The second division of English football doesn’t care much for past glories.
Alan Smith – Leeds United is mobbed by fans after his last game for Leeds at Elland Road
The Championship is well known for being frenetic, fiercely competitive, and incredibly tough to get out of, but for some clubs, they still haven’t – at least in the correct way intended – found a way out of the division.
Newcastle and Aston Villa, both relegated from the top flight last season, are not included on the list, but will be hoping they don’t become one of the country’s fallen giants struggling to return to where they belong.
Some of those below are some of England’s more decorated clubs as well, who have still yet to find a magic formula to get back into the top flight. Here are five such fallen giants.
Ipswich Town
Both of England’s greatest international managers in Sir Alf Ramsey and Sir Bobby Robson managed the Tractor Boys, and in the past, the club have won the top flight title, an FA Cup and the UEFA Cup. Since Premier League relegation in 2002 however, Ipswich have finished in the play-offs three times, and lost on each occasion, as they strive to get back to the big time.
Bobby Zamora scores the winning goal for QPR against Derby County in the play-off final
Derby County
Twice champions of England and one time FA Cup winners, it’s been 10 years since Derby’s last promotion season – which saw them come down at the first attempt as the worst team in Premier League history. Since relegation, they’ve made the play-offs twice and lost on both occasions, the first of which was incredibly cruel as Queens Park Rangers defeated the Rams with a 90th minute winner, despite having 10 men, to win 1-0.
Leeds United
For a club that was playing a Champions League semi-final as recently as 2001, Leeds’ fall has been colossal. The three times top flight winners, with one FA Cup and League Cup win apiece, were relegated to the Championship in 2004, and it’s been downhill since they lost in the 2006 play-off final. Administration, League One – with two play-off defeats in the third tier – and general underachievement has meant it’s not exactly been joyful at Elland Road. This season though, they seem set for another crack at the Championship play-offs.
Sheffield Wednesday’s Des Walker in action (right)
Sheffield Wednesday
Champions of England on four occasions, three time FA Cup winners and a League Cup to boot as well, Wednesday are one of Yorkshire’s most decorated clubs. Since Premier League relegation in 2000 however, the club have narrowly avoided administration and found themselves in League One for two years. Things are better now though, and the Owls reached the Championship play-off final last year – the first time they’ve even been in the play-offs since relegation – but narrowly lost 1-0.
Nottingham Forest
Arguably the biggest club have been left until last. Forest have been to the very top in their lifetime – with an incredible two European Cup victories, four League Cups, two FA Cups and becoming champions of England on one occasion – yet have also been to the lowest depths of their history in recent years. After being relegated in 1999, the club almost went into administration, had to put their whole team up for sale at one point, and spent three years in League One. Forest have lost three times in the Championship play-offs, the most recent being in 2011. Going by this season, and the Fawaz Al Hasawi reign in general, it’ll be a long time before they even come close to challenging again.
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