The Football League First Division was a football league. It was the first division of English football between 1888 and 1992. When the Premier League was created in 1992, it became the 2nd division. It was rebranded as the Football League Championship in 2004.
Number of teams
| Years | Number of teams | Total seasons | Level |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1888-1891 | 12 | 3 | 1 |
| 1891-1892 | 14 | 1 | 1 |
| 1892-1898 | 16 | 6 | 1 |
| 1898-1905 | 18 | 7 | 1 |
| 1905-1915 | 20 | 10 | 1 |
| 1919-1939 1946-1987 | 22 | 61 | 1 |
| 1987-1988 | 21 | 1 | 1 |
| 1988-1991 | 20 | 3 | 1 |
| 1992-2004 | 24 | 12 | 2 |
Former champions
