Football League Third Division
English former association football league
The Football League Third Division was the 3rd division in English football. Its first season was the 1920–21. It would be brought back for the 1958-59 season. It was the 3rd division until the 1991-92 season. It became the 4th division in 1992, after the FA Premier League was created. It was replaced by the Football League Two in 2004.
| Founded | 1920 |
|---|---|
| Folded | 2004 |
| Country | England Wales |
| Number of teams | 24 |
| Level on pyramid | 4 (1992–2004) 3 (1920–1992) |
| Promotion to | Second Division |
| Relegation to | Fourth Division (1958–1992) Football Conference (1992–2004) |
| Domestic cup(s) | FA Cup League Cup Football League Trophy |
| Last champions | Doncaster Rovers (2003–04) |
| Most championships | Plymouth Argyle (4 titles, including 2 in Third Division South) |
Founding clubs change
- Brentford
- Brighton & Hove Albion
- Bristol Rovers
- Crystal Palace (inaugural champions in 1920–21)
- Exeter City
- Gillingham
- Grimsby Town
- Luton Town
- Merthyr Town
- Millwall
- Newport County
- Northampton Town
- Norwich City
- Plymouth Argyle
- Portsmouth
- Queens Park Rangers
- Reading
- Southampton
- Southend United
- Swansea Town
- Swindon Town
- Watford
Champions change
- 1920/21 : Crystal Palace
- 1958/59 : Plymouth Argyle
- 1959/60 : Southampton
- 1960/61 : Bury
- 1961/62 : Portsmouth
- 1962/63 : Northampton Town
- 1963/64 : Coventry City
- 1964/65 : Carlisle United
- 1965/66 : Hull City
- 1966/67 : Queens Park Rangers
- 1967/68 : Oxford United
- 1968/69 : Watford
- 1969/70 : Orient
- 1970/71 : Preston North End
- 1971/72 : Aston Villa
- 1972/73 : Bolton Wanderers
- 1973/74 : Oldham Athletic
- 1974/75 : Blackburn Rovers
- 1975/76 : Hereford United
- 1976/77 : Mansfield Town
- 1977/78 : Wrexham
- 1978/79 : Shrewsbury Town
- 1979/80 : Grimsby Town
- 1980/81 : Rotherham United
- 1981/82 : Burnley
- 1982/83 : Portsmouth
- 1983/84 : Oxford United
- 1984/85 : Bradford City
- 1985/86 : Reading
- 1986/87 : Bournemouth
- 1987/88 : Sunderland
- 1988/89 : Wolverhampton Wanderers
- 1989/90 : Bristol Rovers
- 1990/91 : Cambridge United
- 1991/92 : Brentford
- 1992/93 : Cardiff City
- 1993/94 : Shrewsbury Town
- 1994/95 : Carlisle United
- 1995/96 : Preston North End
- 1996/97 : Wigan Athletic
- 1997/98 : Notts County
- 1998/99 : Brentford
- 1999/00 : Swansea City
- 2000/01 : Brighton & Hove Albion
- 2001/02 : Plymouth Argyle
- 2002/03 : Rushden & Diamonds
- 2003/04 : Doncaster Rovers