FA Premier League

The FA Premier League (which, for sponsorship/legal reasons, is often referred to as the Barclays Premiership in the UK and the Barclays English Premier League internationally) is a league competiton for English Football clubs located at the top of the English football league system (above The Football League), making it England's main football competition.

Former Premier League Members

† Founding member of Premier League. (a) Now Milton Keynes Dons F.C.

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• Team movements for 2005–06 season:
• Crystal Palace, Norwich City and Southampton were relegated to The Championship. On a dramatic final day of the season, last-place West Bromwich Albion defeated Portsmouth, but had to see other results go their way. Norwich City, who started the day outside the drop zone, were destroyed 6–0 by Fulham. Southampton lost 2–1 to Man United. Palace were eight minutes from survival and leading Charlton 2–1, but Charlton equalised, consigning the Eagles to the drop.
• Sunderland have won The Championship for 2004–05, assuring themselves of a return to the Premier League for 2005–06.
• The second automatic promotion spot is taken by Wigan Athletic, which will play in the top flight for the first time in their history.
• The third and final promotion spot is taken by West Ham United when they defeated Preston North End 1–0 in the playoff final on May 30th, 2005, at Millennium Stadium in Cardiff.