English football major titles as of November 2008

If you're looking for a big picture snapshot of English football history it can be found in Bill Turianski's latest contribution. Taking a break from the maps he usually does he's put together a chart recording the total major trophies won by English football clubs. An image of each club's kit is displayed (sized proportional to the number of titles won) and ranked left to right in order. The titles in question - the Premier League, the old Football League First Division, FA Cup and League Cup as well as the international trophies on offer - European Cup/Champions League, Fairs Cup/UEFA Cup and the old European Cup Winners' Cup. He's even thrown together kit images for some of the game's Victorian vanguards, Wanderers and Old Etonians.

The big four are not quite the big four over the full arc of English football history. Chelsea only come in at 8th and, if not for their run of success in the Abramovich era, would be well back in mid-table. Quite a few clubs near the top haven't won the league in quite a while. I'm sure you're familiar with Liverpool's wait (last won in 1990) but there's also Everton (1987), Aston Villa (1981), Spurs (1961) and proud old Newcastle (1927). The Magpies in fact have the longest spell without a trophy of any club in the top ten, the wait since tasting the cup champagne reaching 40 years this season barring an unlikely Cup run.

Bill Turianski runs the website Bill's Sports Maps - which features many, many maps, profiles of teams and a whole lot more.