# List of Rotherham United F.C. seasons

Rotherham United Football Club is an association football club based in Rotherham, South Yorkshire. The club was formed in 1925 as a merger between Rotherham Town and Rotherham County when it was decided that having two professional clubs in the town was not sustainable. After the merger, the club was elected to play in the Football League Third Division North. United played in the Third Division North until 1950–51, when they were champions of the division and were promoted to the Second Division. During their first spell in the Second Division the club reached the fifth round of the FA Cup twice and were runners up in the inaugural Football League Cup, which is the furthest they have reached in these competitions. Their furthest Football League Trophy run saw the club win the competition twice, in the 1995–96 season defeating Shrewsbury Town 2–1 in the final; and in the 2021–22 season defeating Sutton United 4–2 after extra time in the final.
As of the end of 2022–23, the club's first team has remained in the English Football League since its formation. Their highest finish came in 1954–55 when they finished in third place in the Second Division, missing out on promotion to the top division only on goal average. In total the club has spent 27 seasons in the second tier of the English football league system, 47 in the third and 13 in the fourth. Rotherham has qualified for four Football League play-offs, in 1998–99 they lost in the Third Division semi-final to Leyton Orient, in 2009–10 they reached the League Two final but lost 3–2 to Dagenham & Redbridge, in 2013–14 they reached the League One final and defeated Leyton Orient in a penalty shoot-out to gain promotion the Football League Championship, and in 2017–18 they again reached the League One final and defeated Shrewsbury Town 2–1 to gain promotion the EFL Championship. The table details their achievements in first-team competitions for each completed season since their first appearance in the Football League in 1925–26.

## Seasons

| Season | League record | League record | League record | League record | League record | League record | League record | League record | League record | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Trophy | Top scorer(s) | Top scorer(s) |
| Season | Division | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | Pts | Pos | FA Cup | EFL Cup | EFL Trophy | Player(s) | Goals |
| 1925–26 | Division 3N | 42 | 17 | 7 | 18 | 69 | 92 | 41 | 14th | R3 | — | — | | |
| 1926–27 | Division 3N | 42 | 10 | 12 | 20 | 70 | 92 | 32 | 19th | R1 | — | — | | |
| 1927–28 | Division 3N | 42 | 14 | 11 | 17 | 65 | 69 | 39 | 14th | R3 | — | — | | |
| 1928–29 | Division 3N | 42 | 15 | 9 | 18 | 60 | 77 | 39 | 16th | R1 | — | — | | |
| 1929–30 | Division 3N | 42 | 11 | 8 | 23 | 67 | 113 | 30 | 20th | R3 | — | — | | |
| 1930–31 | Division 3N | 42 | 13 | 12 | 17 | 81 | 83 | 38 | 14th | R1 | — | — | | |
| 1931–32 | Division 3N | 40 | 14 | 4 | 22 | 63 | 72 | 32 | 19th | R1 | — | — | | |
| 1932–33 | Division 3N | 42 | 14 | 6 | 22 | 60 | 84 | 34 | 17th | R1 | — | — | | |
| 1933–34 | Division 3N | 42 | 10 | 8 | 24 | 53 | 91 | 28 | 21st | R3 | — | — | | |
| 1934–35 | Division 3N | 42 | 19 | 7 | 16 | 86 | 73 | 45 | 9th | R2 | — | — | | |
| 1935–36 | Division 3N | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 69 | 66 | 41 | 11th | R2 | — | — | | |
| 1936–37 | Division 3N | 42 | 14 | 7 | 21 | 78 | 91 | 35 | 17th | R1 | — | — | | |
| 1937–38 | Division 3N | 42 | 20 | 10 | 12 | 68 | 56 | 50 | 6th | R2 | — | — | | |
| 1938–39 | Division 3N | 42 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 64 | 64 | 42 | 11th | R1 | — | — | | |
| 1939–40 | Division 3N | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 11th | — | — | | |
| 1939–45 | No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1945 due to the Second World War. | No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1945 due to the Second World War. | No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1945 due to the Second World War. | No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1945 due to the Second World War. | No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1945 due to the Second World War. | No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1945 due to the Second World War. | No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1945 due to the Second World War. | No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1945 due to the Second World War. | No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1945 due to the Second World War. | No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1945 due to the Second World War. | No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1945 due to the Second World War. | No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1945 due to the Second World War. | No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1945 due to the Second World War. | No competitive football was played between 1939 and 1945 due to the Second World War. |
| 1945–46 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | R4 | — | — | | |
| 1946–47 | Division 3N | 42 | 29 | 6 | 7 | 114 | 53 | 64 | 2nd | R3 | — | — | | |
| 1947–48 | Division 3N | 42 | 25 | 9 | 8 | 95 | 49 | 59 | 2nd | R1 | — | — | | |
| 1948–49 | Division 3N | 42 | 28 | 6 | 8 | 90 | 46 | 62 | 2nd | R3 | — | — | | |
| 1949–50 | Division 3N | 42 | 19 | 10 | 13 | 80 | 59 | 48 | 6th | R3 | — | — | | |
| 1950–51 | Division 3N ↑ | 46 | 31 | 9 | 6 | 103 | 41 | 71 | 1st | R4 | — | — | | |
| 1951–52 | Division 2 | 42 | 17 | 8 | 17 | 73 | 71 | 42 | 9th | R4 | — | — | | |
| 1952–53 | Division 2 | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 75 | 74 | 41 | 12th | R5 | — | — | | |
| 1953–54 | Division 2 | 42 | 21 | 7 | 14 | 80 | 67 | 49 | 5th | R4 | — | — | | |
| 1954–55 | Division 2 | 42 | 25 | 4 | 13 | 94 | 64 | 54 | 3rd | R4 | — | — | | |
| 1955–56 | Division 2 | 42 | 12 | 9 | 21 | 56 | 75 | 33 | 19th | R3 | — | — | | |
| 1956–57 | Division 2 | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 74 | 75 | 37 | 17th | R3 | — | — | | |
| 1957–58 | Division 2 | 42 | 14 | 5 | 23 | 65 | 101 | 33 | 18th | R3 | — | — | | |
| 1958–59 | Division 2 | 42 | 10 | 9 | 23 | 42 | 82 | 29 | 20th | R3 | — | — | | |
| 1959–60 | Division 2 | 42 | 17 | 13 | 12 | 61 | 60 | 47 | 8th | R4 | — | — | | |
| 1960–61 | Division 2 | 42 | 12 | 13 | 17 | 65 | 64 | 37 | 15th | R4 | RU | — | | |
| 1961–62 | Division 2 | 42 | 16 | 9 | 17 | 70 | 76 | 41 | 9th | R3 | QF | — | | |
| 1962–63 | Division 2 | 42 | 17 | 6 | 19 | 67 | 74 | 40 | 14th | R3 | R4 | — | | |
| 1963–64 | Division 2 | 42 | 19 | 7 | 16 | 90 | 78 | 45 | 7th | R3 | QF | — | | |
| 1964–65 | Division 2 | 42 | 14 | 12 | 16 | 70 | 69 | 40 | 14th | R4 | R3 | — | | |
| 1965–66 | Division 2 | 42 | 16 | 14 | 12 | 75 | 74 | 46 | 7th | R4 | R4 | — | | |
| 1966–67 | Division 2 | 42 | 13 | 10 | 19 | 61 | 70 | 36 | 18th | R4 | R3 | — | | |
| 1967–68 | Division 2 ↓ | 42 | 10 | 11 | 21 | 42 | 76 | 31 | 21st | R5 | R2 | — | | |
| 1968–69 | Division 3 | 46 | 16 | 13 | 17 | 56 | 50 | 45 | 11th | R2 | R1 | — | | |
| 1969–70 | Division 3 | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 62 | 54 | 44 | 14th | R3 | R3 | — | | |
| 1970–71 | Division 3 | 46 | 17 | 16 | 13 | 64 | 60 | 50 | 8th | R3 | R2 | — | | |
| 1971–72 | Division 3 | 46 | 20 | 15 | 11 | 69 | 52 | 55 | 5th | R4 | R1 | — | | |
| 1972–73 | Division 3 ↓ | 46 | 17 | 7 | 22 | 51 | 65 | 41 | 21st | R2 | R3 | — | | |
| 1973–74 | Division 4 | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 56 | 58 | 43 | 15th | R2 | R2 | — | | |
| 1974–75 | Division 4 ↑ | 46 | 22 | 15 | 9 | 71 | 41 | 59 | 3rd | R3 | R2 | — | | |
| 1975–76 | Division 3 | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 54 | 65 | 42 | 16th | R2 | R1 | — | | |
| 1976–77 | Division 3 | 46 | 22 | 15 | 9 | 69 | 44 | 59 | 4th | R3 | R2 | — | | |
| 1977–78 | Division 3 | 46 | 13 | 13 | 20 | 51 | 68 | 39 | 20th | R3 | R2 | — | | |
| 1978–79 | Division 3 | 46 | 17 | 10 | 19 | 49 | 55 | 44 | 17th | R3 | R3 | — | | |
| 1979–80 | Division 3 | 46 | 18 | 10 | 18 | 58 | 66 | 46 | 13th | R2 | R2 | — | | |
| 1980–81 | Division 3 ↑ | 46 | 24 | 13 | 9 | 62 | 32 | 61 | 1st | R2 | R1 | — | | |
| 1981–82 | Division 2 | 42 | 20 | 7 | 15 | 66 | 54 | 67 | 7th | R3 | R2 | — | | |
| 1982–83 | Division 2 ↓ | 42 | 10 | 15 | 17 | 45 | 68 | 45 | 20th | R3 | R3 | — | | |
| 1983–84 | Division 3 | 46 | 15 | 9 | 22 | 57 | 64 | 54 | 18th | R3 | QF | R1 | | |
| 1984–85 | Division 3 | 46 | 18 | 11 | 17 | 55 | 55 | 65 | 12th | R1 | R3 | R1 | | |
| 1985–86 | Division 3 | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 61 | 59 | 57 | 14th | R4 | R1 | QF | | |
| 1986–87 | Division 3 | 46 | 15 | 12 | 19 | 48 | 57 | 57 | 14th | R1 | R2 | PR | | |
| 1987–88 | Division 3 ↓ | 46 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 50 | 66 | 52 | 21st | R2 | R2 | R1 | | |
| 1988–89 | Division 4 ↑ | 46 | 22 | 16 | 8 | 76 | 35 | 82 | 1st | R2 | R2 | R1 | | |
| 1989–90 | Division 3 | 46 | 17 | 13 | 16 | 71 | 62 | 64 | 9th | R2 | R2 | QF | | |
| 1990–91 | Division 3 ↓ | 46 | 10 | 12 | 24 | 50 | 87 | 42 | 23rd | R4 | R2 | R1 | | |
| 1991–92 | Division 4 ↑ | 42 | 22 | 11 | 9 | 70 | 37 | 77 | 2nd | R2 | R1 | QF | | |
| 1992–93 | Division 2 | 46 | 17 | 14 | 15 | 60 | 60 | 65 | 11th | R4 | R2 | R2 | | |
| 1993–94 | Division 2 | 46 | 15 | 13 | 18 | 63 | 60 | 58 | 15th | R1 | R2 | R2 | | |
| 1994–95 | Division 2 | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 57 | 61 | 56 | 17th | R2 | R1 | R2 | | |
| 1995–96 | Division 2 | 46 | 14 | 14 | 18 | 54 | 62 | 56 | 16th | R1 | R2 | W | Earl Jean | 6 |
| 1996–97 | Division 2 ↓ | 46 | 7 | 14 | 25 | 39 | 70 | 35 | 23rd | R1 | R1 | R1 | Leo Fortune-West | 17 |
| 1997–98 | Division 3 | 46 | 16 | 19 | 11 | 67 | 61 | 67 | 9th | R3 | R1 | R2 | Lee Glover | 18 |
| 1998–99 | Division 3 | 46 | 20 | 13 | 13 | 79 | 61 | 73 | 5th | R3 | R1 | R1 | Leo Fortune-WestLee Glover | 12 |
| 1999–2000 | Division 3 ↑ | 46 | 24 | 12 | 10 | 72 | 36 | 84 | 2nd | R2 | R1 | R2 | Leo Fortune-West | 17 |
| 2000–01 | Division 2 ↑ | 46 | 27 | 10 | 9 | 79 | 55 | 91 | 2nd | R3 | R1 | R1 | Mark Robins | 26 |
| 2001–02 | Division 1 | 46 | 10 | 19 | 17 | 52 | 66 | 49 | 21st | R4 | R2 | — | Mark Robins | 16 |
| 2002–03 | Division 1 | 46 | 15 | 14 | 17 | 62 | 62 | 59 | 15th | R3 | R4 | — | Alan Lee | 16 |
| 2003–04 | Division 1 | 46 | 13 | 15 | 18 | 53 | 61 | 54 | 17th | R3 | R3 | — | Martin Butler | 15 |
| 2004–05 | Championship↓ | 46 | 5 | 14 | 27 | 35 | 69 | 29 | 24th | R3 | R2 | — | Martin Butler | 6 |
| 2005–06 | League 1 | 46 | 12 | 16 | 18 | 52 | 62 | 52 | 20th | R1 | R2 | R2 | Deon Burton | 14 |
| 2006–07 | League 1 ↓ | 46 | 13 | 9 | 24 | 58 | 75 | 38 | 23rd | R1 | R2 | R1 | Will Hoskins | 16 |
| 2007–08 | League 2 | 46 | 21 | 11 | 14 | 62 | 58 | 64 | 9th | R1 | R1 | R2 | Derek HolmesChris O'Grady | 11 |
| 2008–09 | League 2 | 46 | 21 | 12 | 13 | 60 | 46 | 58 | 14th | R1 | R4 | F(N) | Reuben Reid | 19 |
| 2009–10 | League 2 | 46 | 21 | 10 | 15 | 55 | 52 | 73 | 5th | R2 | R2 | R1 | Adam Le Fondre | 30 |
| 2010–11 | League 2 | 46 | 17 | 15 | 14 | 75 | 60 | 66 | 9th | R1 | R1 | QF | Adam Le Fondre | 25 |
| 2011–12 | League 2 | 46 | 18 | 13 | 15 | 67 | 63 | 67 | 10th | R2 | R1 | R2 | Lewis Grabban | 20 |
| 2012–13 | League 2 ↑ | 46 | 24 | 7 | 15 | 74 | 59 | 79 | 2nd | R3 | R1 | R1 | Daniel Nardiello | 13 |
| 2013–14 | League 1 ↑ | 46 | 24 | 14 | 8 | 86 | 58 | 86 | 4th | R2 | R2 | SF | Kieran Agard | 18 |
| 2014–15 | Championship | 46 | 11 | 16 | 19 | 46 | 67 | 46 | 21st | R3 | R2 | — | Matt Derbyshire | 10 |
| 2015–16 | Championship | 46 | 13 | 10 | 23 | 53 | 71 | 49 | 21st | R3 | R2 | — | Matt Derbyshire | 8 |
| 2016–17 | Championship ↓ | 46 | 5 | 8 | 33 | 40 | 98 | 23 | 24th | R3 | R1 | — | Danny Ward | 12 |
| 2017–18 | League 1 ↑ | 46 | 24 | 7 | 15 | 73 | 53 | 79 | 4th | R1 | R1 | R1 | Kieffer Moore | 13 |
| 2018–19 | Championship ↓ | 46 | 8 | 16 | 22 | 36 | 77 | 40 | 22nd | R3 | R1 | — | Semi AjayiMichael SmithWill Vaulks | 8 |
| 2019–20 | League 1 ↑ | 35 | 18 | 8 | 9 | 61 | 38 | 62 | 2nd | R3 | R2 | GS | Freddie Ladapo | 17 |
| 2020–21 | Championship ↓ | 46 | 11 | 9 | 26 | 44 | 60 | 42 | 23rd | R3 | R1 | — | Michael Smith | 10 |
| 2021–22 | League 1 ↑ | 46 | 27 | 9 | 10 | 70 | 33 | 90 | 2nd | R3 | R1 | W | Michael Smith | 25 |
| 2022–23 | Championship | 46 | 11 | 17 | 18 | 49 | 60 | 50 | 19th | R3 | R2 | — | Chiedozie Ogbene | 9 |
| 2023–24 | Championship ↓ | 46 | 5 | 12 | 29 | 37 | 89 | 27 | 24th | R3 | R2 | — | Tom Eaves | 6 |