With all six new teams in the Championship now decided we thought we’d provide a brief look at who they are and what they offer the league.
LEICESTER CITY
Very few people predicted them to come down, they were in a European semi-final just last year, they won the FA Cup and Community Shield not so long ago and of course they won the Premier League and were in the Champions League less than a decade ago. Relative to their wages, their relegation is one of the worst in Premier League history.
They were founded in 1884, 139 years ago, as Leicester Fosse FC. They’ve won one English title, one FA Cup, three EFL Cups and two Community Shields since then. Six of those seasons they’ve spent in a European competition, stretching back to the 1961/62 Cup Winners’ Cup and most recently the 2021/22 Conference League.
Leicester play at the King Power Stadium, with a capacity of 32,262 and was built in 2002. Their owners are the King Power duty-free business from Thailand and Dean Smith is their current manager.
Graham Cross is their all time record appearance maker, playing for Leicester exactly 600 times between 1961 and 1975. The Foxes’ (as they are nicknamed) all time top goal scorer is Arthur Chandler and he scored 273 times for them between 1923 and 1935.
The last time we met was the 4th April 2017, with Sunderland succumbing to a 2-0 defeat in the Premier League. Leicester also began their title winning campaign of 2015/16 with a 4-2 victory over us.
Leicester almost avoided relegation this season, for some time on the final day of the Premier League they were sat above the drop zone as they were winning, then Everton’s Abdoulaye Doucoure scored a screamer to keep them up and send the foxes down. Their team is full of talent capable of staying in the Premier League and I think when we face them they will have a lot of fresh faces.
LEEDS UNITED
It’s been a disastrous couple of years for Leeds United, after coming up to the Premier League they started strongly and finished 9th in their first season back in the top flight. The next season they avoided relegation by a whisker, finishing 17th and sacking Marcelo Bielsa along the way (in hindsight an awful decision). This season they’ve had three different permanent managers Jesse Marsch, Javi Gracia and their current manager Sam Allardyce (ex-SAFC player and manager as well of course) and were relegated on the final day like Leicester.
Founded on the 17th October 1919, 103 years ago. They’ve won three English titles, one FA Cup, one League Cup and two Community Shields. 18 seasons of their history have involved European football, going back to the 1965-66 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and most recently the 2002-03 UEFA Cup.
They play at Elland Road, constructed in 1897, with a capacity of 37,608. Their current owners are Andrea Radrizanni (56% stake) and Denise DeBartolo York (44%) stake.
Their nickname is The Whites. Their record appearance holder is Jack Charlton who played 773 times for them between 1952 and 1973. Leeds’ all time record goalscorer is Peter Lorimer who netted 238 times between 1962 and 1979.
The last time we met was the 7th April 2018, a 1-1 draw in the Championship. Of course it would be a crime not to mention the fact we beat them 1-0 to secure our second FA Cup in 1973.
SOUTHAMPTON
Southampton have just spent 11 seasons in the Premier League, so arguably there’s not much shame in coming down now although they would have liked to have been relegated with more than 25 points I’m sure. Their time in the top flight included a number of top half finishes that saw them compete in the Europa League a few times and they reached the final of the EFL Cup in 2017, losing out to Manchester United.
They were founded on the 21st November 1885 as the St Mary’s YMA, 137 years ago. Southampton have won one major trophy in their history, in 1976 the FA Cup, becoming only the second team in the second tier to win the FA Cup (after us of course). European history for them consists of 11 seasons (sort of), with the first time being the 1961-62 Anglo-French Friendship cup, you win all of the points if you were aware of that competition's existence, and most recently the 2016-17 Europa League.
Southampton play at St Mary’s Stadium, built in 2000 and holding 32,384 spectators. Currently owned by Sport Republic, a British sports investment business, they have no manager currently.
They are nicknamed The Saints. Their record appearance holder is Terry Paine who made 815 appearances between 1956 and 1974. Their record goal scorer is Mick Channon who scored 228 goals across two spells between 1966 and 1977 and again from 1979 to 1982.
The last time we met was the 11th February 2017, with Sunderland losing 4-0 in the Premier League. Notably they also beat us 8-0 in 2014.
PLYMOUTH ARGYLE
The champions of League One return to the Championship after an extended absence. After earning promotion out of League Two, they spent three seasons in League One, narrowly missing out on play-offs on the final day of the 2021-2022 season and getting promoted as champions the season after.
Founded in 1886 as Argyle FC, 137 years ago. They have won no major trophies and have never played in Europe.
Argyle play at the 17,900 capacity Home Park, built in 1892. They are owned by Simon Hallett and managed by Steven Schumacher.
Their nickname is The Pilgrims. Argyle’s record appearance holder is Kevin Hodges who played 620 times between 1978 and 1992. Sammy Black is their record all time top goalscorer, putting the ball in the net 184 times between 1924 and 1938.
The last time we played was the 18th April 2022, a 0-0 draw in League One. Plymouth vs Sunderland is notable for being the longest away trip in the EFL, a round trip of just over 800 miles.
IPSWICH
Ipswich were relegated from the Championship and, like us, ended up failing to get promoted straight away. Their time in League One can be summed up by them signing over 20 players at the start of 21/22 and an affiliation with Ed Sheeran. They did earn automatic promotion and will join us in the Championship for the 23/24 campaign.
Founded on the 16th October 1878, 144 years ago. They have gone on to win one English title, one FA Cup and a UEFA Cup. Their European history involves 12 seasons. Their first time was the 1962-63 European Cup and most recently the 2002-03 UEFA Cup.
They play at Portman Road, built in 1884, it has a capacity of 29,673. They are owned by Gamechanger 20, a British business. Currently Ipswich are managed by Kieran Mckenna.
Their nicknames are The Tractors and The Blues. Mick Mills made 737 appearances between 1966 and 1982 and is their record appearance maker. Their all time top goalscorer is Ray Crawford who scored 218 times in two spells between 1958 and 1963 and again between 1965 and 1968.
The last time we played was the 18th December 2021, a 1-1 draw in League One. Our ex-club captain Grant Leadbitter also played for Ipswich.
SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY
Sheffield Wednesday are back in the Championship following two seasons in League One, both of which they competed in the play-offs. The first time around was notable for involving us, with Patrick Roberts securing a 2-1 aggregate win for SAFC with a stoppage time equaliser at Hillsborough. The second time around was even more noteworthy, after defeat in the first leg away to Peterborough 4-0; few people believed they could come back. Of course they won the second leg 5-1, after taking the game to extra time through a last minute goal, and would triumph on penalties. There was even more drama in the final with Sheffield Wednesday securing Championship football via a 123rd minute winner to beat out Yorkshire rivals Barnsley.
Founded on the 4th September 1867, as The Wednesday (155 years ago), they have gone on to win four English titles, three FA Cups, one League Cup and a Community Shield. They’ve been in Europe six times, firstly the 1961-62 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup and the latest the 1995-96 Intertoto Cup.
Their home is the 34,854 capacity Hillsborough Stadium, built in 1899. They are owned by Dejphon Chansiri and managed by Darren Moore.
Their nickname is The Owls. Andrew Wilson is their record appearance maker (560 between 1900 and 1920) and he is also their record goal scorer (217).
The last time we played was the 10th August 2022, a 2-0 defeat for the Black Cats in the League Cup. Sunderland of course played at Hillsborough for the 1973 FA Cup semi-final victory over Arsenal, a 2-1 win.
