With the likes of Leeds United, Sheffield Wednesday, Aston Villa, Sunderland, Nottingham Forest and Derby County, there are some big clubs in the Championship.
Who is the biggest club in the Championship? It’s a debate that rumbles on football forums and social media every season, with a growing number of historically successful and well-supported sides now finding themselves languishing in the second tier of English football. Whilst the likes of Bournemouth and Swansea are mixing it up in the Premier League, Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa finished the season in the bottom half of the Championship.
Of course, what makes a ‘big club’ is a debate that will never be fully decided. If you look at trophies, no second tier side comes close to Aston Villa’s haul of 25 trophies, and the side closest to them would actually be Wolves with 13. If you go on current attendances, Sunderland wipe the floor with the rest of the division, Aston Villa their closes competitors, meanwhile Nottingham Forest would trail supposedly smaller clubs like Huddersfield Town and Norwich City.
Aston Villa won the 1982 European Cup
Historical attendances would put Aston Villa top again, with Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday not far behind. Derby County’s all-time record attendance is less even than the likes of Plymouth Argyle and Port Vale though. Ultimately, there are many factors, and a few obvious candidates, so we polled football fans and asked them to name who they felt was the biggest club in the Championship, here are the results:
3. Aston Villa – 24%
Aston Villa have averaged over 32,000 at Villa Park in the Championship
Remarkably, Aston Villa only came in at third place. By far the most successful club in the Championship in terms of their trophy cabinet and boasting one of the biggest followings, it’s hard to see how Villa didn’t come higher, but the people have spoken. Aston Villa were one of the founding members of the Football League, and can list seven First Division titles, seven FA Cups and one European Cup among their most impressive achievements.
2. Leeds United – 27%
Leeds United enjoyed their greatest success in the 1970’s
In second place is Leeds United. The Whites have certainly had their taste of success over the years, most notably under Don Revie in the 1970’s, but as the sole league club in a city the size of Leeds, one could argue that they have been perennial underachievers. Despite that, the club has won three league titles and one FA Cup, and can boast an excellent away following.
1. Nottingham Forest – 38%
Ian Bowyer and Peter Shilton celebrate winning the European Cup for Nottingham Forest
Coming out on top, and by some distance too, is Nottingham Forest. The Reds have not exactly been dominant for the entirety of their history, but perhaps back-to-back European Cups in 1979 and 1980 swung it for Forest. Only Real Madrid, Benfica, Inter Milan, Ajax, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and AC Milan have won back-to-back European titles, and only AC Milan since Brian Clough’s side pulled off the feat. Forest are the only team to have won more European titles than domestic titles.
Honourable Mentions
Honourable mentions go to the likes of Sheffield Wednesday and Sunderland
Trailing Nottingham Forest, Leeds United and Aston Villa were Sunderland and Sheffield Wednesday, whilst the likes of Derby County and Wolves may also warrant a mention. Sunderland have consistently excellent crowds and have won six top flight titles, a tally beaten only by Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Everton and Aston Villa. Sheffield Wednesday, on the other hand, see their crowds fluctuate far more regularly, but have won four top flight titles, which is more than Leeds United or Nottingham Forest.
Receive exclusive football transfer news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
