The reason the second level of English football is called the First Division lies in the long and complex history of the English league system. This was particularly visible during the changes brought about by the formation of the Premier League in 1992. Needless to say, the online betting 1xBet platform has plenty of wagers on the Premier League too.
Originally, from its creation in 1888, the Football League First Division was the top tier of English football. It was the highest level of competition, where legendary clubs competed for national glory, with 3 examples being:
- Liverpool;
- Manchester United;
- and Arsenal.
At 1xBet you can always find online betting on those 3 teams and many others too. Below the former First Division there were the Second, Third, and eventually Fourth Divisions, forming a straightforward and traditional hierarchy.
A huge change
However, in 1992, everything changed. The 22 clubs of the old First Division broke away from the Football League to form the Premier League, largely for commercial reasons. Television rights were becoming extremely valuable, and the leading clubs wanted greater control over their revenue and branding. This new Premier League replaced the Football League First Division as the top tier of English football. And with the 1xBet betting apps, you will find the best selection of wagers on English football too.
When those clubs departed, the structure below had to adjust. The Football League Second Division was now the highest remaining level within the Football League system, but to maintain continuity and prestige, it was renamed the First Division. In other words, the name “First Division” moved down one level, even though it was no longer the top flight. The betting apps from 1xBet also come with wagers on lower levels of English football too.
Another renaming process
This naming tradition continued until 2004, when the Football League underwent a major rebranding to modernize its image and attract sponsors. The divisions were renamed again. More specifically, the First Division became the Football League Championship (now known simply as the EFL Championship. And the 1xBet betting football platform also has wagers on this tournament too.
Also, the Second Division became League One and finally the Third Division became League Two. So, the “First Division” label for the 2nd tier was a historical holdover from before 1992. This was a reminder of a time when the Football League was the undisputed center of English football, before the Premier League era reshaped the landscape. And you can also enjoy the Premier League era by making football betting with the 1xBet website today.
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