Where Derby County rank in all-time Championship table since 2004 EFL reform - Rams are battering most | OneFootball

There is only one side beating Derby County in the all-time table

Derby County have not made an ideal start to the 2025/26 season, but there is one metric they’re still excelling in.

Since the Football League reform in 2004, which saw the First Division, Second Division and Third Division become the Championship, League One and League Two, plenty of teams have passed through the second tier.

Arguments often rage about who the best side at that level is, and it’s a difficult one to decide when comparing differing generations.

Now, with help from Transfermarkt, we have solid evidence about who the top sides are, and Derby rank high.

Where Derby County rank in the all-time Championship table

Adding together every point Derby have accrued since that 2004 relaunch gives them a staggering total of 1150 points.

That’s comprised of 314 wins, 229 draws and 294 losses over the 21-year period, leaving them with a goal difference of 54.

The total puts them in second place overall, which based on the number of games they’ve played in the second tier, is about where they should be.

Derby have played 837 matches in the division, exactly level with the number of outings Queens Park Rangers have had – but there is one side that has played more games, and took significantly more points than the pair.

Cardiff City take top spot in all-time Championship table

That team is Cardiff City, with an incredible 1265 points after 874 games played, a record in both metrics.

However, given the Bluebirds have unexpectedly slipped into the third tier this season, both Derby in particular have a great opportunity to try and catch the Welsh side up in this table.

Cardiff have spent just three seasons outside of the Championship, including this current campaign, given them a strong advantage over those sides around them going through promotion and relegations on a more regular basis.

Brian Barry-Murphy’s charges have not run away in League One in the early part of the season, as some may have expected. If they fail to get back into the Championship at the first time of asking, they may be at real risk of slipping down this all-time table.

Wrexham have work to do to get off bottom spot

At the other end of the table, as the Championship’s most recent newcomer, Wrexham find themselves a little behind their nearest competitor.

They have, however, only had nine games so far, whereas the likes of Yeovil Town, MK Dons, Southend United, Wycombe Wanderers and Gillingham played a full season at that level before dropping back down.

Despite that, they only trail Yeovil by 27 points, which if they keep up their current rate of just over one point per game, they should surpass by the end of this season, regardless of whether they stay up.

As a record that remains beyond the end of the season, the Red Dragons will want to give a good account of themselves and ensure they don’t end the campaign as the worst-ranked side in the overall table.

Rotherham United have a strong claim to that title, as despite accruing 306 points, they took 368 Championship games to do so, registering a goal difference of -241 along the way.

Nevertheless, sides like Derby, who have not had much other Championship success to shout about in recent times, will be delighted to see all their efforts in the second tier have not gone completely to waste.