Unlike American sports our clubs can rise all the way to the big leagues with hard work, good management and investment, a good youth academy or perhaps a bit of all the ingredients.
Of course neglect or a change in fortunes can result in a fall back down. It is perhaps hard to imagine for the younger generation that the likes of Swindon Town and Carlisle United once played top flight football.
In fact there are six current League Two sides who once played top flight football, with another nine clubs once reaching what is now the Championship and just three never playing higher than League Two.
Here is how the league would look based on every club’s highest ever finish.

9. Walsall
6th in the Second Division in the 1898/99 season Photo: Michael Regan

10. Shrewsbury Town
8th in Division Two (second tier) in the 1983/84 and 1984/85 seasons. Photo: Getty Images

11. Newport County
9th in the abandoned Football League Second Division season of 1939–40 Photo: Pete Norton

12. Colchester United
10th in the Championship in the 2006/07 season. Photo: Getty Images


