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EFL League Two

English association football league

EFL League Two

English association football league

FieldValue
imageEFL_League_Two_Logo.svg
pixels165px
organiserEnglish Football League
countryEngland
other countriesWales
founded
teams24
promotionEFL League One
relegationNational League
levels4
domest_cupFA Cup
league_cup
confed_cup
championsDoncaster Rovers
1st League Two title
4th fourth tier title
season2024–25
most_champsChesterfield (2 Fourth tier titles and 2 EFL League Two) Doncaster Rovers (2 Fourth tier titles and 2 EFL League Two)
tvList of broadcasters
current2025–26 EFL League Two
website

1st League Two title 4th fourth tier title

The English Football League Two, simply known as League Two and for sponsorship purposes as Sky Bet League Two, is a professional association football league in England. EFL League Two is the third division of the English Football League (EFL) and the fourth-highest tier in the English football league system, after the Premier League, EFL Championship and the EFL League One. The EFL League Two is contested by 24 clubs.

Introduced for the 2004–05 English football season as Football League Two, it is a rebrand of the former Football League Third Division.

As of the 2025–26 season, Newport County hold the longest tenure in this division following their promotion in the 2012–13 season. There are currently two former Premier League clubs competing in this division: Oldham Athletic (1992–94) and Swindon Town (1993–94).

The current holders are Doncaster Rovers.

Structure

There are 24 clubs in this division. Each club plays each of the other clubs twice (once at home and once away) for a total of 46 matches per season and is awarded three points for a win, one for a draw and no points for a loss. From these points a league table is constructed.

At the end of each season the top three teams, together with the winner of the play-offs between the teams which finished in the fourth to seventh positions, are promoted to EFL League One and are replaced by the four teams that finished at the bottom of that division.

Similarly, the two teams that finished at the bottom of League Two are relegated to the National League and are replaced by the team that finished first and the team that won the second through seventh place play-off in that division. Technically a team can be reprieved from relegation if the team replacing them does not have a ground suitable for League football, but in practice this is a non-factor because every team currently in the National League has a ground that meets the League criteria (and even if they did not, a ground-sharing arrangement with another team could be made until their stadium was upgraded). The other way that a team can be spared relegation is if another team either resigns or is expelled from the EFL.

Final league position is determined, in order, by points obtained, goal difference, goals scored, a mini-league of the results between two or more teams ranked using the previous three criteria, and finally a series of one or more play-off matches.

There is a mandatory wage cap in this division that limits spending on players' wages to 55% of club turnover.

Current members

:* Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.*

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
Accrington StanleyAccringtonCrown Ground5,450
BarnetLondon (Canons Park)The Hive Stadium6,418
BarrowBarrow-in-FurnessHolker Street6,500
Bristol RoversBristol (Horfield)Memorial Stadium9,832
BromleyLondon (Bromley)Hayes Lane5,300
Cambridge UnitedCambridgeAbbey Stadium8,127
Cheltenham TownCheltenhamWhaddon Road7,066
ChesterfieldChesterfieldSMH Group Stadium10,504
Colchester UnitedColchesterColchester Community Stadium10,105
Crawley TownCrawleyBroadfield Stadium5,996
Crewe AlexandraCreweGresty Road10,153
Fleetwood TownFleetwoodHighbury Stadium5,327
GillinghamGillinghamPriestfield Stadium11,582
Grimsby TownCleethorpesBlundell Park9,052
Harrogate TownHarrogateWetherby Road5,222
Milton Keynes DonsMilton Keynes (Denbigh)Stadium MK30,500
Newport CountyNewportRodney Parade7,850
Notts CountyNottinghamMeadow Lane19,841
Oldham AthleticOldhamBoundary Park13,513
Salford CitySalfordMoor Lane5,108
Shrewsbury TownShrewsburyNew Meadow9,875
Swindon TownSwindonCounty Ground15,728
Tranmere RoversBirkenhead (Prenton)Prenton Park16,789
WalsallWalsall (Bescot)Bescot Stadium11,300

Teams promoted from League Two

SeasonWinnerPointsRunner-upPointsThird placePointsPromoted via play-offLeague positionPoints
2004–05Yeovil Town83Scunthorpe United80Swansea City80Southend United4th78
2005–06Carlisle United86Northampton Town83Leyton Orient81Cheltenham Town5th72
2006–07Walsall89Hartlepool United88Swindon Town85Bristol Rovers6th72
2007–08Milton Keynes Dons97Peterborough United92Hereford United88Stockport County4th82
2008–09Brentford85Exeter City79Wycombe Wanderers78Gillingham5th75
2009–10Notts County93Bournemouth83Rochdale82Dagenham & Redbridge7th72
2010–11Chesterfield86Bury81Wycombe Wanderers81Stevenage6th69
2011–12Swindon Town93Shrewsbury Town88Crawley Town84Crewe Alexandra7th72
2012–13Gillingham83Rotherham United79Port Vale78Bradford City7th69
2013–14Chesterfield84Scunthorpe United81Rochdale81Fleetwood Town4th76
2014–15Burton Albion94Shrewsbury Town89Bury85Southend United5th84
2015–16Northampton Town99Oxford United86Bristol Rovers85AFC Wimbledon7th75
2016–17Portsmouth87Plymouth Argyle87Doncaster Rovers85Blackpool7th70
2017–18Accrington Stanley93Luton Town88Wycombe Wanderers84Coventry City6th75
2018–19Lincoln City85Bury79Milton Keynes Dons79Tranmere Rovers6th73
2019–20Swindon Town88.32Crewe Alexandra85.56Plymouth Argyle84.64Northampton Town7th72.22
2020–21Cheltenham Town82Cambridge United80Bolton Wanderers79Morecambe4th78
2021–22Forest Green Rovers84Exeter City84Bristol Rovers80Port Vale5th78
2022–23Leyton Orient91Stevenage85Northampton Town83Carlisle United5th76
2023–24Stockport County92Wrexham88Mansfield Town86Crawley Town7th70
2024–25Doncaster Rovers84Port Vale80Bradford City78AFC Wimbledon5th73

Play-off results

Main article: EFL League Two play-offs

SeasonSemi-final (1st leg)Semi-final (2nd leg)Final
2004–05Lincoln City 1–0 Macclesfield Town
Northampton Town 0–0 Southend UnitedMacclesfield Town 1–1 Lincoln City
Southend United 1–0 Northampton TownLincoln City 0–2 Southend United
2005–06Lincoln City 0–1 Grimsby Town
Wycombe Wanderers 1–2 Cheltenham TownGrimsby Town 2–1 Lincoln City
Cheltenham Town 0–0 Wycombe WanderersGrimsby Town 0–1 Cheltenham Town
2006–07Bristol Rovers 2–1 Lincoln City
Shrewsbury Town 0–0 Milton Keynes Dons
Lincoln City 3–5 Bristol Rovers
Milton Keynes Dons 1–2 Shrewsbury TownBristol Rovers 3–1 Shrewsbury Town
2007–08Darlington 2–1 Rochdale
Wycombe Wanderers 1–1 Stockport CountyRochdale 2–1 Darlington
(Rochdale won 5–4 on penalties, a.e.t.)
Stockport County 1–0 Wycombe WanderersRochdale 2–3 Stockport County
2008–09Shrewsbury Town 0–1 Bury
Rochdale 0–0 GillinghamBury 0–1 Shrewsbury Town
(Shrewsbury won 4–3 on penalties, a.e.t.)
Gillingham 2–1 RochdaleGillingham 1–0 Shrewsbury Town
2009–10Dagenham & Redbridge 6–0 Morecambe
Aldershot Town 0–1 Rotherham UnitedMorecambe 2–1 Dagenham & Redbridge
Rotherham United 2–0 Aldershot TownDagenham & Redbridge 3–2 Rotherham United
2010–11Torquay United 2–0 Shrewsbury Town
Stevenage 2–0 Accrington StanleyShrewsbury Town 0–0 Torquay United
Accrington Stanley 0–1 StevenageStevenage 1–0 Torquay United
2011–12Crewe Alexandra 1–0 Southend United
Cheltenham Town 2–0 Torquay UnitedSouthend United 2–2 Crewe Alexandra
Torquay United 1–2 Cheltenham TownCheltenham Town 0–2 Crewe Alexandra
2012–13Bradford City 2–3 Burton Albion
Northampton Town 1–0 Cheltenham TownBurton Albion 1–3 Bradford City
Cheltenham Town 0–1 Northampton TownBradford City 3–0 Northampton Town
2013–14Burton Albion 1–0 Southend United
York City 0–1 Fleetwood TownSouthend United 2–2 Burton Albion
Fleetwood Town 0–0 York CityBurton Albion 0–1 Fleetwood Town
2014–15Stevenage 1–1 Southend United
Plymouth Argyle 2–3 Wycombe WanderersSouthend United 3–1 Stevenage
(a.e.t.)
Wycombe Wanderers 2–1 Plymouth ArgyleSouthend United 1–1 Wycombe Wanderers
(Southend won 7–6 on penalties, a.e.t.)
2015–16Portsmouth 2–2 Plymouth Argyle
AFC Wimbledon 1–0 Accrington StanleyPlymouth Argyle 1–0 Portsmouth
Accrington Stanley 2–2 AFC Wimbledon
(a.e.t.)AFC Wimbledon 2–0 Plymouth Argyle
2016–17Blackpool 3–2 Luton Town
Carlisle United 3–3 Exeter CityLuton Town 3–3 Blackpool
Exeter City 3–2 Carlisle UnitedBlackpool 2–1 Exeter City
2017–18Lincoln City 0–0 Exeter City
Coventry City 1–1 Notts CountyExeter City 3–1 Lincoln City
Notts County 1–4 Coventry CityCoventry City 3–1 Exeter City
2018–19Newport County 1–1 Mansfield Town
Tranmere Rovers 1–0 Forest Green RoversMansfield Town 0–0 Newport County
(Newport won 5–3 on penalties, a.e.t.)
Forest Green Rovers 1–1 Tranmere RoversNewport County 0–1 Tranmere Rovers
(a.e.t.)
2019–20Colchester United 1–0 Exeter City
Northampton Town 0–2 Cheltenham TownExeter City 3–1 Colchester United
Cheltenham Town 0–3 Northampton TownExeter City 0–4 Northampton Town
2020–21Newport County 2–0 Forest Green Rovers
Tranmere Rovers 1–2 MorecambeForest Green Rovers 4–3 Newport County (a.e.t.)
Morecambe 1–1 Tranmere RoversMorecambe 1–0 Newport County
2021–22Mansfield Town 2–1 Northampton Town
Swindon Town 2–1 Port ValeNorthampton Town 0-1 Mansfield Town
Port Vale 1–1 Swindon Town
(Port Vale won 6–5 on penalties, a.e.t.)Mansfield Town 0–3 Port Vale
2022–23Salford City 1–0 Stockport County
Bradford City 1–0 Carlisle UnitedStockport County 2–1 Salford City
(Stockport County won 3–1 on penalties, a.e.t.)
Carlisle United 3–1
(a.e.t.) Bradford CityStockport County 1–1 Carlisle United
(Carlisle won 5–4 on penalties, a.e.t.)
2023–24Crawley Town 3–0 Milton Keynes Dons
Crewe Alexandra 0–2 Doncaster RoversMilton Keynes Dons 1–5 Crawley Town
Doncaster Rovers 0–2 Crewe Alexandra
(Crewe Alexadra won 4-3 on penalties, a.e.t.)Crawley Town 2–0 Crewe Alexandra
2024–25Notts County 0–1 AFC Wimbledon
Chesterfield 0–2 WalsallAFC Wimbledon 1-0 Notts County
Walsall 2-1 ChesterfieldAFC Wimbledon 1-0 Walsall

Relegated teams

SeasonClubs
2004–05Kidderminster Harriers, Cambridge United
2005–06Oxford United, Rushden & Diamonds
2006–07Boston United, Torquay United
2007–08Mansfield Town, Wrexham
2008–09Chester City, Luton Town
2009–10Darlington, Grimsby Town
2010–11Lincoln City, Stockport County
2011–12Macclesfield Town, Hereford United
2012–13Aldershot Town, Barnet
2013–14Bristol Rovers, Torquay United
2014–15Cheltenham Town, Tranmere Rovers
2015–16York City, Dagenham & Redbridge
2016–17Hartlepool United, Leyton Orient
2017–18Barnet, Chesterfield
2018–19Notts County, Yeovil Town, Bury
2019–20Macclesfield Town, Bury
2020–21Southend United, Grimsby Town
2021–22Oldham Athletic, Scunthorpe United
2022–23Hartlepool United, Rochdale
2023–24Sutton United, Forest Green Rovers
2024–25Carlisle United, Morecambe

Top scorers

SeasonTop scorer(s)Club(s)Goals
2004–05ENG Phil JevonsYeovil Town27
2005–06ENG Karl HawleyCarlisle United22
2006–07ENG Richie BarkerHartlepool United21
ENG Izale McLeodMilton Keynes Dons
2007–08ENG Aaron McLeanPeterborough United29
2008–09ENG Grant HoltShrewsbury Town20
ENG Jack LesterChesterfield
2009–10ENG Lee HughesNotts County30
2010–11JAM Clayton DonaldsonCrewe Alexandra28
2011–12ENG Adebayo AkinfenwaNorthampton Town18
ENG Jack MidsonAFC Wimbledon
ENG Izale McLeodBarnet
ENG Lewis GrabbanRotherham United
2012–13ENG Tom PopePort Vale31
2013–14ENG Sam WinnallScunthorpe United23
2014–15ENG Matt TubbsPortsmouth21
2015–16ENG Matty TaylorBristol Rovers27
2016–17ENG John AkindeBarnet26
ENG John MarquisDoncaster Rovers
2017–18NIR Billy KeeAccrington Stanley25
2018–19ENG James NorwoodTranmere Rovers29
2019–20IRL Eoin DoyleBradford City, Swindon Town25
2020–21ENG Paul MullinCambridge United32
2021–22ENG Dom TelfordNewport County25
2022–23ENG Andy CookBradford City28
2023–24ENG Macaulay LangstaffNotts County28
2024–25ENG Michael CheekBromley25

Attendances

As of June 2023, League Two is the most watched fourth-tier domestic sports league in the world, and the 14th most watched football league in Europe of any tier. The total number of spectators who watched a League Two game in the 2023–24 season was 3,458,968.

Since the restructuring into League Two in 2004, the average attendance across all seasons is 4,602. The highest average attendance was 6,274 in the 2023–24 season. The highest average attendance for an individual club was achieved in the 2022–23; 17,967 for Bradford City. The lowest average attendance was 3,856 in the 2009–10 season.

SeasonLeague average attendanceHighest averageClubAttendance
2004–054,499Swansea City8,458
2005–064,194Carlisle United7,218
2006–074,130Swindon Town7,419
2007–084,346Bradford City13,659
2008–094,185Bradford City12,704
2009–103,856Bradford City11,423
2010–114,166Bradford City11,128
2011–124,407Bradford City10,170
2012–134,390Bradford City11,999
2013–144,352Portsmouth15,460
2014–154,676Portsmouth15,241
2015–164,881Portsmouth16,442
2016–174,751Portsmouth16,822
2017–184,491Coventry City11,218
2018–194,467Lincoln City9,005
2019–204,687Bradford City14,253
2020–21No attendances due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021–224,907Bradford City15,450
2022–235,786Bradford City17,967
2023–246,274Bradford City17,547
2024–256,221Bradford City17,762

Historic performance

Since the restructuring into League Two in 2004, 69 teams have spent at least one season in the division, including 2 of the 20 teams in the 2025–26 Premier League.

Morecambe have spent the longest in League Two; 16 seasons in total, as well as having had the joint-longest spell in the division, 13 consecutive seasons between 2005 and 2019. Newport County have the current longest tenure, with 13 consecutive seasons.

Northampton Town and Bristol Rovers have each been promoted four times from League Two. There have been 18 different champions, with Swindon Town and Chesterfield champions on two occasions. 23 teams have been both promoted and relegated from League Two.

Key

  • Teams with this background and symbol in the "Club" column will be competing in the 2025–26 EFL League Two
  • Team will be competing in the 2025–26 Premier League
  • The club competed in League Two during that season (the number is the club's final league position)
ClubTotal SeasonsNumber of SpellsLongest Spell (Seasons)Highest PositionLowest PositionSeasonstp=12004–05}}stp=12005–06}}stp=12006–07}}stp=12007–08}}stp=12008–09}}stp=12009–10}}stp=12010–11}}stp=12011–12}}stp=12012–13}}stp=12013–14}}stp=12014–15}}stp=12015–16}}stp=12016–17}}stp=12017–18}}stp=12018–19}}stp=12019–20}}stp=12020–21}}stp=12021–22}}stp=12022–23}}stp=12023–24}}stp=12024–25}}stp=12025–26}}
Accrington Stanley152121212017161551418151741311721
AFC Bournemouth212221212
AFC Wimbledon82552116202015721105
Aldershot Town515624156141124
Barnet123812231814121721222223151523
Barrow61682221229816
Blackpool111777
Bolton Wanderers111333
Boston United3131123161123
Bradford City1226318109141818791514693
Brentford212114141
Bristol Rovers9533231212613142333
Bromley212111111
Burton Albion616119131917461
Bury1037221171921134921232
Cambridge United93722424199111221162
Carlisle United11391231211061011181020523
Cheltenham Town154612314522176517232117164115
Chester City51515232015182223
Chesterfield9441248108181247
Colchester United10110622813862015202210
Coventry City111666
Crawley Town1139322320191419131212227
Crewe Alexandra113421818107171512213613
Dagenham & Redbridge8257232087192291423
Darlington616624881161224
Doncaster Rovers42311831851
Exeter City11210216210161014549592
Fleetwood Town42241413414
Forest Green Rovers625124215106124
Gillingham8341175881171217
Grimsby Town153642418415162223141817152411219
Harrogate Town61613191719191318
Hartlepool United7342232192216231723
Hereford United523323163162123
Kidderminster Harriers111232323
Leyton Orient8341241138241711131
Lincoln City9271236751513202371
Luton Town5242242481142
Macclesfield Town10285245172219201915242224
Mansfield Town152113231316172311211212842116783
Milton Keynes Dons633119413419
Morecambe16214424111142015161811211822182241524
Newport County13113522149222211714511151822
Northampton Town13471217211162062112115743
Notts County1336123192113211911716523146
Oldham Athletic524142314191823
Oxford United826223152312998132
Peterborough United3132109102
Plymouth Argyle7262212121107523
Port Vale1135220181011123202081352
Portsmouth414116131661
Rochdale103632491495631231824
Rotherham United61621491459102
Rushden & Diamonds21222242224
Salford City717720118107208
Scunthorpe United53322422202224
Shrewsbury Town10382212110718712422
Southend United7354234134115523
Stevenage102922366181016102314212
Stockport County63312422842441
Sutton United31382381423
Swansea City111333
Swindon Town10451193191316101912
Torquay United725524202417751924
Tranmere Rovers83662424679121620
Walsall827119112191616114
Wrexham4232241319242
Wycombe Wanderers123632210612733152241393
Yeovil Town524124119201924
York City4147241771824

Notes

References

References

  1. Luton were deducted 30 points for financial irregularities
  2. (27 August 2019). "Bury FC: Membership of the League withdrawn". EFL.
  3. (9 June 2023). "Highest League attendances for 70 years as nearly 22 million attend EFL competitions".
  4. (11 June 2024). "EFL highest attended league body in Europe".
  5. "Coca Cola League Two {{!}} Average Attendances {{!}} Home Matches {{!}} 2004-2005".
  6. "Coca Cola League Two {{!}} Average Attendances {{!}} Home Matches {{!}} 2005-2006".
  7. "Coca Cola League Two {{!}} Average Attendances {{!}} Home Matches {{!}} 2006-2007".
  8. "Coca Cola League Two {{!}} Average Attendances {{!}} Home Matches {{!}} 2007-2008 {{!}} Football Web Pages".
  9. "Coca Cola League Two {{!}} Average Attendances {{!}} Home Matches {{!}} 2008-2009 {{!}} Football Web Pages".
  10. "Coca Cola League Two {{!}} Average Attendances {{!}} Home Matches {{!}} 2009-2010 {{!}} Football Web Pages".
  11. "npower League Two {{!}} Average Attendances {{!}} Home Matches {{!}} 2010-2011 {{!}} Football Web Pages".
  12. "npower League Two {{!}} Average Attendances {{!}} Home Matches {{!}} 2011-2012 {{!}} Football Web Pages".
  13. "npower League Two {{!}} Average Attendances {{!}} Home Matches {{!}} 2012-2013 {{!}} Football Web Pages".
  14. "Sky Bet League Two {{!}} Average Attendances {{!}} Home Matches {{!}} 2013-2014 {{!}} Football Web Pages".
  15. "Sky Bet League Two {{!}} Average Attendances {{!}} Home Matches {{!}} 2014-2015 {{!}} Football Web Pages".
  16. "Sky Bet League Two {{!}} Average Attendances {{!}} Home Matches {{!}} 2015-2016 {{!}} Football Web Pages".
  17. "Sky Bet League Two {{!}} Average Attendances {{!}} Home Matches {{!}} 2016-2017 {{!}} Football Web Pages".
  18. "Sky Bet League Two {{!}} Average Attendances {{!}} Home Matches {{!}} 2017-2018 {{!}} Football Web Pages".
  19. "Sky Bet League Two {{!}} Average Attendances {{!}} Home Matches {{!}} 2018-2019 {{!}} Football Web Pages".
  20. "Sky Bet League Two {{!}} Average Attendances {{!}} Home Matches {{!}} 2019-2020 {{!}} Football Web Pages".
  21. "Sky Bet League Two {{!}} Average Attendances {{!}} Home Matches {{!}} 2021-2022 {{!}} Football Web Pages".
  22. "Sky Bet League Two {{!}} Average Attendances {{!}} Home Matches {{!}} 2022-2023 {{!}} Football Web Pages".
  23. "Sky Bet League Two {{!}} Average Attendances {{!}} Home matches {{!}} 2023-2024 {{!}} Football Web Pages".
  24. "Sky Bet League Two {{!}} Average Attendances {{!}} Home matches {{!}} 2024-2025 {{!}} Football Web Page".
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