Royce Franklin, a life member of the Association of Football Statisticians, digs up yet more fascinating facts about football
MOST LATICS supporters will be aware the team has been in the third tier of football for what is now the 18th season.
Twice have they been in the play-offs, only to be beaten each time at the semi-final stage by QPR 2-1 on aggregate in 2002/03 and four years later by Blackpool 5-2 on aggregate. Relegation has threatened more than once.
With three teams promoted to what is now the Championship and four relegated to the fourth tier, there is a changeover of over 29-per-cent at the end of each season.
None of the other divisions loses as many teams at one go. The Premier three, Championship and League Two both six. Even with the third tier vast turnover, it may surprise many to learn how many opponents Latics have had whilst remaining static – a staggering 77.
Eighteen of these teams have been or are in the top flight: Burnley, Blackpool, Bradford, Cardiff, Charlton, Coventry, Fulham, Hull, Leeds, Leicester, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Reading, Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton, Stoke, Swansea and Wolves.
In the last 18 years, 10 clubs have been relegated out of League football, but have returned: Cambridge, Carlisle, Doncaster, Exeter, Hereford, Luton Town, Mansfield Town, Oxford United, Shrewsbury Town and York City. Hereford and Torquay have now been relegated a second time.
Nine are no longer members of the Football League: Bristol Rovers, Grimsby Town, Hereford, Lincoln City, Macclesfield, Rushden and Diamonds, Stockport, Torquay and Wrexham. Stockport now play in the Conference North (6th tier), Hereford in the Southern League Premier Division (7th tier) and a newly-formed AFC Rushden & Diamonds in the United Counties League (9th tier).
Five clubs have been promoted from the Conference and have remained in League Football after promotion: Cheltenham, Dagenham and Redbridge, Crawley, Stevenage and Yeovil.
You must be logged in to post a comment.