What is League One football? How to watch League One football

League One is the third level of the English professional football league system, after the Premier League and the Championship. This is where highly competitive clubs gather, with the goal of being promoted to the Championship or maintaining stability in the league. With the participation of teams with a long history and a large number of fans, League One is not only a playground for talented players but also a place where clubs compete fiercely for the opportunity to win and develop. So, what is League One football? How to watch League One football? Let’s find out more with kingsoccertips.com in the article below.

What is League One football?

What is football League One? League One is the third level of the professional football league system in England, after the Premier League and the Championship. Founded in 2004, this league has become an important part of English football, attracting the attention of many fans. Although not as prominent as the two top leagues, League One is a competitive playground and full of opportunities for teams and players, and is also the place where many dramatic and surprising matches take place.

The league currently has 24 participating teams, each team will play 46 matches throughout the season, in a round-robin format. Each team plays each other twice, once at home and once away. League One teams can be teams with a long history, or teams on the way to development, looking for the opportunity to be promoted to the Championship – the second level of English football. Each season, the top three teams in League One are promoted, while the bottom three are relegated to League Two, the lower tier.

Although League One does not attract as much attention as the Premier League, it has a huge impact on football fans and especially those who support smaller teams. Many teams with long histories and loyal fan bases compete in League One, creating a passionate and traditional atmosphere. These teams can sometimes cause big upsets, causing difficulties for stronger teams and giving fans dramatic matches.

League One is also where young players with potential to develop find opportunities to prove their talent. Coaches and teams will discover and develop young talents who may step up to the plate in the future. Many players have started their careers in League One before moving on to bigger leagues, such as the Premier League or Championship. Therefore, League One is not only a tournament for ranking but also a place to create opportunities for players to reach new heights in their careers.

Although League One does not have strong financial investment like the bigger tournaments, the competition and drama of the tournament are always maintained. The teams participating in this tournament all have the goal of promotion and making a name for themselves, so the matches are always very attractive. From big teams with a long history to emerging teams, League One is a tournament not to be missed for those who love English football and want to follow the exciting confrontations.

Which teams have won League One?

Since its inception in 2004, League One has seen many teams rise to the top, with some impressive achievements. Here are some of the teams that have won the competition:

Wigan Athletic (2004–05): The first team to win League One since the league was restructured in 2004. Wigan Athletic won promotion to the Championship and then went on to have further success, notably winning the FA Cup in 2013.
Sunderland (2006–07): Sunderland are one of the standout teams in League One’s history. After being relegated, they convincingly won the league title, ushering in a period of success in the Championship and Premier League.
Leicester City (2008–09): Leicester City won League One in 2008–09 before quickly gaining promotion to the Championship and then the Premier League, where they made history by winning the Premier League in 2015–16.
Charlton Athletic (2011–12): After being relegated from the Championship, Charlton Athletic won League One in their first season back. This success saw them quickly return to the Championship.

Wolverhampton Wanderers (2013–14): Wolves were one of the strong teams to win League One, reasserting their status after relegation. They then went on to win the Championship and the Premier League in the following years.
Bournemouth (2014–15): Bournemouth, under manager Eddie Howe, won League One and were promoted to the Championship, before gaining promotion to the Premier League in 2015–16.
Wigan Athletic (2017–18): After being relegated from the Championship, Wigan Athletic quickly bounced back and won their second League One title, continuing their journey to the Championship.
Luton Town (2017–18): Luton Town are another club to have won League One and earned promotion. This is one of the most interesting stories in the history of the competition, as the team had a challenging journey from the lower divisions.
Hull City (2020–21): Hull City are the most recent team to win League One, earning promotion to the Championship after a successful season.

There are also many other teams who have won League One throughout the history of the competition. These teams, despite their ups and downs, have all shown the character and desire to win promotion and have made their mark in the competition.

How to watch League One football

There are a number of ways to follow and watch League One football matches, whether you are in the UK or anywhere else in the world. Here are the most popular methods:

1. TV and broadcasting services

TV stations and broadcasting services may offer League One matches, especially those that are high-profile or feature big teams.

BBC Sport: One of the major broadcasters in the UK, the BBC regularly shows some League One matches, especially during the play-offs and highlight matches.
Sky Sports: Although Sky Sports mainly shows Premier League and Championship matches, they also occasionally show some League One matches, especially during key seasons or matches featuring big teams.

2. Streaming services

iFollow: This is the official online service of the EFL (English Football League), offering live streaming of League One, Championship and League Two matches. iFollow allows you to watch all League One matches if you can’t make it to the stadium.
ESPN+: In the US, ESPN+ offers a number of EFL matches, including League One, for a monthly subscription fee.
YouTube: Some League One teams offer video highlights and even live streams of matches via their official YouTube channels. However, full matches are not always available on YouTube.

3. Mobile apps and websites

Sports apps and websites that offer live scores and video highlights of League One matches:

Livescore: This app provides live scores and match information from League One. You can follow the match progress through stats updates.
Flashpoint: Similar to Livescore, FlashScore provides live scores and match details.
EFL Official Website: The official EFL website also provides information, results, standings and some video highlights of League One matches.

4. Social media and online video channels

Twitter/Facebook/Instagram: Many League One teams regularly update information about matches and highlights on social media platforms. You can follow the official pages of the teams and the EFL to get information about matches and video highlights.
Twitch: Although less common, some League One matches can be streamed live on Twitch, especially those of teams with large fan bases.

5. Watch at the stadium

If you are in the UK and want to experience the live atmosphere of the matches, you can go to the stadium to watch your favorite team’s matches. Tickets can be purchased through the team’s official website or through online ticketing platforms.

In short, there are many ways to watch League One matches, from television, online streaming services to mobile apps and social media. Depending on your location and the services available, you can choose the right method to follow this tournament.

Summary

Here we have deciphered what is League One football? League One is not only a low-level tournament in English football, but also a gathering place for ambitious teams, wishing to reach new heights. With strong competition and many interesting stories, League One plays an important role in developing talents and providing promotion opportunities. Although not as prominent as the Premier League or Championship, this tournament always attracts the attention of fans thanks to the appeal and drama of each match!