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.
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| Founded | 2004; 20 years ago (2004)
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| Country | England |
| Number of teams | 24 |
| Level on pyramid | 3 |
| Promotionto | EFL Championship |
| Relegationto | EFL League Two |
| Domestic cup(s) | FA Cup |
| League cup(s) |
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| International cup(s) |
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| Current champions | Portsmouth 1st League One title 4th 3rd tier title (2023–24) |
| Most championships | Plymouth Argyle (5 titles total) Wigan Athletic (3 League One titles) |
| TV partners | List of broadcasters |
| Website | efl |
| Current: 2024–25 EFL League One | |
Introduced in the 2004–05 English football seasonasFootball 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]
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.
For past winners at this level before 2004, see List of winners of the EFL League One and predecessors.
a Expelled in August 2019 after financial breaches.
b In 35 games. Season truncated because of coronavirus.
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]
| Season | League Average Attendance | Highest Average | Highest Attendance | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Attendance | Game | Attendance | ||
| 2004–05 | 7,732 | Sheffield Wednesday | 23,100 [5] | Sheffield Wednesday vs Bristol City | 28,798 |
| 2005–06 | 7,578 | Nottingham Forest | 20,257 [6] | Nottingham Forest v Bournemouth | 26,847 |
| 2006–07 | 7,486 | Nottingham Forest | 20,627 [7] | Nottingham Forest v Rotherham United | 27,875 |
| 2007–08 | 7,985 | Leeds United | 26,546 [8] | Leeds United v Gillingham | 38,256 |
| 2008–09 | 7,551 | Leeds United | 23,639 [9] | ||
| 2009–10 | 9,136 | Leeds United | 24,818 [10] | Leeds United v Bristol Rovers | 38,234 |
| 2010–11 | 7,519 | Southampton | 22,161 [11] | Southampton v Walsall | 31,653 |
| 2011–12 | 7,358 | Sheffield Wednesday | 21,336 [12] | Sheffield Wednesday v Wycombe Wanderers | 38,082 |
| 2012–13 | 6,335 | Sheffield United | 18,612 [13] | Sheffield United v Brentford | 23,431 |
| 2013–14 | 7,476 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 20,879 [14] | Wolverhampton Wanderers v Rotherham United | 30,110 |
| 2014–15 | 7,037 | Sheffield United | 19,805 [15] | Coventry City v Gillingham | 27,306 |
| 2015–16 | 7,163 | Sheffield United | 19,803 [16] | Sheffield United v Bradford City | 24,777 |
| 2016–17 | 7,933 | Sheffield United | 21,892 [17] | Sheffield United v Chesterfield | 31,003 |
| 2017–18 | 7,805 | Bradford City | 19,787 [18] | Blackburn RoversvOxford United | 27,600 |
| 2018–19 | 8,741 | Sunderland | 32,157 [19] | Sunderland v Bradford City | 46,039 |
| 2019–20 | 8,802 | Sunderland | 30,118 [20] | Sunderland v Bolton Wanderers | 33,821 |
| 2020–21 | No attendances because of COVID-19 pandemic | ||||
| 2021–22 | 9,953 | Sunderland | 30,847 [21] | Sunderland v Doncaster Rovers | 38,395 |
| 2022–23 | 10,613 | Derby County | 27,259 | Sheffield Wednesday v Plymouth Argyle | 33,442 |
| 2023–24 | 9,711 | Derby County | 27,278 | Derby County v Bolton Wanderers | 32,538 |
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.
| Club | Total Seasons | Number of Spells | Longest Spell (Seasons) | Highest Position | Lowest Position | Season | ||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2004–05
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2005–06
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2006–07
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2007–08
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2008–09
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2009–10
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2010–11
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2011–12
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2012–13
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2013–14
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2014–15
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2015–16
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2016–17
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2017–18
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2018–19
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2019–20
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2020–21
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2021–22
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2022–23
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2023–24
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2024–25
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| Accrington Stanley | 5 | 1 | 5 | 11 | 23 | 14 | 17 | 11 | 12 | 23 | ||||||||||||||||
| AFC Bournemouth ‡ | 7 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 21 | 8 | 17 | 19 | 21 | 6 | 11 | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| AFC Wimbledon | 6 | 1 | 6 | 15 | 23 | 15 | 18 | 20 | 20 | 19 | 23 | |||||||||||||||
| Barnsley † | 8 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 13 | 13 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 6 | ||||||||||||||
| Birmingham City † | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Blackburn Rovers | 1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Blackpool † | 10 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 16 | 19 | 3 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 13 | 3 | 8 | ||||||||||||
| Bolton Wanderers † | 6 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 23 | 2 | 23 | 9 | 5 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| Bradford City | 9 | 2 | 6 | 5 | 24 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 11 | 7 | 5 | 5 | 11 | 24 | ||||||||||||
| Brentford ‡ | 8 | 2 | 5 | 2 | 24 | 4 | 3 | 24 | 9 | 11 | 9 | 3 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| Brighton & Hove Albion ‡ | 5 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 18 | 18 | 7 | 16 | 13 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Bristol City | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 12 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||
| Bristol Rovers † | 12 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 24 | 16 | 11 | 11 | 22 | 10 | 13 | 15 | 14 | 24 | 17 | 15 | ||||||||||
| Burton Albion † | 8 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 20 | 2 | 9 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 15 | 20 | ||||||||||||||
| Bury | 6 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 24 | 14 | 22 | 16 | 19 | 24 | 24[a] | |||||||||||||||
| Cambridge United † | 4 | 1 | 4 | 14 | 20 | 14 | 20 | 18 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Carlisle United | 9 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 24 | 8 | 4 | 20 | 14 | 12 | 8 | 17 | 22 | 24 | ||||||||||||
| Charlton Athletic † | 10 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 4 | 13 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 13 | 10 | 16 | |||||||||||
| Cheltenham Town | 6 | 2 | 3 | 15 | 23 | 17 | 19 | 23 | 15 | 16 | 21 | |||||||||||||||
| Chesterfield | 7 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 24 | 17 | 16 | 21 | 22 | 6 | 18 | 24 | ||||||||||||||
| Colchester United | 10 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 23 | 15 | 2 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 20 | 16 | 19 | 23 | |||||||||||
| Coventry City | 7 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 23 | 15 | 18 | 17 | 8 | 23 | 8 | 1 | ||||||||||||||
| Crawley Town † | 4 | 2 | 3 | 10 | 22 | 10 | 14 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Crewe Alexandra | 9 | 3 | 4 | 12 | 24 | 13 | 20 | 22 | 13 | 19 | 20 | 24 | 12 | 24 | ||||||||||||
| Dagenham & Redbridge | 1 | 1 | 2 | 21 | 21 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Derby County | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Doncaster Rovers | 12 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 22 | 10 | 8 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 21 | 15 | 6 | 9 | 14 | 22 | |||||||||
| Exeter City † | 5 | 2 | 3 | 8 | 23 | 18 | 8 | 23 | 14 | 13 | ||||||||||||||||
| Fleetwood Town | 10 | 1 | 10 | 4 | 22 | 10 | 19 | 4 | 14 | 11 | 6 | 15 | 20 | 13 | 22 | |||||||||||
| Forest Green Rovers | 1 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 24 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Gillingham | 13 | 3 | 9 | 9 | 22 | 14 | 16 | 22 | 21 | 17 | 12 | 9 | 20 | 17 | 13 | 10 | 10 | 21 | ||||||||
| Hartlepool United | 8 | 2 | 6 | 6 | 23 | 6 | 21 | 15 | 19 | 20 | 16 | 13 | 23 | |||||||||||||
| Hereford United | 1 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 24 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Huddersfield Town † | 9 | 2 | 8 | 3 | 15 | 9 | 4 | 15 | 10 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 4 | |||||||||||||
| Hull City | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Ipswich Town ‡ | 4 | 1 | 4 | 2 | 11 | 11 | 9 | 11 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||
| Leeds United | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Leicester City ‡ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Leyton Orient † | 11 | 2 | 9 | 3 | 23 | 20 | 14 | 14 | 17 | 7 | 20 | 7 | 3 | 23 | 11 | |||||||||||
| Lincoln City † | 6 | 1 | 6 | 5 | 17 | 16 | 5 | 17 | 11 | 11 | ||||||||||||||||
| Luton Town | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 24 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Mansfield Town † | 1 | 1 | 1 | – | – | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Millwall | 6 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 10 | 17 | 5 | 3 | 4 | 6 | |||||||||||||||
| MK Dons | 15 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 23 | 20 | 22 | 3 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 2 | 12 | 23 | 19 | 13 | 3 | 21 | ||||||
| Morecambe | 2 | 1 | 2 | 19 | 22 | 19 | 22 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Northampton Town † | 8 | 3 | 3 | 9 | 22 | 14 | 9 | 21 | 16 | 22 | 22 | 14 | ||||||||||||||
| Norwich City | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Nottingham Forest ‡ | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 4 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Notts County | 5 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 21 | 19 | 7 | 12 | 20 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||
| Oldham Athletic | 14 | 1 | 14 | 6 | 21 | 19 | 10 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 16 | 17 | 16 | 19 | 15 | 15 | 17 | 17 | 21 | |||||||
| Oxford United | 8 | 1 | 8 | 4 | 19 | 8 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 6 | 8 | 19 | 5 | |||||||||||||
| Peterborough United † | 14 | 5 | 8 | 2 | 23 | 23 | 2 | 4 | 6 | 9 | 13 | 11 | 9 | 7 | 7 | 2 | 6 | 4 | ||||||||
| Plymouth Argyle | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 23 | 23 | 7 | 21 | 18 | 7 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Port Vale | 10 | 3 | 4 | 9 | 23 | 18 | 13 | 12 | 23 | 9 | 18 | 12 | 21 | 18 | 23 | |||||||||||
| Portsmouth | 8 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 24 | 24 | 8 | 4 | 5 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 1 | |||||||||||||
| Preston North End | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 15 | 15 | 14 | 5 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||
| Reading † | 2 | 1 | 2 | 17 | 17 | 17 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Rochdale | 9 | 2 | 7 | 8 | 24 | 9 | 24 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 20 | 16 | 18 | 21 | ||||||||||||
| Rotherham United † | 7 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 23 | 20 | 23 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||
| Scunthorpe United | 10 | 4 | 5 | 1 | 23 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 18 | 21 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 5 | 23 | |||||||||||
| Sheffield United | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 5 | 11 | 1 | |||||||||||||||
| Sheffield Wednesday | 5 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 15 | 5 | 15 | 2 | 4 | 3 | ||||||||||||||||
| Shrewsbury Town † | 12 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 23 | 16 | 23 | 20 | 18 | 3 | 18 | 15 | 17 | 18 | 12 | 19 | ||||||||||
| Southampton ‡ | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Southend United | 9 | 3 | 5 | 1 | 23 | 1 | 6 | 8 | 23 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 19 | 22 | ||||||||||||
| Stevenage † | 5 | 2 | 3 | 6 | 24 | 6 | 18 | 24 | 9 | |||||||||||||||||
| Stockport County † | 4 | 3 | 2 | 18 | 24 | 24 | 18 | 24 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Sunderland | 4 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 4 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||
| Swansea City | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Swindon Town | 12 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 24 | 12 | 23 | 13 | 15 | 5 | 24 | 6 | 8 | 4 | 15 | 22 | 23 | |||||||||
| Torquay United | 1 | 1 | 1 | 21 | 21 | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Tranmere Rovers | 11 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 21 | 3 | 18 | 9 | 11 | 7 | 19 | 18 | 12 | 11 | 21 | 21 | ||||||||||
| Walsall | 14 | 2 | 12 | 3 | 24 | 14 | 24 | 12 | 13 | 10 | 20 | 19 | 9 | 13 | 14 | 3 | 14 | 19 | 22 | |||||||
| Wigan Athletic † | 6 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 20 | 1 | 12 | ||||||||||||||||
| Wolverhampton Wanderers ‡ | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Wrexham † | 2 | 2 | 1 | 22 | 22 | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Wycombe Wanderers † | 8 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 22 | 22 | 21 | 17 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 10 | ||||||||||||||
| Yeovil Town | 9 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 24 | 15 | 5 | 18 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 4 | 24 | ||||||||||||
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]
