Summary
The all-time English top flight table has been revealed.
Everton surpasses Manchester United, Manchester City and Chelsea.
Several teams currently playing non-league football appear.
There is a long-running joke that English football began in 1992, when the Premier League as we know it today was formed. The rebrand of the old First Division has had a monumental impact on the British game in terms of both its reputation and the increased revenue it has brought in over the years.
Of course, the history of the English top flight goes all the way back to 1888. Queen Victoria was the reigning monarch, Jack the Ripper was running rife, and the first ever motion picture was being filmed in Leeds. Since then, 65 teams have entered the top flight of English football, with some stints being short and others standing the test of time.
Using the data that exists on how all the teams have fared, this is what the all-time English top-flight table looks like, 137 years since its inception.
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65-51
A team now sat in the North West County Leagues start the list
In 65th and officially the worst team in British top flight history, is a team that you are likely to have never heard of that. That is Glossop North End, who have won just four times in 34 and spent just one season in the top flight. They are, however, the smallest town to have ever had a team in such a lofty position. They now find themselves in the ninth tier of the football pyramid.
Five points clear of them are Leyton Orient who just lost in the League One play-off final. Swindon Town, Barnsley, tenth tier Darwen and Carlisle United make up the rest of the sixties.
Northampton Town kick off the fifties, and are followed by arguably the biggest side yet in Millwall, though they are more known for their controversial fanbase than their football. Oxford United and Reading are the first teams to surpass 100 points, followed by Accrington FC (not to be confused with Accrington Stanley) and Bradford Park Rangers.
Hull City and Wigan Athletic have bother appeared in the Premier League within the last 15 years, with the Latics even beating Manchester City to win the 2013 FA Cup. Meanwhile, Bournemouth are the first team to currently play in the top flight to appear in 51st.
All-Time First Division Table (65-51)
Position
65.
64.
63.
62.
61.
60.
59.
58.
57.
56.
55.
54.
53.
52.
51.
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50-41
Brentford and Wimbledon feature
2013 League Cup winners Swansea City round out the fifties before we move to Bristol City at 49th, followed by another pair of current top-flight clubs in Brentford and Brighton. Keeping with the theme of B’s, it’s Bradford City in 46th—the same side who pulled off a miraculous escape from relegation in 2000.
Grimsby Town follow, before Oldham Athletic and Watford break through the 600-point barrier. The Crazy Gang of Wimbledon more than played their part as they settle into 42nd, while Luton Town sit more than 100 points clear after their most recent stint in the 2023/24 campaign.
|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
After Cardiff City in 40th, the next team is another that now finds itself playing non-league football—though the Bury FC that has been resurrected by the fans after the club went into administration in 2020 was finally purchased by supporters two years later.
The 2025 FA Cup winners Crystal Palace will only be on the up and may have the likes of QPR and Norwich City in their sights over the next couple of seasons. Notts County find themselves in 35th and won’t be back in the top flight anytime soon, given their current status as a League Two club.
Charlton are followed by Fulham and the recently relegated Ipswich Town after their unlikely return last term. Blackpool then come 31st, despite not having been seen in the top flight 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|
|---|
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30-21
Premier League winners Leicester City 24th
Frank Lampard will be hoping his positive impact at Coventry City can eventually lead to his side making a long-awaited top-flight return so that they can build on their 1,686 points. That possibility seems a little further away for Portsmouth and Huddersfield, though.
Southampton settle in at 27th off the back of becoming one of the worst teams in Premier League history. Preston North End and Birmingham find themselves in the mid-twenties, while the first champions of the Premier League era to appear on this list pop up - that being Leicester City.
Stoke City's ability to frustrate the bigger teams in the 21st century helps them consolidate 23rd, with Middlesbrough coming just behind former 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.|Leciester 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
We start to reach more of the bigger names in the country as we enter the top 20, starting with Burnley and Leeds United, who had their era of dominance during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Yo-yo club Sheffield United sit in 18th, behind Derby County, who also enjoyed a legendary run under Brian Clough.
West Ham United find themselves in 16th, having had topsy-turvy spells, while Sheffield Wednesday - despite not competing in the top flight since 2000 - hold the bragging rights in their city.
Bolton Wanderers' financial troubles have set them back from adding to their tally, while former Premier League champions Blackburn sit in the unlucky 13th spot. Wolves and West Brom are the two sides who just miss out on the top 10, though there is a fair margin between them and the team in 10th.
|All-Time First Division Table (20-11)|
|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|
|---|
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10-1
Liverpool top, Manchester United fourth behind Everton
So, the top 10 that English football has ever had to offer. It kicks off with two of the biggest rivals in the country in the form of Sunderland and Newcastle - with the Magpies holding the bragging rights over the Black Cats. Tottenham finish in eighth, just 11 points behind Chelsea.
Manchester City's dominance in the 2010s has helped them climb to sixth, while Aston Villa hold firm in fifth. It is only fourth for 20-time champions Manchester United, who sit even behind Everton, who come in third.
The top two are the same top two from the 2024/25 season, and they remain in the same order too. It’s another runners-up spot for Arsenal, while Liverpool take 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|
|---|