Summary
The all-time English top flight table has been unveiled.
Everton surpasses Manchester United, City, and Chelsea.
Several contemporary non-league football teams make an appearance.
There is a long-standing joke that English football began in 1992, when the Premier League as we know it was founded. The rebranding of the previous First Division has had a massive impact on the British game, both in terms of reputation and increased money over time.
Of course, the English top flight has a long history, beginning in 1888. Queen Victoria was the reigning monarch, Jack the Ripper was on the loose, and the first motion picture was being filmed in Leeds. Since then, 65 teams have entered English football’s top division, with some staying for brief periods of time and others lasting longer.
Using the data available on how all teams have fared, this is what the all-time English top-flight table looks like 137 years after its creation.
65-51
A team now sat in the North West County Leagues start the list
The 65th worst squad in British top flight history is one you’ve probably never heard of. Glossop North End has only won four games in 34 seasons and has spent only one season in the top tier. They are, however, the smallest town to have had a team in such a prestigious position. They are now at the ninth division of the football pyramid.
Leyton Orient, who recently lost the League One play-off final, is five points ahead of them. The remaining 1960s clubs are Swindon Town, Barnsley, tenth-tier Darwen, and Carlisle United.
Northampton Town begin the fifties, followed by probably the biggest team yet, Millwall, who are better known for their controversial fanbase than their football. The first teams to reach 100 points were Oxford United and Reading, followed by Accrington FC (not to be confused with Accrington Stanley) and Bradford Park Rangers.
Hull City and Wigan Athletic have both played in the Premier League in the last 15 years, with the Latics even defeating Manchester City to win the 2013 FA Cup. Meanwhile, Bournemouth became the first team currently playing in the top division to finish 51st.
All-Time First Division Table (65–51)
Position
Team
Games
Wins
Draws
Losses
Points
65.
Glossop North End
34
4
10
20
22
64.
Leyton Orient
42
6
9
27
27
63.
Swindon Town
42
5
15
22
30
62.
Barnsley
38
10
5
23
35
61.
Darwen
56
11
8
37
41
60.
Carlisle United
42
12
5
25
41
59.
Northampton Town
42
10
13
19
43
58.
Millwall
76
19
22
35
79
57.
Oxford United
124
27
38
59
119
56.
Reading
114
32
23
59
119
55.
Accrington FC
122
35
33
54
138
54.
Bradford Park Avenue
122
40
27
55
147
53.
Hull City
190
41
48
101
171
52.
Wigan Athletic
304
85
76
143
331
51.
AFC Bournemouth
304
95
69
140
354
50-41
Brentford and Wimbledon feature
2013 League Cup Winners Swansea City complete the top five before moving on to Bristol City at 49th, followed by Brentford and Brighton, all of which are now in the Premier League. In keeping with the trend of B’s, Bradford City is ranked 46th—the same team that miraculously avoided relegation in 2000.
Grimsby Town follow, with Oldham Athletic and Watford breaking beyond the 600-point mark. Wimbledon’s Crazy Gang has contributed significantly to their current position of 42nd, while Luton Town leads by more than 100 points following their most recent spell in the 2023/24 season.
All-Time First Division Table (50–41)
Position
Team
Games
Wins
Draws
Losses
Points
50.
Swansea City
350
113
83
154
422
49.
Bristol City
358
114
94
150
436
48.
Brentford
362
130
84
148
474
47.
Brighton
472
141
146
185
569
46.
Bradford City
468
152
126
190
582
45.
Grimsby Town
488
167
97
224
598
44.
Oldham Athletic
484
159
129
196
606
43.
Watford
554
166
124
264
622
42.
Wimbledon
554
186
171
197
729
41.
Luton Town
696
219
176
301
833
40-31
Crystal Palace and Fulham appear
Following Cardiff City in 40th place is another team that is presently playing non-league football—though Bury FC, which was resurrected by fans after the club fell into insolvency in 2020, was finally purchased by supporters two years later.
The 2025 FA Cup Winners Crystal Palace will only get better in the coming seasons, and they may have QPR and Norwich City in their sights. Notts County are now in 35th place and are unlikely to return to the top flight anytime soon, considering their League Two position.
Charlton is followed by Fulham and recently demoted Ipswich Town, who made an improbable return last season. Blackpool then finish 31st, despite not having appeared in the top division since 2011.
All-Time First Division Table (40–31)
Position
Team
Games
Wins
Draws
Losses
Points
40.
Cardiff City
706
241
167
298
890
39.
Bury FC
804
279
180
345
1,017
38.
Crystal Palace
986
282
272
432
1,118
37.
QPR
936
299
249
388
1,146
36.
Norwich City
1,092
313
317
462
1,256
35.
Notts County
1,068
341
253
474
1,276
34.
Charlton Athletic
1,050
355
253
442
1,318
33.
Fulham
1,188
353
300
535
1,359
32.
Ipswich Town
1,122
406
274
441
1,493
31.
Blackpool
1,172
415
282
475
1,527
30-21
Premier League winners Leicester City 24th
Frank Lampard will be hoping that his positive impact at Coventry City leads to his side’s long-awaited return to the top flight, allowing them to improve on their 1,686 points. However, Portsmouth and Huddersfield appear to be further away from this scenario.
Southampton have settled down at 27th place after being one of the poorest teams in Premier League history. Preston North End and Birmingham are in their mid-twenties, while Leicester City are the first Premier League champions to appear on this list.
Stoke City’s ability to frustrate larger clubs in the twenty-first century has helped them consolidate 23rd place, with Middlesbrough behind just past European champions Nottingham Forest.
All-Time First Division Table (30-21).
Position
Team
Games
Wins
Draws
Losses
Points
30.
Coventry
1,390
430
396
564
1,686
29.
Portsmouth
1,356
484
322
550
1,765
28.
Huddersfield
1,336
492
334
510
1,810
27.
Southampton
1,872
596
508
768
2,296
26.
Preston NE
1,720
671
590
659
2,403
25.
Birmingham City
2,306
724
583
999
2,755
24.
Leicester City
2,280
743
584
953
2,813
23.
Stoke City
2,372
778
583
1,011
2,917
22.
Middlesbrough
2,438
818
614
1,006
3,065
21.
Nottingham Forest
2,292
837
577
878
3,084
20-11
Leeds and West Ham feature
As we move into the top 20, we begin to see more of the country’s biggest names, beginning with Burnley and Leeds United, who dominated in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Sheffield United, a yo-yo team, is in 18th place, trailing Derby County, which had a great run under Brian Clough.
West Ham United are 16th after a series of ups and downs, while Sheffield Wednesday, although not competing in the top flight since 2000, are the city’s pride.
Bolton Wanderers’ financial woes have prevented them from adding to their score, while former Premier League winners Blackburn remain in unlucky 13th. Wolves and West Brom are the two teams who just missed out on the top ten, although there is a significant gap between them and the club in tenth place.
All-Time First Division Table (20-2011)
Position
Team
Games
Wins
Draws
Losses
Points
20.
Burnley
2,324
872
532
920
3,148
19.
Leeds United
2,174
880
549
745
3,189
18.
Sheffield United
2,470
895
581
994
3,266
17.
Derby County
2,468
906
585
977
3,303
16.
West Ham United
2,700
920
668
1,112
3,428
15.
Sheffield Wednesday
2,582
980
612
990
3,552
14.
Bolton Wanderers
2,802
1,017
641
1,144
3,692
13.
Blackburn Rovers
2,720
1,017
651
1,052
3,702
12.
Wolves
2,688
1,037
605
1,046
3,716
11.
West Brom
3,146
1,105
776
1,265
4,091
10-1
Liverpool top, Manchester United fourth behind Everton
So, here’s the top ten players in English football history. It begins with two of the country’s biggest rivals, Sunderland and Newcastle, with the Magpies claiming bragging rights over the Black Cats. Tottenham finished seventh, just 11 points behind Chelsea.
Manchester City’s domination in the 2010s has helped them ascend to sixth, while Aston Villa remains in fifth. Manchester United, the 20-time winners, are just fourth, trailing Everton, which is third.
The top two remain unchanged from the 2024/25 season, as does their order. Arsenal finishes second again, but Liverpool wins the crown of all crowns.
All-Time First Division Table (10-1).
Position
Team
Games
Wins
Draws
Losses
Points
10.
Sunderland
3,340
1,260
780
1,300
4,560
9.
Newcastle United
3,692
1,430
896
1,366
5,186
8.
Tottenham
3,622
1,515
861
1,246
5,406
7.
Chelsea
3,626
1,495
932
1,199
5,417
6.
Manchester City
3,848
1,611
907
1,330
5,740
5.
Aston Villa
4,298
1,738
1,013
1,547
6,227
4.
Manchester United
4,006
1,917
982
1,107
6,733
3.
Everton
4,746
1,910
1,195
1,641
6,917
2.
Arsenal
4,362
2,014
1106
1,242
7,148
1.
Liverpool
4,362
2,084
1,080
1,198
7,332
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