Top 10 oldest clubs in the EFL Championship named and ranked | OneFootball

The Championship is packed with historic clubs in 2026/27

The Championship is one of the most well-known divisions in world football, largely due to the unpredictability and drama which comes alongside a gruelling 46-game season and beyond.

The second tier of English football has been known by its current name since the beginning of the 2004/05 season after rebranding from League Division One, and throughout time, has been the home to several historic clubs.

Indeed, just a decade ago, the likes of Aston Villa, Newcastle United, Leeds United and Nottingham Forest were residing in the Championship, and three of those have since competed in, at worst, the UEFA Europa League, with the Villans actually lifting the competition in 2025/26.

That said, there are still plenty more historic clubs in terms of age and stature who are now looking to reach the Premier League in various ways, having either resided outside of the top-flight for such a lengthy period of time, or in some cases, never before.

The Championship's 24-team lineup for the 2026/27, as a result, has already been viewed as the 'best ever' by some, especially when taking into account the restructure of the play-off format and the calibre of players some clubs could retain in the transfer market, or be able to attract.

With all that said and done, Football League World have still ranked the 10 oldest clubs currently playing their football in the Championship, with the season shortly getting underway in a competitive sense.

10 ? ? Watford - 1881

Action Images

The 10th-oldest club in the Championship for the 2026/27 season is Watford, who were formed in 1881 as Watford Rovers, before adopting their current name 17 years later.

That isn't the only major identity change to have been associated with the Hertfordshire outfit, as their well-known nickname, The Hornets, only came to be in 1959, as the club's colours were changed from pure blue to gold and black, before they altered slightly again to yellow nine years later.

In recent times, Watford have been associated with the Premier League for their spell between 2015 and 2020, although they haven't shown any sign of returning since being relegated in 2021/22.

9 ? ? Preston North End - 1880

Action Images

Preston North End were formed in 1880, and despite residing outside England's top division for over 60 years, the Lilywhites' history shouldn't ever be underestimated.

Indeed, the Central Lancashire side were dubbed as the country's 'original Invincibles' after going unbeaten in the 1888-89 First Division season, after they were one of the English Football League's 12 founding members.

The club has never lost sight of its traditions and history either, with there being a statue of Sir Tom Finney outside of Deepdale, while the former captain and another famous ex-North End star, Bill Shankly, are commemorated by the fact seats in two stands depict 'seat murals' of themselves respectively.

8 ? ? West Bromwich Albion - 1878

Action Images

West Bromwich Albion were formed two years prior, but were also one of the EFL's 12 founding members, and it is hard to ignore the packed history associated with the club when visiting The Hawthorns.

Like Preston, the Black Country outfit were one of the nation's early powerhouses in terms of success, with two FA Cup victories coming in 1878 and 1892, helping make up a total of seven overall major honours.

In recent times, though, Albion have spent plenty of time between the Premier League and Championship, earning the well-documented stereotype of being a 'yo-yo' side.

7 ? ? Wolverhampton Wanderers - 1877

Action Images

One year older, though, are their bitter rivals, Wolverhampton Wanderers, who were also one of the EFL's 12 founding clubs back in 1888, although they would have to wait until midway through the 20th century to undergo their real golden age.

Led by captain, Billy Wright CBE, the Old Gold went on to lift the First Division title in all of the 1953/54, 1957/58 and 1958/59 seasons, as well as winning one of their four FA Cup titles in that particular decade.

It has also been widely claimed that Wanderers' 3-2 win against Hungarian side, Honved, in 1954 paved the way for the creation of what is now known as the UEFA Champions League.

6 ? ? Middlesbrough - 1876

Action Images

Middlesbrough are the sixth-oldest club in the Championship, having been founded way back in 1876, even though their status as a professional club wouldn't be set in stone until the year 1889, when they eventually joined the EFL.

Throughout the years, many great international players have been associated with the Teesside outfit, particularly after their move to the Riverside Stadium from Ayresome Park in 1995.

However, Boro only have one major honour to their name, which came through their EFL Cup success in 2003/04, before losing the UEFA Europa League final to Sevilla in Eindhoven some 20 years ago now.

5 ? ? Blackburn Rovers - 1875

Action Images

Blackburn Rovers are one of two Championship sides to have been formed in 1875, and they would also wait another 13 years to become one of the EFL's founding sides.

In terms of major honours won, the Ewood Park side are the most successful out of the current Championship lineup, having hit double-figures in this particular facet.

That includes the 1994/95 Premier League trophy, which was won with the likes of Tim Sherwood, Alan Shearer and Chris Sutton earning cult hero status in East Lancashire as a result.

However, the club have recently fallen on hard times, and found themselves in League One as recently as 2017.

4 ? ? Birmingham City - 1875

Action Images

Birmingham City were also formed in 1875 as 'Small Heath Alliance', before switching to 'Birmingham FC' in 1905, whilst the 'City' suffix was not adopted until the year 1943.

Blues have resided at St. Andrew's @ Knighthead Park since the year 1906 also, but they will not for much longer due to the highly-anticipated construction of the Powerhouse Stadium in Bordesley Green as part of a multi-billion regeneration project.

In terms of major honours, Birmingham have two EFL Cup victories to their name, with the 2-1 success against Arsenal 15 years ago coming in dramatic fashion, whilst they also broke the EFL's all-time points record in 2024/25, racking up 111 in League One.

3 ? ? Bolton Wanderers - 1874

Action Images

The third-oldest Championship club in 2026/27 are Bolton Wanderers, who are back in the second tier for the first time in seven years after their League One play-off final win in May.

Formed in 1874, the Whites have won four major honours, all of which have come in the FA Cup, which included the infamous 'White Horse' final in 1923 against West Ham United, which was played before an 'official' crowd of at least 126,000.

Many great players have donned the club's colours at Burnden Park or the Toughsheet Community Stadium, and that was certainly the case in the mid-2000s, when the likes of Fernando Hierro, Youri Djorkaeff, Jay-Jay Okocha and Nicolas Anelka starred amid runs in the UEFA Europa League.

2 ? ? Wrexham AFC - 1864

Action Images

However, 10 years older than Bolton are Wrexham, who were founded in 1864.

Despite being the oldest professional club in Wales, the Red Dragons were not permitted into the EFL until 1921, where they resided until their relegation into the non-league system 18 years ago.

That said, they have certainly made plenty of history in recent decades, with Phil Parkinson becoming the first manager in English football history to achieve three successive promotions, coming from the National League to the Championship between 2023 and 2025.

Ryan Reynolds and Rob Mac would also oversee history in the boardroom if, in the near future, the club's ambition of reaching the Premier League for the first time ever, is to be fulfilled.

1 ? ? Stoke City - 1863

Action Images

Yet, despite winning just one major honour since their foundation, Stoke City are the division's oldest club at present, with the Potters being founded way, way back in 1863.

Again, they were one of the EFL's 12 founding members some 25 years later, before embarking on a chequered history to say the least, even though the likes of Gordon Banks, Sir Stanley Matthews and England's 1966 FIFA World Cup final hero, Sir Geoff Hurst, have all played in their red and white.

The aforementioned major trophy came in the 1972 EFL Cup final against Chelsea, whilst in recent times, City are best-known for a 10-year stint in the Premier League, which coincided with an FA Cup final appearance in 2011 and a run in the UEFA Europa League the following season.

However, since being relegated back to the Championship in 2018, they have finished in the bottom half in every single season, a trend they will hope to now change.