In football, there is no worse feeling than a relegation battle. It frays the nerves, and if your team is relegated, it can feel worse than any heartbreak ever experienced.
One relegation is terrible enough, but what if a team suffers relegation in back-to-back seasons? This unfortunate fate has happened to several English clubs. Here are just a few examples:
Swindon Town
The Robins earned promotion to the Premier League under future England boss Glenn Hoddle by winning the second-tier play-offs in season 1992-1993. It was the first time that Town had ever made it to the top flight of the English game, and they haven’t returned since.
In truth, Swindon was never truly equipped to play in the Premier League, especially as Hoddle left in the summer of 1993 to take over as Chelsea boss. They finished rock bottom of the table, having won just five of their 42 league games in the campaign.
Things got even worse for Swindon, as the following season, they finished 21st place in the second-tier table, suffering a second straight relegation, this time to the third tier.
However, they won the third-tier title in the following season, winning an immediate return to the second tier, then known as the First Division.
Wolves
The club from the Midlands won promotion to the Premier League in season 2009/10 but struggled to make an impact, as 15th and 17th place finishes in season 2009/10 illustrated.
Despite avoiding the drop in the previous campaign, Wolves suffered relegation in 2011/12. They finished bottom of the table, having claimed just five wins in the English top flight.
The following season, they were one of the favourites to win promotion back to the Premier League. However, things went horribly wrong for the team, as they finished 23rd out of 24 teams in the Championship and dropped into the third tier.
The following season, they finished as champions of League One, and in season 2017/18, they finally returned to the Premier League after winning the second-tier title.
Sunderland
For over a decade, from 2006 until 2017, Sunderland played Premier League football. However, for much of their time in the English top flight, the north east club were in the bottom half of the Premier League table.
Having come close to relegation in the previous campaigns, the Black Cats’ nine lives ran out in season 2016/17, when they finished bottom of the table and suffered relegation to the Championship.
The following season saw more misery for the north east club, as they suffered a second straight relegation to League One. The Black Cats finished 24th place in the second-tier table, having claimed just seven wins in their 46 outings.
Unfortunately for the north east club, there was no instant return to the Championship. It took them four seasons to return to the second tier, eventually winning promotion via the play-offs in season 2021/22. They are yet to return to the Premier League, though.
Luton Town
Not only did Luton suffer two straight relegations, but they also endured relegation in three consecutive campaigns. The Hatters’ ordeal began in season 2006/07 when they finished 23rd in the Championship table in season 2006/07.
The following season, it got even worse for Town, as they finished 24th place in League One. The subsequent campaign in League Two turned out to be another disastrous one, with a 24th-place finish seeing the team relegated out of the English Football League and into the Conference, now the National League.
However, Luton won promotion from the fifth tier in season 2013/14, and in season 2022/23, secured promotion back to the English top flight by winning the Championship play-offs.
Unfortunately for the Bedfordshire club, they suffered an instant return to the Championship, having finished 18th place in the Premier League table. At the time of writing it also looks like they will suffer relegation again in 2024/25 to league one.
Wolves (Again)
The Midlands club’s second entry onto our list. Luton was not the first club to suffer three straight relegations, as Wolves was one of the clubs that achieved that dubious distinction in the 1980s.
After winning promotion from the second tier in 1982/83, Wolves instantly returned to the Second Division the following campaign, finishing rock bottom of the table. Much worse was to follow, though.
The following season, Wanderers once again finished 22nd second in the league, but in the Second Division. The unwanted hat-tricks of relegations came in season 1985-86, when they slumped into the English fourth tier, having finished 23rd place in the table.
It took the club until season 2003/04 to make a return to the English top-flight. Even then, they suffered an immediate return to the second tier.
Bristol City
Even before Wolves, Bristol City suffered the misfortune of suffering three straight relegations. Like the Midlands outfit, the Robins suffered three consecutive defeats in the 1980s.
City’s horrendous run of relegations began in 1979/80, when they finished 20th in the old First Division and went down.
The following season, things got even worse for the Robins, as they finished 21st in the second tier, suffering relegation along with bitter-rivals Bristol Rovers.
Their third and final relegation of the terrible run came in season 1981/82, with a 23rd place finish. City has never returned to the English top flight but has become a mainstay in the second tier of the game in England in recent decades.