Promotion and Relegation in English Football: How Does it Work?

All the English football league tables, up and down the so-called pyramid, are connected by promotion and relegation. Premier League clubs are relegated to the EFL Championship, Championship clubs are promoted to the Premier League, and so it goes, all the way down to non-league football.
But how does it work? Groundhopper Soccer Guides explains.
For a blog post at groundhopperguides.com/promot...
#PL #EFL #SkyBetChampionship #SkyBetLeagueOne #SkyBetLeagueTwo #NonLeague

[@dislexyc]

2 things you missed about the champions league spots: if you win the champions league or the Europa league, then you also get into the champions league automatically So basically a team can be* demoted to the championship but can still "steal" a champions league spot by winning either European competition

[@pavise6333]

Also, winning the nation's cup gives you a spot at the Europa League. So, if let's say a League Two team wins the FA Cup, they qualify for the Europa League. Imagine the scenes if that happen.

[@jackparslow5283]

@@pavise6333 I think Bradford nearly did that against swansea (I'm a swansea fan) they deserved to win it too

[@robquan71]

Send this to the founders of the European Super League.

[@jakedolby9113]

Not sure if this has been mentioned anywhere else but the ‘football league’ (championship, leagues 1/2) used to contain the top 4 flights of football (including the present day premier league) named division 1, division 2 etc. all to division 4. When the division 1 clubs broke away in the early 90s to form the premier league. The football league merely retired the division 4 name and dropped each number down 2 becoming 1 etc. Meaning before the names championship and league 1/2 were introduced premier league clubs were relegated into the first division a name which has always meant the biggest and best clubs for 100+ years but now meant second best. Very confusing times 😂😂

[@garykreeger5282]

I live in England and follow a Premiership Team and have watched non league football too, so fully understand the promotion relegation model. But my complements to you for explaining it in such a clear understandable way. My only minor comment would be to clarify that teams qualifying for Europe still take part in the Premier League the following season, it's just that they have an additional competition to take part in until they are knocked out, or win! I appreciate you will know this but your subscribers may not.

[@GroundhopperSoccerGuides]

Thanks! I did know that, just forgot to mention it, and forgot anybody would not know that :-).

[@rohannarayan1725]

Thanks for the video. I was really confused before on how the relegation system works. This explains all the questions I had.

[@GroundhopperSoccerGuides]

Hey, glad to help! Anything else you're confused about that we can do a video on?

[@kaiphillips]

No idea why i’m watching this, i’ve known it my whole life but it was a great video 👍🏼

[@GroundhopperSoccerGuides]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@kman5723]

Love the 2 guides that you posted. It’s very instructional and refined. Keep it up 👍🏽

[@GroundhopperSoccerGuides]

Thanks so much, and we are glad you enjoyed them. Is there any other subject you would like us to cover?

[@kman5723]

@@GroundhopperSoccerGuides How about an explanation and or meaning of the greatest Premiere league moments?

[@mrkipling2201]

Or a guide on how the premier league was formed?? From being the first division until the end of the 1991/92 season which was run by the football league to the FA premier league in 1992/93 season which was run and still is by the football association.

[@kman5723]

@@mrkipling2201 that and its greatest moments 😁

[@mrkipling2201]

@@kman5723 maybe??

[@asd36f]

Relegation trivia - in the space of 10 seasons, Northampton Town went from the 4th Division (1960-61) all the way up to the First Division (1965-66), and then all the way back down to the 4th Division (1969-70).

[@GroundhopperSoccerGuides]

Dizzying!

[@Captain-Cardboard]

@@GroundhopperSoccerGuides Swansea City did the same from 1977-78 to 1986-87.

[@KimiFan2002]

I think Mr Glazer may want to watch this...

[@abdulahad7441]

Thank u very much for this boss I didn't know how relegation worked in English league now i get it thanks to u!!

[@GroundhopperSoccerGuides]

Glad I could help

[@andrewsmith9174]

I wish we had some kind of relegation in the USA. This is why fundamentally all our sports suck.

[@mannym7849]

One of the best things in football - the promotion 🔼 and relegation 🔻 system! Keeps things interesting and gives clubs below the Premier League the dream that one day they too can reach the promised land. Come on MLS get this system in the US 🇺🇸 one day!

[@benchwarmerfl5285]

Honestly wish U.S. sports like baseball had it to keep crappy owners who are unwilling to spend money on development from just riding out every year in last place without the threat of demotion. Keeps things interesting!

[@smarthi8472]

Thank for the useful information

[@GroundhopperSoccerGuides]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nieuwenhagen-nuijenhage5379]

Good video!

[@mjq3555]

Distinction between league and non-league causes confusion since non-league football is also organised into leagues. Every club plays in A league, but only the top 4 tiers, historically, were referred to as THE league. As another poster mentioned the only way for a non-league team to get into THE league was for the 92 to vote to replace one of their number with a team from outside the 92. Google "re-election to the football league" for more info. The regional leagues at the current tier 7 of the pyramid used to be the top level of non-league football, until the non-league system was reorganised to have a national division at the top with automatic promotion to THE league. (Happened in the 1980's)

[@QPRTokyo]

Thank you. This should be compulsory viewing in the 🇺🇸

[@GroundhopperSoccerGuides]

I tend to agree :)

[@mrkipling2201]

People don’t really bother about the Europa league until it gets to around the quarter final stage. The winners of the Europa league go into the champions league the following season.

[@GroundhopperSoccerGuides]

Seems to be the only reason "big" clubs pay attention anymore. I mean, how is an underachieving English club supposed to play in Europe -- other than starting their own league, of course.

[@mrkipling2201]

@@GroundhopperSoccerGuides 👍👍👍

[@12chapin]

Do you have a video on the history of soccer in the USA? Like all the different times they try to have a professional first division league in America for example.

[@GroundhopperSoccerGuides]

We haven't focused on the US much. Right now we're really about the UK, and going to start focusing on Europe when the Pandemic lifts.

[@francisconavas3601]

Thanks for the vid. Could you explain how the promotion system works in the 2nd tier for soccer. I know theirs a playoff but i'm not sure how that works. Could you please explain? Thanks!

[@GroundhopperSoccerGuides]

That is actually the subject for our next video, scheduled to come out for the beginning of this year‘s playoffs. Thanks for asking!

[@L1am21]

3rd plays 6th and 4th plays 5th over 2 legs home and away. Away goals dont count like in the champions league. The 2 winners of those games plays a 1 game final for the last promotion spot.

[@craigmcvay1]

Promotion Relegation didn't happen until 73 ish, prior to that it was all decided on a vote for those in the bottom place of the Football League. Bradford PA (Park Avenue) were the last team to be voted out before the automatic promotion Relations and though out the seasons the leagues have changed names Division 1 - PREMIER LEAGUE Division 2 - Division 1 - Championship Division 3 - Division 2 - League 1 Division 4 - Division 3 - League 2

[@GroundhopperSoccerGuides]

Thanks! Some day I'll try and do a historical video and explain all of that :-).

[@craigmcvay1]

@@GroundhopperSoccerGuides ne prob, I can do Non-League as well

[@joeking5310]

Actually, after Bradford park avenue were voted out, Barrow, Workington, and Southport were voted out. Southport being the last team to be voted out.

[@craigmcvay1]

@@joeking5310 You forgot Gateshead

[@mannym7849]

If you look back even further than ‘73 there was promotion and relegation back then. I’ve been doing some digging into my club’s (Arsenal) history and they were promoted from the 2nd Div. in 1903/04 and 1914/15., we are were also relegated from the 1st Div. in 1912/13. But luckily since that relegation we’ve always remained in the top tier of English football.

[@billyoneill7381]

Found it strange how you showed the Premier League and championship table from last season. League 1 this season. Top of of League 2 last season and the bottom half of league 2 two seasons ago. Insignificant detail I know 😂

[@GroundhopperSoccerGuides]

I find that strange, as well! I also can't explain it :-). But thanks for watching and paying such close attention.

[@billyoneill7381]

@@GroundhopperSoccerGuides I am not exactly the target audience for this video being English. I watch these type of videos often to see how they are explained for a different audience 🙂

[@GroundhopperSoccerGuides]

@@billyoneill7381 I get that. I follow the Baseball Brit on Twitter for the same reason.

[@billyoneill7381]

@@GroundhopperSoccerGuides I am a baseball fan but have never followed UK baseball channels. The fascinating thing about the minor leagues to me are they seem a mix of lower league football and development leagues but it was only last year I actually found out how the minors work.

[@elliotaaaaa7640]

League 1 and League 2 were postponed due to COVID so the season never finished but was abandoned

[@Darwinion]

This is a bit out of date now because the UEFA Conference league (brand new competition) starts next season. It's the third tier European club competition behind the Champions league and Europa league. It's mainly for lower tier countries but England will have 1 team in it. It's from the Carabou Cup (winner no longer goes into Europa league). And if that team has already qualified for a higher tier European competition then it goes to the next highest Premier League place. So Manchester City won the Carabou Cup this season and will obviously qualify for the Champions League. So the Conference League team will come from the Premier League highest place after the Champions League and Europa League places.

[@GroundhopperSoccerGuides]

Thanks, we well do an update for the Conference League once we know who's in it.

[@invernessfan3017]

Promotion and relegation are important things in football. In England, Scotland and Wales. There is promotion and relegation for clubs to improve. I think there should be a Great Britain And Ireland Premier Football / Soccer Club Cup trophy. I support keeping the Scottish, Welsh, and English leagues. But that on top of domestic and European football there should be an extra cup trophy played between club sides from Scotland, Northern Ireland, Wales, the Republic of Ireland, and England. My idea is that we need more cross border club cups between club sides from Great Britain and Ireland. My view is to make way for such a trophy there could be league re-construction, and in this case abandoning the Scottish League Cup and English League Cup. But that this would be to make way for a new Great Britain and Ireland trophy. The old League Cups would still count as important historical trophies like the European Cup Winners Cup does now. My idea for a Great Britain And Ireland Premier Soccer Club Cup, would be that it would include all Scottish Premiership sides, every English Premier League side and every English Football League side. Plus 6 selected sides each from Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, and Wales. There could also be invited sides from other regions and countries in North-Western Europe, such as Brittany, Paris, and the Netherlands. My idea would be that there would be a group stage trophy, leading to a knockout round leading to a final. UEFA have allowed the Scottish to have English, Welsh, and Irish sides in the Scottish Challenge Cup. So UEFA should be OK with this. I do not want the Scottish, Welsh and English leagues to merge as that would destroy football history and identity. People would think Scotland was part of England. People would think all the trophies the Scottish sides had won would be regarded as the status of non-league trophies. While a Great Britain league would be seen as a continuation of the English leagues. So all the English trophies would be seen as the forerunner of the Great Britain trophies. So I do not want the Scottish, Welsh and English leagues to merge. I want the best of both worlds where we have our own leagues, European qualification, but also have cross border trophies on top of that. People would say travel would be a difficult tough issue. But look at the trips teams do in the Brazil, India, Russia, Australia, Japan, USA, Canada, Argentina, China and Mexico sports leagues. Look at the trips teams do in the UEFA competitions. Look at the fact that in rugby union there are sports trophies between club sides from Scotland, Ireland, Italy, Wales, and South Africa. So I think compared, travel should not be too tough for a Great Britain and Ireland trophy. But I would also add that merging the Scottish, Welsh and English leagues would mean Scottish sides travelling out of Scotland up to 20 times a season in the league. Which would get tough. The advantage of a cross border cup is that the trips to Ireland, Wales and England would still be a novelty and fun. Without getting repetitive. There could be great games like Aberdeen v Norwich City, Glasgow Celtic v Manchester United, Manchester City v Glasgow Rangers, Liverpool v Linfield, Everton v Bala Town, The New Saints v Hibernian, Newcastle United v Shamrock Rovers, Connah's Quay Nomads v Dundalk, and Dundee United v Coventry City.

[@zHumanfactor]

The pro sports leagues in North America can really learn a lot from English/European football. Playing for various Cups during the season and battling for Promotion or preventing a Relegation makes it interesting for fans of the weaker teams since they seem to be always playing for something. No so good for North American fans, when say, the Mets are 30 games out of 1st place, you need to be a die-hard fan to watch them finish out the season when there is nothing at stake.

[@GroundhopperSoccerGuides]

I (we) agree, Cups and promotion/relegation add a lot to the game for supporters. It's too bad neither will ever take hold in America. The financial model just won't allow it. There is a US Open Cup in soccer, but it's kind of a joke, and the lower leagues there might take on pro/rel, but the travel issues are immense. Imagine a tiny club getting promoted and having to fly to multiple games a year!

[@sabahbubbler]

Not really a deep soccer fan, came here from Ted Lasso but it's a beautiful sports

[@GroundhopperSoccerGuides]

Welcome! Check out groundhopperguides.com/ted-lasso-filming-locations/?swcfpc=1

[@tylerbutler2253]

Would u like usa to have promotion and relegation or not

[@GroundhopperSoccerGuides]

I would like it, but it will never happen. Maybe in the lower leagues, but even there I seriously doubt it. The financial model just wouldn't allow it.

[@unclejacksbluewhitearmy]

Nothing in sport compares to the highs of promotion and lows of relegation.

[@abe2krazyy282]

When do teams get relegated

[@GroundhopperSoccerGuides]

At the end of the season, for the whole next season.

[@NanobanaKinako]

If England has the best football leagues in the world, why it doesn't have a relegation playoff unlike German Bundesliga?

[@jonisilk]

The top 4 leagues are almost exclusively professional clubs. "Non-League" is probably more accurately described as "semi-pro". The National League will have a mix of professional and semi-pro clubs, below which the leagues become regional and are considered "amateur" level (not that that makes the games any less entertaining, often quite the opposite).

[@GroundhopperSoccerGuides]

Thanks! Some day I want to really work out where the lines between fully professional, semipro and amateur lie. I suspect there's a lot of mixing in tiers 5-7.

[@JR_1400]

#Promotionandrelegationusa

[@Stuartdouglas19]

from a UK viewer - if anyone is wondering why teams have weird number of games played, some of the lower leagues finishec early in 19-20 season due to covid.

[@jamesm9995]

How does it work? Seriously?

[@goyanks6350]

This is exactly why Americans don’t like soccer . It’s too confusing even to people who understand it .

[@Instasamps]

That’s not strictly true about the top 3 going up, as there is the play offs