EFL League One

(Redirected from Coca Cola League One)

The English Football League One, known as Sky Bet League One for sponsorship purposes or simply League One in England, is the second-highest division of the English Football League and the third-tier overall in the English football league system.

EFL League One
Founded2004; 20 years ago (2004)
  • 1992–2004 (as Division Two)
  • 1958–1992 (as Division Three)
  • 1921–1958 (as Division Three North/South)
  • 1920–1921 (as Division Three)
CountryEngland
Number of teams24
Level on pyramid3
Promotion toEFL Championship
Relegation toEFL League Two
Domestic cup(s)FA Cup
League cup(s)
International cup(s)
Current championsPortsmouth
1st League One title
4th 3rd tier title
(2023–24)
Most championshipsPlymouth Argyle (5 titles total)
Wigan Athletic (3 League One titles)
TV partnersList of broadcasters
Websiteefl.com/competitions/efl-league-one
Current: 2024–25 EFL League One

Introduced in the 2004–05 English football season as Football League One, it is a rebrand of the former Football League Second Division, which itself is a rebrand of the now-defunct Football League Third Division before the 1992 launch of the Premier League.

Fleetwood Town held the longest tenure in the division following promotion from League Two at the end of the 2013–14 season until their relegation this season. There are eight former Premier League clubs currently competing in this division; Barnsley (1997–98), Birmingham City (2002–06, 2007–08 and 2009–11), Blackpool (2010–11), Bolton Wanderers (1995–96, 1997–98, and 2001–12), Charlton Athletic (1998–99 and 2000–07), Huddersfield Town (2017–19), Reading (2006–08 and 2012–13), and Wigan Athletic (2005–13).[1]

Structure

There are 24 clubs in this division. Each club plays each of the others twice. Three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw, and none for a loss. At the end of the season a table of the final League standings is determined, based on the following criteria in this order: points obtained, goal difference, goals scored, an aggregate of the results between two or more clubs (ranked using the previous three criteria), most matches won, most goals scored away from home, fewest "penalty points" based on yellow and red cards received, followed by fewest straight red cards for certain offenses. If two or more teams are still tied after examining all of these criteria, they will share the higher place between them. The only exception would be if the tied teams span the boundary between 2nd and 3rd, 6th and 7th, or 20th and 21st place, in which case one or more play-off matches would be arranged between the tied clubs.[citation needed]

At the end of each season the top two clubs, together with the winner of the play-offs between the clubs which finished in the third to sixth positions, are promoted to EFL Championship and are replaced by the three clubs that finished at the bottom of that division.

Similarly, the four clubs that finished at the bottom of EFL League One are relegated to EFL League Two and are replaced by the top three clubs and the club that won the fourth to seventh place play-offs in that division.

Current members

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
BarnsleyBarnsleyOakwell23,287
Birmingham CityBirminghamSt Andrew's29,409
BlackpoolBlackpoolBloomfield Road16,616
Bolton WanderersHorwichToughsheet Community Stadium28,723
Bristol RoversBristolMemorial Stadium9,832
Burton AlbionBurton upon TrentPirelli Stadium6,912
Cambridge UnitedCambridgeAbbey Stadium8,127
Charlton AthleticLondon (Charlton)The Valley27,111
Crawley TownCrawleyBroadfield Stadium5,996
Exeter CityExeterSt. James Park8,720
Huddersfield TownHuddersfieldKirklees Stadium24,121
Leyton OrientLondon (Leyton)Brisbane Road9,271
Lincoln CityLincolnSincil Bank10,669
Mansfield TownMansfieldField Mill9,186
Northampton TownNorthamptonSixfields Stadium7,798
Peterborough UnitedPeterboroughLondon Road Stadium13,511
ReadingReadingMadejski Stadium24,161
Rotherham UnitedRotherhamNew York Stadium12,021
Shrewsbury TownShrewsburyNew Meadow9,875
StevenageStevenageBroadhall Way7,800
Stockport CountyStockportEdgeley Park10,852
Wigan AthleticWiganBrick Community Stadium25,138
WrexhamWrexhamRacecourse Ground12,600
Wycombe WanderersHigh WycombeAdams Park10,137

Teams promoted from League One

SeasonWinnerRunner-upPromoted Play-off Winner (Position)
2004–05Luton TownHull CitySheffield Wednesday (5th)
2005–06Southend UnitedColchester UnitedBarnsley (5th)
2006–07Scunthorpe UnitedBristol CityBlackpool (3rd)
2007–08Swansea CityNottingham ForestDoncaster Rovers (3rd)
2008–09Leicester CityPeterborough UnitedScunthorpe United (6th)
2009–10Norwich CityLeeds UnitedMillwall (3rd)
2010–11Brighton & Hove AlbionSouthamptonPeterborough United (4th)
2011–12Charlton AthleticSheffield WednesdayHuddersfield Town (4th)
2012–13Doncaster RoversAFC BournemouthYeovil Town (4th)
2013–14Wolverhampton WanderersBrentfordRotherham United (4th)
2014–15Bristol CityMilton Keynes DonsPreston North End (3rd)
2015–16Wigan AthleticBurton AlbionBarnsley (6th)
2016–17Sheffield UnitedBolton WanderersMillwall (6th)
2017–18Wigan AthleticBlackburn RoversRotherham United (4th)
2018–19Luton TownBarnsleyCharlton Athletic (3rd)
2019–20Coventry CityRotherham UnitedWycombe Wanderers (3rd)
2020–21Hull CityPeterborough UnitedBlackpool (3rd)
2021–22Wigan AthleticRotherham UnitedSunderland (5th)
2022–23Plymouth ArgyleIpswich TownSheffield Wednesday (3rd)
2023–24PortsmouthDerby CountyOxford United (5th)

For past winners at this level before 2004, see List of winners of the EFL League One and predecessors.

Play-off results

SeasonSemi-final (1st Leg)Semi-final (2nd Leg)Final
2004–05Sheffield Wednesday 1–0 Brentford
Hartlepool United 2–0 Tranmere Rovers
Brentford 1–2 Sheffield Wednesday
Tranmere Rovers 2–0 Hartlepool United
(Hartlepool won 6–5 on penalties, a.e.t.)
Sheffield Wednesday 4–2 Hartlepool United (a.e.t.)
2005–06Barnsley 0–1 Huddersfield Town
Swansea City 1–1 Brentford
Huddersfield Town 1–3 Barnsley
Brentford 0–2 Swansea City
Barnsley 2–2 Swansea City
(Barnsley won 4–3 on penalties, a.e.t.)
2006–07Yeovil Town 0–2 Nottingham Forest
Oldham Athletic 1–2 Blackpool
Nottingham Forest 2–5 Yeovil Town (a.e.t.)
Blackpool 3–1 Oldham Athletic
Blackpool 2–0 Yeovil Town
2007–08Southend United 0–0 Doncaster Rovers
Leeds United 1–2 Carlisle United
Doncaster Rovers 5–1 Southend United
Carlisle United 0–2 Leeds United
Leeds United 0–1 Doncaster Rovers
2008–09Scunthorpe United 1–1 Milton Keynes Dons
Millwall 1–0 Leeds United
Milton Keynes Dons 0–0 Scunthorpe United
(Scunthorpe won 7–6 on penalties, a.e.t.)
Leeds United 1–1 Millwall
Scunthorpe United 3–2 Millwall
2009–10Swindon Town 2–1 Charlton Athletic
Huddersfield Town 0–0 Millwall
Charlton Athletic 2–1 Swindon Town
(Swindon won 5–4 on penalties, a.e.t.)
Millwall 2–0 Huddersfield Town
Millwall 1–0 Swindon Town
2010–11AFC Bournemouth 1–1 Huddersfield Town
Milton Keynes Dons 3–2 Peterborough United
Huddersfield Town 3–3 AFC Bournemouth
(Huddersfield won 4–2 on penalties, a.e.t.)
Peterborough United 2–0 Milton Keynes Dons
Huddersfield Town 0–3 Peterborough United
2011–12Stevenage 0–0 Sheffield United
Milton Keynes Dons 0–2 Huddersfield Town
Sheffield United 1–0 Stevenage
Huddersfield Town 1–2 Milton Keynes Dons
Huddersfield Town 0–0 Sheffield United
(Huddersfield won 8–7 on penalties, a.e.t.)
2012–13Sheffield United 1–0 Yeovil Town
Swindon Town 1–1 Brentford
Yeovil Town 2–0 Sheffield United
Brentford 3–3 Swindon Town
(Brentford won 5–4 on penalties, a.e.t.)
Brentford 1–2 Yeovil Town
2013–14Peterborough United 1–1 Leyton Orient
Preston North End 1–1 Rotherham United
Leyton Orient 2–1 Peterborough United
Rotherham United 3–1 Preston North End
Leyton Orient 2–2 Rotherham United
(Rotherham won 4–3 on penalties, a.e.t.)
2014–15Chesterfield 0–1 Preston North End
Sheffield United 1–2 Swindon Town
Preston North End 3–0 Chesterfield
Swindon Town 5–5 Sheffield United
Preston North End 4–0 Swindon Town
2015–16Barnsley 3–0 Walsall
Bradford City 1–3 Millwall
Walsall 1–3 Barnsley
Millwall 1–1 Bradford City
Barnsley 3–1 Millwall
2016–17Millwall 0–0 Scunthorpe United
Bradford City 1–0 Fleetwood Town
Scunthorpe United 2–3 Millwall
Fleetwood Town 0–0 Bradford City
Bradford City 0–1 Millwall
2017–18Charlton Athletic 0–1 Shrewsbury Town
Scunthorpe United 2–2 Rotherham United
Shrewsbury Town 1–0 Charlton Athletic
Rotherham United 2–0 Scunthorpe United
Rotherham United 2–1 Shrewsbury Town (a.e.t.)
2018–19Doncaster Rovers 1–2 Charlton Athletic
Sunderland 1–0 Portsmouth
Charlton Athletic 2–3 Doncaster Rovers
(Charlton Athletic won 4–3 on penalties, a.e.t.)
Portsmouth 0–0 Sunderland
Charlton Athletic 2–1 Sunderland
2019–20Portsmouth 1–1 Oxford United
Fleetwood Town 1–4 Wycombe Wanderers
Oxford United 1–1 Portsmouth
(Oxford United won 5–4 on penalties, a.e.t.)
Wycombe Wanderers 2–2 Fleetwood Town
Oxford United 1–2 Wycombe Wanderers
2020–21Oxford United 0–3 Blackpool
Lincoln City 2–0 Sunderland
Blackpool 3–3 Oxford United
Sunderland 2–1 Lincoln City
Blackpool 2–1 Lincoln City
2021–22Wycombe Wanderers 2–0 Milton Keynes Dons
Sunderland 1–0 Sheffield Wednesday
Milton Keynes Dons 1–0 Wycombe Wanderers
Sheffield Wednesday 1–1 Sunderland
Sunderland 2–0 Wycombe Wanderers
2022–23Peterborough United 4–0 Sheffield Wednesday
Bolton Wanderers 1–1 Barnsley
Sheffield Wednesday 5–1 Peterborough United
(Sheffield Wednesday won 5–3 on penalties, a.e.t.)
Barnsley 1–0 Bolton Wanderers
Sheffield Wednesday 1–0 Barnsley (a.e.t.)
2023–24Barnsley 1–3 Bolton Wanderers
Oxford United 1–0 Peterborough United
Bolton Wanderers 2–3 Barnsley
Peterborough United 1–1 Oxford United
Bolton Wanderers 0–2 Oxford United

Relegated teams

SeasonClubs
2004–05Torquay United (51), Wrexham (43), Peterborough United (39), Stockport County (26)
2005–06Hartlepool United (50), Milton Keynes Dons (50), Swindon Town (48), Walsall (47)
2006–07Chesterfield (47), Bradford City (47), Rotherham United (38), Brentford (37)
2007–08AFC Bournemouth (48), Gillingham (46), Port Vale (38), Luton Town (33)
2008–09Northampton Town (49), Crewe Alexandra (46), Cheltenham Town (39), Hereford United (34)
2009–10Gillingham (50), Wycombe Wanderers (45), Southend United (43), Stockport County (25)
2010–11Dagenham & Redbridge (47), Bristol Rovers (45), Plymouth Argyle (42), Swindon Town (41)
2011–12Wycombe Wanderers (43), Chesterfield (42), Exeter City (42), Rochdale (38)
2012–13Scunthorpe United (48), Bury (41), Hartlepool United (41), Portsmouth (32)
2013–14Stevenage (47), Shrewsbury Town (45), Carlisle United (42), Tranmere Rovers (42)
2014–15Notts County (50), Crawley Town (50), Leyton Orient (49), Yeovil Town (40)
2015–16Doncaster Rovers (46), Blackpool (46), Colchester United (40), Crewe Alexandra (34)
2016–17Port Vale (49), Swindon Town (44), Coventry City (39), Chesterfield (37)
2017–18Oldham Athletic (50), Northampton Town (47), Milton Keynes Dons (45), Bury (36)
2018–19Plymouth Argyle (50), Walsall (47), Scunthorpe United (46), Bradford City (41)
2019–20Tranmere Rovers (32), Southend United (19), Bolton Wanderers (14), Bury[a]
2020–21Rochdale (47), Northampton Town (45), Swindon Town (43), Bristol Rovers (38)
2021–22Gillingham (40), Doncaster Rovers (38), AFC Wimbledon (37), Crewe Alexandra (29)
2022–23Milton Keynes Dons (45), Morecambe (44), Accrington Stanley (44), Forest Green Rovers (27)
2023–24Cheltenham Town (44), Fleetwood Town (43), Port Vale (41), Carlisle United (30)

a Expelled in August 2019 after financial breaches.

Top scorers

SeasonTop scorer(s)Club(s)Goals
2004–05 Stuart ElliottHull City27
Dean WindassBradford City
2005–06 Freddy EastwoodSouthend United23
Billy SharpScunthorpe United
2006–07 Billy SharpScunthorpe United30
2007–08 Jason ScotlandSwansea City24
2008–09 Simon CoxSwindon Town29
Rickie LambertBristol Rovers
2009–10 Rickie LambertSouthampton30
2010–11 Craig Mackail-SmithPeterborough United27
2011–12 Jordan RhodesHuddersfield Town36
2012–13 Paddy MaddenYeovil Town22
2013–14 Sam BaldockBristol City24
2014–15 Joe GarnerPreston North End26
2015–16 Will GriggWigan Athletic25
2016–17 Billy SharpSheffield United30
2017–18 Jack MarriottPeterborough United27
2018–19 James CollinsLuton Town25
2019–20 Ivan ToneyPeterborough United24[b]
2020–21 Jonson Clarke-HarrisPeterborough United31
2021–22 Will KeaneWigan Athletic26
2022–23 Conor ChaplinIpswich Town26
Jonson Clarke-HarrisPeterborough United
2023-24 Alfie MayCharlton Athletic23

b In 35 games. Season truncated because of coronavirus.

Attendances

EFL League One is the most-watched third-tier domestic sports league in the world, with an average of 10,613 spectators per game in the 2022–23 season, also making it one of the top ten most watched leagues in Europe.[2] The closest third-tier association football league in terms of average attendance is the Germany 3. Liga (8,219).[3]

The highest average attendance since the restructure into League One was the 2022–23 season, when over 5.3 million spectators watched games, with an average of 10,613 per game. The highest average attendance by a single club was Sunderland in the 2018–19 season with 32,157. They also set the League One attendance record for a single game in the same season, when 46,039 spectators attended the Boxing Day game against Bradford City.[4]

SeasonLeague Average AttendanceHighest AverageHighest Attendance
ClubAttendanceGameAttendance
2004–057,732Sheffield Wednesday23,100 [5]Sheffield Wednesday vs Bristol City28,798
2005–067,578Nottingham Forest20,257 [6]Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth26,847
2006–077,486Nottingham Forest20,627 [7]Nottingham Forest v Rotherham United27,875
2007–087,985Leeds United26,546 [8]Leeds United v Gillingham38,256
2008–097,551Leeds United23,639 [9]
2009–109,136Leeds United24,818 [10]Leeds United v Bristol Rovers38,234
2010–117,519Southampton22,161 [11]Southampton v Walsall31,653
2011–127,358Sheffield Wednesday21,336 [12]Sheffield Wednesday v Wycombe Wanderers38,082
2012–136,335Sheffield United18,612 [13]Sheffield United v Brentford23,431
2013–147,476Wolverhampton Wanderers20,879 [14]Wolverhampton Wanderers v Rotherham United30,110
2014–157,037Sheffield United19,805 [15]Coventry City v Gillingham27,306
2015–167,163Sheffield United19,803 [16]Sheffield United v Bradford City24,777
2016–177,933Sheffield United21,892 [17]Sheffield United v Chesterfield31,003
2017–187,805Bradford City19,787 [18]Blackburn Rovers v Oxford United27,600
2018–198,741Sunderland32,157 [19]Sunderland v Bradford City46,039
2019–208,802Sunderland30,118 [20]Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers33,821
2020–21No attendances because of COVID-19 pandemic
2021–229,953Sunderland30,847 [21]Sunderland v Doncaster Rovers38,395
2022–2310,613Derby County27,259Sheffield Wednesday v Plymouth Argyle33,442
2023–249,711Derby County27,278Derby County v Bolton Wanderers32,538

Historic performance

Since the restructuring into League One in 2004, 76 teams have spent at least one season in the division, including 7 of the 20 teams in the 2023–24 Premier League. Milton Keynes Dons has spent 15 seasons in League One, the most of any team. Oldham Athletic's single 14-season consecutive spell was the longest of any team. The team with the current longest tenure is Fleetwood Town, who have been in League One continuously since the 2014–15 season. Rotherham United and Peterborough United have had the highest number of separate spells in League One with five each. There have been 16 different Champions of League One, with Wigan Athletic having won the division three times.

Key

  •    † Teams with this background and symbol in the "Club" column will be competing in the 2024–25 EFL League One
  •    ‡ Team will be competing in the 2024–25 Premier League
  •    The club competed in League One during that season (the number is the club's final league position)
ClubTotal SeasonsNumber of SpellsLongest Spell (Seasons)Highest PositionLowest PositionSeason
2004–05
2005–06
2006–07
2007–08
2008–09
2009–10
2010–11
2011–12
2012–13
2013–14
2014–15
2015–16
2016–17
2017–18
2018–19
2019–20
2020–21
2021–22
2022–23
2023–24
2024–25
Accrington Stanley51511231417111223
AFC Bournemouth72422181719216112
AFC Wimbledon6161523151820201923
Barnsley843213135116246
Birmingham City111
Blackburn Rovers111222
Blackpool1044322161932212101338
Bolton Wanderers634223223953
Bradford City926524111122117551124
Brentford8252244324911932
Brighton & Hove Albion51511818716131
Bristol City523112792121
Bristol Rovers123510241611112210131514241715
Burton Albion827220291216161520
Bury6331424142216192424 [a]
Cambridge United4141420142018
Carlisle United928424842014128172224
Charlton Athletic1035116413113637131016
Cheltenham Town6231523171923151621
Chesterfield7336241716212261824
Colchester United1028223152128101020161923
Coventry City72512315181782381
Crawley Town4231022101422
Crewe Alexandra9341224132022131920241224
Dagenham & Redbridge112212121
Derby County2122772
Doncaster Rovers12451221081131132115691422
Exeter City523823188231413
Fleetwood Town10110422101941411615201322
Forest Green Rovers111242424
Gillingham13399221416222117129201713101021
Hartlepool United826623621151920161323
Hereford United111242424
Huddersfield Town9283159415109634
Hull City2211221
Ipswich Town414211119112
Leeds United31325542
Leicester City111111
Leyton Orient112932320141417720732311
Lincoln City616517165171111
Luton Town3311241241
Mansfield Town111
Millwall62431710175346
MK Dons1547223202231255810212231913321
Morecambe21219221922
Northampton Town8339221492116222214
Norwich City111111
Nottingham Forest31327742
Notts County515721197122021
Oldham Athletic1411462119106810161716191515171721
Oxford United81841981612468195
Peterborough United14582232324691311977264
Plymouth Argyle633123237211871
Port Vale10349231813122391812211823
Portsmouth8271242484581081
Preston North End414315151453
Reading212171717
Rochdale927824924810920161821
Rotherham United76222320234422
Scunthorpe United1045123121618211673523
Sheffield United6161113575111
Sheffield Wednesday532215515243
Shrewsbury Town12210323162320183181517181219
Southampton2122772
Southend United93512316823147101922
Stevenage523624618249
Stockport County4321824241824
Sunderland414485845
Swansea City31317671
Swindon Town124542412231315524684152223
Torquay United111212121
Tranmere Rovers112103213189117191812112121
Walsall1421232414241213102019913143141922
Wigan Athletic6421201120112
Wolverhampton Wanderers111111
Wrexham221222222
Wycombe Wanderers84432222211736910
Yeovil Town9284241551817151417424

Financial Fair Play

Beginning with the 2012–13 season, a Financial Fair Play arrangement has been in place in all three divisions of the Football League, the intention being eventually to produce a league of financially self-sustaining clubs. In League One, this takes the form of a Salary Cost Management Protocol in which a maximum of 60% of a club's turnover may be spent on players' wages, with sanctions being applied in the form of transfer embargoes.[22][23][24][25]

See also

Footnotes

References