The former member clubs of the English Football League are football clubs that lost their status in the League by resigning, or by relegation, by becoming defunct, merging with another club, or expulsion. Clubs presently playing in the Premier League are also included in this article.

The English Football League comprises professional clubs from England and Wales, and was established in 1888 as The Football League (First Division). In 1892, the Second Division was formed. A Third Division was introduced in 1920, before being regionalised as North and South. In 1958 these became the national Third and Fourth Division. The Premier League superseded the First Division as the top-flight of the English football league system in 1992, with the other three divisions renamed the First, Second and Third Divisions. They were rebranded again in 2004 as the Championship, League One and League Two.

Until 1986, clubs could lose their League status by failing to gain re-election after finishing in the bottom four of the bottom division (fourth tier). From the 1986–87 season, the club finishing bottom was relegated to the Conference National (now National League), the highest level of non-League football, depending on the ability of the Conference champions to meet FA requirements. Since 2002–03, the bottom two clubs of League Two face relegation to the National League.

Clubs The tables show the first and last seasons in which each club competed in the League. Some clubs' membership was intermittent between their first and last seasons. Current members of Level 1: The Premier League (2026–27) ClubFirst LeagueseasonLast LeagueseasonRef(s)Arsenal1893–94 1991–92Aston Villa1888–89 2018–19Bournemouth1923–24 2021–22Brentford1920–21 2020–21Brighton & Hove Albion1920–21 2016–17Chelsea1905–06 1991–92Coventry City1919–20 2025–26Crystal Palace1920–21 2012–13Everton1888–89 1991–92Fulham1907–08 2021–22Hull City1905–06 2025–26Ipswich Town1938–39 2025–26Leeds United1920–21 2024–25Liverpool1893–94 1991–92Manchester City1892–93 2001–02Manchester United1892–93 1991–92Newcastle United1893–94 2016–17Nottingham Forest1892–93 2021–22Sunderland1890–91 2024–25Tottenham Hotspur1908–09 1991–92

Former member clubs (no longer at English football levels 1–4) Clubs shown in bold were among the founder members of the League. As of 2026, the founder member clubs playing in the League are Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Derby County, Notts County, Preston North End, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, and Wolverhampton Wanderers. Preston have continuously been League members, whereas the others (except Notts County) have played in the Premier League at one time or another. Notts County has recently returned to the League after four seasons in the National League.

Four former members of the old Football League Division One no longer play in the Football League or Premier League: Bury, Bradford Park Avenue, Darwen, and Glossop North End.

Where a defunct club has been succeeded by a phoenix club, the new club is mentioned.

ClubFirst LeagueseasonLast LeagueseasonReasonCurrent statusRef(s) Aberdare Athletic1921–22 1926–27 Not re-electedMerged with Aberaman as Aberdare and Aberaman, later Aberaman Town and now Aberdare Town in the Accrington1888–89 1892–93 Resigned Defunct Accrington Stanley (1891)1921–22 1961–62 Resigned Defunct, but a new Accrington Stanley formed in 1968 and are playing in Aldershot1932–33 1991–92 Liquidated Defunct, Aldershot Town later formed and are playing in the Aldershot Town2008–09 2012–13 Relegated Playing in the Ashington1921–22 1928–29 Not re-elected Playing in the Barrow1921–22 1971–72 Not re-elected Playing in the 2020–21 2025–26 RelegatedBootle1892–93 1892–93 Resigned Defunct. A new club, formed as Langton in 1953, changed name to Bootle in 1973, and now playing in the Boston United2002–03 2006–07 Relegated Playing in the Bradford Park Avenue1908–09 1969–70 Not re-elected Defunct, revived version of the club playing in the Burton Swifts1892–93 1900–01 Merged with Burton Wanderers to form Burton United Defunct, a successor club formed in 1950 Burton Albion F.C. plays in Burton United1901–02 1906–07 Not re-elected Defunct, a successor club formed in 1950 Burton Albion F.C. plays in Burton Wanderers1894–95 1896–97 Not re-elected; later merged with Burton Swifts to form Burton United Defunct, a successor club formed in 1950 Burton Albion F.C. plays in Bury1894–952018–19Expelled; later merged with successor club, Bury A.F.C. Expelled during the 2019–20 season without playing a match, due to inability to pay liabilities. Playing in the Carlisle United1928–29 2024–25 Relegated Playing in the Chester City1931–32 2008–09 Relegated Defunct, successor club Chester playing in the Dagenham & Redbridge2007–08 2015–16 Relegated Playing in the Darlington1921–22 2009–10 Relegated Defunct, revived version of the club playing in the Darwen1891–92 1898–99 Resigned Defunct, AFC Darwen later formed and are playing in the Durham City1921–22 1927–28 Not re-elected Defunct. Revived club playing in the Forest Green Rovers2017–18 2023–24 Relegated Playing in the Gainsborough Trinity1896–97 1911–12 Not re-elected Playing in the Gateshead1919–20 1959–60 Not re-elected Defunct. New Gateshead (National League) and South Shields (National League North) clubs formed Glossop1898–99 1914–15 Not re-elected Playing in the Halifax Town1921–22 2001–02 Relegated Defunct, FC Halifax Town later formed and are playing in the Harrogate Town2020–21 2025–26 Relegated Playing in the Hartlepool United1921–22 2022–23 Relegated Playing in the Hereford United1972–73 2011–12 Relegated Defunct, successor club Hereford playing in the Kidderminster Harriers2000–01 2004–05 Relegated Playing in the Leeds City1905–06 1919–20 Expelled Defunct, successor club Leeds United playing in the Loughborough1895–96 1899–1900 Not re-elected Defunct Macclesfield Town1997–98 2019–20 Relegated Defunct, successor club Macclesfield playing in the Maidstone United1989–90 1991–92 Liquidated Defunct, revived version of the club playing in the Merthyr Town1920–21 1929–30 Not re-elected Defunct, revived version playing in Middlesbrough Ironopolis1893–94 1893–94 Resigned DefunctMorecambe2007–08 2024–25 Relegated Playing in the Nelson1921–22 1930–31 Not re-elected Defunct, revived version playing in the New Brighton1923–24 1950–51 Not re-elected Defunct New Brighton Tower1898–99 1900–01 Liquidated Defunct Newport County1920–21 1987–88 Relegated Defunct, revived version of the club playing in Northwich Victoria1892–93 1893–94 Resigned Playing in the Rotherham County1919–20 1924–25 Merged with Rotherham Town (1899) to form Rotherham United Defunct, Rotherham United playing in the Rotherham Town1893–94 1895–96 Resigned Defunct, Rotherham United playing in the Rushden & Diamonds2001–02 2005–06 Relegated Defunct, AFC Rushden & Diamonds playing in the Scarborough1987–88 1998–99 Relegated Defunct, Scarborough Athletic later formed and are playing in the Scunthorpe United1950–51 2021–22 Relegated Playing in the Southend United1920–21 2020–21 Relegated Playing in the Southport1921–22 1977–78 Not re-elected Playing in the Stalybridge Celtic1921–22 1922–23 Resigned Playing in the Sutton United2021–22 2023–24 Relegated Playing in the Thames1930–31 1931–32 Resigned Defunct Torquay United1927–28 2013–14 Relegated Playing in the Wigan Borough1921–22 1930–31 Resigned midway through season Defunct, successor club Wigan Athletic playing in Wimbledon1977–78 2003–04 Relocated and became Milton Keynes Dons. Became Milton Keynes Dons are playing in League Two Workington1951–52 1976–77 Not re-elected Playing in the Yeovil Town2003–04 2018–19 Relegated Playing in the

See also List of Scottish Football League clubs Timeline of English football Blackburn Olympic F.C. - First professional winners of the FA cup.

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