Playing in the Premier League is what just about every club in England is striving to do. Reaching the top of the football pyramid is the end game and it's the reward for hard work and success on the pitch. It's not easy, though, and keeping hold of a spot in the top flight once you're there is even harder.
Some teams have been very fortunate, spending the majority of their careers in the top flight, while others have only had a slight taste of what it feels like to be in the promised land. And then there are some teams in the football league right now who have never quite made it to the top. A recent study has revealed just how many seasons each of the 92 clubs in the football league right now has spent in the top flight of English football throughout history.
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League Two
Notts County are way ahead of anyone else
meadow lane notts county
Despite their lengthy stint outside of the football league, Notts County are back in League Two now and came close to promotion last time out. They missed out in the playoffs, but the sleeping giant is heading in the right direction. Still, they are worlds away from returning to the top flight, somewhere they've previously spent a lot of time. Only 31 teams in the football league right now have spent more years in the top division than the Magpies (30). There are a couple more sides down in League Two who have spent a considerable amount of time in the top flight.
Oldham Athletic, who were only recently promoted back into the football league, and Grimsby Town have both spent 12 years in the first division. Swindon Town are the only other team in League Two to have spent anytime in the top flight at all. The Robins took part in just the second ever Premier League campaign, but finished dead last in the table and never returned.
Elsewhere, the likes of Accrington Stanley, Bristol Rovers and Crewe Alexandra have never played in the top flight and considering they're currently three promotions away from the promised land, it might be a well before any of them rectify that.
How many top flight seasons every League Two club has had
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League One
Bolton Wanderers are a sleeping giant
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Bolton Wanders have actually spent nearly 75 years in the top flight throughout their history. Only 11 teams have spent more time in the division, despite the Trotters falling down the pyramid somewhat in recent years. There's a sizeable gap between themselves and the next two teams, with Huddersfield Town and Blackpool spending 32 years and 28 years respectively in the top flight across their histories.
The 2023/24 campaign saw Luton Town embark on their first ever Premier League season, but it was far from their first rodeo at the top of the pyramid. They've actually spent 17 years among the first division, a number tied with Cardiff City. Incidentally, both teams suffered relegation zone from the Championship last time out.
The only other team in League One with double digit experience in terms of years in the top flight is Bradford City. The Yorkshire-based side was promoted from League Two last season and has spent 12 years among the promised land over time. Wigan Athletic (8), Reading (3). Northampton Town (1), Leyton Orient (1) and Barnsley (1) are the only other teams in League One who have ever made it to the top flight.
How many top flight seasons every League One club has had
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Championship
West Brom & Blackburn Rovers have spent more years in the top flight than out of it
Blackburn Rovers corner flag Ewood park
Almost everyone in the Championship has made it to the top flight over the years. The only team to never make it to the big one is Wrexham. Considering their meteoric rise up the football pyramid in recent times, though, with three promotions in three years, it might not be long before they realise that dream.
West Bromwich Albion and Blackburn Rovers have spent the most time in the top flight of anyone in the second tier. The Baggies have spent the majority of their history in the first division and rank 11th across the whole football league. Blackburn are one of just two teams to win the Premier League who are no longer in the division. They've spent 72 years in the top flight, despite a now 13-year absence.
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Sheffield Wednesday narrowly edge out local rivals Sheffield United, with three more years in the first division. Leicester City, who lifted the Premier League trophy in 2016, but have been relegated twice since, have spent 56 years among the big boys.
How many top flight seasons every Championship club has had
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Premier League
There's a surprising number one
Surprisingly, none of the traditional big six in the Premier League have actually spent the most seasons in the top flight. That honour goes to Everton. The Toffees have spent just four seasons in their entire history outside of the division. It's an astonishing achievement, but one they risked ruining recently as they came close to dropping down to the Championship.
Second, 11 years behind Everton is Aston Villa. The Villans record would look even better if they hadn't just spent several seasons in the Championship. One campaign behind them is Liverpool, who have won the top flight a record-tying 20 times. The rest of the big six then follows, with Arsenal (109), Manchester United (101), Manchester City (97), Tottenham Hotspur (91) and Chelsea (91) all also ranking in the top 10.
After a solid 2024/25 campaign under Andoni Iraola, Bournemouth have solidified themselves as a top flight side. They're still relatively new to the division, though, and have only spent nine years within it. There are 46 teams who have that number beat throughout the football league. It's not surprising to see that AI ranked them the smallest team in the Premier League all things considered.
How many top flight seasons every Premier League club has had
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All statistics courtesy of Soccer Facts and accurate as of 20/06/2025