 | This article contains several duplicated citations. The reason given is: DuplicateReferences detected: (September 2024) |
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| Founded | 17 April 1888 |
|---|---|
| Country | England (68 teams) |
| Other club(s) from | Wales (4 teams) |
| Confederation | UEFA |
| Divisions | |
| Number of teams | 72 |
| Level on pyramid | 2–4 |
| Promotion to | Premier League |
| Relegation to | National League |
| Domestic cup(s) | FA Cup |
| League cup(s) | |
| Current champions | Leicester City (2023–24) |
| TV partners |
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| Website | EFL.com |
| Current: 2024–25 English Football League | |
The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, it is the oldest football league in the world, and was the top-level football league in England from its foundation until 1992, when the top 22 clubs split from it to form the Premier League. The Football League was rebranded as the "English Football League" (EFL) from the 2016–17 season.[1][2]
The EFL is divided into the Championship, League One and League Two, with 24 clubs in each division, 72 in total, with promotion and relegation between them; the top Championship division clubs change places with the lowest-placed clubs in the Premier League, and the bottom clubs of League Two with the top clubs of the National League. Currently four of the EFL clubs are from Wales – Cardiff City, Swansea City, Wrexham and Newport County – the rest of the 72 are located in England.
The Football League had a sponsor from the 1983–84 season, and thus was known by various names.[3]
The English Football League also organises two knock-out cup competitions, the EFL Cup and the EFL Trophy. The operations centre of the Football League is in Preston, while its commercial office is in London.[4][5]
- ^ "Rebranded Football League changing its name to English Football League as EFL unveils new logo". The Daily Telegraph. London. 12 November 2015. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 7 August 2016.
- ^ "Sky Bet to sponsor the Football League". 18 July 2013. Archived from the original on 21 July 2013. Retrieved 7 September 2021.
- ^ Canon League, the Today League, the Barclays League, the Endsleigh League, the Nationwide Football League, the Coca-Cola Football League and the npower The Football League, SkyBet Football League
- ^ "Contact The Football League". English Football League. Archived from the original on 13 September 2018. Retrieved 24 July 2017.
- ^ Gillatt, Peter (30 November 2007). Blackpool FC On This Day: History, Facts and Figures from Every Day of the Year. Pitch Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-905411-50-4.