Premier League Shirts

Here are a series of unique and meticulously crafted shirt designs that are profoundly inspired by the rich history and vibrant culture of the Premier League, which has captivated and engaged passionate fans for over 30 years since its inception in the year 1992. These exceptional artistic representations celebrate the enduring legacy of all the teams that have competed in every single season of England’s prestigious top division, including well-known and beloved clubs such as Chelsea, Arsenal, Crystal Palace, Everton, West Ham, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest, and many more beloved teams. Each design is thoughtfully based on the shirt from that particular year and creatively incorporates significant local landmarks, iconic stadiums, and both past and current legendary figures who have played vital roles in shaping the respective histories of these esteemed football clubs up to the present day.

1991/1992 - First Division : The final season of the original First Division before the F.A. Premier League

This section focuses on the final ever season of the original Football League, prior to the significant restructure that marked the inception of the new F.A. Premier League, which took effect in the second half of 1992. The final winners of this historic competition were Leeds United, under the strategic guidance of their manager, Howard Wilkinson, while Manchester United ended the season in the runner-up position and Sheffield Wednesday secured a commendable place in the top tier.

At the conclusion of this highly competitive campaign, all of the First Division football clubs, along with those promoted from the Second Division made the monumental decision to resign en masse from the Football League, leading to the official formation of the new F.A. Premier League on May 27th, a pivotal moment in the history of English football.

1992/1993 - F.A. Premier League [The inaugural season]

The new competition officially began on the weekend that commenced on Saturday, August 15th, 1992, marking a significant moment in the history of football. This pivotal point in time saw the introduction of 22 inaugural founding members who collectively made up the newly established division, which included several prestigious and historically significant clubs such as Arsenal [Islington], Tottenham Hotspur [Haringey] , Queens Park Rangers [Hammersmith and Fulham] , Chelsea [Kensington and Chelsea], Wimbledon [Merton], and Crystal Palace [Croydon and Lambeth] are all renowned football clubs that hail from various regions within North, West, South West, and South East London. Each of these teams represents the vibrant football culture of their respective areas of the capital, contributing to the rich tapestry of London’s sporting heritage.

Additionally, Southampton represented the South, while Ipswich Town and Norwich City were notable representatives from the East Anglia region. Aston Villa and Coventry City proudly formed the West Midlands, whereas Nottingham Forest stood alone, serving as the sole representative for the East Midlands. The North West of England had excellent representation within the football scene, showcasing teams such as Blackburn Rovers from East Lancashire, as well as the well-known clubs Everton and Liverpool from Merseyside. Additionally, the region was proudly represented by Oldham Athletic, alongside the two giants of Manchester, namely Manchester City and Manchester United. Completing the extensive and diverse lineup were Leeds United, Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday, and Middlesbrough, who collectively represented both West and South Yorkshire respectively as well as the North East of England.

As of the present day, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham Hotspur, Everton, Liverpool, and Manchester United stand as the only six original founding members of the Premier League that have proudly featured in every single season since its inception, thereby showcasing their enduring presence and significant impact in the competitive landscape of English football. As the sole representative from the West Midlands at the time, Aston Villa held a significant position as founding members of the league until their departure in 2016. This marked a notable chapter in their history as it was their first relegation from the top-flight since 1987, followed by their triumphant and much-anticipated return in 2019.

Crystal Palace has been a part of the division since 2013, following numerous challenging years that involved facing tough times with four relegations occurring in the years of 1993, 1995, 1998, and 2005. Despite these significant challenges, the south-east London side have demonstrated remarkable strength and unwavering perseverance throughout its journey in the competitive landscape of English football. Manchester City has been in the league since 2003 after their relegations in 1996 and 2001. Additionally, West Ham United [Newham, East London] and Newcastle United [North East of England] , who were not founding members in the inaugural season, have featured prominently in the top-flight since 2012 and 2018, respectively, following their first promotion together in 1993 and dealing with subsequent relegations in 2003, 2011, and 2009, 2016. AFC Bournemouth [South of England] , Brighton and Hove Albion [South East England 2017-present] , Brentford [Hounslow, West London 2021-present], Fulham [Hammersmith and Fulham - South West London] and Wolverhampton Wanderers [West Midlands] have also established themselves as top-flight continualists , following their various promotions over the years.

Other notable teams that have also featured in the F.A. Premier League since its inception include Charlton Athletic [Greenwich], representing South East London, Sunderland from the North East, as well as Swansea City and Cardiff City, both hailing from Wales. Additionally, teams like Swindon Town from the South West, Bolton Wanderers, Blackpool, and Wigan Athletic from the North West, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, and Birmingham City from the West Midlands, along with Portsmouth representing the South, also made their mark. Furthermore, Luton Town and Watford, both from the East, and Huddersfield Town and Hull City from both West and East Yorkshire, have been significant participants in the league's storied history.

1993/1994 - F.A. Carling Premiership [Start of sponsor period 1993-2001]

A year after it’s launch and 26 years after their last title win, Manchester United who became the first winners of the newly founded F.A. Premier League entered the second season of the new look competition on a mission to retain the title they won in May 1993. With previous runners up and third placed finishers Aston Villa and Blackburn Rovers desperate to challenge Alex Ferguson and his team once again. Saturday August 14th, 1993 also saw not only three new teams [First Division champions Newcastle United, runners-up West Ham United and playoff winners Swindon Town] join the current 19 clubs in the top flight, but there was also a new sponsor for the competition as the F.A. Premier League took on title sponsorship, with Carling Breweries becoming the first of two companies to sponsor the top flight. The F.A. Premier League was rebranded the F.A. Carling Premiership, in a deal that would last until the summer of June 2001. 

Republic of Ireland midfielder Roy Keane joined the newly-crowned champions directly from Forest, to succeed club-captain Bryan Robson who would retire at the end of the season after 13 years. Nottingham born Andrew “Andy” Cole also made his maiden Premier League debut, having joined Newcastle from Bristol City and finished top-scorer with 34 goals, three ahead of Blackburn’s Alan Shearer. Glenn Hoddle who guided Swindon into the top-flight via the playoffs, left the Westcountry club to take up the reigns at Chelsea, assuming the dual role of player-manager. Howard Kendall resigned at Goodison Park, with Mike Walker becoming the new Everton manager and Graeme Souness left Liverpool following a loss to Bristol City in the FA Cup, and Roy Evans became the interim manager, later becoming sole boss.

On the first day, Micky Quinn scored an impressive hat trick against Arsenal at Highbury, and the West Midlands team earned a well-deserved clean sheet.Everton briefly topped the table in August after beating Sheffield United 4-2 at home. In North East England, Sheffield Wednesday faced Newcastle at St James' Park, ending in a 4-2 victory for Newcastle. Andy Cole scored twice for Newcastle, while Andy Sinton netted two for Wednesday, showcasing his skills. Gavin Peacock was on target during two significant matches on September 11th and March 5th, as his two impressive goals played a critical role in enabling Chelsea to inflict a league double over Manchester United, both at Stamford Bridge and at Old Trafford.. On October 3rd, there was an exciting match at White Hart Lane where Tottenham came from behind to beat Everton 3-2, with Darren Caskey scoring the winning goal. December 18th saw both North London sides in action just before Christmas as Spurs and Liverpool played to a 3-3 draw, while Arsenal travelled north to the Pennines to take on Leeds United, but Gary McAllister first half goal and an own goal by Arsenal skipper Tony Adams, sandwiched between a Kevin Campbell equaliser saw the Gunners leave West Yorkshire pointless.

Day 4 of 1994 - January 4th saw a Sky Sports’ Ford Monday Night Football special unfold on Merseyside, where two footballing powerhouses faced off in a riveting match at Anfield. In this exciting encounter, Liverpool welcomed their long-standing rivals, Manchester United, for an electric showdown that promised high stakes and intense competition in the heart of North-West England. United dominated early in the game, with three first-half goals. Captain Steve Bruce scored with help from Eric Cantona, Ryan Giggs added another, and Denis Irwin finished with a precise free kick that beat Bruce Grobbelar. However, Nigel Clough played a pivotal role in facilitating a Liverpool comeback, netting two goals - both coming before first half injury time, complemented by a injury time leveller from new signing Neil Ruddock, who had just joined the squad from Tottenham Hotspur. Efan Ekoku made history as the first player in the Carling Premiership to score 4 goals in one match, achieving this against Everton at Goodison. Tottenham traveled to south-west London to face Chelsea in an exciting derby, with Glenn Hoddle leading his new team to a comeback win against his former club, finishing 4-3 in Chelsea’s favour.

Swindon were the first team to be relegated and also made unwanted history as the first Premiership team to concede 100 goals, this record would be surpassed three decades later, another team also saw their top-flight stay come to an end as Oldham Athletic who avoided the drop on goal difference only in the inaugural season by winning 1-0 at Aston Villa , drew 1-1 away at Norwich which condemned them to First Division football, this followed a 2-0 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur at Boundary Park on May 5 which secured Tottenham’s survival.

The intense battle to avoid the third and final relegation spot in the league went down to the wire between the footballing regions of Merseyside and South Yorkshire, as Everton and Sheffield United emerged as the final two teams desperately seeking to avoid the dreaded drop into the lower division. Both teams fought hard, showcasing their determination to maintain their status among the elite., Everton fought back to beat Wimbledon 3-2 at Goodison Park on May 7th, confirming their safety,Ipswich Town, who found themselves winless in their last 11 matches leading up to the final weekend of the season, drew an uneventful 0-0 at Blackburn's Ewood Park. Despite this result, they would have faced relegation if Sheffield United managed to avoid defeat in their crucial away match. A win or even a draw for the Blades would have virtually guaranteed their safety in the division while condemning the Suffolk side to the drop. At the beginning of the final day, Sheffield United sat four places above the relegation zone and started their game at Stamford Bridge energetically, with Jostein Flo finding the back of the net to give them an early lead in the first half. The excitement continued into the second half, where four additional goals were scored. Jakob Kjeldbjerg equalized for Chelsea, making it 1-1, but then Hodges netted for the Blades to regain the lead in the 59th minute. Mark Stein once again levelled the score just 17 minutes later. As the clock ticked down, with only a minute of injury time remaining, the South Yorkshire side appeared just seconds away from securing their safety. However, a dramatic last-gasp effort from Stein allowed Chelsea to snatch the lead, ultimately sealing a 3-2 victory and ensuring that Ipswich remained in the top-flight, while leaving United to face relegation to the First Division, thus ending their four-year stay at the highest level of English football. They would not return until 2006.

In the Endsleigh First Division, a year after both clubs exited the prestigious F.A. Premier League, Crystal Palace celebrated a triumphant return, getting promoted back as champions. This remarkable achievement was led by Alan Smith - the assistant to the legendary Steve Coppell, who took over at the start of the season and skillfully guided the south London side back to the top flight at the very first attempt. During this season, defensive midfielder Gareth Southgate took over captaincy duties following the departure of central-defender Andy Thorn, and notably, Chris Armstrong scored an impressive total of 24 goals, 22 of which were notched in the First Division alone.

Nottingham Forest, who had faced relegation alongside Palace in 1993, also made a successful return, securing promotion in second place under the direction of their new manager and former player Frank Clark, who was appointed to lead the team after the retirement of the iconic Brian Clough. In addition, there were to be two representatives from the same region for the following season, as Leicester City ended their lengthy 7-year absence from top-flight football by winning the crucial First Division Playoff final against fellow East Midlands rivals Derby County 2-1.

1994/1995 - F.A. Carling Premiership

The third season of the F.A. Carling Premiership was notable for many teams. Crystal Palace returned as champions of the Endsleigh First Division, with Nottingham Forest in second place. Leicester City under Brian Little also made a comeback to the top-flight after a 7-year absence.

Tottenham Hotspur, who narrowly survived relegation last time out, started the new season with German star Jurgen Klinsmann. He made his debut with a memorable diving celebration as Spurs won a thrilling 4-3 match at Hillsborough on opening day. They would go on to finish in 7th place, and finish above their North London neighbours for the second time in the Premier League history.

Liverpool who had been in disarray out of sorts in the first two seasons of the top-flight, finally started to click into gear under the managerialship of Roy Evans, the Merseysiders made a better start, with an opening day crushing of Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park with Ian Rush and Steve McManaman netting twice, On the August 28th edition of Ford Escort Super Sunday , as the new Kop stand at Anfield was nearing completion, a homegrown academy product who introduced himself the previous season, started 1994-95 with a bang as Toxteth-born Robbie Fowler struck what was then the fastest ever Premier League hat trick against Arsenal, with two of his three goals coming off his trademark left foot.

Arsenal, just two seasons after achieving a remarkable FA and League Cup double in 1993, endured what would become their worst ever season in club history. They made a dismal start to their league campaign, registering their poorest performance since they won the First Division title back in 1953. Losing four of their opening five matches, the Gunners faced challenging outings, including defeats away in the North of England at Elland Road and Hillsborough. In the capital city, they suffered significant misery at their home ground, Highbury, where Crystal Palace, Queens Park Rangers, and West Ham all triumphed, leaving fans disheartened. Furthermore, they also lost away at White Hart Lane on January 2nd and again at Stamford Bridge on the final day of the season, marking their second defeat to Chelsea since March 1, 1993. Ultimately, the team would finish in a disappointing 12th place, which marked their worst top-flight finish since 1976. To compound their struggles significantly, the Gunners suffered a notorious giant-killing in the FA Cup at the hands of Palace’s south London rivals, Millwall, with the Lions winning 2-0 at Highbury in a shocking upset. Additionally, they faced another defeat in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Final, where former Tottenham Hotspur legend Nayim famously scored an unforgettable goal over the head of their goalkeeper, David Seaman, adding insult to injury in a particularly challenging season.

Nottingham Forest had a memorable season too, as they avoided relegation to book a second season among the elite, their best moments also included a 5 goal thriller at home to QPR, with Stan Collymore scoring a memorable goal and what was then the Premiership’s biggest away victory was recorded on April 1, 1995 as the Tricky Trees massacred Sheffield Wednesday 7-1, inflicting a very heavy defeat on the South Yorkshire side. 

Blackburn who narrowly missed out on the top prize a year earlier having challenged United long and hard, this time would finally come out on top as they made an excellent start to the season, with a couple of new faces joining the team, as Kevin Moran who captained the club previously, retired and Tim Sherwood took on the top job of skippering the side, Chris Sutton moved to East Lancashire to join Kenny Dalglish’s team forming the deadly SAS duo alongside Alan Shearer with both of them netting respective goal contributions, Shearer smashed 34 with Sutton scoring 15.

Andy Cole, who netted 34 goals last season, impressed Alex Ferguson and was signed by Manchester United on days late on January 14th, with support from Newcastle's Kevin Keegan, upsetting Newcastle fans - who were unhappy to see their talismanic hero depart . A week later, on January 25th came an incident at Selhurst Park that was to influence the defending champions season as Eric Cantona who was sent off for 2 yellow card offences. attacked a Crystal Palace fan who later found guilty of racism. Cantona was handed one of the heaviest suspensions ever as he would have to wait until the 8th week of the 1995-96 season, September 30th. Despite the setback, United pushed Blackburn in the title race, with Andy Cole scoring 5 goals in a 9-0 rout of Ipswich, the biggest win in the Premiership. This score would be matched 20 years later. The two North West teams were just one point apart heading into the final week on May 14.

Alan Shearer put Blackburn ahead at Anfield, but John Barnes quickly equalised for Liverpool. Meanwhile, Michael Hughes scored for West Ham, followed by a quick equaliser from Brian McClair. With both matches remaining deadlocked at 1-1, it wasn’t until deep into injury time that Jamie Redknapp expertly struck a free-kick past Tim Flowers. This stunning goal clinched a 2-1 victory for Liverpool, despite Blackburn facing a defeat on Merseyside. United's failure to secure a win in East London ultimately ensured that Blackburn unseated the defending champions, allowing them to claim their first title since the year 1914.

After successfully avoiding relegation once again, Everton also added further distress and pain to the Red Devils as Paul Rideout’s decisive goal secured the prestigious FA Cup for the Toffees. In a significant shift, the English top-flight division was to be reduced from 22 teams to just 20 in order to comply with the stringent FIFA regulations, which would come into effect for the following season. The four clubs that faced relegation and were ultimately demoted were Leicester, Ipswich, Norwich, and Crystal Palace.

1995/1996 - F.A. Carling Premiership

1996/1997 - F.A. Carling Premiership / Nationwide Division 1

1997/1998 - F.A. Carling Premiership / Nationwide Division 1]

In the 1997-1998 season, Manchester United defended their Premier League title but faced strong competition from Arsenal, who won under manager Arsene Wenger. This was Wenger’s first full proper season with Arsenal, it was Arsenal's first title since the 1990-1991 First Division season and was complemented by an FA Cup victory over Newcastle United. Everton narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of the season on May 10, securing their place in the top tier with a crucial draw against Coventry City. They were among teams like Bolton Wanderers, Barnsley, and Crystal Palace, who were relegated straight back to the First Division after finishing as champions, runners up and playoff winners in the previous season respectively.

While the FA Cup went to Arsenal, the League Cup was won by Chelsea as they defeated another North East representative, Middlesbrough for the second time after the two sides faced each other in the FA Cup Final in 1997 with Roberto di Matteo scoring the fastest goal ever, the south-west Londoners followed this up by winning the UEFA Cup Winners Cup and the UEFA Super Cup in August 1998.

In the Nationwide First Division, Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest earned immediate promotions back to the Carling Premiership, they would be joined by Charlton Athletic, who triumphed against Sunderland on penalties in the 1998 First Division Playoff Final after the match finished 4-4 in regular time, with the Londoners record signing Clive Mendonca bagging a hat-trick.

1998/1999 - F.A. Carling Premiership / Nationwide Division 1

1999/2000 - F.A. Carling Premiership / Nationwide Division 1

2000/2001 - F.A. Carling Premiership [Final year of sponsorship 1993-2001]

In season 9, Carling's final year as sponsor, three teams returned to the elite ranks: First Division champions Charlton, runners-up Manchester City, and playoff-winners Ipswich, after 1, 4, and 5 years away. Three tragic football-related deaths affected five clubs across North West England, West Yorkshire and three different parts of London before and during the season.. Jack Walker, a major investor in Blackburn Rovers, helped the team win their first league title in over 81 years. Pierre Bolangi, a promising new star with immense potential, who was widely tipped to eventually join the Charlton first team, tragically passed away in a drowning accident. His sudden death shocked the Valley club and the entire Greenwich community and lastly David Rocastle, who was one of three Arsenal players born in south-east London. remembered for his skillful performances in midfield, represented notable clubs such as Arsenal, Leeds United, and Chelsea in both the First Division and the Premier League, he died on March 31, the day which the second North London derby would take place. Their contributions to English football left a lasting impact on the sport and its fans.

Several managerial changes took place within a span of just nine months. Paul Jewell departed from Bradford following his successful effort to save the team from relegation; he was then replaced by Chris Hutchings, who unfortunately was dismissed by November due to poor results. In September, Gianluca Vialli left Chelsea, and Claudio Ranieri took over the managerial role. Glenn Hoddle was poised to make a return to north London after the sacking of George Graham. At the end of the season, Joe Royle was relieved of his duties after nearly three years in charge, while Harry Redknapp left Upton Park after a seven-year tenure and was succeeded by Glenn Roeder. Meanwhile, Jim Jeffries was appointed as the new manager of Bradford following Chris Hutchings's departure. In the East Midlands, Martin O’Neill vacated the managers chair at Filbert Street to take up the managerial post at Celtic Park [Parkhead], with Peter Taylor installed as the new manager of Leicester.

After Kevin Keegan resigned, the England manager job was vacant until October 30, 2000, when Sven Goran Eriksson became the first foreign manager of the team. He started officially on January 12, 2001, after leaving Lazio. Eriksson led England until 2006, including many key matches. His first full game was a 3-0 friendly win against Spain.

Gerard Houllier guided Liverpool to Worthington Cup and FA Cup wins over Birmingham and Arsenal. The Reds won the UEFA Cup vs Alaves, ending a season with three trophies and third place for next season's Champions League. They secured a double over Charlton before Leeds beat Leicester 3-1. The 2001 UEFA Super Cup added to their quadruple..Liverpool's highlights included a win over Derby County on October 15th, when Emile Heskey, who joined from Leicester in March 2000, scored three goals, with Patrik Berger also scoring. The club also achieved two league doubles over Manchester United and Everton , including their first Premier League win at Old Trafford in 10 years, with Danny Murphy on the scoresheet, and Steven Gerrard and Robbie Fowler on target in the Anfield return fixture. The influential midfield maestro Gary McAllister, who joined Liverpool this season, secured the much-coveted Merseyside bragging rights for his team. As the Scottish captain, he delivered a stunning and trademark 44-yard free kick at Goodison Park, which played a crucial role in helping Liverpool secure a thrilling 3-2 victory over their fierce local rivals.

Chelsea’s 2000-2001 season began on a positive note with a memorable Charity Shield victory over the reigning champions, setting an encouraging and hopeful tone for the campaign ahead. This early success was quickly followed by an impressive 4-2 home win against West Ham, which showcased the team’s strong form and attacking prowess in the opening fixtures. However, the mood shifted after a disappointing away loss to Bradford and a hard-fought 2-2 draw with Arsenal, leading to the dismissal of manager Gianluca Vialli as the club sought a change in direction. Following this managerial change, the Blues faced a challenging period with consecutive league defeats to Sunderland, Leicester, and Charlton, testing both the squad’s depth and resilience on multiple fronts. Despite these setbacks, Chelsea mounted a powerful comeback by securing doubles over West Ham, Manchester City, Derby County, and fierce London rivals Tottenham Hotspur, maintaining an unbeaten streak against Spurs throughout the entire campaign. The team qualified for the UEFA Cup (later called the UEFA Europa League, which Chelsea would win several times) by finishing 6th in the Premier League. A key moment was record signing Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink scoring 23 goals in 35 league games, supporting the 34-year-old Italian star Gianfranco Zola, who added 9 goals and great creativity.

Leeds United, in their 9th top-flight season, competed in the UEFA Champions League, facing tough teams like FC Barcelona and Real Madrid. They drew one match and narrowly lost another, showing resilience. Despite challenges, they won key games and reached the semi-finals, a historic European milestone for the club. Domestically, Leeds excelled, notably beating rivals Liverpool twice in the Premiership. New signing Mark Viduka scored four goals in a 4-3 win at Elland Road, becoming the second player to do so in a match. They then won 2-1 at Anfield, with goals from new signing from West Ham Rio Ferdinand and Lee Bowyer. Steven Gerrard scored but was later sent off, confirming Leeds' dominance in the rivalry that season.

In the 9th season, Leicester City briefly topped the Premiership in early October after wins by Chelsea and Arsenal over Liverpool and Manchester United. Leicester drew 0-0 at Sunderland, but lost the lead on October 14th to the defending champions. Despite a mixed season and a managerial change from Martin O’Neill to Peter Taylor, Leicester showed resilience, notably achieving a Premiership double over the south-west Londoners with away and home victories at Stamford Bridge and Filbert Street on September 17, 2000, and February 3, 2001.

Meanwhile, Manchester United successfully defended their Premier League title for an impressive third consecutive year. The Red Devils' 36-game unbeaten streak at Old Trafford, running since late 1998, ended with a loss to regional rivals Liverpool.Additionally, the team dropped some early season points, including a thrilling 3-3 draw against Chelsea at Old Trafford and a narrow 1-0 defeat to Arsenal at Highbury, thanks to a brilliant goal by Thierry Henry. Despite these setbacks, the Mancunians were never truly challenged from that point onward and went on to secure a vital victory in November’s Manchester derby. David Beckham was the hero of that match at Maine Road, where he calmly settled matters with one of his trademark, expertly executed free kicks. Their campaign also partly helped thanks to one of their former players Bryan Robson as his Middlesbrough team successfully won their fight against relegation, which was solidified by a crucial 3-0 victory at Highbury on April 14 that secured the Teessiders’ top-flight status and ended Arsenal’s title hopes. 

Arsene Wenger’s team who had been pursuing Sir Alex Ferguson’s side from day one, saw their title bid severely wounded six weeks earlier in a highly anticipated live televised clash between the two leading heavyweights on Sky Sports’ Ford Super Sunday on February 25th, 2001. During this gripping match, a stunning Thierry Henry equaliser was unfortunately not enough to prevent Dwight Yorke from scoring an impressive hat-trick. Additionally, with further strikes from Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, captain Roy Keane, and Teddy Sheringham, Manchester United achieved an astonishing victory, resulting in their heaviest Premiership home win over the north London side with a score of 6-1. They also suffered earlier setbacks both on Merseyside twice and in Yorkshire, first at Goodison Park where Everton beat them 2-0 through Danny Cadamateri and Kevin Campbell, a week later on November 26 at Elland Road where Olivier Dacourt was on target and again in Merseyside, this time at Anfield on December 23rd, with Steven Gerrard, Michael Owen, Nicky Barmby and tormentor in chief Robbie Fowler on target in a 4-0 win, after the last meeting between the two sides on the opening week of the season on August 21st saw Arsenal lose Patrick Vieira and Liverpool lose Dietmar Hamann and Gary McAllister to controversial red cards. Arsenal won 2-0 with goals from new signing Lauren and Henry.

Ipswich, relegated in 1995 when the league had 22 teams, were expected to quickly return to the First Division after the league was reduced to 20 teams.Contrary to these initial expectations, they finished in a highly respectable 5th place, securing qualification for the UEFA Cup—a prestigious competition they had last won back in the early 1980s. Key highlights of their memorable season included a dramatic comeback draw against Man United, a result that stood in stark contrast to their humiliating 9-0 defeat in the North West just five years earlier. They also earned another 1-1 draw, this time against Arsenal, a 2-0 home win over Charlton, and an important, morale-boosting victory over Tottenham Hotspur on December 30, 2000. That match saw goals from Marcus Stewart, Jamie Clapham, and Alun Armstrong. Stewart, in particular, was outstanding for the East Anglian side, delivering a decisive winning goal at Anfield which secured Ipswich their second triumph there in six years, with the previous victory having come in December 1994 when George Burley officially was installed as manager. Stewart's remarkable Premier League hat trick for Ipswich took place on April 2 at the Dell stadium during the match against Southampton, and this exciting game was broadcast live on Sky Sports.

Alan Curbishley’s Charlton finished 9th, securing Premier League survival and their best league finish since the 1950s.. Among the many highlights for the Addicks were a remarkable league double victory over Manchester City, as well as a notable 1-0 home triumph against Arsenal on New Year's Day 2001, courtesy of new signing Jonatan Johansson from Rangers. This hard-fought win marked their first of two victories over the Gunners in 2001, following a defeat on August 26, 2000. Additionally, the team engaged in two entertaining East London derbies against their local rivals, West Ham United. The first derby ended in a 5-0 drubbing at Upton Park on Boxing Day, thanks to impressive strikes from Trevor Sinclair, Frederic Kanoute, and Paolo di Canio. On January 22, the two sides in a thrilling Ford Monday Night Football match at The Valley, where the scoreline saw Shaun Bartlett and di Canio both finding the net.

For Shaun Bartlett, the on-loan South Africa international, the beginning at his new club was nothing short of spectacular. He made an explosive start by scoring twice on his Premiership debut, both goals coming from perfectly timed headers assisted by Graham Stuart and Radostin Kishishev in an exhilarating 3-3 thriller against his favourite club, Manchester United. Additionally, he netted what undoubtedly became one of the standout goals of the 2000-2001 Premier League season—a powerful left-footed strike on April 1st that secured the full three points for the home side in a convincing 2-0 victory over Leicester City.

Five clubs from the regions of West Yorkshire, West Midlands, East Midlands, North West, and North East England fiercely battled throughout the season to avoid facing the disheartening prospect of relegation to the Nationwide First Division. By the season's conclusion on May 19, three clubs representing various cities found themselves occupying the final relegation spots, which was an unfortunate outcome for those involved.

Derby County secured their Premiership spot with a second victory at Old Trafford since the 1996-1997 season. Malcolm Christie scored the only goal, leading to their triumph. Defeat to Everton, saw Bradford depart first. Meanwhile, Manchester City faced another agonizing wait for their much-anticipated return to the Premier League, as a disappointing 2-1 away defeat at Portman Road, which was broadcast on Sky Sports during Ford Monday Night Football on May 7 - exactly one year to the day since they had clinched promotion back following a draw at Ewood Park — ultimately confirmed they would have to spend yet another season competing in the First Division. In a notable match at Villa Park, Aston Villa secured the West Midlands bragging rights when Paul Merson scored the pivotal goal in a thrilling 3-2 victory for his team, which ended Coventry City's impressive 34-year run in the top tier of English football.

The Sky Blues managed to escape relegation in 1997, Middlesbrough faced a major points deduction from the FA Premier League for not playing an important match against Blackburn. This decision was made under questionable circumstances, as an outbreak of illness affected half the team.. Had the Teessiders indeed gone on to play Blackburn and emerged victorious, it is likely that Coventry would have faced relegation four years earlier than they actually did. This turn of events certainly altered the course of both clubs' histories during that period. Meanwhile Southampton closed The Dell with a win over Arsenal, and Matt Le Tissier scored the last goal there before they moved to the Friends Provident St Mary’s Stadium for the start of the following season

Two fellow returnees from the North West would make their returns for the following year after 2 and 3 year absences, as both runner-up and playoff final finishes respectively were confirmed for Blackburn and Bolton, they would also be joined by the 33rd newest member to join the Premier League, Chelsea’s West End neighbours Fulham, who were crowned champions of the 2000-01 Nationwide First Division. 

2001/2002 - F.A. Barclaycard Premiership [10 Years of the Premier League]

After Carling's 8-year sponsorship of the FA Premier League ended, Barclays became the new sponsor in June 2001, with a deal lasting until 2016. From the 2001-2002 to 2003-2004 seasons, the league was known as the FA Barclaycard Premiership. Sky Sports remained the lead broadcaster, while ITV gained highlights rights after the BBC's Match of the Day.

As the season began, Manchester United entered their 10th season as defending champions, having won 7 titles in 9 years, including three consecutively since 1999. Strong rivals Liverpool, Newcastle United, and Arsenal aimed to challenge their dominance. Giovanni van Bronckhorst, a former Rangers player, replaced left-back Silvinho. Sol Campbell's surprising move from White Hart Lane to Highbury aimed to strengthen Arsenal's goals. Meanwhile, Ajax's Ruud van Nistelrooy joined Manchester United after a previous injury held him back in mid-2000, eagerly taking the famous No. 10 shirt after Teddy Sheringham left for Spurs.

The top and bottom of the Premiership proved to be exceptionally eventful from the very first day as the leadership of the league changed hands several times, with both Merseyside clubs making their mark and having their turn at the top of the table as well. Additionally, there were a number of very exciting and memorable matches that captivated fans and viewers alike, Charlton Athletic especially as they looked to build on their achievements of last year in their second season, their highlights included a first ever league win at Highbury where they came from behind to beat Arsenal 4-2 with Claus Jensen scoring an iconic goal that will forever live in the memory of Addicks fans for years to come. More was in store for Charlton as Sky Sports ‘ Ford Monday Night Football returned to The Valley on November 19th to witness an epic 8-goal thriller between them and West Ham.

In the previous east London clash that took place on January 22, which finished in a dramatic 1-1 draw, both sides showcased their competitive spirit by taking the lead twice throughout the game. New Addicks No.9 forward Jason Euell, who stepped in to fill the shoes of the retired Andy Hunt, and Jonatan Johansson both managed to score a double each. Additionally, Paul Kitson displayed his goal-scoring prowess by notching a hat-trick, marking his second for the club since achieving his first back in 1997 against Sheffield Wednesday. Former Charlton academy graduate Jermain Defoe also added to the excitement with a remarkable effort. On December 18, 2001, Newcastle broke their losing streak in London, winning 3-1 against Arsenal at Highbury, their first win there since May 1997. At the same time, Manchester United, thought to be out of the title race, bounced back with a 5-0 win over Derby during the Christmas and New Year period.

In February 2002, Southampton were the last team to take points from Arsenal during their 13-match unbeaten run, nearing a second title under Arsene Wenger. Thierry Henry shone, highlighted by Dennis Bergkamp's spectacular goal against Newcastle on March 2, later voted one of the Premier League's best. A crucial 2-0 win at Bolton on April 29, with goals from Freddie Ljungberg and Sylvain Wiltord, positioned them favorably after Tottenham defeated Liverpool two days prior.

On May 8, in the penultimate week of the season, Arsenal faced Manchester United at Old Trafford, the site of their previous 6-1 defeat. A draw would secure the title for Arsenal, while United needed a win to extend their title hopes to the final day. Sylvain Wiltord scored an injury-time winner, ending United’s three-year title reign and sealing Arsenal’s Premiership crown, complementing their FA Cup victory over Chelsea on May 4.

This win was important because it happened as key players, captain Tony Adams and full-back Lee Dixon, were about to retire after 19 and 14 years with Arsenal. They were part of the well-known Arsenal defense alongside Martin Keown and former teammates Nigel Winterburn and Steve Bould, who moved to West Ham and Sunderland one and two seasons earlier. Fulham, Blackburn, and Bolton, promoted from the First Division in 2000-2001, secured their league places in subsequent years.

Man City, which had been relegated a year earlier, quickly won the championship and returned to the top league, along with West Bromwich Albion and play-off winners Birmingham City. Ipswich, who had relegated Man City just over a year before, qualified for the UEFA Cup by finishing 5th in the previous season. However, their time in the top league ended sadly after just two seasons. They suffered an aggregate heavy defeat of 11-0 to Liverpool, enduring a crushing 6-0 home defeat at Portman Road, followed by a disheartening 5-0 thrashing at Anfield. This series of disappointing results ultimately sealed the Suffolk side’s fate. They became the third and final team to be relegated, following the East Midlands pair, Derby and Leicester, who exited the Premier League after their respective six-year stays at the top level.

2007/2008 - Barclays Premier League

The 2007-08 campaign, which was the first under the newly renamed Barclays Premier League, proved to be yet another year of significant success for Manchester United, both domestically at home and in Europe. They celebrated the triumph of securing their 10th Premier League title, alongside their hard-fought 3rd European crown in an all-English UEFA Champions League final against Chelsea, held in Moscow. This victory came just a year after the FA Cup final took place at the new Wembley, and it was a notable 13 years following United's impressive 4-0 victory over the Blues in the memorable season during which United experienced defeats against Chelsea both at home and away in September 1993 and March 1994.

In a contrasting narrative, Derby County marked their return to the Premier League following their last appearance in the top-flight, which had ended after their first tenure from 1996 to 2002. However, they etched their name in the record books by becoming the first side in the history of the Premier League to be relegated while accumulating the lowest points ever recorded in a single season, totaling just 11. This unfortunate outcome was compounded by their historic early relegation in March 2008, occurring two months prior to the conclusion of the season. This record would be surpassed 17 years later. Additionally Birmingham City and Reading, who had been promoted just one season earlier, also faced the disappointment of exiting the league.

2008/2009 - Barclays Premier League

The 2008/09 season proved to be yet another remarkable and record-breaking year for the defending champions Manchester United, as the coveted title once again remained in the North West region of England. This achievement was particularly significant, even though the team experienced the disappointment of losing the prestigious UEFA Champions League crown to Barcelona in a closely contested final held in Rome in May 2009. In domestic competitions, Chelsea emerged victorious, winning the FA Cup at Wembley for the second time in just three years at the New Wembley, this time overcoming a determined Everton in the final.

Despite their unfortunate loss in the FA Cup, the Toffees achieved the distinction of being one of three teams outside of the traditional top four to automatically qualify for the newly-renamed UEFA Europa League, joining Aston Villa and Fulham in this endeavour.

On the domestic front, the 2008-09 season marked the second time since 1997 that two of the three teams from the same region [North East of England] faced relegation to the EFL Championship, as Newcastle United and Middlesbrough’s 16 and 10 years stay in the Premier League ended. The third relegated position was occupied by West Brom.

Conversely, Hull City and Stoke City, both of whom were newly promoted to the highly competitive Barclays Premier League, successfully managed to retain their hard-won status in the top division, despite having suffered losses in their respective final home matches on the penultimate day of the season. The West Midlands side, with its spirited performances, would continue to remain a member of the top-flight league until 2018, contributing to the rich tapestry of English football during those years.

2013/2014 - Barclays Premier League

2014/2015 - Barclays Premier League

The 2014-2015 season was another memorable year for Chelsea. It marked ten years since their first title in this league, their second overall after their 1955 title in the First Division. Jose Mourinho returned to the club, looking to both new and familiar players to help Chelsea win the title. The Blues signed forward Diego Costa and left-back Filipe Luis from Atletico Madrid, as well as midfielder Cesc Fabregas from Arsenal and Barcelona. Didier Drogba also returned two years after leading the team to Champions League victory. All four, along with the rest of the squad, aimed to bring the title back to the West End.

The club maintained its top position throughout the season, finishing with three losses, including a thrilling 5-3 against Spurs. They won 26 matches and drew 9, securing the title 12 points ahead of Arsenal and 2 clear of second-placed Manchester City. Chelsea also won the EFL Cup, defeating Spurs in a rematch against the two London rivals in the 2008 edition, which the N17 side won.

Returning to the league this season were Leicester City, marking their return 11 years after their last appearance, as well as Burnley after a four-year absence, and Queens Park Rangers, who rejoined in 2011 but were relegated in 2013. They replaced Norwich, Fulham, and Cardiff, who had faced relegation after 3 years, 13 years, and a 12-month spell in the top tier, respectively. Leicester, despite struggling in the campaign, ultimately did enough to secure their place and finish 14th, positioning themselves ahead of the following season, which would remarkably change their fortunes for the better. Unfortunately, QPR and Hull City again faced the disappointment of folding back to the Championship after just one season in the Premier League.

2016/2017 - Premier League

2017/2018 - Premier League

In the 2017-2018 season, Chelsea Football Club began as the defending champions of the English Premier League but ultimately lost the title to Manchester City, who performed exceptionally well under the astute management of Pep Guardiola. Key signings such as Ilkay Gundogan, Bernardo Silva, and Gabriel Jesus significantly strengthened City's squad, helping them achieve an impressive total of 100 points by the end of the season. They set remarkable records for the most wins, most away victories, and the highest goal difference, all of which underscored their dominance in the league throughout that campaign. Chelsea did manage to secure the FA Cup by defeating Manchester United 1-0, with Eden Hazard notably scoring the crucial winning penalty, just a year after suffering a loss to Arsenal in the final.

Additionally, this season also marked a significant milestone not only for the league but also for fans, as the Premier League bid farewell to Arsene Wenger in what was his final year as the manager of Arsenal after an extraordinary tenure spanning 22 years at the helm, which officially began on September 30th, 1996, replacing Bruce Rioch after 1 year at the Islington club. During this remarkable period, he achieved a commendable tally of 7 FA Cups and 3 Premier League titles, including an unprecedented and historic unbeaten season in 2003-2004, which will forever be remembered in football history.

Meanwhile, April 1, 2018, marked a significant moment in football history as Tottenham Hotspur finally ended a lengthy and frustrating 28-year wait for a league victory in the Blue half of SW6, a drought that had persisted since February 1990. This long-awaited triumph was achieved as they came from behind to deliver an impressive 4-1 victory over their rivals, Chelsea, at Stamford Bridge. In a remarkable display of skill and determination, the promoted teams of Brighton, Huddersfield Town, and Newcastle United all performed admirably throughout the season, finishing commendably above the relegation zone and ensuring their survival in the competitive atmosphere of the top flight. In stark contrast, Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion, and Stoke City faced the harsh reality of relegation after enduring long spells within the league, lasting 7, 8, and 10 years, respectively, ultimately highlighting the challenges and unpredictability of football.

2018/2019 - Premier League

2019/2020 - Premier League

The 2019-2020 football season was undeniably one that once again shocked the football world as it unfolded in a whirlwind of unexpected events and impressive achievements. In a fashion reminiscent of Leicester City's astonishing surprise victory, Liverpool managed to break their long-standing drought, claiming their first top-flight title since 1990. After numerous attempts that spanned decades, Jurgen Klopp finally managed to lift the curse, allowing the red half of Merseyside to taste Premier League title success for the very first time. This remarkable accomplishment occurred during a season that was nearly brought to a halt as the looming presence of Coronavirus began to disrupt the football landscape significantly.

Indeed, the season faced an unprecedented suspension lasting from mid-March until June 17, leaving many fans and players alike in uncertainty. However, when the league resumed, Liverpool displayed remarkable resilience, refusing to be deterred and ultimately going on to secure the 2020 title. Throughout this journey, they established an impressive array of new records, including the earliest-ever title confirmation with seven games remaining in the season, the largest points lead ever maintained at 25 points, and a remarkable streak of 24 consecutive victories at Anfield, seven of which had been accumulated from the previous season. Furthermore, they shattered the former top-flight points record held by Chelsea, which dated back to 2004-2005, finishing the season with an impressive total of 99 points. This triumph marked the Merseysiders’ 19th domestic top-flight title.

As the new season kicked off with excitement and anticipation, two notable clubs made their much-anticipated return to the competitive atmosphere of the Premier League. Sheffield United joyfully came back after an extended absence of 13 long years since their relegation in 2006, while Leeds United made their long-awaited return following a frustrating 15-year hiatus from the top flight. In contrast, Norwich City, Watford, and Bournemouth all faced the disappointment of relegation after just one challenging year each, despite having enjoyed respective five-year stays in the top tier of English football.

2020/2021 - Premier League

2021/2022 - Premier League

2022/2023 - Premier League

2023/2024 - Premier League

2024/2025 - Premier League