[theo_luddite]

About a week or so back Colin Wanker spouted off in the Yorkshire Post about the promotion race.

He reckoned that the team finishing 6th, i.e. at the time Wendies or Fulham would have the most momentum and be favourites to go up. "Momentum can be huge once they get under way."

So was he talking out of the top of the head or is there any truth in it? The Easter weekend (as it often does) has stood the race for the Play-off's on their head and Town, Reading and Leeds might no longer be considered odds-on to qualify.

Looking at the twelve seasons (so far) of "The Championship" throws up the following facts:





For the first 5 seasons momentum had no bearing what-so-ever. It's had a bit more of a bearing since, but finishing 6th isn't the best place to launch a trip to the Prima Donna League from and being the club with the most momentum doesn't guarantee much either, but it probably doesn't hurt as much as it used to. I'd say it's still as much to do with who is up for it on the day as it is form coming in. Yes, play-off's have been around longer but I've picked these 12 seasons as the results are as easy to find as any.

In addition

Clubs finishing as Champions 6 times are still in the Prima Donna League. This includes Sunderland won it twice so only 5 different clubs, Burnley who have gone up in all 3 positions and WBA who also went up as runners up.

Clubs finishing 2nd 7 times are still in the Prima Donna League but this includes WBA who also went up once as Champions, Burnley as above who have gone up from all 3 positions, WBA as above, Watford who also won the Play-off final.

8 winners of the Play-off final are still in the Prima Donna League but West Ham have done it twice, Watford have also finished 2nd, Hull have done it twice and also finished 2nd,  Burnley have the hat-trick as above.

Clubs that have so far gone up once and made it stick are Leicester (1st), Bournmouth (1st), Stoke (2nd), Southampton (2nd), Swasnsea (Play-off) and Palace (Play-off). Middlesbrough finished 2nd last year and it remains to be seen whether they will be back down again along with (likely) Sundrland and one other from Swansea, Hull or anyone else that goes on a bad run in the bottom third.

15 clubs that went up at least once are still in The Championship or lower.

Overall - being a yo-yo club isn't that bad an option. Not making it back up before the parachute payments run out might not be a good thing though.

The data

Season 2004-5


Season 2005-6


Season 2006-7


Season 2007-8


Season 2008-9


Season 2009-10


Season 2010-11


Season 2011-12


Season 2012-13


Season 2013-14


Season 2014-15


Season 2015-16


You've got to be in it to win it