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From the 1992-93 to the 2003-04 season, the Football League Third Division was the third-highest division of The Football League and the fourth-highest division in the overall English football league system. Before that it was the third division overall, but that ended with the creation of the FA Premier League prior to the start of the 1992-93 season.
The Third Division was renamed as Football League Two prior to the start of the 2004-05 season.
Overview
The Third Division was originally formed in 1920 with the addition of Southern League clubs to the League, before becoming the Third Division South in 1921. A new Third Division was formed in 1958 from the top clubs of the Third Division North and Third Division South. Instead of being divided by regional location, the teams at this level became divided by ability. This was renamed the Second Division in 1992; what had been the Fourth Division became the new Third Divsion.
At the end of each season the top three teams were promoted to Second Division, along with the winners of a play-off between the next four teams. Until 2002, the bottom team would be relegated to the Football Conference, so long as the winners of that league had adequate stadium facilities. From 1994-96, none of the conference winners had adequate facilities, and the bottom finishing teams in those years were not relegated. From the 2002-03 season onwards, two teams were relegated from the division, and those two sides would always be relegated, no matter what happened in the Conference (see National for details on the reformed promotion system).
Plymouth Argyle hold the record points total for this division. In their 2001/02 championship season they amassed 102 points.
Founder Clubs of the Third Division (1920)
- Brentford
- Brighton & Hove Albion
- Bristol Rovers
- Crystal Palace
- 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
- Grimsby were relegated into the Third Division from the previous season's Second Division.
Previous League champions
Winners of the original Third Division (1921)
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 1921 | Crystal Palace |
Continued as Football League Division Three South
See List of winners of English Football League One and predecessors and List of winners of English Football League Two and predecessors for lists.
English football competitions (defunct) | The Football League
"Football League Third Division"