Football League Fourth Division

The Fourth Division (or Division Four) of The Football League was the fourth-highest division in the English football league system from the 1958–59 season until the creation of the Premier League prior to the 1992–93 season. Whilst the division disappeared in name in 1992, the 4th tier of English football continued as the Football League Third Division, and later became known as Football League Two.
== History ==
The Fourth Division was created in 1958 alongside a new Third Division by merging the regionalised Third Division North and Third Division South. The original economic reasons for having the two regional leagues had become less apparent and thus it was decided to create two national leagues at levels three and four. The 12 best teams of each regional league in 1957–58 went into the Third Division, and the rest became founder members of the Fourth Division. 
Original members of Fourth Division were:
* From Third Division North: Barrow, Bradford (Park Avenue), Carlisle United, Chester City, Crewe Alexandra, Darlington, Gateshead, Hartlepool United, Oldham Athletic, Southport, Workington, York City
* From Third Division South: Aldershot, Coventry City, Crystal Palace, Exeter City, Gillingham, Millwall, Northampton Town, Port Vale, Shrewsbury Town, Torquay United, Walsall, Watford
Before 1987, the top four teams were promoted to the Third Division and the bottom four teams were subject to a re-election vote by other league clubs to determine whether they would remain in the league. Automatic relegation to the Conference was introduced in 1987, the same year the fourth promotion place began to be decided through a play-off.
The highest average league attendance in the Fourth Division was 19,092, achieved by Crystal Palace in the 1960/61 season. The highest attendance at an individual match was recorded the same season: 37,774 for the Good Friday game at Selhurst Park between Crystal Palace and Millwall.
==Ins and outs==
Automatic relegation between the Fourth Division and the Conference was introduced for the 1986–87 season.
===Elections to the Football League===
Season 	Out from Fourth Division	In from Regional Leagues	Notes
1959–60	Gateshead 	Peterborough United 	Peterborough elected from Midland Football League.
1961–62	Accrington Stanley 	Oxford United 	Accrington Stanley went out of business and their record was expunged.<BR>Oxford elected from Southern Football League.
1969–70	Bradford Park Avenue 	Cambridge United 	Cambridge elected from Southern Football League.
1971–72	Barrow 	Hereford United 	Hereford elected from Southern Football League.
1976–77	Workington 	Wimbledon 	Wimbledon elected from Southern Football League.
1977–78	Southport 	Wigan Athletic 	Wigan elected from Northern Premier League.
===Promotions and relegations from Football Conference===
Season 	Out from Fourth Division 	In from Football Conference	Notes
1986–87	Lincoln City 	Scarborough 	Lincoln relegated to Football Conference.
1987–88	Newport County 	Lincoln City 	Newport relegated to Football Conference.
1988–89	Darlington 	Maidstone United 	Darlington relegated to Football Conference.
1989–90	Colchester United 	Darlington 	Colchester relegated to Football Conference.
1990–91	None 	Barnet 	Wrexham finished in bottom place but was not relegated due to expansion of the First Division to 22 clubs (Fourth Division was thus expanded to 23 clubs).
1991–92	AldershotMaidstone United	Colchester United 	Aldershot resigned from the league before the end of the 1991-92 season, while Maidstone resigned before the 1992–93 season started. This returned the number of clubs to 22, which would start the renamed Third Division in August 1992.
==Play-offs==
See Football League Two Play-offs.
==External links==
* Top three clubs in each Division Four season, and links to season league tables – statto.com
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