Clubs to never grace a certain league

[DH84]

Hello chaps.

Just been discussing this in the shout box with a few other members.

Who are the 'biggest' or most established clubs to never grace a certain league? For Division 1 (top flight) these are the candidates (in order of league seasons):

Lincoln City - 104 seasons
Stockport County - 99 seasons
Port Vale - 98 seasons
Walsall - 91 seasons
Chesterfield - 88 seasons
Tranmere - 87 seasons
Crewe - 87 seasons
Rotherham - 85 seasons
Plymouth - 84 seasons
Southend - 84 seasons
Bristol Rovers - 83 seasons

I would go with in order: Plymouth, Bristol Rovers and Tranmere here.

Now, the Championship (division 2). Obviously, this is a bit harder as most clubs have been in division 2 at some point.

For this I have:
Rochdale
Hartlepool
Exeter
Torquay
Chester

Interested in your thoughts. Need some help on concluding division 2 and putting together a list for division 3 and 4 which will be difficult.

 

[JJH]

Hello chaps.

Just been discussing this in the shout box with a few other members.

Who are the 'biggest' or most established clubs to never grace a certain league? For Division 1 (top flight) these are the candidates (in order of league seasons):

Lincoln City - 104 seasons
Stockport County - 99 seasons
Port Vale - 98 seasons
Walsall - 91 seasons
Chesterfield - 88 seasons
Tranmere - 87 seasons
Crewe - 87 seasons
Rotherham - 85 seasons
Plymouth - 84 seasons
Southend - 84 seasons
Bristol Rovers - 83 seasons

I would go with in order: Plymouth, Bristol Rovers and Tranmere here.

Now, the Championship (division 2). Obviously, this is a bit harder as most clubs have been in division 2 at some point.

For this I have:
Rochdale
Hartlepool
Exeter
Torquay
Chester

Interested in your thoughts. Need some help on concluding division 2 and putting together a list for division 3 and 4 which will be difficult.

I'd argue that Rotherham are bigger clubs than at least two of those.

 

[WFC]

We are League One veterans

 

[Vale on Trent]

I'd argue that Rotherham are bigger clubs than at least two of those.

We are bigger than Tranmere I'd say

 

[rudebwoyben]

I'd say that Woking are the biggest club never to have played above the fifth tier.
I can only think of two clubs who've played at the fourth tier but never in the third -Accrington Stanley and Morecambe.

 

[Shrimpurh]

Who gives a fuck?

 

[Football Purist]

Crewe are potentially bigger than Vale.
The HS2 station will create 6,000 jobs and the area will boom and grow in the next 20 years.

 

[Dave-Vale]

The residents of Crewe will have some new trains to wank themselves off over.

 

[rudebwoyben]

Crewe are potentially bigger than Vale.
The HS2 station will create 6,000 jobs and the area will boom and grow in the next 20 years.

No means guaranteed that HS2 will actually go ahead. I actually hope it doesn't as it epitomises the worst kind of government vanity project.

 

[PUSBCCFC]

We are bigger than Tranmere I'd say

Without doubt you are.

 

[The Paranoid Pineapple]

This might help - http://www.myfootballfacts.com/ClubLeagueHistorySummary.html
Includes defunct clubs. Phoenix clubs (eg Accrington, Aldershot) seemingly have their records amalgamated.

 

[Reaper]

We have never played top flight or been in non league either, bit crazy to have only played in 3 different tiers in our 85th season, im sure there's other clubs who's done the same.

 

[Kim Mitten]

We have never played top flight or been in non league either, bit crazy to have only played in 3 different tiers in our 85th season, im sure there's other clubs who's done the same.

Don't think there is. Rotherham United are a bit unique though as the club was formed in 1925 and immediately given league status (Division 3 North). Most of the other Division 3 clubs came from the Southern, Midland and Northern Leagues - which now would be the 3rd tier of football, but at the time was 'non-league'.

 

[blademan89]

Don't think there is. Rotherham United are a bit unique though as the club was formed in 1925 and immediately given league status (Division 3 North). Most of the other Division 3 clubs came from the Southern, Midland and Northern Leagues - which now would be the 3rd tier of football, but at the time was 'non-league'.

Theres a few that have only played in 3 divisions if you use div 1,2 and 3. Wednesday and leeds are 2 i can think of without looking into it

 

[Kim Mitten]

I was answering to clubs that have never been non-league or played in the top flight of league football. Plenty that haven't been out of the league or even down to the basement division- but I can't think of any other apart from Rotherham who have just stuck around the 2nd-4th tiers.

 

[blademan89]

I was answering to clubs that have never been non-league or played in the top flight of league football. Plenty that haven't been out of the league or even down to the basement division- but I can't think of any other apart from Rotherham who have just stuck around the 2nd-4th tiers.

Chesterfield? Plymouth?

 

[DH84]

Port Vale, Walsall, Southend and Crewe too?

 

[PuB]

Crewe are potentially bigger than Vale.
The HS2 station will create 6,000 jobs and the area will boom and grow in the next 20 years.

It doesn't always work like that, look at Crawley as a case in point. They have a huge suburban area around them, but the problem is people move to these places who already support another team.

 

[Kim Mitten]

Chesterfield - started in the Midland league
Plymouth - started in Southern League
Southend - started in the Southern league
Walsall - founder members of Division 2 but relegated to Midland league in 1895
Crewe - founder members Division 2 - relegated 1896 to non-league.

Port Vale however could join the list, Division 2 founder members but resigned in 1907, did they play in non-league, or just not play - because Port Vale took over Leeds City's fixtures in Division 2 in 1919 after they were disbanded.

 

[DH84]

Looking at clubs to never play in the Premier League(1992) - Rotherham, Bristol City, Huddersfield, Brentford, Brighton, Preston and MK Dons (debateable) haven't from the Championship. Majority of L1 apart from 5 or 6 and all of L2 apart from Pompey? Only club likely to break that this season is Brighton.

 

[Kim Mitten]

of course, how could I forget the franchise - they are a club never to have graced either the top league division or the non-league.

 

[DH84]

This might help - http://www.myfootballfacts.com/ClubLeagueHistorySummary.html
Includes defunct clubs. Phoenix clubs (eg Accrington, Aldershot) seemingly have their records amalgamated.

Looking at this - Everton are the champions of the top flight, Barnsley rule the Championship, Bournemouth stagnate in League 1 and Rochdale have spent the longest in League 2.

 

[DH84]

of course, how could I forget the franchise - they are a club never to have graced either the top league division or the non-league.

Pretty amazing how Barnsley have spent 73 seasons in division 2\the Championship but have only went higher once.

 

[Football Purist]

The residents of Crewe will have some new trains to wank themselves off over.

Meanwhile over in The Potteries all the mines have shut down and it's a similar story with the pot banks.
Not all bad news though as Mrs Bloor.will be taking on a Saturday morning helper at her oatcake and pikelet shop in Middleport.

 

[GodsGift]

How lovely we finally top a table. I think we're also the only professional side to have never played at Wembley.

 

[DH84]

How lovely we finally top a table. I think we're also the only professional side to have never played at Wembley.

Nah. Accrington, Crawley and Hartlepool aswell. Walsall were also included but reached the JPT final last year.

 

[TimeyWimey]

It doesn't always work like that, look at Crawley as a case in point. They have a huge suburban area around them, but the problem is people move to these places who already support another team.

Plus, if HS2 goes ahead as currently planned (which it probably won't), we will probably be moved out of town to make way for it and end up miles from the town centre in a cheapo flat pack stadium like the Globe Arena.

 

[Hurrikeen]

Look at all you tinpot twats.

 

[Posh Hammer]

We're 81 seasons now without making it to the top division of English football!

 

[DearneValleyRover]

We were formed in 1879 although not in any league then and we've never played in the top division