sports
February 25, 2026
What is the earliest in a season that a football team has been relegated?
Plus: top and bottom being first and last alphabetically, oldest players to outscore their age and cornerless matches
TL;DR
- Peterborough United was relegated from the third tier in 1967-68 with 27 games remaining after being found guilty of breaking league rules.
- Cambridge United and Doncaster Rovers were relegated from the third tier with eight games to spare, with Doncaster's relegation coinciding with their chairman being found guilty of arson.
- Several clubs, including Southampton, Watford, Stoke City, Stockport County, Wimbledon, Rotherham United, and Oxford United, were relegated with seven games to go.
- In English league history, there are two seasons where the top and bottom teams also finished first and last alphabetically: Arsenal's unbeaten title run in 2003-04 and the 1892-93 second tier season (with a caveat about club names).
- The match between Wigan and Chelsea on August 21, 2010, had no corners, according to Opta.
- Notable players who outscored their age in a season include Ferenc Puskás (1961-62), Patrizia Panico (2013-14), and Lee Trundle (2016-17).
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