League 1 - background to the competition

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League One (sometimes referred to as Sky Bet League 1 for sponsorship reasons) is the second-highest division of The Football League and the third tier in the English football league system.

League One was introduced for the 2004–05 season. It was previously known as the Football League Second Division and prior to the advent of the Premier League, the Football League Third Division.

At present (2015–16 season), Oldham Athletic hold the longest tenure in League One, last being out of the division in the 1996–97 season when they were relegated from the Championship. There are currently eight former Premier League clubs competing in the League One, namely Blackpool, Bradford City, Coventry City, Oldham Athletic, Sheffield United, Swindon Town, Wigan Athletic, and as of the 2016/2017 season, Bolton Wanderers and Charlton Athletic following their 2016 relegation.