EFL League One
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EFL League one: format, teams, notable winners

Situated just below the glamour of the always-exciting EFL Championship but above the hustle of League Two, the EFL League One fixtures hold a unique place in English football. It’s a battleground where seasoned clubs with glorious pasts and ambitious teams dreaming of Premier league football collide. If you’re a football lover or keen to expand your horizons, join us as we will delve into the heart of English football’s third tier. Our guide will explore its format, the teams competing for the title, notable winners, and the players who have left a mark on the league’s history.

What is EFL League One?

EFL League One is the 3rd tier of English football, sitting comfortably between the Championship and League Two.

  1. Premier League
  2. EFL Championship
  3. EFL League One
  4. EFL League Two

The division has been around for centuries, but the current name is devised from the rebranding of the Football League in 2004. League One has become a pivotal stage in the English football league system. It represents a very important step for clubs aiming to climb the ladder to the top tiers of English football.

Over the years, EFL League One fixtures has evolved into a competitive and often unpredictable setting. The league is known for its passionate fan bases and the dramatic promotion and relegation battles that unfold each season.

League One showcases a blend of historic clubs looking to reclaim their former glory and ambitious sides eager to make their mark.

EFL League One Format

The EFL League One features 24 teams competing over a long season that stretches from August to May.

Each team plays 46 matches, facing every other team both home and away.

At the season’s end, the top two teams earn automatic promotion to the EFL Championship (2nd tier of English football), while those finishing third to sixth enter a playoff to fight for the final promotion spot.

Meanwhile, the bottom four teams are relegated to League Two and replaced with the best teams in that league last year.

EFL League One Teams

Since each season some teams are promoted and others are relegated, the team list can change. For the 2023-24 season, the EFL League One team list is as follows

  • Barnsley
  • Blackpool
  • Bolton Wanderers
  • Bristol Rovers
  • Burton Albion
  • Cambridge United
  • Carlisle United
  • Charlton Athletic
  • Cheltenham Town
  • Derby County
  • Exeter City
  • Fleetwood Town
  • Leyton Orient
  • Lincoln City
  • Northampton Town
  • Oxford United
  • Peterborough United
  • Port Vale
  • Portsmouth
  • Reading
  • Shrewsbury Town
  • Stevenage
  • Wigan Athletic
  • Wycombe Wanderers

The current top of the table (as of end of March, 2024) with 5-6 legs left to play, look like this.

Notable Winners

Plymouth Argyle is the most successful team in the league’s history, having won it all a staggering 5 times. There are multiple 4-time winners in Bristol City, Doncaster Rovers, Hull City and Wigan Athletic.

Interestingly, the 2015-16 Premier League winners – Leicester City won the EFL League One just a few years prior to their surprise campaign in the Premier League. The Foxes were crowned winners in 3rd tier of English football back in 2008-09.

The first ever winner of the 3rd division was Crystal Palace who did it back in 1920-21.

Best Players in History of EFL League One

We couldn’t talk about EFL League One without giving the props to the people that put this league on the map and kept fans coming to the stands. Some notable names that played in League One fixtures include:

  • Aiden McGeady – one of the most successful Irish footballers of 2000s and 2010s spent some time Sunderland, being placed on Team of the Year back in 2018-2019.
  • Adebayo Akinfenwa – FIFA players can definitely remember this strong striker. He often had the highest strength rating in FIFA. He played for Milwall, Wycombe Wanderers and a few other teams competing in League One.
  • Ian Henderson – all-time top scorer in League One
  • Peter Clarke – has the most minutes played of all League One players
  • Will Grigg – a true legend of the league with a large goal tally and numerous highlight plays.

 

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