Longest time in second division

[scalehallshrimp]

Which team has spent the longest in our division

[Little Shrimp]

I believe it's Accrington and then us, although I could well be wrong.

[scalehallshrimp]

Sorry meant since the division two was formed donkeys years ago

[Keith]

Sorry meant since the division two was formed donkeys years ago

Are you basically saying 'the fourth tear of English football?' i.e., including when the Premiership was Division One and Rochdale played in Division Four?

I don't know the actual answer, but have a vague recollection that Rochdale had the longest period of time without any promotions or relegations, which lasted until quite recently, so they must be close to the record.

[Keith]

Rochdale were relegated to Division Four in 1973/74 after winning only two matches all season (I think we had a better year!) They then finished bottom of the 4th Div. on two occasions (Southport were relegated, despite finishing above Rochdale, being replaced by Wigan).

They then won promotion in 2008/09 to League One, ending a spell of 41 years in the same league.

They were only in the 3rd Division for three seasons in the early 1970's, and spent most of the 1960's in the bottom league, so I reckon they will be your winners.

[Keith]

Rochdale were relegated in to the Fourth Division in 1958/59 (the season before was the first year of national leagues, prior to that was 3rd Division North/South) They were promoted in 68/69. Another ten years of Fourth Division/League Two.

Morecambe applied for election to the league in 1958/59, 59/60 (1 vote), 60/61, 61/62 (1 vote), 62/63 (2 votes), 63/64 (1 vote), 64/65 (1 vote), 65/66 (2 votes. Rochdale re-elected).

66/67 We didn't apply to join. Rochdale were again re-elected.
67/68 Just to demonstrate how much of a 'closed shop' it was. Port Vale were expelled from the Football League for 'financial irregularities'. They immediately applied to join the Football League and were voted straight back in, all at the same AGM! And we think football is corrupt nowadays?
69/70 Bradford Park Avenue became the first side not to be re-elected to the Football League. The bottom four clubs all had to re-apply.
71/72 Barrow were chucked out of the Football League despite finishing above Stockport & Crewe. In today's money (3 points for a win) they would have been 11 points clear of Crewe. But many sides travelled by train, so why get rid of Crewe when you can get rid of Barrow? They've been bitter ever since! Also, Ronnie Radford had scored 'that goal', so Hereford were popular when it came to their application to join the club.

[Keith]

It's a dreadfully designed website but loads of interesting information. I'm sure the statos have already got it, but for the rest of us...

http://www.footballsite.co.uk

[scalehallshrimp]

Barnsley is the answer over 70 years

[Keith]

Barnsley is the answer over 70 years

Eh??? Have I misunderstood the question?

http://www.footballsite.co.uk/Statistic ... rnsley.htm

[RapidShrimp]

Think he means/meant, "Who spent the longest time in 'our league' in total?" Tbh I don't know why he asked that question if he was just going to be so vague and then answer it himself...

[cyprus-shrimp]

A strangely worded question I believe. What was meant (now that we know the answer to be Barnsley), was "which club has spent the longest time in the second tier of English football". This was of course originally League 2, but is now The Championship.

[Westgate Wanderer]

Which team has been in league two since we arrived in it the longest of all the teams currently in it?

[Freez]

Guess Accy?

[Aspers]

As a kid, Bradford Park Avenue were always bottom of division 4.
I would have thought it was them.
But since the prem and championship formed and div 4 became div 2, I would say Accy then us.
Having said that, what would I know cobber