boiniznamena – Football League One, also known as EFL League One, is the third-highest division of the English Football League (EFL) and the second-lowest tier of the English football league system. It consists of 24 teams that compete for promotion to the Championship, the second-highest division, or avoid relegation to League Two, the fourth-highest division.
The current season of League One started on 5 August 2023 and is scheduled to end on 5 May 2024. The teams that participate in the 2023-24 season are:
- Barnsley
- Blackpool
- Bolton Wanderers
- Bristol Rovers
- Burton Albion
- Cambridge United
- Carlisle United
- Charlton Athletic
- Cheltenham Town
- Derby County
- Exeter City
- Fleetwood Town
- Lincoln City
- Leyton Orient
- Northampton Town
- Oxford United
- Peterborough United
- Port Vale
- Portsmouth
- Reading
- Shrewsbury Town
- Stevenage
- Wigan Athletic
- Wycombe Wanderers
League One Format and Rules
The format and rules of League One are similar to those of the other EFL divisions. Each team plays 46 matches in a season, 23 at home and 23 away, against every other team in the division. Teams are awarded three points for a win, one point for a draw, and zero points for a loss. The teams are ranked in the league table by total points, then goal difference, and then goals scored.
At the end of the season, the top two teams in the league table are automatically promoted to the Championship. The teams that finish from third to sixth place enter a play-off tournament, where the winner of the final match at Wembley Stadium also earns promotion to the Championship. The bottom four teams in the league table are relegated to League Two and are replaced by the top four teams from that division.
In addition to the league competition, League One teams also participate in two cup competitions: the FA Cup and the EFL Cup. The FA Cup is open to all teams in the English football league system, while the EFL Cup is open to all teams in the EFL and the Premier League, the top division. League One teams enter the FA Cup in the first round and the EFL Cup in the first round or the second round, depending on their previous season’s league position.
League One History and Records
League One was created in 2004, when the EFL rebranded its divisions. Before that, it was known as the Second Division, which was formed in 1992, when the top 22 teams in the old First Division broke away to form the Premier League. The Second Division was itself a successor of the old Third Division, which was established in 1920 as the third tier of the English football league system.
The most successful team in League One history is Wolverhampton Wanderers, who won the division title in 2013-14 with a record 103 points. The team with the most promotions from League One to the Championship is Sheffield United, who have achieved this feat five times. The team with the most relegations from League One to League Two is Bristol Rovers, who have suffered this fate four times.
The current holders of the League One title are Derby County, who won the 2022-23 season with 92 points, 10 points ahead of second-placed Bolton Wanderers. The teams that were promoted to the Championship along with Derby County were Bolton Wanderers and Barnsley, who won the play-off final against Oxford United. The teams that were relegated to League Two were Fleetwood Town, Carlisle United, Cheltenham Town, and Reading.
The current top scorer in League One is Derby County’s Tom Lawrence, who has scored 18 goals in 26 matches. The current player with the most assists in League One is Peterborough United’s Jonson Clarke-Harris, who has provided 12 assists in 27 matches. The current player with the most clean sheets in League One is Bolton Wanderers’ Matt Gilks, who has kept 15 clean sheets in 26 matches.
League One News and Highlights
The latest news and highlights from League One can be found on various sources, such as the official EFL website, the BBC Sport website, and the Sky Sports website. Some of the recent headlines from League One are:
- Portsmouth go top of League One after beating Port Vale 1-0 at Fratton Park, thanks to a late goal from John Marquis.
- Bolton Wanderers close the gap on the top two with a 4-1 win over Carlisle United at the University of Bolton Stadium, with Eoin Doyle scoring a hat-trick.
- Peterborough United drop to third place after being held to a goalless draw by Lincoln City at the Weston Homes Stadium.
- Derby County move up to fourth place with a 2-1 win over Cheltenham Town at the Jonny-Rocks Stadium, with Tom Lawrence scoring both goals.
- Barnsley lose ground on the top four with a 2-1 defeat by Exeter City at St James Park, with Matt Jay scoring the winner for the hosts.
- Stevenage climb to sixth place with a 3-2 win over Wigan Athletic at the Lamex Stadium, with Luke Norris scoring the decisive goal in stoppage time.
- Oxford United slip to seventh place with a 3-1 loss to Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium, with Sam Nicholson scoring a brace for the hosts.
- Blackpool stay in eighth place with a 1-1 draw with Charlton Athletic at Bloomfield Road, with Jerry Yates cancelling out Jayden Stockley’s opener.
Conclusion
Football League One is a competitive and exciting division of the English football league system, where teams fight for promotion to the Championship or avoid relegation to League Two. The current season of League One is nearing its end, with Portsmouth leading the table and several teams chasing them. The fans of League One can follow the latest news and highlights from the division on various sources, such as the official EFL website, the BBC Sport website, and the Sky Sports website.