Until the 2004/05 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 replaced by Football League Two prior to the start of the 2004/05 season.

Contents

1 Overview 2 Previous League champions 2.1 Winners of the old format Third Division (1959-1992) 2.2 Winners of the new format Third Division (1993-2004)

Overview

Prior to the formation of the Premiership in 1992, the Third Division was the third highest level in English football. Up until this time, teams were relegated to what was called the Fourth Division.

The third and fourth divisions were only formed in 1958, with the merger of Third Division North and Third Division South. Instead of being divided by regional location, the teams at this level became divided by ability.

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. Also, the bottom two teams were relegated to the Football Conference.

Note: A team could be spared from relegation if one or both of the Conference teams nominated for promotion did not fulfil the required criteria for entering the League.

Plymouth Argyle hold the record points total for this division. In their 2001/02 championship season they amassed 102 points.

Previous League champions

Winners of the old format Third Division (1959-1992)

Year	Winner
1959	Plymouth Argyle
1960	Southampton
1961	Bury
1962	Portsmouth
1963	Northampton Town
1964	Coventry City
1965	Carlisle United
1966	Hull City
1967	Queens Park Rangers
1968	Oxford United
1969	Watford
1970	Leyton Orient
1971	Preston North End
1972	Aston Villa
1973	Bolton Wanderers
1974	Oldham Athletic
1975	Blackburn Rovers
1976	Hereford United
1977	Mansfield Town
1978	Wrexham
1979	Shrewsbury Town
1980	Grimsby Town
1981	Rotherham United
1982	Burnley
1983	Portsmouth
1984	Oxford United
1985	Bradford City
1986	Reading
1987	AFC Bournemouth
1988	Sunderland
1989	Wolverhampton Wanderers
1990	Bristol Rovers
1991	Cambridge United
1992	Brentford

Winners of the new format Third Division (1993-2004)

Year	Winner
1993	Cardiff City
1994	Shrewsbury Town
1995	Carlisle United
1996	Preston North End
1997	Wigan Athletic
1998	Notts County
1999	Brentford
2000	Swansea City
2001	Brighton & Hove Albion
2002	Plymouth Argyle
2003	Rushden & Diamonds
2004	Doncaster Rovers

Football in England
League competitions	The FA	Cup competitions
FA Premier League		FA Cup
The Football League (Champ, 1, 2)	England team	League Cup
Football Conference (Nat, N, S)		FA Community Shield
Northern Premier League (Prem, 1)	List of clubs	Football League Trophy
Southern League (Prem, 1W, 1E)		FA Trophy
Isthmian League (Prem, 1, 2)	Records	FA Vase
English football league system		FA NLS Cup
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simple:English Division Three