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SDWO |
Somaliland Democracy Watch Organisation To Promote Democracy In Somaliland |
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 | 1993–2001: Carling (FA Carling Premiership) |
| 2001–08: Barclays (Barclays Premiership; from 2001-2004, it was known as the Barclaycard Premiership) |
Deemed around the world as "The Greatest Show On Earth", the FA Premier League is the world's most popular and most watched sporting league, followed worldwide by over a billion people[3]. Over 260 foreign players compete in the league, and 101 stars from England's domestic leagues competed in the 2002 World Cup in Korea and Japan. It is widely watched overseas, with matches being shown in over 150 countries. Premier League teams such as Manchester United and star players such as Thierry Henry, Steven Gerrard or Ruud van Nistelrooy have become worldwide sporting icons. The Premier League is particularly popular in Scandinavia, with ferry operators offering "football ferries" to Norwegian football fans wishing to see their favourite teams in action. The Premier League and its clubs also enjoy popularity in Canada; games are aired every Saturday and Sunday in most parts of the country.
In 2000–01, the number of foreign players (players hailing from outside of the United Kingdom) participating in the Premiership was 36%. In the 2004–05 season the figure had increased to 45%. Arsenal's 85% figure (rising from 64% in 2000–01) is the highest of any club over the period. Liverpool (72%) have also overtaken Chelsea since the Roman Abramovich buyout.
The FA Premier League was formed on 20th February 1992 and played its first season in 1992–93. This meant a break-up of the 104-year-old Football League that had operated until then with four divisions. A number of events during the mid and late Eighties had sent clear signals that fundamental changes were needed to the structure of professional football. The English game was at possibly its lowest ebb ever. Stadiums were crumbling, supporters were faced with poor facilities, hooliganism was rife and English football was banned from European competition. The old First Division became a selling league as many top players were lured by the financial attractions of the continent.
A radical restructuring was required if English football was to prosper. A proposal for the establishment of the league was tabled that would bring more money into the game overall. The Founder Members Agreement, signed on 17th July 1991 by the game's top-flight clubs established the basic principles for setting up the FA Premier League. The newly formed top division would have commercial independence from the Football Association and the Football League, giving the FA Premier League license to negotiate its own broadcast and sponsorship agreements.
In 1992 the First Division Clubs resigned from the football league en masse and on 27th May 1992 the FA Premier League was formed as a limited company, which worked out of an office at the then Football Association's headquarters, Lancaster Gate.
| Club |
Finishing position last season |
First season in top division |
First season of current spell in top division |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal*† | 2nd | 1904–05 | 1919–20 |
| Aston Villa*† | 10th | 1888–89 | 1988–89 |
| Birmingham City | 12th | 1894–95 | 2002–03 |
| Blackburn Rovers† | 15th | 1888–89 | 2001–02 |
| Bolton Wanderers | 6th | 1888–89 | 2001–02 |
| Charlton Athletic | 11th | 1936–37 | 2000–01 |
| Chelsea*† | 1st | 1907–08 | 1989–90 |
| Everton*† | 4th | 1888–89 | 1954–55 |
| Fulham | 13th | 1949-50 | 2001–02 |
| Liverpool*† | 5th | 1894–95 | 1962–63 |
| Manchester City† | 8th | 1899–1900 | 2002–03 |
| Manchester United*† | 3rd | 1892–93 | 1975–76 |
| Middlesbrough† | 7th | 1902–03 | 1998–99 |
| Newcastle United | 14th | 1898–99 | 1993–94 |
| Portsmouth | 16th | 1927–28 | 2003–04 |
| Sunderland | 1st in The Championship, promoted | 1890–91 | 2005–06 |
| Tottenham Hotspur*† | 9th | 1909–10 | 1978–79 |
| West Bromwich Albion | 17th | 1888–89 | 2004–05 |
| West Ham United | 6th in The Championship, promoted via the play-offs | 1923–24 | 2005–06 |
| Wigan Athletic | 2nd in The Championship, promoted | 2005–06 | 2005–06 |
* Played in every Premier League season.
† Founding member of Premier League
| Club |
Years in most recent spell in top division |
First season in most recent spell in top division of English football |
Final season of most recent spell in top division of English football |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barnsley | 1 | 1997–98 | 1997–98 |
| Bradford City | 2 | 1999–2000 | 2000–01 |
| Coventry City† | 34 | 1967–68 | 2000–01 |
| Crystal Palace† | 1 | 2004–05 | 2004–05 |
| Derby County | 6 | 1996–97 | 2001–02 |
| Ipswich Town† | 2 | 2000–01 | 2001–02 |
| Leeds United† | 14 | 1990–91 | 2003–04 |
| Leicester City | 1 | 2003–04 | 2003–04 |
| Norwich City† | 1 | 2004–05 | 2004–05 |
| Nottingham Forest† | 1 | 1998–99 | 1998–99 |
| Oldham Athletic† | 3 | 1991–92 | 1993–94 |
| Queens Park Rangers† | 13 | 1983–84 | 1995–96 |
| Sheffield United† | 4 | 1990–91 | 1993–94 |
| Sheffield Wednesday† | 9 | 1991–92 | 1999–2000 |
| Southampton† | 27 | 1978–79 | 2004–05 |
| Swindon Town | 1 | 1993–94 | 1993–94 |
| Watford | 1 | 1999–00 | 1999–2000 |
| Wimbledon(a)† | 14 | 1986–87 | 1999–2000 |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers | 1 | 2003–04 | 2003–04 |
"en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FA_Premier_League"
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