FOOTBALL LEAGUE

British professional association football (soccer) organization. The first such league was formed in England in 1888, largely through the efforts of William McGregor, known afterward as the father of the league. Twelve of the strongest professional clubs of the time joined in the league, and the first season's championship was won by Preston North End. In 1892 a second division was formed and the first division increased to 16 clubs. Soon after, the league adopted the practice of promoting the first two clubs in the second division at the end of each season into the places of the last two clubs of the first division, which were relegated to the second division. A third division was added in 1920 and reorganized to form a fourth in 1958; a four-up, four-down promotion and relegation system between these two divisions was set up at the same time. The league includes more than 90 clubs. Football League headquarters are at Lythom St. Anne's, Lancashire. Similar leagues were formed in Ireland and Scotland in the 1890s and subsequently in many other countries where association football became a major sport.