Fourth Division | League Details

Last updated : Sunday, 14 April 2024

Introduction

The Fourth Division is the fourth-highest division in the English football league system. It is currently known as Football League Two.

The league was created in 1958 alongside a new national Third Division by merging the regionalised Third Division North and Third Division South. The original economic reasons for having the two regional leagues had become less apparent and thus it was decided to create two national leagues at levels three and four. The twelve best teams of each regional league in 1957–58 went into the Third Division, and the rest became founder members of the Fourth Division.

The Fourth Division has been won by 26 different clubs, with Lincoln City being the most successful, having won the title four times.

The current champions are Forest Green Rovers, who won the title in the 2022–23 season.

History

The Fourth Division was created in 1958 alongside a new national Third Division by merging the regionalised Third Division North and Third Division South. The original economic reasons for having the two regional leagues had become less apparent and thus it was decided to create two national leagues at levels three and four. The twelve best teams of each regional league in 1957–58 went into the Third Division, and the rest became founder members of the Fourth Division.

The Fourth Division has been played in two divisions since 1974, with each division containing 24 teams. The top two teams in each division are promoted to League One, while the bottom four teams in each division are relegated to the National League.