The 2019/20 season is the 28th Premier League season after it’s formation in 1992. The First Division clubs resigned from the Football League en-masse and the Premier League was formed in May 1992. However, there was no change in the competition formation – Number of teams, relegation, promotion remained the same.
The first Premier League season was held in 1992-93. 22 clubs were the founding members of the Premier League.
These were Arsenal, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Coventry City, Crystal Palace, Everton, Ipswich Town, Leeds United, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Norwich City, Nottingham Forest, Oldham Athletic, Queens Park Rangers, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, and Wimbledon. Luton Town, Notts County, and West Ham were relegated from the old 1991–92 season and did not take part in the inaugural Premier League season.
So where are the 22 inaugural teams now at present? Let’s check out.
Arsenal – Premier League:
The Gunners finished 10th in the inaugural season and have won three Premier League titles since then. Arsenal are still in the Premier League and are ninth in the league table with 40 points from 28 games.
Aston Villa – Premier League:
The Villans finished runners-up in the inaugural season with 74 points from 42 games. They were the only team to challenge Manchester United for the first Premier League title in 1992. Their league positions fluctuated throughout the years and they were relegated in the 2015-16 season, ending their 24-year stay in the Premier League. In the 2018-19 season Aston Villa defeated Derby County 2–1 to gain promotion back to the Premier League after a 3-year absence. They currently sit in the relegation zone with 25 points from 29 games.
Blackburn Rovers – Championship:
The Rovers finished fourth in the inaugural Premier League season with 71 points from 42 games. They won the Premier League in 1995 after finishing runners-up in 1994. However, they were relegated to the Championship in 1999. They came back to the top-flight in 2001. In 2012 they lost against Wigan in the final game of the season and were relegated to Championship. In 2017 they became the first Premier League winner to be relegated to League One. However, they gained the promotion back the next season.
Chelsea – Premier League:
The Blues finished the inaugural season in the 11th position. Since then they have stayed in the top-flight winning it five times. This season they sit on the fourth position with 48 points from 29 games.
Coventry City – League One
The Sky Blues finished 15th in the inaugural season with 57 points from 42 teams. They were relegated from the Premier League after 34 years in the first tier. At the time, only Liverpool, Everton, and Arsenal could boast longer tenures in the top flight. In 2012, Coventry were relegated to League One, the third tier in English football, for the first time in 48 years. In 2018 they were relegated to League Two, for the first time. However, they were promoted to the third division the very next season.
Crystal Palace – Premier League
The Eagles were relegated in their inaugural season in the Premier League as they finished 20th with 49 points (level with Oldham, but more goal difference). They appointed Alan Smith as their new manager in 1993 and he helped them in their promotion to the top-flight in 1994. However, they were relegated back to the First Division in 1997. They gained promotion to the Premier League again in 2004 but were relegated again in the next season. They were promoted to the Premier League again in 2003 after eight years of absence. They sit 11th in the Premier League at present with 39 points from 29 games.
Everton – Premier League
The Toffees finished 13th in their inaugural Premier League season with 55 points from 42 games. They have never been relegated since then. They currently sit 12th in the League table with 37 points from 29 games.
Ipswich Town – League One
The Tractor Boys finished 16th in their inaugural season in PL. In 1995, they were relegated to the first division. They gained promotion to the top-flight in 2000 and were again relegated two years later. Since then, they have played in the Championship. But last season they were relegated to League One where they sit 10th with 46 points from 36 games.
Leeds United – Championship
The Peacocks finished 17th in their inaugural season in PL. They came into the inaugural season as champions of the English First Division. They were relegated to the Championship in 2004 and were further relegated to League One in 2007. Three years later, they gained promotion to the Championship again. Since then, they have stayed in the Championship. This season they’re leading the Championship table to gain promotion to the Premier League under Bielsa.
Liverpool – Premier League
The Reds finished 6th in the inaugural Premier League campaign with 59 points from 42 games. Since then they have never finished outside the top 10 of the Premier League. Last season they came close to winning the league but ended up runners-up to Manchester City. This season they’re on the top of the Premier League table with 82 points from 29 games (25 points ahead of 2nd placed Manchester City).
Manchester City – Premier League
The reigning champions of the Premier League finished 9th in the inaugural Premier League season. But after finishing ninth in its first season they endured three seasons of struggle before being relegated in 1996. After two seasons in the first division, they were further relegated to the third tier. In the next two seasons, they bounced back with successive promotions and reached the top tier again in 2001. However, they were relegated back to the first division again in 2002, only to gain promotion back the next season. Since then, they’ve won four PL titles, two FA Cups, five EFL Cups, and three Community Shields. They’re currently 2nd in the league table, 25 points behind leaders Liverpool.
Manchester United – Premier League
The Reds Devils have been the most successful Premier League team since the start of the Premier League. They finished as the champions of the inaugural season with 84 points from 42 games. They have finished top six every season since 1992 except in 2013 when they finished 7th after Sir Alex Ferguson’s departure. They never finished outside the top 3 till 2013. Such was their dominance. They won 13 Premier League titles since it’s beginning. Currently, they are 5th in the league table with 45 points from 29 games.
Middlesbrough – Championship
The Boro finished 21st in the inaugural PL season and were relegated to the Football League First Division. However, they gained a promotion in 1995 and remained in the top-flight till 2008-09. They even reached the 2006 UEFA Cup Final (later became Europa) in Eindhoven, following two comebacks from 3–0 down in the rounds preceding it, but lost 4–0 to Sevilla. However, they were relegated to the Championship in 2009. They gained promotion in 2016 only to be relegated again the same season. They currently are 19th in the Championship table and are hovering around the relegation zone.
Norwich City – Premier League
The Canaries finished 3rd in the inaugural PL season and qualified for the UEFA Cup first round. But after that, they struggled and were relegated to the second tier in 1995. They returned to the top-flight in 2003-04 by winning the First Division title. But they were relegation back again the next season. They had many promotions and relegations and they currently sit last in the Premier League relegation zone again.
Nottingham Forest – Championship
The Tricky Trees finished last in the inaugural Premier League campaign with just 40 points from 42 games. They gained promotion and came back again for the 1994-95 season and were relegated again after three seasons. They came back again for the 1998-99 season but were relegated again by finishing 20th. They have remained in the Championship since then. They currently sit 5th in the Championship play-off zone.
Oldham Athletic – League Two
The Latics finished 19th in the inaugural season and remained in the Premier League on goal difference. They were relegated the next season as they finished 20th. They were relegated to third-tier in the 1996-97 season. They missed out on promotion from third-tier on several occasions. In 2018, they were relegated to League Two and are currently 19th in the League table.
Queens Park Rangers – Championship
The Hoops finished 5th in the first Premier League season with 63 points from 42 games. They struggled throughout the season and were relegated at the end of the 1995–96 season. They were further relegated to third-tier but came back to Division 1 following the 2003-04 season. They remained in the Championship and gained promotion to Premier League in 2011. Two seasons later, they were relegated again. But gained promotion to top-flight in 14-15 and were relegated again. Since then they’ve stayed in the Championship. They are currently 13th in the Championship table with 50 points from 37 games so far.
Sheffield United – Premier League
The Blades finished 14th in the first Premier League season with 53 points from 42 games. After two seasons, they were relegated to Division 1. They came back to the Premier League for the 2006-07 season but were relegated again. They further went down to League One in 2011 and stayed there for six seasons. In 2013, the Saudi prince Abdullah Saud took over and that helped the Blades gain promotion to the Championship in 2017 and the Premier League this season. They are currently impressing under Chris Wilder and are 7th in the Premier League with 43 points from 29 games.
Sheffield Wednesday – Championship
The Owls finished 7th in the inaugural Premier League season. They stayed in the top-flight till 2000 and were relegated to Division 1 that year. In 2003 they were relegated for a second time in four years, to the Second Division. Two years later they returned to the Championship. In 2010, they were again relegated to League One. They won promotion back to the Championship in May 2012, under the stewardship of new manager Dave Jones and have remained in the Championship since then. They currently sit 15th in the Championship with 48 points from 37 games.
Southampton – Premier League
The Saints finished 18th in the inaugural PL season in 1992-93. After 12 seasons in the top flight, they were relegated to the Championship. They were further relegated to League One in 2009. They started the 2009–10 season in League One, in the third tier of English football for the first time in 50 years and with −10 points, because their parent company was put under administration last season. In 2011, they were promoted to the Championship. In 2012, they returned to the Premier League and have been in the top-flight since then. They currently sit 14th in the league table with 34 points from 29games so far.
Tottenham Hotspur – Premier League
The Lilywhites finished 8th in the inaugural PL season with 59 points from 42 games. Since then they have remained in the Premier League. Since 2008, they have finished in the top 10 every season. They won the EFL Cup in 2008. Last season, Spurs finished runners-up in the UEFA Champions League. This season, Tottenham are 8th in the league table with 41 points from 29 games.
Wimbledon/MK Dons – League One
The Dons finished 12th in the inaugural Premier League season with 55 points from 42 games. On 14 May 2000, 12 years to the day after the FA Cup win, the side were relegated from the top flight after 14-years after a 2–0 defeat at Southampton. Wimbledon were relocated to MK Dons in 2004. They gained promotion to the Championship in 2015-16 but were relegated again after finishing 23rd. They are currently 18th in League One after gaining promotion from League Two last season.
