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Biggest Clubs Never to Have Played in the Premier League: 2023-24 Season

Last season we wrote about the biggest clubs never to have played in the Premier League. Well, Luton Town who were on the list have since been promoted following a play-off final victory against Coventry City.

Let’s refresh the list and take a look at the 2023-24 season and the biggest clubs yet to feature in the English Premier League: 

10. Tranmere Rovers

During the 90’s Tranmere lost First Division play-off games in three consecutive seasons that could have earned them promotion to the Premier League. The Merseyside club are one of the better supported clubs in the lower divisions and would be a good rival to Liverpool and Everton in the Premier League.

For now, the closest Tranmere have got to the EPL is with club fan and former Premier League referee Mike Dean who retired following the 2021-22 season. 

9. AFC Wimbledon

Wimbledon FC was founded in 1889, won the FA Cup in 1988 and were a regular fixture in the early Premier League years. Financial issues and lack of a suitable stadium led to the club’s unceremonious relocation to Milton Keynes in 2004.

Phoenix club AFC Wimbledon was formed in 2002 by disgruntled fans. A new Plough Lane stadium was completed in 2019 and it has the ability to expand to a 20,000 capacity. 

8 . Port Vale

Port Vale have spent most of their history in the second and third division and since 1892 have only been involved in 16 non-League football seasons, a record for most seasons in the English Football League and second tier, without reaching the top tier.

The closest Port Vale got to reaching the Premier League was an 8th place finish at the end of the 1996-97 season finishing four points off the play-off spots.

7. Notts County

Founded in 1862, Notts County are the oldest professional football club in the world and the club spent most of their early years in the First Division. Notts County featured in the final season of the old First Division but were relegated and missed out on the first ever Premier League season in 1992.

For the first time in 157 years the club were relegated out of the Football League in 2019 and are competing in League Two in the 2023-24 season.  

6. Oxford United FC

Oxford itself isn’t a large city but it’s famous, is in close proximity to London, and is known for its world renowned ancient university. The city’s club Oxford United reached top flight football during the mid-80s and lasted three years in the division.

Since then the club has experienced life as a non-League club, a return to the Football League and turbulent ownership issues. The lease at Kassam Stadium ends in 2026 and Oxford United will need to sort out a stadium arrangement if they ever want to be a Premier League club.

5. Rotherham United

Yorkshire clubs Leeds, Sheffield Wednesday and United, Middlesbrough, Huddersfield, Barnsley and Bradford have all been Premier League clubs, so why can’t Rotherham? 

This could so easily have been Doncaster Rovers but Rotherham are playing in the Championship this season and Doncaster are in League Two. Rotherham also own and operate the 12,000-seat New York Stadium which could expand to 20,000 seats. 

4. Plymouth Argyle

Plymouth is the largest city in England never to have hosted a Premier League team, or a team in the English top flight. The closest Plymouth Argyle ever got to the top tier was in 1953 when they finished fourth in the second tier.

With crowds of close to 10,000 when playing in League Two, Plymouth Argyle have the potential to be a future Premier League team and they even own their stadium which gives them greater financial stability. In the 2023-24 season they are competing in the Championship for the first time since 2010 with crowds averaging above 16,000.

3. Bristol City

Bristol is one of the larger cities in England and Bristol City is one of the biggest clubs never to have played in the Premier League. They’re also consistently one of the best supported clubs outside the top division.

Founded in 1894, Bristol City have spent almost it’s entire history playing in the second or third tier of English football. The last time the club played in the top division was in 1980 before the Premier League era, and they’ve been a mid-table Championship team for the last few seasons. 

2. Millwall

In the late 80’s Millwall played their only two seasons in the English top flight with a young Teddy Sheringham up front. Tim Cahill, one of the most underrated Premier League midfielders of all time, also made a name for himself at the club before a move to Everton.

Despite being one of the biggest hooligan clubs in English football Millwall has strong attendances and play out of one of the better stadiums outside the Premier League. Millwall sensationally collapsed during the final game of last season against Blackburn to miss out on a playoff spot but it feels like only a matter of time before the club earns a Premier League spot.

1. Preston North End

Preston North End were the first club to win the league title in 1888-89 and they went back-to-back the following season. They’re the only club to have won the top flight of English football and to have never played in the Premier League.

Throughout the 2000’s Preston North End failed four times to earn promotion through the Championship play-offs. The club lost the 2001 and 2005 play-off finals to Bolton and West Ham respectively. Preston North end remains the biggest club never to have played in the Premier League but have a real shot at doing so during the 2023-24 season.

Matt Ieriko

Matt Ieriko is a freelance writer who’s evolved his lifelong passion for sport into the creation of WolfgangSport.com in 2020 – an American sports blog covering the NBA, NFL, MLB, NHL, MLS and more. As an Australian, he’s always been fascinated with the cultural differences and global significance of sports in America.

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