RE-ELECTION
Re-election was something I thought was way in the past, but it ran for almost 100 seasons from the first season in 1888 through to 1986.The idea was that teams in the lowest division had no relegation to be afraid of, so they had to ask to be allowed to the stay in the League. That was through the process of Re-Election, where they presented their case at the Football League Annual General Meeting and, presumably, sweated on the vote.
If they passed re-election they were allowed to stay in the League. If they failed, they were replaced with a non-League team that had requested an Election to the League.
THE TEAMS
The teams that faced the most re-elections were Hartlepool United and Lincoln City, both with fourteen. Amazingly, Hartlepool passed every one, while Lincoln City hold the record for the most re-election failures with three.
| Total | Division 1 | Division 2 | Division 3 | Division 4 | |||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Count | Pass | Fail | Count | Pass | Fail | Count | Pass | Fail | Count | Pass | Fail | Count | Pass | Fail | ||||
| Hartlepool United | 14 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 0 | ||||
| Lincoln City | 14 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | ||||
| Crewe Alexandra | 13 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | ||||
| Barrow | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1 | ||||
| Halifax Town | 11 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | ||||
| Southport | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1 | ||||
| Stockport County | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | ||||
| Newport County | 10 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Rochdale | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | ||||
| Exeter City | 8 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Accrington Stanley | 7 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Chester City | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 0 | ||||
| Darlington | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Walsall | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Workington | 7 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | ||||
| York City | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 6 | 0 | ||||
| Bradford Park Avenue | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | ||||
| Burslem Port Vale | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Chesterfield | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Gillingham | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Grimsby Town | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| New Brighton | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Blackpool | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Doncaster Rovers | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Glossop North End | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Northampton Town | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Norwich City | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Aldershot | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Bradford City | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Burnley | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Burton United | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Colchester United | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Crystal Palace | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Darwen | 3 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Gainsborough Trinity | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Hereford United | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | ||||
| Leicester Fosse | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Loughborough | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Merthyr Town | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Stoke | 3 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Swindon Town | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Torquay United | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Tranmere Rovers | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Aberdare Athletic | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Ashington | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Brentford | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Burton Swifts | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Derby County | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Durham City | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Gateshead | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | ||||
| Millwall | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Nelson | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Nottingham Forest | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Notts County | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Oldham Athletic | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Queens Park Rangers | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Rotherham Town | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Scunthorpe United | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Southend United | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Walsall Town Swifts | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Watford | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Aston Villa | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Barnsley | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Birmingham City | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Brighton and Hove Albion | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Bristol Rovers | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Burton Wanderers | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Cambridge United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Cardiff City | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Carlisle United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Charlton Athletic | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Clapton Orient | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Coventry City | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Leeds City | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Luton Town | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Manchester City | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Mansfield Town | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Northwich Victoria | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Port Vale | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Preston North End | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Rotherham County | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Rotherham United | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Swansea City | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| West Bromwich Albion | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Wrexham | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | ||||
RE-ELECTIONS BY SEASON
This is a list of the re-elections for each season, with notes for each season's changes. The first 20 seasons get confusing with elections, resignations and expansions, but hopefully it's all made crystal clear now!
| Division | Pos | Club (Num of elections) | Pass/Fail | Replaced With | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1888-89 | ||||||
| 1 | 9 | Burnley (1) | Pass | |||
| 1 | 10 | Derby County (1) | Pass | |||
| 1 | 11 | Notts County (1) | Pass | |||
| 1 | 12 | Stoke (1) | Pass | |||
| 1889-90 | ||||||
| 1 | 10 | Notts County (2) | Pass | |||
| 1 | 11 | Burnley (2) | Pass | |||
| 1 | 12 | Stoke (2) | Fail | Sunderland | Stoke demoted to the Football Alliance; re-elected next season | |
| 1890-91 | ||||||
| 1 | 9 | Aston Villa (1) | Pass | |||
| 1 | 10 | Accrington Stanley (1) | Pass | |||
| 1 | 11 | Derby County (2) | Pass | |||
| 1 | 12 | West Bromwich Albion (1) | Pass | |||
| League expanded by 2 clubs - Darwen elected and Stoke re-admitted | ||||||
| 1891-92 | ||||||
| 1 | 11 | Accrington Stanley (2) | Pass | |||
| 1 | 13 | Stoke (3) | Pass | |||
| 1 | 14 | Darwen (1) | Fail | Subsequently admitted to the new Division 2 for next season | ||
| West Brom finished 12th but were reprieved from re-election due to winning the FA Cup. However, the League was expanded to an extra division (Division 2), so Darwen were re-admitted to the new division. | ||||||
| 1892-93 | ||||||
| 2 | 9 | Lincoln City (1) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 10 | Crewe Alexandra (1) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 11 | Burslem Port Vale (1) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 12 | Walsall Town Swifts (1) | Pass | |||
| Division 2 was expanded from 12 to 15 clubs. Liverpool, Middlesbrough Ironopolis, Newcastle, Rotherham and Woolwich Arsenal joined. | ||||||
| 1893-94 | ||||||
| 2 | 13 | Manchester City (1) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 14 | Rotherham Town (1) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 15 | Northwich Victoria (1) | Fail | Failed re-election and resigned from the League | ||
| Division 2 was expanded from 15 to 16 clubs. Burton Wanderers and Leicester were admitted. | ||||||
| 1894-95 | ||||||
| 2 | 13 | Lincoln City (2) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 14 | Walsall Town Swifts (2) | Fail | Loughborough Town | Resigned from the League | |
| 2 | 15 | Burslem Port Vale (2) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 16 | Crewe Alexandra (2) | Pass | |||
| Lincoln and Walsall tied on 20 points, so both were forced into Re-election. Walsall Town Swifts failed, and resigned from the League. | ||||||
| 1895-96 | ||||||
| 2 | 14 | Burslem Port Vale (3) | Fail | Blackpool | Resigned from the League | |
| 2 | 15 | Rotherham Town (2) | Fail | Gainsborough Trinity | Resigned from the League | |
| 2 | 16 | Crewe Alexandra (3) | Fail | Walsall | Resigned from the League | |
| 1896-97 | ||||||
| 2 | 14 | Burton Swifts (1) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 15 | Burton Wanderers (1) | Fail | Luton Town | ||
| 2 | 16 | Lincoln City (3) | Pass | |||
| 1897-98 | ||||||
| 2 | 14 | Lincoln City (4) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 15 | Darwen (2) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 16 | Loughborough (1) | Pass | |||
| 1898-99 | ||||||
| 2 | 16 | Blackpool (1) | Fail | Chesterfield | ||
| 2 | 17 | Loughborough (2) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 18 | Darwen (3) | Fail | Middlesbrough | ||
| 1899-00 | ||||||
| 2 | 16 | Barnsley (1) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 17 | Luton Town (1) | Fail | Blackpool | ||
| 2 | 18 | Loughborough (3) | Fail | Stockport County | ||
| 1900-01 | ||||||
| 2 | 16 | Walsall (1) | Fail | Bristol City | ||
| 2 | 17 | Stockport County (1) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 18 | Burton Swifts (2) | Pass | Burton Swifts merged with Burton Wanderers to form Burton United | ||
| Following New Brighton Tower's resignation (after finishing in 4th place), Doncaster Rovers joined Division 2 | ||||||
| 1901-02 | ||||||
| 2 | 16 | Chesterfield (1) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 17 | Stockport County (2) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 18 | Gainsborough Trinity (1) | Pass | |||
| 1902-03 | ||||||
| 2 | 16 | Doncaster Rovers (1) | Fail | Bradford City | ||
| 2 | 17 | Stockport County (3) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 18 | Burnley (3) | Pass | |||
| 1903-04 | ||||||
| 2 | 16 | Stockport County (4) | Fail | Doncaster Rovers | ||
| 2 | 17 | Glossop North End (1) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 18 | Leicester Fosse (1) | Pass | |||
| 1904-05 | ||||||
| 2 | 16 | Burslem Port Vale (4) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 17 | Burton United (1) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 18 | Doncaster Rovers (2) | Fail | |||
| Division 2 was expanded from 18 to 20 clubs; Chelsea, Clapton Orient and Stockport County were admitted in Doncasters's place | ||||||
| 1905-06 | ||||||
| 2 | 18 | Chesterfield (2) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 19 | Burton United (2) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 20 | Clapton Orient (1) | Pass | |||
| 1906-07 | ||||||
| 2 | 16 | Burslem Port Vale (5) | Fail | Oldham Athletic | ||
| 2 | 18 | Chesterfield (3) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 19 | Lincoln City (5) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 20 | Burton United (3) | Fail | Fulham | ||
| 1907-08 | ||||||
| 2 | 18 | Grimsby Town (1) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 19 | Chesterfield (4) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 20 | Lincoln City (6) | Fail | |||
| Stoke City also left the league after finishing in 10th place. Bradford Park Avenue and Tottenham Hotspur replace them and Lincoln City | ||||||
| 1908-09 | ||||||
| 2 | 18 | Stockport County (5) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 19 | Chesterfield (5) | Fail | Lincoln City | Lincoln City were re-admitted after one season away | |
| 2 | 20 | Blackpool (2) | Pass | |||
| 1909-10 | ||||||
| 2 | 18 | Gainsborough Trinity (2) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 19 | Grimsby Town (2) | Fail | Huddersfield Town | ||
| 2 | 20 | Birmingham City (1) | Pass | |||
| 1910-11 | ||||||
| 2 | 18 | Gainsborough Trinity (3) | ||||
| 2 | 19 | Barnsley (2) | ||||
| 2 | 20 | Lincoln City (7) | Fail | Grimsby Town | Lincoln City were again voted out after one season | |
| 1911-12 | ||||||
| 2 | 18 | Glossop North End (2) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 19 | Leeds City (1) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 20 | Gainsborough Trinity (4) | Fail | Lincoln City | Lincoln City were again re-admitted after one season away | |
| 1912-13 | ||||||
| 2 | 18 | Glossop North End (3) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 19 | Stockport County (6) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 20 | Blackpool (3) | Pass | |||
| 1913-14 | ||||||
| 2 | 18 | Leicester Fosse (2) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 19 | Lincoln City (8) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 20 | Nottingham Forest (1) | Pass | |||
| 1914-15 | ||||||
| 2 | 18 | Nottingham Forest (2) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 19 | Leicester Fosse (3) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 20 | Glossop North End (4) | Fail | |||
| Both Division 1 and Division 2 expanded by two teams after World War I. Coventry City, Rotherham, South Shields, Stoke and West Ham United were subsequently admitted to Division 2 | ||||||
| 1919-20 | ||||||
| 2 | 20 | Coventry City (1) | Pass | |||
| 2 | 21 | Lincoln City (9) | Fail | Cardiff City | Lincoln left to join the Midland League | |
| 2 | 22 | Grimsby Town (3) | Fail | Grimsby failed but were admitted to the expanded Division 3 | ||
| A new Division 3 was created after this season, with 21 new teams plus Grimsby | ||||||
| 1920-21 | ||||||
| 3 | 21 | Brentford (1) | Pass | |||
| 3 | 22 | Gillingham (1) | Pass | |||
| Division 3 was split into Division 3 North and South, with the addition of 22 more teams. | ||||||
| 1921-22 | ||||||
| 3N | 19 | Halifax Town (1) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 20 | Rochdale (1) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 21 | Exeter City (1) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 22 | Southend United (1) | Pass | |||
| 1922-23 | ||||||
| 3N | 19 | Ashington (1) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 20 | Durham City (1) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 21 | Aberdare Athletic (1) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 22 | Newport County (1) | Pass | |||
| 1923-24 | ||||||
| 3N | 21 | Hartlepool United (1) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 22 | Barrow (1) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 21 | Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic (1) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 22 | Queens Park Rangers (1) | Pass | |||
| 1924-25 | ||||||
| 3N | 21 | Tranmere Rovers (1) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 22 | Rotherham County (1) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 21 | Brentford (2) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 22 | Merthyr Town (1) | Pass | |||
| 1925-26 | ||||||
| 3N | 21 | Walsall (2) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 22 | Barrow (2) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 21 | Charlton Athletic (1) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 22 | Queens Park Rangers (2) | Pass | |||
| 1926-27 | ||||||
| 3N | 21 | Accrington Stanley (3) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 22 | Barrow (3) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 21 | Watford (1) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 22 | Aberdare Athletic (2) | Fail | Torquay United | ||
| 1927-28 | ||||||
| 3N | 21 | Durham City (2) | Fail | Carlisle United | ||
| 3N | 22 | Nelson (1) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 21 | Merthyr Town (2) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 22 | Torquay United (1) | Pass | |||
| 1928-29 | ||||||
| 3N | 21 | Hartlepool United (2) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 22 | Ashington (2) | Fail | York City | ||
| 3S | 21 | Exeter City (2) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 22 | Gillingham (2) | Pass | |||
| 1929-30 | ||||||
| 3N | 21 | Halifax Town (2) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 22 | Barrow (4) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 21 | Gillingham (3) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 22 | Merthyr Town (3) | Fail | Thames | ||
| 1930-31 | ||||||
| 3N | 21 | Rochdale (2) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 22 | Nelson (2) | Fail | Chester | ||
| 3S | 21 | Newport County (2) | Fail | Mansfield Town | ||
| 3S | 22 | Norwich City (1) | Pass | |||
| 1931-32 | ||||||
| 3N | 20 | New Brighton (1) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 21 | Rochdale (3) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 21 | Gillingham (4) | Pass | |||
| 1932-33 | ||||||
| 3N | 21 | New Brighton (2) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 22 | Darlington (1) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 21 | Newport County (3) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 22 | Swindon Town (1) | Pass | |||
| 1933-34 | ||||||
| 3N | 21 | Rotherham United (1) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 22 | Rochdale (4) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 21 | Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic (2) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 22 | Cardiff City (1) | Pass | |||
| 1934-35 | ||||||
| 3N | 21 | Southport (1) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 22 | Carlisle United (1) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 21 | Southend United (2) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 22 | Newport County (4) | Pass | |||
| 1935-36 | ||||||
| 3N | 21 | Southport (2) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 22 | New Brighton (3) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 21 | Newport County (5) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 22 | Exeter City (3) | Pass | |||
| 1936-37 | ||||||
| 3N | 21 | Gateshead (1) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 22 | Darlington (2) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 21 | Exeter City (4) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 22 | Aldershot (1) | Pass | |||
| 1937-38 | ||||||
| 3N | 21 | Barrow (5) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 22 | Accrington Stanley (4) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 21 | Walsall (3) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 22 | Gillingham (5) | Fail | Ipswich Town | ||
| 1938-39 | ||||||
| 3N | 21 | Hartlepool United (3) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 22 | Accrington Stanley (5) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 21 | Walsall (4) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 22 | Bristol Rovers (1) | Pass | |||
| 1946-47 | ||||||
| 3N | 21 | Southport (3) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 22 | Halifax Town (3) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 21 | Norwich City (2) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 22 | Mansfield Town (1) | Pass | |||
| 1947-48 | ||||||
| 3N | 21 | Halifax Town (4) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 22 | New Brighton (4) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 21 | Norwich City (3) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 22 | Brighton and Hove Albion (1) | Pass | |||
| 1948-49 | ||||||
| 3N | 21 | Southport (4) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 22 | Bradford City (1) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 21 | Aldershot (2) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 22 | Crystal Palace (1) | Pass | |||
| 1949-50 | ||||||
| 3N | 21 | Halifax Town (5) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 22 | York City (1) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 21 | Newport County (6) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 22 | Millwall (1) | Pass | |||
| 1950-51 | ||||||
| 3N | 23 | Accrington Stanley (6) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 24 | New Brighton (5) | Fail | Workington | ||
| 3S | 23 | Watford (2) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 24 | Crystal Palace (2) | Pass | |||
| 1951-52 | ||||||
| 3N | 23 | Darlington (3) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 24 | Workington (1) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 23 | Exeter City (5) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 24 | Walsall (5) | Pass | |||
| 1952-53 | ||||||
| 3N | 23 | Workington (2) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 24 | Accrington Stanley (7) | Pass | |||
| 1953-54 | ||||||
| 3N | 23 | Halifax Town (6) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 24 | Chester City (1) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 23 | Colchester United (1) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 24 | Walsall (6) | Pass | |||
| 1954-55 | ||||||
| 3N | 23 | Grimsby Town (4) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 24 | Chester City (2) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 23 | Walsall (7) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 24 | Colchester United (2) | Pass | |||
| 1955-56 | ||||||
| 3N | 23 | Bradford Park Avenue (1) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 24 | Crewe Alexandra (4) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 23 | Crystal Palace (3) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 24 | Swindon Town (2) | Pass | |||
| 1956-57 | ||||||
| 3N | 23 | Tranmere Rovers (2) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 24 | Crewe Alexandra (5) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 23 | Swindon Town (3) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 24 | Norwich City (4) | Pass | |||
| 1957-58 | ||||||
| 3N | 23 | Southport (5) | Pass | |||
| 3N | 24 | Crewe Alexandra (6) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 23 | Millwall (2) | Pass | |||
| 3S | 24 | Exeter City (6) | Pass | |||
| 1958-59 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Oldham Athletic (1) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Aldershot (3) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Barrow (6) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Southport (6) | Pass | |||
| 1959-60 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Southport (7) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Gateshead (2) | Fail | Peterborough United | ||
| 4 | 23 | Oldham Athletic (2) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Hartlepool United (4) | Pass | |||
| 1960-61 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Exeter City (7) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Barrow (7) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Hartlepool United (5) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Chester City (3) | Pass | |||
| 1961-62 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Doncaster Rovers (3) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Hartlepool United (6) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Chester City (4) | Pass | |||
| 1962-63 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Chester City (5) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Lincoln City (10) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Bradford City (2) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Hartlepool United (7) | Pass | |||
| 1963-64 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Southport (8) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | York City (2) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Hartlepool United (8) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Barrow (8) | Pass | |||
| 1964-65 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Barrow (9) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Lincoln City (11) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Halifax Town (7) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Stockport County (7) | Pass | |||
| 1965-66 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Rochdale (5) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Lincoln City (12) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Bradford City (3) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Wrexham (1) | Pass | |||
| 1966-67 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Rochdale (6) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | York City (3) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Bradford Park Avenue (2) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Lincoln City (13) | Pass | |||
| 1967-68 | ||||||
| 4 | 18 | Port Vale (1) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 21 | York City (4) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Chester City (6) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Workington (3) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Bradford Park Avenue (3) | Pass | |||
| 1968-69 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | York City (5) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Newport County (7) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Grimsby Town (5) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Bradford Park Avenue (4) | Pass | |||
| 1969-70 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Newport County (8) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Darlington (4) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Hartlepool United (9) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Bradford Park Avenue (5) | Fail | Cambridge United | ||
| 1970-71 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Lincoln City (14) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Newport County (9) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Hartlepool United (10) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Barrow (10) | Pass | |||
| 1971-72 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Northampton Town (1) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Barrow (11) | Fail | Hereford United | ||
| 4 | 23 | Stockport County (8) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Crewe Alexandra (7) | Pass | |||
| 1972-73 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Crewe Alexandra (8) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Colchester United (3) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Northampton Town (2) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Darlington (5) | Pass | |||
| 1973-74 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Crewe Alexandra (9) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Doncaster Rovers (4) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Workington (4) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Stockport County (9) | Pass | |||
| 1974-75 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Darlington (6) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Swansea City (1) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Workington (5) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Scunthorpe United (1) | Pass | |||
| 1975-76 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Stockport County (10) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Newport County (10) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Southport (9) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Workington (6) | Pass | |||
| 1976-77 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Halifax Town (8) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Hartlepool United (11) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Southport (10) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Workington (7) | Fail | Wimbledon | ||
| 1977-78 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Hartlepool United (12) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | York City (6) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Southport (11) | Fail | Wigan Athletic | ||
| 4 | 24 | Rochdale (7) | Pass | |||
| 1979-80 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Hereford United (1) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Darlington (7) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Crewe Alexandra (10) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Rochdale (8) | Pass | |||
| 1980-81 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Tranmere Rovers (3) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Hereford United (2) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Halifax Town (9) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | York City (7) | Pass | |||
| 1981-82 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Rochdale (9) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Northampton Town (3) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Scunthorpe United (2) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Crewe Alexandra (11) | Pass | |||
| 1982-83 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Blackpool (4) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Hartlepool United (13) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Crewe Alexandra (12) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Hereford United (3) | Pass | |||
| 1983-84 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Halifax Town (10) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Rochdale (10) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Hartlepool United (14) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Chester City (7) | Pass | |||
| 1984-85 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Halifax Town (11) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Stockport County (11) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Northampton Town (4) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Torquay United (2) | Pass | |||
| 1985-86 | ||||||
| 4 | 21 | Exeter City (8) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 22 | Cambridge United (1) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 23 | Preston North End (1) | Pass | |||
| 4 | 24 | Torquay United (3) | Pass | |||