Top 116 Football Clubs in England

Get to know the top football clubs in England with this detailed guide. From Premier League giants to lower league gems, explore the diverse and competitive football landscape of England.

Football in England is not just a sport, it’s a way of life. With a total of 116 football clubs competing within the English Football League system, the country boasts some of the most historic and iconic teams in the world.

At the top of the pyramid sits the Premier League, the pinnacle of English football. This elite division consists of the very best 20 clubs in the country, each with a storied history and a fanbase that spans generations.

However, the Premier League is not the only league that captures the hearts of football fans. The English Football League (EFL) is comprised of four divisions below the top-flight: the Championship, League One, League Two, and the National League.

These divisions are home to clubs with rich histories, fierce rivalries, and a never-ending quest for glory. From Manchester United and Liverpool to Arsenal and Chelsea, the top clubs in England have been battling it out for over a century, accumulating countless trophies along the way.

The Constant Movement of Teams

What sets the English Football League system apart is the constant movement of teams between the divisions. Each season, clubs are promoted or relegated based on their performance, leading to a dynamic and ever-changing landscape.

For example, clubs that perform poorly in the Premier League are relegated to the Championship, while the top-performing teams from the Championship earn promotion to the Premier League. This system ensures that no club can rest on its laurels, as the threat of relegation is always looming.

Similar promotions and relegations occur between the other divisions as well, keeping the competition intense and the stakes high. This fluidity in the league system adds an element of excitement and unpredictability that sets English football apart from its counterparts around the world.

A Global Influence

While the majority of clubs in the English football league system are based in England, there are also a few clubs from outside the country that compete within the English system.

For instance, Swansea City and Cardiff City, both based in Wales, currently play in the English football league system. These clubs bring a unique flavor to the leagues and add to the already rich tapestry of rivalries and histories.

List of Football Clubs In England

Looking for a list of the best football clubs in England? Below, I have named the top 116 clubs based on their success, history, and fanbase.

1. Manchester City
2. Manchester United
3. Liverpool FC
4. Chelsea FC
5. Arsenal FC
6. Tottenham Hotspur
7. Brighton & Hove Albion
8. Crystal Palace
9. Newcastle United
10. Nottingham Forest
11. Burnley
12. Luton Town
13. Sheffield United
14. West Ham United
15. Wolverhampton Wanderers
16. Everton 
17. AFC Bournemouth
18. Brentford
19. Aston Villa
20. Fulham
21. Sheffield Wednesday
22. Southampton
23. Leicester City
24. Coventry City
25. Leeds United
26. Millwall
27. Blackburn Rovers
28. West Bromwich Albion
29. Bristol City
30. Preston North End
31. Middlesbrough
32. Norwich City
33. Hull City
34. Plymouth Argyle
35. Huddersfield
36. Stoke City
37. Rotherham
38. Swansea City
39. Birmingham
40. Sunderland
41. Ipswich Town
42. Cardiff City
43. Barnsley
44. Port Vale
45. Blackpool
46. Burton Albion
47. Bolton Wanderers
48. Lincoln City
49. Cambridge United
50. Oxford United
51. Carlisle United
52. Fleetwood Town
53. Charlton Athletic
54. Leyton Orient
55. Derby County
56. Wigan Athletic
57. Northampton Town
58. Stevenage FC
59. Portsmouth
60. Bristol Rovers
61. Reading FC
62. Peterborough United
63. Shrewsbury Town
64. Cheltenham Town
65. Wycombe Wanderers
66. Exeter City
67. Accrington Stanley
68. Newport County
69. Colchester United
70. Swindon Town
71. Crawley Town
72. Bradford City
73. Crewe Alexandra
74. Mansfield Town
75. Doncaster Rovers
76. Harrogate Town
77. Forest Green Rovers
78. Salford City
79. Grimsby Town
80. AFC Wimbledon
81. Morecambe FC
82. Walsall FC
83. Stockport County FC
84. Gillingham FC
85. Sutton United
86. Notts County
87. Barrow AFC
88. Tranmere Rovers FC
89. Wrexham AFC
90. Milton Keynes Dons
91. Queens Park Rangers
92. AFC Fylde
93. Aldershot Town
94. Altrincham
95. Barnet
96. Boreham Wood
97. Bromley
98. Chesterfield
99. Dagenham & Redbridge
100. Dorking Wanderers
101. Eastleigh
102. Ebbsfleet United
103. FC Halifax Town
104. Gateshead
105. Hartlepool United
106. Kidderminster Harriers
107. Maidenhead United
108. Oldham Athletic
109. Oxford City
110. Rochdale
111. Solihull Moors
112. Southend United
113. Wealdstone
114. Woking
115. York City
116. Torquay

In conclusion, the top 116 football clubs in England, spread across the five divisions of the English Football League system, form the backbone of a sport that is deeply ingrained in the nation’s culture. With their rich histories, fierce rivalries, and constant movement between divisions, these clubs provide endless excitement and passion for football fans around the world.