This is a list of seasons played by Middlesbrough Football Club in English and European football, from 1883, when the club first entered the FA Cup, to the most recent completed season. Middlesbrough Football Club were founded on 18 February 1876, by members of Middlesbrough Cricket Club. For the first years of their existence Middlesbrough participated in competitions such as the Sheffield Cup and the Cleveland Association Challenge Cup. The club have won only one major trophy in their professional history, the Football League Cup in 2004. Most of Middlesbrough's League existence has been in the top two tiers; they were relegated to the Third Division twice in 1966 and 1986, but each time they bounced back as runners-up the following season.
This list details the club's achievements in all competitions, and the top scorers for each season. Records of competitions such as the North Riding Senior Cup are not included due to them being played against lower league opposition and reserve sides.
Seasons Season League record FACup LeagueCupThe League Cup was founded in the 1960–61 season. Europe Other Top scorer(s)Includes goals scored in the following competitions: League, FA Cup, League Cup, UEFA Cup, Anglo-Italian Cup, Texaco Cup, Anglo-Scottish Cup, Full Members Cup, except in wartime situations where all active competitions are included.Div (Level)PosPldWDLGFGAPtsPlayer(s)Goals1883–84n/aR11884–85n/aR41885–86n/aR51886–87n/aR21887–88n/aQF1888–89n/aQ11889–90NL (n/a)6th18837423719Q11890–91NL (n/a)2nd14833331719Q31891–92NL (n/a)2nd161303331326R21892–93NL (n/a)4th1040617178R21893–94NL (n/a)1st141112511623R11894–95NL (n/a)1st181251581729R2FA Amateur CupWinners1895–96NL (n/a)3rd16844282220Q21896–97NL (n/a)1st161141361526Q1FA Amateur CupSF1897–98NL (n/a)2nd16943422222Q5FA Amateur CupWinners1898–99NL (n/a)3rd16745292718Q11899–1900Div 2 (2)14th348818396924Q1Eddie Pugh 71900–01Div 2 (2)6th3415712504037QFSandy Robertson 161901–02Div 2 (2)2nd342356902451R1Jack Brearley 231902–03Div 1 (1)13th3414515435032R1Sandy Robertson 81903–04Div 1 (1)10th3491213464730QFAlex Brown 171904–05Div 1 (1)15th349817365626R1Harry Astley 51905–06Div 1 (1)18th38101117567131R3Alf Common 241906–07Div 1 (1)11th3815617566336R2Steve Bloomer 201907–08Div 1 (1)6th3817714544541R1Steve BloomerSammy Cail 121908–09Div 1 (1)9th3814915595337R1Jack Hall 181909–10Div 1 (1)17th3811918567337R1Jack Hall 121910–11Div 1 (1)16th38111017496332R3George Elliott 101911–12Div 1 (1)7th3816814564540R2George Elliott 191912–13Div 1 (1)16th38111017556932R3George Elliott 251913–14Div 1 (1)3rdHighest league finish to date.3819514776043R1George Elliott 31First Division leading goalscorer.1914–15Div 1 (1)12th38131213627438R2Walter Tinsley 261915–18 No competitive football was played between 1915 and 1919 due to World War I1919NVL (n/a)1st149232812George Elliott 20Goals scored in this season do not contribute to player/club records.1919–20Div 1 (1)13th42151017616540R4George Elliott 341920–21Div 1 (1)8th42171213535346R1George Elliott 261921–22Div 1 (1)8th42161412796946R1Andy Wilson 321922–23Div 1 (1)18th42131019576336R2George Elliott 231923–24Div 1 (1)22nd427827376022R1Andy Wilson 81924–25Div 2 (2)13th42101913364439R1Ian DicksonOwen Williams 71925–26Div 2 (2)9th4221219776844R4James McClelland 381926–27Div 2 (2)1st4227871226062R5George Camsell 63Second Division leading goalscorer. Includes 59 league goals, a Division Two record. This remains the second-highest number of league goals scored in one season, behind Dixie Dean's 60 league goals a year later.1927–28Div 1 (1)22nd42111516818837R5George Camsell 371928–29Div 2 (2)1st4222119925755R4George Camsell 331929–30Div 1 (1)16th4216620828438R5George Camsell 311930–31Div 1 (1)7th4219815989046R3George Camsell 321931–32Div 1 (1)18th4215819648938R3George Camsell 201932–33Div 1 (1)17th4214919637337R5George Camsell 181933–34Div 1 (1)16th4216719687739R3George Camsell 241934–35Div 1 (1)20th42101418709034R3George Camsell 141935–36Div 1 (1)14th42151017847040QFGeorge Camsell 321936–37Div 1 (1)7th4219815747146R3Micky Fenton 221937–38Div 1 (1)5th4219815726546R5Micky Fenton 261938–39Div 1 (1)4th4220913937449R4Micky Fenton 351939–40Div 1 (n/a)n/aCompetitive football was abandoned three games into the 1939–40 season and all results were annulled.301238Micky Fenton 3No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1946 due to World War IINERL (n/a)208484843Micky Fenton 261940–41LN (n/a)24131106864George Stobbart 301941–42LN (n/a)186394454J Robinson 9Guest player, from Sheffield Wednesday.LN (n/a)187473736PT Taylor 10Guest player, from Preston North End.1942–43LN (n/a)1844103050George Stobbart 8LN (n/a)1850133169P Bowers 61943–44LN (n/a)184683552George Stobbart 12LN (n/a)2164114151George Stobbart 111944–45LN (n/a)1853103457George Stobbart 10LN (n/a)2472153958George Stobbart 231945–46LN (n/a)42179167587R5All FA Cup ties played on a two legged basis.Micky Fenton 27Seven goals were scored in the FA Cup, contributing to records, while 20 goals were scored in the league competition prior to recommencement of the Football League proper the next season.1946–47Div 1 (1)11th4217817746842QFMicky FentonWilf Mannion 231947–48Div 1 (1)16th4214919717337R5Micky Fenton 291948–49Div 1 (1)19th42111219465734R3Micky Fenton 121949–50Div 1 (1)9th4220715594847R4Alex McCraePeter McKennan 161950–51Div 1 (1)6th42181113766547R3Alex McCrae 211951–52Div 1 (1)18th4215621648836R4Lindy Delapenha 171952–53Div 1 (1)13th42141117707739R3Wilf Mannion 181953–54Div 1 (1)21st42101022609130R3Lindy Delapenha 181954–55Div 2 (2)12th4218618738242R3Charlie Wayman 171955–56Div 2 (2)14th4216818767840R4Lindy Delapenha 181956–57Div 2 (2)6th42191013846048R4Brian Clough 401957–58Div 2 (2)7th4219716837445R4Brian Clough 421958–59Div 2 (2)13th42151017877140R3Brian Clough 431959–60Div 2 (2)5th42191013906448R3Brian Clough 401960–61Div 2 (2)5th42181212837448R3R1Brian Clough 361961–62Div 2 (2)12th4216719767239R5R3Alan Peacock 321962–63Div 2 (2)4th4220913868549R4R2Alan Peacock 331963–64Div 2 (2)10th42151116675241R3R2Ian Gibson 141964–65Div 2 (2)17th4213920707635R5R2Jim Irvine 241965–66Div 2 (2)21st42101319588633R3R3Jim Irvine 171966–67Div 3 (3)2nd4223914876455R3R1John O'Rourke 301967–68Div 2 (2)6th42171213605446R4R3John Hickton 291968–69Div 2 (2)4th42191112584949R3R2John Hickton 181969–70Div 2 (2)4th42201012554550QFR2Anglo-Italian CupEnglish GSSecond in group.John Hickton 301970–71Div 2 (2)7th42171411604348R4R3John Hickton 271971–72Div 2 (2)9th4219815504846R5R2John Hickton 161972–73Div 2 (2)4th42171312464347R3R3John Hickton 151973–74Div 2 (2)1st4227114773065R4R3Alan Foggon 201974–75Div 1 (1)7th42181212544048QFQFTexaco CupQAlan Foggon 181975–76Div 1 (1)13th42151017464540R3SFAnglo-Scottish CupWinnersJohn Hickton 181976–77Div 1 (1)12th42141315404541QFR2Anglo-Scottish CupQDavid Mills 181977–78Div 1 (1)14th42121515425439QFR3David Mills 161978–79Div 1 (1)12th42151017575040R3R2Micky Burns 141979–80Div 1 (1)9th42161214504444R4R3David Armstrong 141980–81Div 1 (1)14th4216521536137R6R2Kirin CupWinnersBožo Janković 131981–82Div 1 (1)22nd4281519345239R3R3Billy AshcroftHeine OttoBobby Thomson 51982–83Div 2 (2)16th42111516466748R5R2David Shearer 131983–84Div 2 (2)17th42121317414749R5R1David Currie 151984–85Div 2 (2)19th42101022415740R3R1David Mills 141985–86Div 2 (2)21st4212921445345R3R1Gary Rowell 121986–87Div 3 (3)2nd4628108673094R3R2Associate Members CupNorthern SFBernie Slaven 211987–88Div 2 (2)3rdEntered playoffs, won and promoted. Losing finalists Chelsea relegated from Div 1.44221210633678R4R2Full Members CupR1Bernie Slaven 241988–89Div 1 (1)18th3891217446139R3R2Full Members CupQFBernie Slaven 181989–90Div 2 (2)21st46131122526350R3R3Full Members CupRUBernie Slaven 321990–91Div 2 (2)7thEntered playoffs. Lost first round.4620917664769R4R4Full Members CupNorthern R2Bernie Slaven 191991–92Div 2 (2)2nd46231112584180R5SFFull Members CupNorthern QFPaul Wilkinson 241992–93Prem (1)Inaugural season of the Premier League.21st42111120547544R4R2Paul Wilkinson 151993–94Div 1 (2)9th46181315665467R3R3Anglo-Italian CupGSJohn Hendrie 201994–95Div 1 (2)1st46231310674082R3R3Anglo-Italian CupGSJohn Hendrie 171995–96Prem (1)12th38111017355043R4R4Nick Barmby 91996–97Prem (1)19th38101216516039Includes three points deduction for failing to fulfil a fixture at Blackburn Rovers.RURUFabrizio Ravanelli 311997–98Div 1 (2)2nd4627109774191R4RUPaul Merson 161998–99Prem (1)9th38121511485451R3R3Hamilton Ricard 181999–2000Prem (1)12th38141014465252R3QFHamilton Ricard 142000–01Prem (1)14th3891514444442R4R3Alen Bokšić 122001–02Prem (1)12th3812917354745SFR3Alen Bokšić 82002–03Prem (1)11th38131015484449R3R3Massimo Maccarone 92003–04Prem (1)11th3813916445248R4WNJuninho Paulista 92004–05Prem (1)7th38141311534655R4R4UEFA CupL16Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink 162005–06Prem (1)14th3812917485845SFQFUEFA CupRUYakubu 192006–07Prem (1)12th38121016444946QFR2Mark Viduka 192007–08Prem (1)13th38101216435342QFR3Stewart Downing 102008–09Prem (1)19th3871120285732QFR3Tuncay Şanlı 82009–10Champ (2)11th46161416585062R3R2Adam Johnson 112010–11Champ (2)12th46171118686862R3R2Scott McDonald 142011–12Champ (2)7th46181612525170R4R3Marvin Emnes 182012–13Champ (2)16th4618523617059R5QFScott McDonald 132013–14Champ (2)12th46161614625064R3R1Albert Adomah 122014–15Champ (2)4thEntered playoffs. Lost final.46251011683785R5R3Patrick Bamford 192015–16Champ (2)2nd4626119633189R3QFCristhian Stuani 112016–17Prem (1)19th3851320275328QFR2Álvaro Negredo 102017–18Champ (2)5th46221014674576R4R4Britt Assombalonga 152018–19Champ (2)7th46201313494173R4QFBritt Assombalonga 142019–20Champ (2)17th46131419486153R3R1Ashley Fletcher 132020–21Champ (2)10th46181018555364R3R2Duncan Watmore 92021–22Champ (2)7th46201016595070QFR1Matt Crooks 112022–23Champ (2)4th 46 22 9 15 84 56 75R3R1Chuba Akpom 29Championship leading goalscorer.PFA Championship player of the year.2023–24Champ (2)8th 46 20 9 17 71 62 69R3SFEmmanuel Latte Lath 182024–25Champ (2)10th 46 18 10 18 64 56 64R3R2Tommy Conway 132025–26Champ (2)5thEntered playoffs. Southampton qualified for the play-offs and defeated Middlesbrough to qualify for the final, but were subsequently disqualified for multiple breaches of EFL regulations related to the unauthorised filming of other clubs' training, with Middlesbrough taking their place in the play-off final. Middlesbrough lost 1-0 in the final to Hull City. 46 22 14 10 72 47 80R3R1Morgan Whittaker 14
Overall Seasons spent at Level 1 of the football league system: 61 Seasons spent at Level 2 of the football league system: 53 Seasons spent at Level 3 of the football league system: 2 Seasons spent at Level 4 of the football league system: 0
As of 2025–26 season.
Key
League Results Div = Division Pos = Final position Pld = Matches played W = Matches won D = Matches drawn L = Matches lost GF = Goals for GA = Goals against Pts = Points
Divisions NL = Northern Football League Div 1 = Football League First Division Div 2 = Football League Second Division Div 3 = Football League Third Division Prem = Premier League NVL = Northern Victory LeagueFollowing World War I, in January 1919 the NVL was introduced as a preliminary to the return of the Football League. Results do not contribute to player/club records. NERL = North Eastern Regional LeagueWartime competition. Results do not contribute to player/club records. LN = Football League NorthWartime competition. There were two competitions a year from 1941–42 season onwards. Results do not contribute to player/club records. Champ = EFL Championship n/a = Not applicable
Cup Results Q = Qualifying round Q1 = Qualifying round 1 Q2 = Qualifying round 2 Q3 = Qualifying round 3 Q4 = Qualifying round 4 Q5 = Qualifying round 5 R1 = Round 1 R2 = Round 2 R3 = Round 3 R4 = Round 4 R5 = Round 5
Cup Results (cont.) QF = Quarter-finals SF = Semi-finals RU = Runners-up WN = Winners GS = Group Stage L16 = Last 16
Notes
References