The Football League Championship logo

The Football League Championship (often referred to as The Championship for short or the Coca-Cola Football League Championship for sponsorship reasons) is the highest division of The Football League and second-highest division overall in the English football league system after the FA Premier League. Image File history File links Logo of the Football League Championship File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The Football League logo The Football League (often referred to as the Coca-Cola Football League for sponsorship reasons) is a league competition for English football clubs (though three Welsh clubs also take part) containing three divisions (the Football League Championship, Football League One and Football League Two) that occupy... It has been suggested that English football league structure (simplified) be merged into this article or section. ... FA Premier League logo Team locations in England The FA Premier League (often referred to as the Barclays Premiership or just The Premiership in the UK and as the Barclays English Premier League or the English Premier League or the EPL internationally) is a league competition for English Football clubs...

The Football League Championship was introduced for the 2004-2005 season. It replaced the Football League First Division. The 2004-2005 season was the 125th season of competitive football (soccer) in England. ... From 1889 until 1992, this was the highest division overall of organized football in England. ...

Structure

There are 24 teams in the Football League Championship. Each team plays the other 23 twice (once at home, once away) and is awarded three points for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. From these points a league table is constructed. At the end of each season the top two teams, together with the winner of the play-offs between the teams which finished in 3rd-6th position, are promoted to the FA Premier League and are replaced by the three teams that finished at the bottom of that league. (One exception to this was in 1995, when the FA Premier League reduced its numbers to 20. In that year, only two teams were promoted, the top team, plus the winner of the play offs between places 2nd-5th.) Similarly the three teams which finished at the bottom of the Football League Championship are relegated to Football League One and are replaced by the teams which finished 1st, 2nd, and won the 3rd-6th place play-off in that division. A playoff in sports (North American professional sports in particular) is a game or series of games played after the regular season is over with the goal of determining a league champion. ... FA Premier League logo Team locations in England The FA Premier League (often referred to as the Barclays Premiership or just The Premiership in the UK and as the Barclays English Premier League or the English Premier League or the EPL internationally) is a league competition for English Football clubs... Football League One (often referred to as League One for short or Coca-Cola Football League 1 for sponsorship reasons) is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system. ...

Final League position is determined firstly by points obtained, then by goal difference, then goals scored, and if necessary, a mini-league of the results between two or more teams ranked using the previous three criteria and finally a series of one or more play off matches. In sports such as ice hockey and soccer, goal difference (that is, goals scored less goals conceded) is often the first tie-breaker used to rank teams which finish a competition with an equal number of points. ...

History

The Football League Championship was introduced for the 2004-2005 season. It replaced the Football League First Division. The 2004-2005 season was the 125th season of competitive football (soccer) in England. ... From 1889 until 1992, this was the highest division overall of organized football in England. ...

In 2004-05, the Football League Championship announced a total attendance of 9.8 million, which it said was the fourth highest total attendance for a European football division, behind the FA Premier League (12.88m), Spain's Primera división (11.57m) and Germany's Bundesliga (10.92m), but beating Italy's Serie A (9.77m) and France's Ligue 1 (8.17m). [1][2][3]. It appears that this included the attendances at the playoffs, as the leagues own official averages give a total of just over 9.6 million, placing it behind Serie A. [4] Also, the Championship has 24 clubs compared to 20 clubs in both Serie A and Ligue 1. The 2004-2005 season was the 125th season of competitive football (soccer) in England. ... One million (1,000,000), or one thousand thousand, is the natural number following 999,999 and preceding 1,000,001. ... Liga de Fútbol Profesional La Liga de Fútbol Profesional (LFP) (English: League of Professional Football ), commonly known as La Liga, is the professional football league in Spain. ... The official Bundesliga logo. ... Serie A is the top division of the Italian Football League, the highest football league in Italy. ... Ligue 1 is the top division of French football, one of two divisions making up the LFP, the other being Ligue 2. ...

Football League Championship clubs, 2005-06

Play off fixtures
1st legs: Leeds United 1–1 Preston North End (Eddie Lewis 73; David Nugent 47) (Elland Road) Crystal Palace 0–3 Watford (Marlon King 46, Ashley Young 67, Matthew Spring 85) (Selhurst Park)
2nd legs: Preston North End 0–2 Leeds United (Rob Hulse 56, Frazer Richardson 61; Stephen Crainey s/o 68, Richard Cresswell s/o 90) (Deepdale) Watford 0–0 Crystal Palace (Vicarage Road)
Final: Watford v Leeds United (Millennium Stadium) (May 21) The 2004-2005 season was the 125th season of competitive football (soccer) in England. ... The 2005-2006 season is the 126th season of competitive football in England. ... Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. are an English football team based in Brighton & Hove. ... Burnley Football Club is a professional football club based in Burnley, in north-east Lancashire, England. ... Cardiff City Association Football Club is a football team based in Cardiff. ... Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues due to the traditional colour of their strip (which itself is sky blue in honour of the sky blue cloth traditionally made in the city), are a football team based in Coventry, England. ... Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English league football team based at Gresty Road in Crewe, Cheshire, England and nicknamed The Railwaymen due to that towns links with the industry. ... Crystal Palace Football Club is a football club based in south-east London and playing in the Coca-Cola Football League Championship, the second level of English football. ... FA Premier League logo Team locations in England The FA Premier League (often referred to as the Barclays Premiership or just The Premiership in the UK and as the Barclays English Premier League or the English Premier League or the EPL internationally) is a league competition for English Football clubs... Derby County Football Club are an English football club based in Derby, currently playing in the Football League Championship. ... Hull City Association Football Club are an English football team based at the KC Stadium (Kingston Communications Stadium) in Kingston upon Hull. ... Football League One (often referred to as League One for short or Coca-Cola Football League 1 for sponsorship reasons) is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system. ... Ipswich Town Football Club is the professional football club of Ipswich, Suffolk, England. ... Leeds United Football Club is the only professional association football club in the city of Leeds. ... Leicester City Football Club, nicknamed the Foxes, are an English football team, playing in the Football League Championship. ... Luton Town F.C. are an English football team based in the town of Luton. ... Football League One (often referred to as League One for short or Coca-Cola Football League 1 for sponsorship reasons) is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system. ... Millwall Football Club is a professional football team based at the 20,146 capacity New Den Stadium in Zampa Road, Bermondsey, South East London, England. ... Norwich City Football Club is a football club based in Norwich, England. ... FA Premier League logo Team locations in England The FA Premier League (often referred to as the Barclays Premiership or just The Premiership in the UK and as the Barclays English Premier League or the English Premier League or the EPL internationally) is a league competition for English Football clubs... Plymouth Argyle Football Club (commonly known as the Pilgrims) are an English football team, playing in the Championship league. ... Preston North End Football Club is a professional English football team. ... Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English football team, from Shepherds Bush, London. ... Reading Football Club is a football club, based in the English town of Reading and currently playing in the Football League Championship. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club in the English Football League, based in Sheffield, UK. Sheffield Wednesday won the play-offs of Football League One on 29 May 2005 to win promotion to the Football League Championship. ... Football League One (often referred to as League One for short or Coca-Cola Football League 1 for sponsorship reasons) is the second-highest division of The Football League and third-highest division overall in the English football league system. ... Southampton Football Club (originally St. ... FA Premier League logo Team locations in England The FA Premier League (often referred to as the Barclays Premiership or just The Premiership in the UK and as the Barclays English Premier League or the English Premier League or the EPL internationally) is a league competition for English Football clubs... Stoke City Football Club (known as Stoke Football Club until 1925) is a football club from Stoke-on-Trent in England (the other league club in the city being Port Vale F.C.). The club is reputedly the second-oldest football league club in the world, after Notts County F... Watford Football Club are an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. ... Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. is a Wolverhampton-based football club playing at Molineux stadium. ... Edward Lewis (born May 17, 1974, in Cerritos, California) is an American soccer player, who currently plays left midfielder for Leeds United in Englands Football League Championship. ... David (Dave) Nugent is a footballer, currently playing for Coca-Cola Championship outfit Preston North End. ... Elland Road (last game season 03/04 against Charlton) Elland Road, March 1967 just 48 hours after the biggest attendance in Elland Roads history of 57, 892 in the FA Cup vs Sunderland. ... Marlon King (born 26 April 1980 in Dulwich) is an English-born Jamaican professional football player who plays as a striker for Watford. ... Selhurst Park is a football stadium in south London, and is the current home ground of Crystal Palace F.C. Its present capacity is 26, 247. ... Rob Hulse (born 25 October 1979 in Crewe, England) is a professional footballer who began his career at his home town club of Crewe Alexandra. ... Frazer Richardson is currently Leeds Uniteds (squad) number 15. ... Stephen Crainey (born June 22, 1981 in Glasgow) is a Scottish footballer, who currently plays for Leeds United. ... Richard Cresswell (born 20 September 1977 in Bridlington) is an English professional Footballer, currently playing for Coca-Cola Championship side Leeds United. ... Deepdale is a stadium in Preston, England, the home of Preston North End F.C. and Englands National Football Museum. ... Vicarage Road is the home of Watford FC and their tenants, Saracens F.C.. A four stand all-seater stadium, its approximate capacity is 22,000. ... The Millennium Stadium (Welsh: Stadiwm y Mileniwm) in Cardiff is the national stadium of Wales, used primarily for rugby union and association football. ...

• Watford beat Crystal Palace 3–0 on aggregate.
• Leeds beat Preston 3–1 on aggregate.

2005/06 Standings

Reading Football Club is a football club, based in the English town of Reading and currently playing in the Football League Championship. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Watford Football Club are an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. ... Preston North End Football Club is a professional English football team. ... Leeds United Football Club is the only professional association football club in the city of Leeds. ... Crystal Palace Football Club is a football club based in south-east London and playing in the Coca-Cola Football League Championship, the second level of English football. ... Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. is a Wolverhampton-based football club playing at Molineux stadium. ... Coventry City Football Club, otherwise known as the Sky Blues due to the traditional colour of their strip (which itself is sky blue in honour of the sky blue cloth traditionally made in the city), are a football team based in Coventry, England. ... Norwich City Football Club is a football club based in Norwich, England. ... Luton Town F.C. are an English football team based in the town of Luton. ... Cardiff City Association Football Club is a football team based in Cardiff. ... Southampton Football Club (originally St. ... Stoke City Football Club (known as Stoke Football Club until 1925) is a football club from Stoke-on-Trent in England (the other league club in the city being Port Vale F.C.). The club is reputedly the second-oldest football league club in the world, after Notts County F... Plymouth Argyle Football Club (commonly known as the Pilgrims) are an English football team, playing in the Championship league. ... Ipswich Town Football Club is the professional football club of Ipswich, Suffolk, England. ... Leicester City Football Club, nicknamed the Foxes, are an English football team, playing in the Football League Championship. ... Burnley Football Club is a professional football club based in Burnley, in north-east Lancashire, England. ... Hull City Association Football Club are an English football team based at the Kingston Communications Stadium in Hull. ... Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club in the English Football League, based in Sheffield, UK. Sheffield Wednesday won the play-offs of Football League One on 29 May 2005 to win promotion to the Football League Championship. ... Derby County Football Club are an English football club based in Derby, currently playing in the Football League Championship. ... Queens Park Rangers Football Club is an English football team, from Shepherds Bush, London. ... Crewe Alexandra Football Club is an English league football team based at Gresty Road in Crewe, Cheshire, England and nicknamed The Railwaymen due to that towns links with the industry. ... Millwall Football Club is a professional football team based at the 20,146 capacity New Den Stadium in Zampa Road, Bermondsey, South East London, England. ... Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. are an English football team based in Brighton & Hove. ...

2005/06 season-Football League Championship

For quick reference, teams in bold are champions that also owned the league's top scorer in the season they won the title.

For past winners at this level before 2004, see List of winners of English Football League Championship and predecessors. The 2004-2005 season was the 125th season of competitive football (soccer) in England. ... Sunderland Association Football Club (Sunderland AFC or SAFC) is a profesional football club who play in the Football League Championship for the 2006-2007 season, based at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, North-East England. ... Wigan Athletic Football Club is a professional football team based in Wigan, England. ... West Ham United Football Club are a professional English football club based in East London. ... Preston North End Football Club is a professional English football team. ... Derby County Football Club are an English football club based in Derby, currently playing in the Football League Championship. ... Ipswich Town Football Club is the professional football club of Ipswich, Suffolk, England. ... Nathan Robert Ellington (born 2 July 1981 in Bradford) is an English professional footballer. ... Wigan Athletic Football Club is a professional football team based in Wigan, England. ... The 2005-2006 season is the 126th season of competitive football in England. ... Reading Football Club is a football club, based in the English town of Reading and currently playing in the Football League Championship. ... Sheffield United F.C. are a football club in The Football League. ... Leeds United Football Club is the only professional association football club in the city of Leeds. ... Watford Football Club are an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. ... Preston North End Football Club is a professional English football team. ... Crystal Palace Football Club is a football club based in south-east London and playing in the Coca-Cola Football League Championship, the second level of English football. ... Marlon King (born 26 April 1980 in Dulwich) is an English-born Jamaican professional football player who plays as a striker for Watford. ... Watford Football Club are an English professional football club based in Watford, Hertfordshire. ... A national second tier of English league football was established in 1893, as the Second Division. ...

See also

• Sports league attendances

The table below lists domestic sports leagues from around the world by total attendances for the last completed season. ...

External links

• Championship official site
• Football League Championship clubs' locations