Football League Second Division
The Second Division of The Football League is the second highest league division in the English football league system. For sponsorship reasons it is referred to as the Nationwide Football League Division Two (though from next season this will change to the Coca-Cola Football League Division Two). It was the second highest league division until the creation of the FA Premier League prior to the 1992/93 season.
| Table of contents |
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2 Current Second Division teams 3 Previous League champions |
Overview
The Second Division is also known as Division Two. Other names are often applied such as Nationwide Second Division, which is reference to the sponsors of the Football League. From 2004/05 season Coca-Cola will sponsor the League.
At the end of each season the top two teams are promoted to First Division, along with the winners of a play-off between the next four teams. Also, the bottom four teams are relegated to Third Division.
The Second Division was formed in 1892 with 12 clubs, most of which had previously played in the Football Alliance. It has expanded over the years to its current total of 24 clubs, as follows:
For the first few years, there was no automatic promotion to the First Division. Instead, the top few teams in Division Two, including the winners, contested a series of test matches against the bottom teams in Division One. Small Heath, Second Division champions in 1892-93, were denied promotion after losing in test matches to Newton Heath.
Current Second Division teams
Previous League champions
Winners of the old format Second Division
Winners of the new format Second Division
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1993 | Stoke City |
| 1994 | Reading |
| 1995 | Birmingham City |
| 1996 | Swindon Town |
| 1997 | Bury |
| 1998 | Watford |
| 1999 | Fulham |
| 2000 | Preston North End |
| 2001 | Millwall |
| 2002 | Brighton & Hove Albion |
| 2003 | Wigan Athletic |