The Central League is a football league for reserve teams, primarily from the English Football League. For sponsorship purposes, it was branded as the Final Third Development League until the 2015/16 season.[1]
| Founded | 1911 |
|---|---|
| Country |  England
 Wales |
| Divisions | 1 |
| Number of teams | 12 |
| Current champions | Accrington Stanley (2022–23) |
The league was formed in 1911 and in its early years consisted of a mix of first teams and reserve teams. However, when the Football League Third Division North was created in 1921, all the first teams in the Central League became founder members.
Since then, the league has been for reserve teams only, and eventually expanded to include virtually every professional team in the South, Midlands and North of England. Southern teams used to play in the Football Combination. In recent years, the Premier Reserve League was created for reserve sides of Premier League teams, and so the Central League's membership has been reduced.
From the 2006/07 season the FA Premier Reserve League was restricted to the reserve sides of FA Premier League clubs. This meant that the reserve sides of Championship clubs rejoined the Central League.
Teams are not promoted to the Premier Reserve League based on their final league position, but on the league position of their respective clubs' senior teams. If the senior team is promoted to the Premier League, then the reserve team is promoted to the Premier Reserve League and replaced by the reserve teams of the relegated clubs.
It was announced on 31 December 2013 that the Central League secured a sponsorship arrangement with Final Third Sports Media, and was known as the 'Final Third Development League' with immediate effect for two seasons.[1]
On 11 June 2014, it was announced that the league would expand to become a national competition by running a division in the south of the country for the 2014/15 season for the first time.[2] The 2021–22 season was Northern only again, and only featured six teams, though the Central League Cup remained national. Wrexham joined for the 2022–23 season, despite not being in the EFL. Twelve teams entered in 2023–24, with them split into two leagues of six.
Champions
edit1911–2024
edit+ - Three divisions, overall winner decided after a series of play-offs. ^ - Three divisions, overall winner is the team with the best points per game ratio. ~ - Two divisions, overall winner is the team with the best points per game ratio.
- - Four divisions, overall winner is the team with the best points per game ratio.
Championships by club
edit| P | Club | Number of Wins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Liverpool | 16 |
| 2 | Manchester United | 9 |
| 3 | West Bromwich Albion | 7 |
| 4 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 6 |
| 5 | Derby County | 4 |
| Everton | 4 | |
| Huddersfield Town | 4 | |
| Manchester City | 4 | |
| Nottingham Forest | 4 | |
| Sheffield Wednesday | 4 | |
| 11 | Aston Villa | 3 |
| Burnley | 3 | |
| Hull City | 3 | |
| Preston North End | 3 | |
| Sheffield United | 3 | |
| 16 | Blackburn Rovers | 2 |
| Blackpool | 2 | |
| Bolton Wanderers | 2 | |
| Leeds United | 2 | |
| Stoke City | 2 | |
| Shrewsbury Town | 2 | |
| 22 | Accrington Stanley | 1 |
| Doncaster Rovers | 1 | |
| Lincoln City | 1 | |
| Middlesbrough | 1 | |
| Milton Keynes Dons | 1 | |
| Newcastle United | 1 | |
| Notts County | 1 | |
| Port Vale | 1 | |
| Sunderland | 1 | |
| Tranmere Rovers | 1 | |
| Walsall | 1 | |
| Wrexham | 1 |
Central League Cup
editSince 1996 the league has also operated a cup competition – The Central League Cup.
Winners
edit| Season | Winners |
|---|---|
| 1996–97 | Stoke City |
| 1997–98 | Sheffield United |
| 1998–99 | Tranmere Rovers |
| 1999–00 | |
| 2000–01 | Sheffield United |
| 2001–02 | Doncaster Rovers |
| 2002–03 | Hull City |
| 2003–04 | Sheffield Wednesday |
| 2004–05 | Manchester United |
| 2005–06 | Shrewsbury Town |
| 2006–07 | Lincoln City |
| 2007–08 | Morecambe |
| 2008–09 | Sunderland[3] |
| 2009–10 | Leicester City[4] |
| 2010–11 | Sunderland |
| 2011–12 | (not completed) |
| 2012–13 | Gateshead |
| 2013–14 | Wigan Athletic |
| 2014–15 | Middlesbrough |
| 2015–16 | North: Burnley South: Southend United |
| 2016–17 | North: Wigan Athletic South: Bristol City |
| 2017–18 | North: Mansfield Town South: Southend United |
| 2018–19 | Bournemouth |
| 2019–20 | (not completed) |
| 2020–21 | Bournemouth |
| 2021–22 | (not completed) |
| 2022–23 | Blackpool |
| 2023–24 | Burnley[5] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ a b "Central League agree partnership with Final Third". The Football League. 31 December 2013. Retrieved 31 December 2013.
- ^ "Final Third Development League expands to become a national competition". The Football League. 11 June 2014. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
- ^ "Sunderland 'til I Die - Out now". Sunderland Association Football Club.
- ^ "Homepage".
- ^ "Under-21s Report: Derby County 2–3 Burnley". Derby County F.C. 7 May 2024. Retrieved 7 May 2024.