Country: England Level: 3 Founded: 1920 (2004) Teams: 24 Previous: Football League Division Three (1920-21), Football League Division Three North and Football League Division Three South (1921-58), Football League Division Three (1958-92), Football League Division Two (1992-2004)
The Football League One (normally just called League One) is the third tier of the English football pyramid and exists in a kind of middle zone. It's two tiers away from the bright lights of the Premier League but not one step away from non-league like League Two is. In recent years quite a few big name clubs on hard times have drifted into League One - this season alone features Leeds United, Charlton Athletic, Southampton, Norwich City not to mention clubs who have recently escaped like Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest. Average crowds range from the mid-20k of Norwich and Leeds to the sub-4000 of Hartlepool United.
Formed for the 1920-21 season after the Football League absorbed a large number of teams from the semi-pro Southern League. A year later a similar number of teams from the North of England joined and two separate third divisions were created - North and South. The two were merged for the 1958-59 season to create a nationwide Third Division and Fourth Division. After the creation of the breakway Premier League in 1992 the Third Division was renamed the Second Division and before the 2004-05 season it changed name again to Football League One.
League Format:
The League One season begins in early August and runs through early May, with no winter break. Matches are traditionally played on Saturday afternoons.
The 24 teams play each othe twice (home and away) for a total of 46 games.
3 points are awarded for a win, 1 point for a draw and 0 points for a loss.
Final league position is based on the total number of points earned over the full season.
The team with the most points is considered the league champion and is promoted to the Championship along with the 2nd placed team.
The teams finishing 3rd to 6th enter a playoff to determine one further team to be promoted.
The bottom four teams are relegated to the fourth-tier League Two.
Total Third-Tier League Titles:
Includes Football League Division Three (1920-21), Football League Division Three North and Football League Division Three South (1921-58), Football League Division Three (1958-92), Football League Division Two (1992-2004).
