2p, 2r | |
Northern Counties East League Premier Division – 20 clubs — 1–2p, 2r | Western League Premier Division – 19 clubs — 1–2p, 2r | |
10th Level | ||
Combined Counties League Division One – 21 clubs – 2p, 0–3r | Northern League Division Two – 20 clubs – 2p, 0–3r | |
Eastern Counties League Division One North – 16 clubs – 2p, 0–3r | South West Peninsula League Premier Division East – 20 clubs – 1p, 0–3r | |
Eastern Counties League Division One South – 20 clubs – 2p, 0–3r | South West Peninsula League Premier Division West – 20 clubs – 1p, 0–3r | |
Hellenic League Division One – 20 clubs – 2p, 0–3r | Southern Combination League Division One – 18 clubs – 2p, 0–3r | |
Midland League Division One – 19 clubs – 2p, 0–3r | Southern Counties East League Division One – 20 clubs – 2p, 0–3r | |
North West Counties League Division One North – 19 clubs – 2p, 0–3r | Spartan South Midlands League Division One – 20 clubs – 2p, 0–3r | |
North West Counties League Division One South – 20 clubs – 2p, 0–3r | United Counties League Division One – 23 clubs – 2p, 0–3r | |
Northern Counties East League Division One – 21 clubs – 2p, 0–3r | Wessex League Division One – 20 clubs – 2p, 0–3r | |
Western League Division One – 21 clubs – 2p, 0–3r | ||
11th Level | ||
Anglian Combination Premier Division – 16 clubs | North Riding League Premier Division – 16 clubs | |
Bedfordshire County League Premier Division – 16 clubs | Northamptonshire Combination League Premier Division – 16 clubs | |
Cambridgeshire County League Premier Division – 16 clubs | Northern Alliance Premier Division – 16 clubs | |
Central Midlands League Premier Division North – 14 clubs | Nottinghamshire Senior League Senior Division – 18 clubs | |
Central Midlands League Premier Division South – 14 clubs | Oxfordshire Senior League Premier Division – 16 clubs | |
Cheshire League Premier Division – 16 clubs | Peterborough & District League Premier Division – 16 clubs | |
Devon Football League North & East Division – 16 clubs | Sheffield & Hallamshire County Senior League Premier Division – 15 clubs | |
Devon Football League South & West Division – 16 clubs | Shropshire County Football League – 14 clubs | |
Dorset Premier League – 16 clubs | Somerset County League Premier Division – 18 clubs | |
Essex & Suffolk Border League Premier Division – 16 clubs | Southern Combination League Division Two – 16 clubs | |
Essex Alliance League Senior Division – 14 clubs | Spartan South Midlands League Division Two – 16 clubs | |
Essex Olympian League Premier Division – 16 clubs | St Piran League East Division – 16 clubs | |
Gloucestershire County League – 16 clubs | St Piran League West Division – 16 clubs | |
Hampshire Premier League Senior Division – 16 clubs | Staffordshire County Senior League Premier Division – 16 clubs | |
Herefordshire FA County League Premier Division – 15 clubs | Suffolk & Ipswich League Senior Division – 16 clubs | |
Hertfordshire Senior County League Premier Division – 16 clubs | Surrey Elite Intermediate League – 16 clubs | |
Humber Premier League Premier Division – 16 clubs | Thames Valley Premier League Premier Division – 16 clubs | |
Kent County League Premier Division – 16 clubs | Wearside League Division One – 16 clubs | |
Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division – 16 clubs | West Cheshire League Division One – 16 clubs | |
Lincolnshire League – 14 clubs | West Lancashire League Premier Division – 16 clubs | |
Liverpool Premier League Premier Division – 16 clubs | West Midlands (Regional) League Division One – 16 clubs | |
Manchester League Premier Division – 16 clubs | West Yorkshire League Premier Division – 16 clubs | |
Mid-Sussex League Premier Division – 14 clubs | Wiltshire Senior League Premier Division – 16 clubs | |
Middlesex County League Premier Division – 17 clubs | York League Premier Division – 16 clubs | |
Midland League Division Two – 16 clubs | Yorkshire Amateur League Supreme Division – 15 clubs |
The English Football League System is also known as the English Football Pyramid is a hierarchical system of professional and semi-professional football leagues in England bound together by a system of promotion, delegation and two national football competitions. The 92 clubs from the top four tiers of League Football 1. Premier League 2. Championship 3. League One and 4. League Two compete in the Football League Cup and FA cup. The 640 teams (in 2022-23) from the National League System (Non-league Football) stretch from the 5th to 11th levels and compete in the FA cup. The National League System (TheFA) is comprised of 57 leagues featuring a total of 84 divisions across England, providing a feeder system through to the EFL. Similar to the levels above, that non-league top tier league, The Premier League, Championship, League One, League two and the top tier league of non-league football – the National League – contain one division each, are nationwide in scope and are full-time professional leagues. Note that the number of clubs in a league can vary from year to year due to a variety of factors, such as clubs joining or leaving the league, merging with other clubs, or ceasing operations altogether.
William McGregor is widely regarded as the originator of contemporary football and the initiator of the English Football League. He is credited with establishing the first football league competition, where teams competed in both home and away fixtures arranged season by season. McGregor’s efforts led to the formation of a league comprising 12 of the most notable clubs in the country in 1888, which can be found on this page: Football League Club’s Divisional Records from 1888-89 to today.
The English Football League system is designed to allow clubs to progress up the pyramid as they become more successful and increase their fan base, revenue and infrastructure. Conversely, clubs can also be relegated down the pyramid if they perform poorly, leading to a constant turnover of teams and a competitive system that is unique to English football.
At the top of the pyramid is the Premier League, which consists of 20 clubs and is widely regarded as one of the best football leagues in the world. The Premier League is the most-watched sports league in the world and attracts some of the best players from around the globe.
Beneath the Premier League is the English Football League (EFL), which is made up of three divisions: the Championship, League One, and League Two. The Championship is the second-highest division in the pyramid and is widely regarded as one of the toughest and most competitive leagues in the world. It consists of 24 teams and is known for its intense promotion and relegation battles.
League One and League Two are the third and fourth tiers of the pyramid, respectively, and consist of 24 teams each. These leagues are primarily made up of smaller clubs and often provide a stepping stone for players and managers looking to progress to higher levels.
Beneath the EFL are a number of semi-professional leagues, including the National League, National League North, and National League South. These leagues consist of a mixture of semi-professional and amateur clubs and provide a platform for young players and clubs to develop their skills and gain valuable experience.
At the bottom of the pyramid are the grassroots leagues, which consist of local leagues and clubs that are often run by volunteers. These leagues provide an opportunity for people of all ages and abilities to play football and enjoy the sport at a community level.
The English football league pyramid is a unique and exciting system that has produced some of the world’s best players and most competitive leagues. It allows clubs to progress and compete at higher levels as they grow, while also providing opportunities for grassroots football to flourish. Whether you are a fan of the Premier League or a local amateur team, there is something for everyone in the English football league pyramid.