History UsefulNotes / TheFootballAssociation

Unfortunately for them, the 2023/24 season started off poorly until they began to rally in September, eventually finishing 7th and missing out on European qualification when Manchester United, who finished below them, won the FA Cup. Their European campaign was just as dire, finishing bottom of a Champions League Group of Death, leaving them well adrift of the riches of continental football yet again, although they did make the quarter-finals of both domestic cups, including knocking both Manchester teams out of the EFL Cup before losing on penalties to Chelsea.

Unfortunately for them, the 2023/24 season started off poorly until they began to rally in September, now sitting in 8th following March, 16 points back of Top 4. Their other campaigns have been just as dire, finishing bottom of a Champions League Group of Death, leaving them well adrift of the riches of continental football yet again.

!!Leeds United
[[quoteright:175:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/leeds_united_fc_logosvg.png]]
[[caption-width-right:175:Marching On Together!]]
->'''Year Established:''' 1919\\
'''Nickname:''' The Peacocks[[note]]Sometimes referred to as the Whites[[/note]]\\
'''Kit:''' All-white\\
'''Current Owners:''' 49ers Enterprises[[note]]Yes, ''[[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague those]]'' 49ers; see more below.[[/note]]\\
'''Current Manager:''' Daniel Farke\\
'''Current Captain:''' Liam Cooper\\
'''Current Stadium:''' Elland Road[[note]]Capacity: 37,890[[/note]]\\
'''2023/24 Position:''' 3rd in Championship\\
'''Premier League Tenures:''' 1992-2004, 2020-2023\\
'''Highest Premier League Finish:''' 3rd (1999/2000)\\
'''First Division Titles:''' 3; 1968–69, 1973–74, 1991–92\\
'''FA Cups:''' 1; 1971–72\\
'''Other Domestic Trophies:''' 1923–24, 1963–64, 1989–90, 2019–20 Second Division/Championships; 1967–68 Leagues Cup; 1969 & 1992 FA Charity Cups\\
'''European Trophies:''' 1967–68 & 1970–71 Inter-Cities Fairs Cups

Replaced an earlier club called Leeds City... who were tossed out of the Football League and bankrupted just after UsefulNotes/WorldWarI due to massive corruption, which included bribing league officials and paying their players illegal bonuses.

Although they were separated by one or two divisions from 2004 to 2020, Leeds holds a strong historical rivalry with Manchester United, dating back from the days when Man U was still Newton Heath and Leeds was a new football team in a rugby town. This rivalry is very unique in English football as it is not based on territorial affiliation or club success but on a historical basis: [[FauxSymbolism Manchester United represents Lancashire and plays in a red kit, while Leeds represents Yorkshire and wears white]], an allusion to a [[UsefulNotes/WarsOfTheRoses particular conflict in British history involving the ruling noble families of the two England counties fighting for the Throne]].

One of the powerhouses of English football in the 1960s and 1970s under Don Revie, albeit with a ''very'' bad reputation for foul play which led many to know them as "Dirty Leeds". Their all-white kit dates back to his tenure; he had the kit changed in emulation of Real Madrid, the leading club in Europe at the time. Under Revie, Leeds won the League twice, the Fairs Cup twice [[note]] this was the forerunner of the UEFA Cup [[/note]] and the FA and League Cups once each, but were also League runners-up ''five times'' and FA Cup finalist twice. After Revie's departure they reached the European Cup final but lost thanks to what Leeds fans still see as dubious refereeing (they had two penalty appeals turned down and a goal disallowed), with subsequent rioting by fans leading to the club being banned from European competitions for several years.

When they began competing for promotion, they gained a reputation for bungling away leads, as they managed to blow nearly-assured promotion, and a nearly-assured playoff spot multiple times over the years, but with famed Argentine manager Marcelo "El Loco" Bielsa they finally played up to their potential and managed to dominate the Championship for all of the 2019-20 season, sealing their definitive return to the Premier League after 16 long years of absence.

They promptly threw down the gauntlet to the rest of the league by managing several surprise wins, though they ultimately finished midtable. Next season, however, a bunch of mid-to-long-term injuries to their starters left them hovering just above the drop zone; following a run of three successive heavy defeats in late February, 4-2 to Manchester United, 6-0 to Liverpool and 4-0 to Tottenham, Bielsa was let go and was replaced by former RB Leipzig and RB Salzburg manager Jesse Marsch. Marsch's leadership saw the team climb out of relegation, and they were able to secure their survival with a win on the final day. They carried their strong momentum into the next season, and after three matches, sat as high as 2nd in the table after trouncing a dismal Chelsea side 3-0.

They carried their momentum for a few months, but then went on a winless streak that lasted through the World Cup, all of December and January, and into February, leaving them stranded in the relegation zone and resulting in Jesse Marsch's sacking. Former Watford boss Javi Gracia replaced him, but failed to improve the club's situation, and was himself sacked in early May, with "Big Sam" Allardyce replacing him and given four matches to preserve the club's top flight status. These four matches ultimately yielded just one point and Leeds were ignominiously relegated on the final day after a 4-1 loss to Tottenham. Allardyce stood down less than a week later.

Not long after, the majority shareholder Andrea Radrizzani agreed to sell his stake to 49ers Enterprises, an investment arm of the [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague NFL's]] San Francisco 49ers that bought into the club in 2018 and had increased its stake to 44% before Radrizzani sold out. In the following season, they found themselves in a three-way battle for automatic promotion wiht Ipswich and Leicester, which they converted into an automatic playoff place.

''Literature/{{The Damned U|nited}}td'' and its film adaptation, ''The Damned United'', depict the brief 44-day period in 1974 where the club was managed by legendary coach Brian Clough (who had had previous success with Derby and would go onto subsequent success at Nottingham Forest, but who was loathed by many in Leeds for his criticism of the team under Revie).

!!Southampton
[[quoteright:175:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/fc_southamptonsvg.png]]
[[caption-width-right:175:Oh when the Saints go marching in...[[note]]many clubs use this as a chant, but unlike most, Southampton don't have to change the lyrics.[[/note]]]]
->'''Year Established:''' 1885\\
'''Nickname:''' The Saints\\
'''Kit:''' Red and white striped shirts\\
'''Current Owners:''' Sport Republic, backed by Dragan Solak\\
'''Current Manager:''' Russell Martin\\
'''Current Captain:''' Jack Stephens\\
'''Current Stadium:''' St Mary's Stadium[[note]]Capacity: 32,505[[/note]]\\
'''2023/24 Position:''' 4th in Championship\\
'''Premier League Tenures:''' 1992-2005, 2012-2023\\
'''Highest Premier League Finish:''' 6th (2015/16)\\
'''FA Cups:''' 1; 1975–76\\
'''Other Trophies:''' 1921–22 (South) & 1959–60 Second Division champions; 1896–97, 1897–98, 1898–99, 1900–01, 1902–03, & 1903–04 Southern League champions; 2009–10 Football League Trophy

Along with Ipswich and Bournemouth, have the unwanted record of having suffered the worst defeat in Premier League history (''9-0''), with the further ignominy of having suffered it ''twice'' in successive seasons, at home to Leicester in 2019 and away at Manchester United in 2021.

South Coast club who were regular fixtures (albeit usually struggling against relegation) until some epic mismanagement saw them relegated in 2005, and then again in 2009 to the third tier. Rebounded with back-to-back promotions in 2011 and 2012, though promotion-winning manager Nigel Adkins was controversially axed simply because the owners didn't think he was high-profile enough.

However, the new boss, Mauricio Pochettino, famous for his foul in the 2002 World Cup, helped Southampton climb into the top half of the table, resulting in Pochettino getting poached by Premier League rivals Tottenham. They continued their good form without him during the 2014/15 season however, briefly turning into unlikely title challengers under the management of Dutchman Ronald Koeman, and though they fell away, finished respectably. Losing yet more star players to clubs like Manchester United and Liverpool didn't seem to impede them again, despite a dismal period from late November to early January (where they only obtained 4 points from a possible 24), they turned it around to finish in their highest ever position and qualify for the Europa League group stage.

Things, however, have been tougher since due to the increasing changeover in managers, with veteran Mark Hughes being required to save them with 8 games left of 2017-18 despite reaching the FA cup Semi Final, though he succeeded. However, after just one win in their first 14 games (with the 15th "away" to Spurs, which would produce another routine loss under the interim management, though a last-gasp goal back made it the first time in 8 years ''every'' team scored in a PL game round), Sparky got canned for the second time in 2018, the final game seeing them lose a 2-0 lead to draw with Manchester United

Austrian Ralph Hasenhuttl, who had an impressive record in the German Bundesliga with young and unheralded squads, was the next to the role. His first home game saw a win over Arsenal, despite being pegged back twice, their first win since round 4, and the Gunners' first loss since round 2. However, a run of 3 favourable games produced only 2 points after the January window ended without investment despite a prior revival, but the inconsistency of rivals was enough for Southampton to steer away from the danger zone. The next season saw an utterly humiliating 9-0 home loss to Leicester (both Leicester strikers got hat-tricks), and widespread speculation that they would be relegated. However, this was followed by a winning run including at Stamford Bridge, at home to Spurs, and most notably, in the return in Leicester, aided by an astonishing scoring streak by Danny Ings, who barely missed out on that season's Golden Boot. Football is a strange game, sometimes. Hasenhuttl managed to survive another two seasons (one of which saw them lose 9-0 ''again'', this time to Manchester United at Old Trafford) before he was eventually dismissed in November 2022 in the wake of a 4-1 home defeat to Newcastle.

He was replaced by Luton Town manager Nathan Jones, under whom their league form continued to slump and, after just fourteen games in charge and with the club bottom of the table, he too was fired, to be replaced by his assistant Ruben Selles. Despite a win over Chelsea in his first game in charge and draws at both Old Trafford and the Emirates, Selles was unable to lift the club off the foot of the table and they were ultimately relegated in mid-May following a loss to Fulham. They bounced back into the playoff places in 2023/24.

[[/folder]]

[[folder:Other Former Premier League Clubs]]
!!Barnsley
[[quoteright:175:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/barnsley_fc.png]]
[[caption-width-right:175:Helo, hello! We are the Barnsley Boys!]]
->'''Year Established:''' 1875\\
'''Nickname:''' The Tykes\\
'''Kit:''' Red shirt, white shorts.\\
'''Current Owners:''' Chien Lee, Paul Conway, Grace Hung, Neerav Parekh, Billy Beane[[note]]yes, ''that'' [[Film/{{Moneyball}} Billy Beane]][[/note]] and The Cryne Family\\
'''Current Manager:''' Darrell Clarke\\
'''Current Captain:''' Alex Mowatt\\
'''Current Stadium:''' Oakwell [[note]]Capacity: 23,009[[/note]]\\
'''2023/24 Position:''' 6th in League One\\
'''Premier League Tenure:''' 1997-98\\
'''Highest Premier League Finish:''' 19th (1997/98)\\
'''FA Cups:''' 1; 1911–12\\
'''Other Trophies:''' 1933–34, 1938–39, 1954–55 Third Division North Champions; 2015–16 Football League Trophy

Have played at Oakwell in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, since 1888 (the year after they were founded), joined the Football League in 1898. One FA Cup in 1912 (they were also runners-up in 1910).

Barnsley finished third in the Second Division in 1915, the last season before the First World War. When football resumed after the war, it was decided to expand the First Division. Barnsley were the highest-placed team not to have been promoted, but instead a vote gave the extra place to Arsenal, who had finished three places below them. Although the decision was somewhat VindicatedByHistory since Arsenal ''have never been relegated'', it remained a sore point for several years afterwards.

Barnsley have spent more seasons in the second tier than anyone else: They spent their first thirty league seasons there and, after a low point in the 60s and 70s saw them relegated to the fourth tier, spent another sixteenth consecutive seasons there in the 80s and 90s.

After 102 years trying to make it into the top flight of English football, they managed it in 1997, and then were relegated after only one season, having spent virtually the entire season in the bottom three. Did manage a strong FA Cup run in the same season though, reaching the fifth round and knocking Manchester United out along the way. Came close to a return in 2000, but were relegated to the third tier two seasons later.

since which they have yo-yoyed between the second and third tiers. They were most recently relegated to the third tier in 2022.

Since 2017, Barnsley have been owned by an international consortium which includes [[UsefulNotes/MajorLeagueBaseball Oakland Athletics]] executive Billy Beane, whose use of statistical analysis in baseball was the subject of the book and film ''Film/{{Moneyball}}''.

Traditionally, they have a friendly rivalry with Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United, and a [[TheFriendNobodyLikes less friendly rivalry]] with Leeds United.

!!Birmingham City
[[quoteright:175:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/birmingham_city_fc.png]]
[[caption-width-right:175:I am a City fan,\\
and I am from Birmingham!]]
->'''Year Established:''' 1875\\
'''Nickname:''' The Blues[[note]]The fans refer to themselves as the Bluenoses.[[/note]]\\
'''Kit:''' Blue shirts, white shorts\\
'''Current Owner:''' Paul Suen (majority), Creator/TomBrady (minority)\\
'''Current Manager:''' vacant\\
'''Current Captain:''' Harlee Dean\\
'''Current Stadium:''' St Andrew's [[note]]Capacity: 30,016[[/note]]\\
'''2023/24 Position:''' 22nd in Championship (relegated)\\
'''Premier League Tenures:''' 2002-2006; 2007-2008; 2009-2011\\
'''Highest Premier League Finish:''' 9th (2009/10)\\
'''Trophies Won:''' 1892–93, 1920–21, 1947–48, 1954–55 Second Division Champions; 1994–95 Third Division Champions; 1962–63 & 2010–11 Football League Cups; 1990–91 & 1994–95 Football League Trophies; 1905 Birmingham Senior Cup; 1945–46 Football League South Champion

Have historically alternated between the top two divisions but are currently in the Championship, having been relegated from the Premier League in 2012.

Despite having little success throughout their history (although arguably two League Cup wins, in 1963 and 2011, is better than most), they were the first English team to ever take part in European competition - and also the first English team ever to reach a European final - the Fairs Cup (the forerunner to the UEFA Cup, which became the Europa League) in both 1960 and 1961, although they lost on both occasions. They competed in Europe again in the 2011-12 season after qualifying for the Europa League by way of winning the League Cup for the second time.

Fierce rivals with Aston Villa in what is known as the Second City Derby. Also rivals with fellow-Midlanders Wolves and West Brom. With Villa and Wolves, forms one-third of a trio of Midlands clubs that have benefited from Chinese investment.

The word "benefit" is used loosely however at this stage. The investors sacked local boy Gary Rowett just before Christmas with the side near the Play-off places, replacing him with Gianfranco Zola, and Zola saw the team slide towards the relegation zone, resigning after a loss to Burton in the pre anti penultimate fixture, with Brum now just 1 point above the relegation zone. Harry Redknapp came in, and they won their last 2 games to stay in the Championship when a loss in either of them would have seen Birmingham relegated, but was sacked after a slow start to the next season, another one where they survived for definite on the final day.

During the 2023 offseason, City picked up a new minority owner in retired NFL legend Creator/TomBrady (with his main role initially being in the club's sports science, health, and nutrition programmes), and, a few months into the subsequent season, England and Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney was appointed as manager; his tenure would be a short one though, with fifteen games in charge yielding just two wins, and he ended up being the first English league managerial casualty of 2024. The season ended with City's relegation to League One.

Creator/JasperCarrott is a fan and once served as a club director, and used to mention them (usually in an uncomplimentary manner, reflecting the club's distinct lack of success) in his act.

!!Blackburn Rovers
[[quoteright:175:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/blackburn_rovers.png]]
[[caption-width-right:175:Run, run, wherever you may be!\\
We are the Blackburn Rovers FC!]]
->'''Established:''' 1875\\
'''Nickname:''' The Rovers[[note]]Sometimes referred to as the Blue and Whites, Riversiders, or [[BreadEggsBreadedEggs Riverside Rovers]].[[/note]]\\
'''Kit:''' Blue and white halved shirts\\
'''Current Owners:''' The V H Group\\
'''Current Manager:''' John Eustace\\
'''Current Captain:''' Elliott Bennett\\
'''Current Stadium:''' Ewood Park [[note]]Capacity 31,367[[/note]]\\
'''2023/24 Position:''' 19th in Championship\\
'''Premier League Tenures:''' 1992-1999; 2001-2012\\
'''First Division/Premier League titles:''' 3; 1911–12, 1913–14, 1994–95\\
'''FA Cups:''' 6; 1883–84, 1884–85, 1885–86, 1889–90, 1890–91, 1927–28\\
'''Other Trophies:''' 1938–39 Second Division Champions; 2001–02 Football League Cup; 1912 FA Charity Shield; 1986–87 Full Members' Cup

Fierce rivals with near-neighbours Burnley, with whom they contest the East Lancashire Derby.

One of the twelve founder members of the Football League and had some success in the early twentieth century, winning the League twice before the First World War.

Came (back) to prominence when the Premier League was created, thanks largely to a spending spree bankrolled by local tycoon Jack Walker that included signing Alan Shearer before Newcastle did - they were runners-up in 1994 before winning it the following year under the management of Liverpool legend Kenny Dalglish. This led Rovers fans to claim that their club was better than Liverpool, Everton and Spurs - although fans of all three teams would strenuously disagree with that!

The first of two former champions to have been relegated – twice no less – with the second occurring in 2012, and almost suffered another relegation in 2013 after being run [[SarcasmMode very well]] by [[IncompetenceInc Indian poultry farmers Venky's]], who sacked then-manager Sam Allardyce and replaced him with the highly unpopular Steve Kean, leading to relegation the following year, and the club getting through ''four'' managers in the following season in the Championship. Relegated again in 2017, with Venkys still owning the club, but immediately returned to the Championship the following year.

!!Blackpool
[[quoteright:175:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/blackpool_fc_logo.png]]
[[caption-width-right:175:We follow Blackpool FC\\
We come from the seaside,\\
The only team in football\\
In tangerine and white!]]
->'''Established:''' 1887\\
'''Nickname:''' The Seasiders; The Tangerines.\\
'''Kit:''' Orange shirts, white shorts\\
'''Current Owner:''' Simon Sadler\\
'''Current Manager:''' Neil Critchley\\
'''Current Captain:''' Chris Maxwell\\
'''Current Stadium:''' Bloomfield Road [[note]]Capacity: 17,338[[/note]]\\
'''2023/24 Position:''' 8th in League One\\
'''Premier League Tenure:''' 2010-2011\\
'''Highest Premier League Finish:''' 19th (2010/11)\\
'''FA Cups:''' 1; 1952–53\\
'''Other Trophies:''' 1929–30 Second Division Champions; 2001–02 & 2003–04 Football League Trophies; 1917 Anglo-Italian Cup; 1943 Football League War Cup; 1935–36, 1936–37, 1941–42, 1953–54, 1993–94, 1994–95, & 1995–96 Lancashire Senior Cups

Their only major honour is winning the FA Cup in 1953, a match known to history as the "Matthews Final" after legendary winger Stanley Matthews inspired the team to come back from 3-1 down to win 4-3; although his team-mate Stan Mortensen scored a hat-trick (the only player to do so in an FA Cup final at Wembley), it is [[AlwaysSomeoneBetter Matthews for whom that final is remembered]]. It's also considered to be the first major televised sporting event (in Britain at least), as many televisions had at the time been bought or rented by households across the country in anticipation of the Queen's Coronation which took place a month later.

Blackpool graced the old First Division from the 1930s to the 1960s, subsequently sliding down to the Fourth Division before becoming the only club to get promoted from every division of the Football League by way of the play-off system, leading to them spending one season (2010-11) in the Premier League.

They were then relegated twice in a row as the ownership was losing control and fans were turning against the Oyston family regime that has owned the Tangerines for decades, but snuck into the play offs in League Two, despite continued fan anger at the club's corrupt ownership, after winning their last game when any 2 of 9 teams could have made the play off, and beat Luton dramatically before holding off Exeter in the play off final.

After four seasons in League One, during which the Oystons finally sold up, to the unbridled delight of the entire fanbase, they returned to the Championship, again via the play-offs, in 2021, only to get sent back down in 2023.

!!Bolton Wanderers
[[quoteright:150:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bolton_wanderers.png]]
[[caption-width-right:150:We're the one and only Wanderers!]]
->'''Established:''' 1874 (as Christ Church F.C.)\\
'''Nickname:''' The Wanderers[[note]]Sometimes referred to as the Trotters.[[/note]]\\
'''Kit:''' White shirts, navy shorts\\
'''Current Owners:''' Football Ventures\\
'''Current Manager:''' Ian Evatt\\
'''Current Captain:''' Antoni Sarcevic\\
'''Current Stadium:''' Toughsheet Community Stadium [[note]]Capacity: 28,723[[/note]]\\
'''2023/24 Position:''' 3rd in League One\\
'''Premier League Tenures:''' 1995-1996; 1997-1998; 2001-2012\\
'''Highest Premier League Finish:''' 6th (2004/05)\\
'''FA Cups:''' 4; 1922–23, 1925–26, 1928–29, 1957–58\\
'''Other Trophies:''' 1908–09, 1977–78, & 1996–97 level 2 Champions; 1972–73 Third Division Champions; 1958 FA Charity Shield; 1988–89 & 2022–23 EFL Trophies; 1945 Football League War Cup

A Greater Manchester team, one of the twelve founder members of the Football League, and the club that's spent the most seasons in the top flight without actually winning it. FA Cup winners four times, most recently in 1958. Home games at the University of Bolton Stadium (formerly the Reebok Stadium). Bolton alternated between the Championship and the Premier League in the 1990s, but had a more sustained run in the Prem in the 2000s under the management of Sam "Big Sam" Allardyce, qualifying for the UEFA Cup in 2005 by virtue of finishing sixth.

Their fortunes gradually deteriorated after Allardyce left however, and they were eventually relegated in 2012. After a dismal 2015/16 campaign, which saw them in 173 million pounds of debt, and handed a transfer embargo to boot, they were relegated to the third tier for the first time since 1993, though they won their way back up next season, and only narrowly avoided going down again in the final minutes of the 2017-18 season, but fell apart the following season, as financial woes got so bad that the certainty of them even playing games was low and their last home game cancelled completely.

Things got so bleak that they were at risk of being expelled from the Football League altogether and doomed to extinction (a fate that befell unfortunate neighbours Bury FC, who had been in the Football League for 134 years until this happened), until they were saved in the eleventh hour by Football Ventures buying the team out.

The following season was one of total turmoil, in no small part due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but they were relegated to League Two. They were, however, able to turn it around and returned to League One at the first opportunity, and earned a playoff spot in 2023, though they failed to win. Earned another playoff spot in 2024.

!!Bradford City
[[quoteright:175:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bradford_city_afc.png]]
[[caption-width-right:175:[[Music/JohnDenver Take me home, Midland road...]]]]
->'''Year Established:''' 1903\\
'''Nickname:''' The Bantams[[note]]Sometimes referred to as the Paraders or the Citizens.[[/note]]\\
'''Kit:''' Claret & amber shirts, white shorts\\
'''Current Owner:''' Stefan Rupp\\
'''Current Manager:''' Graham Alexander\\
'''Current Captain:''' Richard O'Donnell\\
'''Current Stadium:''' Valley Parade [[note]]Capacity: 25,136[[/note]]\\
'''2023/24 Position:''' 9th in League Two\\
'''Premier League Tenure:''' 1999-2001\\
'''Highest Premier League Finish:''' 17th (1999/2000)\\
'''FA Cups:''' 1; 1910-11\\
'''Other Trophies:''' 1907–08 Second Division champions; 1928–29 & 1984–85 Third Division champions; 1938–39 Third Division North Challenge Cup; 1906, 1907, 1908, & 1909 West Riding County FA Challenge Cups
----

West Yorkshire Club infamous for the day when one stand of their Valley Parade stadium, which was old and decrepit, [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bradford_City_stadium_fire burned down during a game in 1985]], killing 56 people. The fire prompted a revitalization of British stadia safety standards, and Valley Parade has since been completely rebuilt.

Famously survived on the last day of the 1999/2000 season by beating Liverpool. Unfortunately, in a portent of what would later happen to neighbours Leeds United, they then massively overspent on players and underwent financial meltdown, ending up in the Football League's lowest tier by 2007 (though they won promotion out of that division in 2013). Generally chased promotion to the Championship since they knocked Chelsea out of the FA cup in 2015, until a dire end to the 2017-18 season ended promotion hopes and continued into the new year.

!!Cardiff City
[[quoteright:175:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/cardiff_city_crestsvg.png]]
[[caption-width-right:175:I'll be there, I'll be there,\\
With my little pick and shovel, I'll be there!]]
->'''Year Established:''' 1899\\
'''Nickname:''' The Bluebirds\\
'''Kit:''' Blue shirts, white shorts\\
'''Current Owner:''' Vincent Tan\\
'''Current Manager:''' Erol Bulut\\
'''Current Captain:''' Joe Ralls\\
'''Current Stadium:''' Cardiff City Stadium [[note]]Capacity: 33,280[[/note]]\\
'''2023/24 Position:''' 12th in Championship\\
'''Premier League Tenures:''' 2013-14, 2008-19\\
'''Highest Premier League Finish:''' 18th (2018/19)\\
'''FA Cups:''' 1; 1926–27\\
'''Other Trophies:''' 2012–13 Championship winners; 1946–47 Third Division South champions; 1992–93 Third Division champions; 1912–13 Southern League Second Division champions; 1927 FA Charity Shield; 1911–12, 1919–20, 1921–22, 1922–23, 1926–27, 1927–28, 1929–30, 1955–56, 1958–59, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1975–76, 1987–88, 1991–92, & 1992–93 Welsh Cups; 2001–02 FAW Premier Cup
----

!!Middlesbrough
[[quoteright:175:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/middlesbrough_fc_crestsvg.png]]
[[caption-width-right:175:We're the Red Army from Middlesbrough!]]
->'''Established:''' 1876\\
'''Nickname:''' The Boro; The Smoggies\\
'''Kit:''' Red shirts, white shorts\\
'''Current Owner:''' Steve Gibson\\
'''Current Manager:''' Michael Carrick\\
'''Current Captain:''' Jonny Howson\\
'''Current Stadium:''' Riverside Stadium [[note]]Capacity: 34,742[[/note]]\\
'''2023/24 Position:''' 8th in Championship\\
'''Premier League Tenures:''' 1992-93; 1995-97; 1998-09; 2016-17\\
'''Highest Premier League Finish:''' 7th (2004/05)\\
'''Domestic Trophies:''' 1926–27, 1928–29, 1973–74, & 1994–95 Second Division/Championships; 1893–94, 1894–95, & 1896–97 Northern League Champions; 2003–04 League Cup; 1894–95 & 1897–98 FA Amateur Cups; 1975–76 Anglo-Scottish Cup\\
'''Worldwide Trophies:''' 1980 Kirin Cup

'''Current Stadium:''' Racecourse Ground [[note]]Capacity: 12,600[[/note]]\\

Wrexham narrowly missed out on promotion in 2022, losing to Grimsby Town in the play-offs. They achieved a return to the Football League on 22 April 2023, 15 years to the day since they were relegated from it, with a 3-1 win over Boreham Wood confirming them to have won the National League title. Less than a year later, Wrexham's 6–0 smashing of Forest Green Rovers on 13 April 2024, combined with the only two clubs that could have pipped them to the promotion places (MK Dons and Barrow) dropping points that day, secured a promotion to League One.

These days, with ''€1 billion'' spent in three windows, it is clear that it is Champions League or bust for Chelsea, and their first few matches saw them faceplant out the gate in 2023/24. While a draw against Liverpool gave them hope, their form has still been extremely shaky with many a dropped point in matches in which they looked the better team, though they managed a big win against Spurs and a heroic 4-4 draw against Manchester City, and a few close victories against Luton, Fulham, and Crystal Palace to see them in 9th, near the end of January. While they have slipped back to 11th, they're still only 4 points behind 7th-placed Brighton and their overall form has improved, including another heroic draw (this time, 1-1) with City, and they even managed a League Cup Final appearance, only to lose out to a Liverpool team that finished the match with 12 senior players in the treatment room and 5 U-20s on the pitch and ''still'' dominated the match. This led to them being witheringly dubbed "the Blue Billion Pound Bottle-Jobs." Things went from bad to worse, despite a seven-game unbeaten run, as their burgeoning star Cole Palmer began to emerge as nothing short of their crutch[[note]]The numbers were run on if Palmer hadn't made any contributions all season, and the end result had Chelsea fighting relegation[[/note]], leading to the team to also be derisively dubbed "Cole Palmer FC", a sentiment only further exacerbated by Palmer missing a crucial derby against Arsenal and the team being humiliated 5-0. Despite this, they were able to hold Aston Villa to a draw, before dashing Spurs' Top 4 hopes with a 2-0 victory. Further capitulation by Manchester United has allowed them to climb into the Top 7 with a fragile hope of European football in 2024, giving them at least that small consolation on the season.

2023/24 saw them pick right back up where they left off with a quick jump out front, and despite a slide due to injuries in the early part of 2024 to key players, some stumbles by their rivals Arsenal and Liverpool allowed City to climb ahead for the time being, but with seemingly their toughest fixtures behind them. Despite a defeat on penalties to Real Madrid in the Champions League, they defeated West Ham at home on the final day to secure a record fourth league title in a row, but fell short of a domestic double in the FA Cup final, where they lost ot Man United 2–0.

Despite this, the team continue to be consistently inconsistent, looking like world-beaters one day, only to slump the next, as evidenced by a convincing win over West Ham, followed by grindy wins against Aston Villa and Luton, and then a stunning loss to Fulham, a bright start against Manchester City only to lose it late, a win against Everton with the only goals scored being penalties, leaving them eight points back from 4th only to draw and lose their way to 13 points back, and an FA Cup Semifinal against lower-league side Coventry City that saw them go up 3-0, blow the lead to go to extra time, nearly lose the match on a late winner that was determined to be offside, then squeak by on penalties to schedule a postseason FA Cup Final date with Manchester City. As things stand, it looks as though this is their last chance at anything resembling a successful season, as they followed up their near-collapse in the FA Cup by only just defeating the rock bottom Sheffield United, drawing with the similarly low in the table Burnley, and then being torn apart 4-0 by Crystal Palace and falling below Chelsea and out of the potential European places and having further misery piled on them by Arsenal winning 1-0 despite a lackluster performance. Despite ending the league season with a flourish with wins over Newcastle and Brighton, it wasn't enough to prevent a lowest league finish of the Premier League era, eighth place, leaving the FA Cup Final as their lone remaining hope of European football next season. Despite word breaking that Erik Ten Hag would be fired one way or the other after the Cup Final, and despite all the odds, they defeated Manchester City 2-1 to lift the Cup and secure European football next season.

'''FA Cups:''' 1886–87, 1894–95, 1896–97, 1904–05, 1912–13, 1919–20, 1956–57\\

'''Highest Finish:''' 1st (1997/98, 2001/02 and 2003/04[[note]]Only undefeated season in Premier League history[[/note]])\\
'''First Division/Premier League Titles:''' 13; 1930–31, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1937–38, 1947–48, 1952–53, 1970–71, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1997–98, 2001–02, 2003–04\\

'''Hightest Premier League Finish:''' 1st (2004/05, 2005/06, 2009/10, 2014/15 and 2016/17)\\

'''Highest Premier League Finish:''' 1st (2019/20) - Earliest title win in EPL history (7 games remaining)[[note]]Also [[{{Irony}} the latest title win in EPL history]] (by calendar date) after the UsefulNotes/COVID19Pandemic delayed the final ten games of the season for every team by three months.[[/note]]\\
'''First Division/Premier League Titles:''' 19; 1900–01, 1905–06, 1921–22, 1922–23, 1946–47, 1963–64, 1965–66, 1972–73, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90, 2019–20\\

'''Highest Premier League Finish:''' 1st (2011/12, 2013/14, 2017/18, 2018/19, 2020/21, 2021/22 2022/23 and 2023/24)\\

2023/24 saw them pick right back up where they left off with a quick jump out front, and despite a slide due to injuries in the early part of 2024 to key players, some stumbles by their rivals Arsenal and Liverpool allowed City to climb ahead for the time being, but with seemingly their toughest fixtures behind them. Despite a defeat on penalties to Real Madrid in the Champions League, they defeated West Ham at home on the final day to secure a record fourth league title in a row; now they face Manchester United in an FA Cup Final to at least a domestic Double.

'''FA Cups:''' 12; 1908–09, 1947–48, 1962–63, 1976–77, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1989–90, 1993–94, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2003–04, 2015–16\\

Despite this, the team continue to be consistently inconsistent, looking like world-beaters one day, only to slump the next, as evidenced by a convincing win over West Ham, followed by grindy wins against Aston Villa and Luton, and then a stunning loss to Fulham, a bright start against Manchester City only to lose it late, a win against Everton with the only goals scored being penalties, leaving them eight points back from 4th only to draw and lose their way to 13 points back, and an FA Cup Semifinal against lower-league side Coventry City that saw them go up 3-0, blow the lead to go to extra time, nearly lose the match on a late winner that was determined to be offside, then squeak by on penalties to schedule a postseason FA Cup Final date with Manchester City. As things stand, it looks as though this is their last chance at anything resembling a successful season, as they followed up their near-collapse in the FA Cup by only just defeating the rock bottom Sheffield United, drawing with the similarly low in the table Burnley, and then being torn apart 4-0 by Crystal Palace and falling below Chelsea and out of the potential European places and having further misery piled on them by Arsenal winning 1-0 despite a lackluster performance. Despite ending the league season with a flourish with wins over Newcastle and Brighton, it wasn't enough to prevent a lowest league finish of the Premier League era, eighth place, leaving the FA Cup Final as their lone remaining hope of European football next season.

They returned to the Premier League in the 2015/16 season, beginning most of a decade impersonating a footballing yo-yo. Despite a famous victory against Manchester United at Old Trafford, they were relegated despite doing their part in the final days. Came back for the 2019/20 season, but despite a famous 3-2 win over Manchester City and an earnest devotion to their stylish attacking football, they got kicked right back down immediately.

Elected to the Football League in 1962 as replacements for Accrington Stanley, they began a steady rise through the divisions that saw them spend two seasons in the top flight during the 1980s. It was followed by a steady fall through the divisions that saw them relegated from the Football League in 2006 to be replaced by ... Accrington Stanley. They regained their league status in 2010 and currently play in the third tier.

'''Current Manager:''' Martin Devaney (caretaker)\\

Was British-owned until late in 2010 when American billionaire Stan Kroenke (who also owns the [[UsefulNotes/NationalFootballLeague LA Rams]] and an [[UsefulNotes/MajorLeagueSoccer MLS]] team) launched a takeover of the club, and as of July 2021 is completely owned by Kroenke. Have not won the Premiership since 2004 and since them have come 4th six times, 3rd four, 2nd twice, dropping as far as 8th (twice in a row), and most recently 5th. However, the last time they won it they went unbeaten.

Birmingham-based Premier League side.

One of the twelve founder members of the Football League, Villa dominated English football in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, winning the League six times and the FA Cup five times (including one Double in 1897, making them the second club to achieve that feat) prior to UsefulNotes/WorldWarI. Since then, they've had their ups and downs, being the first-ever winners of the League Cup in 1961, getting relegated six years later, spending time in the Third Division in the early 1970s, coming back from that to win the European Cup in 1982 and then getting relgated again five years after that. Since the formation of the Premier League they have rarely looked like title contenders.

One of the oldest clubs in all of England, being founded in 1889. Brentford started as a local sportsman's attempt at a permanent team for either football or rugby in the town (one of several).

One of the twelve founder members of the Football League, they've spent a total of [[TheArtefact 105 seasons in the top-flight]].

Historically a club of mixed fortunes, with periods of time in the top flight alternating between time spent in the lower divisions. No major honours, having been beaten finalists in the FA Cup (1975) and the Europa League (2010). Currently yo-yoing between the top two levels, having been promoted to the Premier League in 2020 but dropping right back to the Championship in 2021, only to be promoted back up to the Premier League for the 2022/23 season, where they will remain for 2023/24.

A north London club, hated rivals to Arsenal due to geography[[note]]Arsenal moved from Woolwich into Islington, which was a little too close to Tottenham's liking, back in the early 1910s[[/note]]. Are considered one of the most entertaining sides in the Premiership, with an expansive style that concedes many goals, but scores many more. For this reason, they are very popular with the neutrals.

Despite what the name suggests, they're based in ''east'' London, having begun life as the Thames Ironworks Football Club in 1895. "The Hammers" are notable for their devoted fan base and for having contributed several key players to England's only World Cup winning side in 1966, including hat trick hero Sir Geoff Hurst and legendary defender Bobby Moore.

One of the first football clubs to turn professional (in 1883), and one of the twelve founder members of the Football League (which they've won it twice, the last time being in 1960). They were also the smallest club to have been promoted to the Premier League until Bournemouth's promotion in the 2014/2015 season. The club is based in a town in eastern Lancashire so small its population would only fill three of Old Trafford's stands. Notable for a pretty large fall from grace in the 1970s and 1980s, going from top-flight football to narrowly surviving relegation from the Football League.

This Yorkshire team have played in all four divisions and are one of just four clubs to have actually finished top of all four of them (their one League Championship came back in 1898). Gained promotion back to the Premier League in 2019 after a twelve-year absence, getting relegated in 2022, before returning straight back for the 2023/24 season. Fierce rivals with Sheffield Wednesday with whom they contest the Steel City Derby.

Have played at Oakwell since 1888 (the year after they were founded), joined the Football League in 1898. One FA Cup in 1912 (they were also runners-up in 1910).

Fierce rivals with near-neighbours Burnley, with whom they contest the East Lancashire Derby.

One of the twelve founder members of the Football League, and the club that's spent the most seasons in the top flight without actually winning it. FA Cup winners four times, most recently in 1958. Home games at the University of Bolton Stadium (formerly the Reebok Stadium). Bolton alternated between the Championship and the Premier League in the 1990s, but had a more sustained run in the Prem in the 2000s under the management of Sam "Big Sam" Allardyce, qualifying for the UEFA Cup in 2005 by virtue of finishing sixth.

Another London-based club, who narrowly failed to survive in their first Premier League season, before establishing themselves as a decent mid-table side for a few years. However, things quickly went downhill after long-time manager Alan Curbishley left, and they were relegated the following year, then again in 2009. They won promotion back to the Championship in 2012, before their new owner's mismanagement of the club saw them sent back down in 2016, having relied on a partnership with clubs of his in Belgium, Spain and Hungary, where he was losing popularity at a rapid rate. Lost in Playoffs in 2017-18 under the guidance of ex Leeds and West Ham bad boy Lee Bowyer, but earned a shock win over Sunderland with the last action of the play-off final the next year. Despite a valiant effort, they went straight back to League One the following season however.

Like Preston North End, Huddersfield are an historic team with regard to English football. When the English top flight was the Football League's First Division, they were the first team to win three straight titles (1923/24 to 1925/26), as well as the first team to score an Olímpico (a goal directly from a corner kick) in English history.

One of the "North-East Three" along with Newcastle and Sunderland. League Cup winners in 2004 - their only major honour, although they've also been FA Cup and UEFA Cup finalists (in 1997 and 2006, respectively). Have tended to alternate between the top two divisions, coming to national attention for several high-profile foreign signings in the mid-1990s when they were managed by former England captain Bryan Robson - a period which saw them reach both major cup finals and get relegated in the same season.

Their only top-flight season to date did not go at ''all'' well, as they were relegated in bottom place after conceding precisely one hundred goals, a record tthat stood for thirty years. To add insult to injury, they were then relegated the following year (though like Crystal Palace, this was only due to league reconstruction), and have since spent most of their time bouncing around between the bottom two divisions, as evidenced by their relegation to League Two in 2017. Their stadium is next to a bizarre set of roundabouts called The Magic Roundabout. Gained promotion despite the COVID-19 outbreak shortening the 2019/20 season.

Hertfordshire club [[note]] ''not'' London, although some people do get this mixed up as Watford is located within the M25 [[/note]] which has had its fair share of ups and downs but has never won anything more significant than two third-tier championships.

Currently a mid-table Premiership side. They were one of the twelve founder members of the Football League but have only been Champions once, in 1920. They won their last major trophy (the FA Cup, for the fifth time) in 1968 and then spent 1986 to 2002 out of the top flight. Like Sunderland, they have a reputation as somewhat of a "yo-yo team"-- in the nine seasons from 2001-02 to 2008-09, seven resulted in either promotion or relegation, the other two being a defeat in the play-off final and a survival in 2004-05 where they became the first team to escape relegation having been bottom at Christmas (in fact, they were ''still'' bottom going into their final match). The turnaround was so improbable it was dubbed "The Great Escape".

A non-league club who started to get noticed in the late 1990s and early 2000s when they were managed by Nigel Clough (son of Brian); during his first spell in charge, they rose to the Conference and held Man United to a 0-0 draw in the third round of the 2006 FA Cup; subsequently, over 11,000 Burton fans (almost double the Pirelli Stadium's capacity!) went to Old Trafford for the replay (which they lost). Won promotion to the League in 2009, by which time Clough had gone to Derby County. Since then, they've risen as high as the Championship (during Clough's second spell in charge) although they were relegated to League One in 2018.

No major honours, although they did make the League One play-off final in 2005. Dropped into non-league football in 2017, won promotion back to League Two in 2021. Well known by viewers of ''Series/SoccerSaturday'' as being the team that Jeff Stelling supports... sometimes, quite vocally. Jannick Gers from IronMaiden and Creator/RidleyScott are also fans, as was Music/MeatLoaf before his passing.

Modestly successful Championship side, famous mostly for their rowdy fanbase and extremely violent hooligan firm, the Bushwhackers, fictionalized in films like ''Film/GreenStreet'' and ''Film/TheFootballFactory''. It was crowd trouble by Millwall fans that led to Luton's infamous away fan ban (see above). Their biggest successes were a two-year spell in the top flight back in the 1980s and reaching the FA Cup Final in 2004, losing comfortably to Manchester United. They currently play in the Championship after winning the 2016-17 League One play-off.

The oldest professional club in the world, [[OlderThanRadio formed in 1862]], they were one of the twelve founder members of the Football League. Despite repeatedly being relegated to the bottom League division (now League Two), the club had never been non-league until 2019. Notts County have accumulated a large amount of trivia over their 150-year existence:

One of the twelve founder members of the Football League and the first Champions... and, since they won the FA Cup in the same season (1888-89), the first club to do the "Double". Their last major success was winning the FA Cup in 1938, and they haven't graced the top division since 1961. Deepdale, their ground, used to be the home of the National Football Museum (which moved to Manchester in 2012).

Lower-league Manchester club, noted for being taken over by several former Manchester United players (David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Gary and Phil Neville, Paul Scholes) in 2014; as a result, the club featured prominently in the [[Creator/TheBBC BBC]] documentary ''Class of 92: Out of Their League''. Won promotion to the Football League for the first time in 2019.

'''Current Manager:''' vacant\\

But in the summer they bid farewell to their captain Declan Rice as he completed a blockbuster nine-figure move to Arsenal, and despite not really cashing in on their new riches, they started off the season extremely well, handily winning their Europa League group. Unfortunately, their campaign began to show signs of shakiness as they started to suffer from injuries, and then they were brutally embarrassed '''6-0''' on their own ground by Arsenal, with Rice scoring a world-class screamer of a goal in the process to add insult to their ''many'' injuries, leaving them in 10th. Despite this, they picked themselves up and began to march back up the table, though they were still several points back of the European places, and progressed to the Europa League quarter-finals where they were defeated by newly crowned German champions Bayer Leverkusen. Following two further heavy defeats to London rivals, 5-2 to Crystal Palace and 5-0 to Chelsea, the latter of which ended their hopes of another season in Europe, it was announced that Moyes would leave the club by mutual consent at the end of the season. Former Wolves boss Julen Lopetegui is currently the front-runner to succeed him.

'''Current Manager:''' Mauricio Pochettino\\

'''Current Manager:''' Tony Mowbray\\

'''2023/24 Position:''' 5th in League One (qualified for playoffs)\\

'''Current Manager:''' Jürgen Klopp[[note]]Has announced he will step down at the end of the season.[[/note]]\\

With Klopp's exit looming, the Reds have put together an impressive run despite an ''extremely'' controversial defeat to Spurs and a string of niggling injuries, as well as the month and half long absence of the peerless Salah to the Africa Cup of Nations (where he promptly got injured). However, following a complete defeat to Arsenal[[note]]They tallied their lowest xG ''ever'' under Klopp and their only goal was an own goal deflection[[/note]] and a draw against City in Klopp and Pep's final league clash against each other, their grip on the top spot faltered, replaced by Arsenal who hold a tenuous grip on goal difference alone, with their own clash against Pep's machine looming. However, a goalless draw between their rivals and a solid win against Brighton has allowed them to wheel back two points clear of Arsenal and three of City, retaking the lead in Klopp's last dance, only for their eternal enemy Manchester United to steal a draw at Old Trafford to put Arsenal back ahead on goal difference, a 0-3 chastening from Atalanta, and a 0-1 defeat to Crystal Palace yet again seeing them slide back into 3rd in the title race. Atalanta would eliminate them from Europe, and shortly thereafter, their hated rivals Everton would deliver a devastating blow to their title chase with a 2-0 defeat at Goodison Park, leaving the Klopp Farewell Tour in relative shambles, with only the least-respected of the four potential trophies to his name. Following wins by Arsenal and Manchester City in mid May, their fortunes were sealed, locking them into 3rd place to finish the season.