Port Vale

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When the Football Alliance was incorporated into the Football League in 1892 the club was playing in the Midland League, but when Alliance club Birmingham St George's folded, they were invited to join the new Second Division.

The club struggled at this level and after having to seek re-election for the third time in only four seasons, they lost their League status in 1896, and returned to the Midland League.

They were elected back into the Second Division in 1898 after beating First Division Sheffield United in the FA Cup but, in 1907, faced with serious financial problems, the club resigned from the League and almost went out of business.

They joined the Central League in 1911 and, following a move to a new ground, reverted to the name Port Vale.

In 1919, they applied unsuccessfully for re-election to the League. However, in October 1919, when Leeds City were expelled, Port Vale were invited to take over their fixtures.

Vale made little impact and were relegated to Division Three (North) in 1929, returning as champions the following season.

In 1931, they finished fifth in Division Two, their highest ever league position.

In 1936 they were relegated again and for the next eleven years they played in either the Northern or Southern sections of the Third Division.

In 1954, Vale were Third Division (North) champions and reached the FA Cup semi-final, but in 1957 they were relegated again, this time to Division Three (South).

The following season they were placed in the new Fourth Division, winning it at the first attempt.

In 1968, the club was expelled from the Football League due to financial irregularities, but they were immediately voted back in by the clubs.

Promoted in 1970, they spent eight seasons in the Third Division before dropping back into the Fourth in 1978.

The nineteen-eighties were spent moving between the Third and Fourth Divisions, but a FA Cup Fourth Round victory over Spurs in 1988 sparked a revival in their fortunes. At the end of that season Vale secured promotion to Division Two via the play-offs.

They were relegated in 1992 but bounced back in 1994 and remained in the First Division (old Second Division) until 2000 when they were relegated to Division Two.

In 2008, Vale were relegated to the bottom division of English football for the first time since 1986.