The Football League Championship

Last updated : 10 June 2004 By Bob Gear
The second tier of English football changed from the 'Second Division' to Division One when the Premiership broke away from the football league in the early nineties. The other divisions were also renamed.

Teams playing in the third tier, previously the third division & more recently Division Two will be playing in 'League One' next Season, while the old 'fourth division' now becomes 'League Two.

League chairman Sir Brian Mawhinney said: "The Championship' is a term steeped in the history of the League.

"Reclaiming it for our leading clubs will place a new enhanced emphasis on its status at the pinnacle of our competition," he added.

Mawhinney added: "Not only is it a gateway to the Premiership, it is one of Europe's leading league competitions, in terms of the standard of football being played, the high quality of stadia and the numbers of supporters attending."