X-Nico

9 unusual facts about Football League First Division


Borislav Mikhailov

In 1995 he joined the then-English First Division team Reading for a then club record £800,000, replacing the departed club favourite Shaka Hislop.

Holywell Town F.C.

The Merseysiders included at least five players with English First Division experience within the team, and ran out 4–1 winners in front of a large Holywell crowd.

Karl-Heinz Riedle

In late September 1999, 34-year-old Riedle moved to Fulham where, along with his old Reds manager Roy Evans, he would serve as caretaker manager until the end of the 1999–2000 season after Paul Bracewell's dismissal; he scored his last goal in a 2–0 win over Queens Park Rangers in a Division One match.

Lucien Mettomo

In September 2001, he signed for Manchester City of the English First Division for a £1.5 million fee.

Luděk Mikloško

He was named Hammer of the Year in 1991 - the year that West Ham were promoted to the First Division as Second Division runners-up and reached the FA Cup semi-final.

Madejski Stadium

In 1994, the Taylor Report made all-seater stadiums compulsory in the top two divisions (the Premier League and the First Division).

Mikheil Kavelashvili

Following City's relegation he played 24 games (2 goals) in the Football League First Division.

The Arsenal Stadium Mystery

The Trojans' body doubles on the pitch were players from Brentford, during the First Division fixture between the two sides on 6 May 1939; this was the last match of the 1938–39 season and Arsenal's last official league fixture before the outbreak of the Second World War.

Tommy Magee

Albion went on to win the First Division that season, the only time in the club's history that they have been champions of England.


1930–31 Blackpool F.C. season

They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing twentieth and conceding a record 125 goals.

1955–56 Blackpool F.C. season

They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing second, their highest finish in the English league system to date, despite losing their final four League games.

1962–63 Blackpool F.C. season

They competed in the 22-team Division One, then the top tier of English football, finishing thirteenth for the second consecutive season.

1967–68 Manchester United F.C. season

The 1967–68 season was a breakout year for midfielder George Best, who led the team with 28 goals in the First Division and 32 goals overall en route to winning the European Footballer of the Year and the FWA Footballer of the Year awards.

1991–92 Leeds United A.F.C. season

The 1991–92 season was Leeds United A.F.C.'s 73rd season in their history, their 37th in the top tier of English football and their 2nd consecutive and final season in the Football League First Division before its rebranding as the FA Premier League.

1995 Football League Second Division play-off Final

The 1995 Football League Second Division play-off final was a football match played at on 28 May 1995, to determine the third and final team to gain promotion from the Second Division to the First Division of The Football League in the 1994–95 season.

Albert Guðmundsson

After a short stint there he went to England where he played for Arsenal as an amateur; he played several friendly matches and two First Division matches in October 1946.

Alf Miles

When Spencer retired in 1907, Alf Miles teamed up with Tommy Lyons to become one of the most effective defensive pairings in the First Division culminating in the First Division win in 1909–10 season.

Ashton North End F.C.

Famous players for Ashton North End include Herbert Chapman, who later led Huddersfield Town and Arsenal to the First Division title as manager, who played for Ashton between 1895 and 1896; and Arthur Wharton, Britain's first black professional footballer, who played for Ashton from 1897 until their demise in 1899.

Basil Hayward

He scored four goals in 44 league games for "Pompey" in 1958–59 and 1959–60, as Freddie Cox's team dropped out of the First Division and then only avoided a second successive relegation by two points in 1959–60.

Bert Linnecor

He had to wait nearly four years for his first-team debut, which came on 7 March 1956, deputising for the injured Roy Warhurst in a First Division game at Huddersfield Town which finished 1–1.

Bill Dearden

His strike partnership with Alan Woodward proved effective in the First Division, and Dearden finished as the club's top-scorer in 1971–72 with 16 goals as United posted a tenth place finish.

David O'Leary

By this time, O'Leary was no longer automatic first choice (with the partnership of Tony Adams and Steve Bould at the centre of George Graham's defence), but he still turned in over 20 appearances as Arsenal won the 1988–89 First Division title thanks to a 2–0 win at Anfield on the final day of the season.

Dele Adebola

He made a significant impact for Crewe in 1996–97, his 16 goals proving crucial in the club's gaining promotion to the First Division.

Dennis Thwaites

He turned professional in May 1962 and played several games in the First Division at the start of the 1962–63 season while Bertie Auld was injured.

Eddy Brown

The following season, 1955–56, they achieved their highest ever finishing position, sixth in the First Division; Brown, playing alongside Peter "Spud" Murphy and Welsh international Noel Kinsey and with Alex Govan and England international Gordon Astall on the wings, finished top scorer with 21 League goals.

Fred Hoyland

Described as a well-built winger, he had a run of games in the First Division deputising for the injured Billy Harvey, but at the end of the 1923–24 season moved back to the Third Division with Brighton & Hove Albion.

Ian Cranson

He soon began a regular at Portman Road under the management of Bobby Ferguson and was ever present in 1985–86 as Ipswich suffered relegation from the First Division.

Jon Gittens

During his four seasons with Swindon, the club reached the play-offs twice (in 1988–89 and again in 1989–90), but failed to gain promotion to the First Division.

Lewis Stoker

Born in Wheatley Hill, County Durham, he spent most of his professional career at Birmingham, for whom he played 246 games in all competitions, including 230 in the First Division.

Loakes Park

At the time, Middlesbrough were near the top of the old Football League First Division (now the Premier League), and Wycombe (a non-league team at this time) held them to a 0-0 draw.

Molineux Stadium

The takeover of the club and stadium by Sir Jack Hayward in 1990 paved the way for redevelopment, which was further prompted by legislation following the Taylor Report that outlawed terraces which affected Premier League and Division One stadiums from the 1993–94 season.

Neil Dewar

Dewar signed for First Division Sheffield Wednesday on 29 December 1933 in an exchange deal that saw George Nevin and Jack Ball move in the other direction across the Pennines.

Raúl Oliveira

In early 1997 Oliveira had an abroad stint, with English side Bradford City in English Division One, appearing only twice during the season for Chris Kamara's team and subsequently resuming his career in Portugal.

Ray Cashley

In the 1975–76 season, City were promoted to the First Division but Cashley lost his place to John Shaw soon afterwards and had only brief spells in the side for the remainder of his time with City.

Ricky McEvoy

In the 1986–87 Football League season where Luton finished 7th in the Football League First Division McEvoy made one appearance as a substitute against Watford F.C. in the M1 derby on St. Stephen's Day 1986.

Ron Greenwood

After three years at Brentford, he returned to Chelsea, where he played 65 times and won a First Division winners' medal in 1954-55 under Ted Drake.

Roy Greaves

Playing in this role he helped the team win the Third Division Championship in 1972–73 and eventually back into the top flight in 1977–78.

Simon Baldry

On 18 April 1998 in the 1997–98 season, Baldry scored the goal that saved Huddersfield Town from relegation of the old First Division.

The Woolwich

From 1984 to 1992, The Woolwich sponsored Charlton Athletic F.C. at a time that included their departure from the outdated Valley stadium in September 1985 (they returned in December 1992, by which time the stadium had been rebuilt) and the club's promotion to the Football League First Division the following May, continuing for two years after the relegation in 1990.

Vinny Samways

In the 1995–96 season, he spent time on loan at Division One sides Wolverhampton Wanderers and Birmingham City.

W. E. Barclay

While he was in charge of the side that won the Second Division championship in 1893-4, Liverpool got relegated from the First Division the following season (with Liverpool losing a test match to Bury 1-0).


see also