This article concerns football records in England. Unless otherwise stated, records are taken from the Football League or Premier League. Where a different record exists for the top flight (Football League First Division 1888–1992, and Premier League 1992–present), this is also given. This article includes clubs based in Wales that compete in English leagues.

League

The original league saw twelve teams become the founding members of the Football League in 1888–89: Accrington, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Everton, Preston North End, Aston Villa, Derby County, Notts County, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Three of the teams (Blackburn Rovers, Everton and Aston Villa) also played in the first Premier League season in 1992–93, but Notts County missed out, finishing in the relegation zone in 1991–92. A second division was added four years later for the 1892–93 season, resulting in the Football League now becoming the Football League First Division, the top division for the next one hundred years. The Southern League became Division 3 in 1920. A Northern League formed the following year that became Division Three North. In 1958 the regional divisions combined to form the Third Division and a national Fourth Division. The top 12 sides from the Northern and Southern divisions formed the Third Division, whilst the bottom 12 of the respective divisions formed the new fourth tier. Nine clubs have reached double figures of league titles, with Liverpool and Manchester United leading the chasing pack. Five clubs have managed to win all four divisions, a rare achievement while a further seven clubs need the top title to complete the full set. Luton Town can claim a quadruple of titles when they won the National League, after becoming the non-league champions in 2014. For the 1919–20 season, the first season after the First World War, Arsenal were controversially elected in to the first division, despite finishing fifth in the last season before the outbreak of war in the second division. However, they have remained at this level ever since. Arsenal had once previously won promotion after finishing second behind Preston North End in the 1903–04 season, staying there until finishing bottom in 1912–13. Other clubs won elections to play in the first division. Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United in 1898, Bury and Notts County in 1905 and Chelsea (alongside Arsenal) in 1919 were also elected to the top flight. Blackburn later won division 2 in 1938–39, and Newcastle United finished runners-up in 1947–48. Notts County became second division champions in 1913–14, while Bury would finish runners-up in 1923–24. In the 1929–30 season, Chelsea finished second behind Blackpool. Holding the record of continuous seasons, Arsenal are some way ahead of other clubs who have suffered relegation, returning by winning the division, finishing in an automatic promotion place or, more recently, via the play offs. Everton spent three years in the second division before finishing as runners-up to Leicester City in the 1953–54 season. Neighbours Liverpool, after having spent eight years outside the top division, won the second division title in the 1961–62 season. Manchester United bounced straight back up in 1974–75, after finishing second bottom in 1973–74. This would be Manchester United's last football league title before the birth of the Premier League, in their only time outside the top division since the end of the Second World War. Tottenham Hotspur also spent a season in the Second Division; similarly to Manchester United, it is the only time they have been outside the top flight since 1950. In 1976–77, Spurs conceded 72 goals as they finished bottom; the following season, they finished third in the second division to earn promotion back to the top flight. Chelsea have been in the top flight since 1989 after winning the second division, while Manchester City were present there since their 2002 promotion as Division 1 (2nd Tier) Winners. The 1998–99 season saw Manchester City earn promotion from Division 2 (currently known as League One), after winning a penalty shootout against Gillingham in the play-off final. City finished as runners-up to Charlton Athletic in Division 1 (currently known as the Championship) the following season, then made an immediate return after relegation in 2001, before securing their seventh second division title. Unlike many European clubs that have never played outside their country's top division, no English club can claim that achievement. 65 clubs have played at the top level, six clubs have never returned, and the rest, apart from Arsenal, have secured promotion from the second division. Glossop, Leyton Orient, Northampton Town, Carlisle United, Swindon Town, and Barnsley have completed only one season in the top flight. The club that can boast playing the most seasons in the top tier is Everton, who are about to play their 121st season there (out of a possible 125 league seasons). The city of Liverpool has always been represented in footballs top tier. While Everton suffered relegation in 1930, Liverpool remained, though Everton instantly returned to the top flight a year later. After three years in the second division from 1951 to 1954, Everton won promotion to the First Division, swapping places with Liverpool who had been relegated; it would be eight years later that under Bill Shankly, Liverpool were promoted from the second division. ** Six seasons lost due to World War II, and one season abandoned, total seven seasons lost. ** Six seasons lost due to World War II, and one season abandoned, total seven seasons lost.

Champions of England

Twenty four different football clubs have been crowned English champions since the league began in 1888. Some clubs have enjoyed regular success with others not so fortunate. In 2020, Liverpool ended a 30-year wait to become league champions again, however this is nowhere near the longest wait in history to once again be the English champions. Preston North End won the first two league titles but have never won it since 1890. Sheffield United won in 1898 but no second title has yet arrived. Their neighbours, Sheffield Wednesday, have won the league more recently than them, but have not added to their tally of four league titles, with their most recent success coming in 1930. Huddersfield Town won a hat-trick of titles between 1924 and 1926, but nearly a century later no fourth title has been added. It is approaching 100 years since Newcastle United were English champions while Tottenham Hotspur have now gone 62 years without any league titles. Chelsea had to wait 50 years before their Premier League success in 2005, although they did win the second division twice in the 1980s. Manchester City endured a 44-year spell before winning the league title in 2012. Manchester United went 41 years without the top title, but that time period includes two world wars, with eleven seasons lost. Arsenal, meanwhile, are currently in their longest period without a league title since first becoming English champions in 1931, with their last triumph coming in 2004, the year of the Invincibles. Before that, Arsenal went 18 years without a title twice, 1953 until 1971, then again until 1989. † At end of the 2023–24 season

Clubs with highest top division finishes without title

Titles

Representation

Wins

Draws

Losses

Points

Games without a win

Games without defeat

Goals

Scorelines

Disciplinary

Transfers

Individual

Appearances

Goals

FA Cup

Final

Team

Individual

All rounds

League Cup

Final

All rounds

All-time top scorers

FA Charity / Community Shield

Final

All competitions

Attendance records

List of English record competition winners

These tables list the clubs that have won honours an English record number of times. It lists all international competitions organised by UEFA and FIFA as well as competitions organised by the English governing bodies the English Football League, the Premier League, and The Football Association.

Ongoing competitions

Discontinued competitions

This table follows the elite criteria above. It also includes any competitions that were not directly run by the governing bodies but were precursors to such competitions. Note: Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was replaced with UEFA Cup and Intercontinental Cup was replaced with FIFA Club World Cup.

Managers

Footnotes