The English Football League (EFL) is a league of professional football clubs from England and Wales. Founded in 1888 as the Football League, the league is the oldest such competition in world football. It was the top-level football league in England from its foundation until 1992, when the top 22 clubs split from it to form the Premier League.
The EFL is divided into the Championship, League One and League Two, with 24 clubs in each division, 72 in total, with promotion and relegation between them; the top Championship clubs change places with the lowest-placed clubs in the Premier League, and the bottom clubs of League Two with the top clubs of the National League. Although primarily an English competition, clubs from Wales – currently Cardiff City, Swansea City and Newport County – also take part.
The Football League had a sponsor from the 1983–84 season, and thus was known by various names. For the 2016–17 season, the league rebranded itself as the English Football League (EFL).The English Football League also organises two knock-out cup competitions, the EFL Cup and the EFL Trophy. The operations centre of the Football League is in Preston, while its commercial office is in London.
1888Mar, 23
In England, The Football League, the world's oldest professional association football league, meets for the first time.
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Events on 1888
- 16May
Electric power transmission
Nikola Tesla delivers a lecture describing the equipment which will allow efficient generation and use of alternating currents to transmit electric power over long distances. - 31Aug
Jack the Ripper
Mary Ann Nichols is murdered. She is the first of Jack the Ripper's confirmed victims. - 4Sep
Kodak
George Eastman registers the trademark Kodak and receives a patent for his camera that uses roll film. - 8Sep
Annie Chapman
In London, the body of Jack the Ripper's second murder victim, Annie Chapman, is found. - 30Sep
Elizabeth Stride
Jack the Ripper kills his third and fourth victims, Elizabeth Stride and Catherine Eddowes.