Many clubs have been successful in the history of the English game, winning trophies and enjoying periods of glory. However, for some clubs, there has been a major draught of winning silverware. Here are the clubs with the longest trophy draughts in the history of football:
Notts County (131 years without a major trophy, last domestic trophy 1894)
In the early days of professional football, Notts County was a force to be reckoned with. In fact, the Magpies were founded in 1862, making them one of the oldest professional clubs in the world.
County’s last trophy was also their only major domestic silverware, as they lifted the FA Cup in season 1893/94. Unfortunately for the Midlands team, the club has been through a turbulent spell in recent decades, even dropping out of the Football League.
Although their chances of domestic silverware in the near future seem slim, at least the Magpies now seem to be heading in the right direction, challenging for promotion to League One.
Sheffield United (100 years without a major trophy, last trophy 1925)
Like Notts County, Sheffield United enjoyed a period of success in the nascent period of the English game. The Blades were crowned as English champions for the only time in season 1897/98.
The Yorkshire outfit also won the FA Cup four times from 1899 to 1925. However, that was where their domestic silverware days halted, as it is now a century since the red and white half of Sheffield has won a major trophy.
Huddersfield Town (99 years without a major trophy, last trophy 1926)
The Terriers were one of the best teams in the English game in the early 1920s under the legendary manager Herbert Chapman. They claimed the English top-flight title on four occasions in seasons 1923/24, 1924/25 and 1925/26, while also finishing as runners-up in seasons 1926/27 and 1928/29. Town also won the FA Cup in 1922.
Their title in 1926 is their latest domestic silverware. The Terriers have been up and down the league in recent decades. They were last in the English top flight in 2019.
Cardiff City (98 years without a major trophy, last trophy 1927)
Cardiff are the only non-English team ever to lift the FA Cup, having won the FA Cup in 1927. The side from the Welsh capital has also been runners-up in the competition on two occasions, in 1924/25 and 2007/08.
The Bluebirds also won the Charity Shield (the Community Shield) in the same year. However, the Community Shield is not regarded as a major piece of silverware, but either way, Cardiff has failed to lift a major piece of domestic silverware since 1927.
Sheffield Wednesday (90 without a major trophy, last trophy 1935)
Like many of the clubs on our list, Sheffield Wednesday’s glory days are now almost a century ago. The Owls won the English top-flight title on four occasions in seasons 1902/03, 1903/04, 1928/29, and 1929/30.
Wednesday also experienced success in the FA Cup, lifting the trophy in seasons 1895/96 and 1906/07 before claiming their most recent victory in the 1934/35 edition of the competition. Unfortunately for the Yorkshire team, it was their last piece of major silverware.
Preston North End (87 years without a major trophy, last trophy 1938)
North End are one of the most historic clubs in the English game. They were founder members of the Football League, and they were the first-ever team to do the double in 1889. Preston are also in a distinguished club alongside Arsenal, as being the only club to remain unbeaten in a top-flight campaign.
The Lancashire outfit didn’t just win the league title in 1889, but they also won the title a second time the following season. However, that is not their latest major trophy, as Preston won the FA Cup for a second time in 1938. Unfortunately for the historic club, they have failed to repeat the feat in recent decades.
The Lilywhites haven’t even featured in the English top flight since season 1960/61 when they suffered relegation to the second tier.
Charlton Athletic (78 years without a major trophy, last trophy 1947)
The Addicks have struggled for silverware in their history, as winning the FA Cup in 1947 remains the only time that the capital outfit has lifted major silverware.
Charlton had previously finished as top-flight runners-up in season 1934/35, while they also reached the FA Cup final the season before they lifted the trophy.
The Addicks have experienced a rollercoaster ride of emotions in recent decades, as they have featured in all three of England’s top divisions at various points. In their current situation, it seems unlikely that they will end their trophy drought anytime soon.
Blackpool (72 years without a major trophy, last trophy 1953)
Like their Lancastrian rivals Preston, Blackpool’s greatest glories came over half a century ago. The Tangerines have only ever won one major domestic trophy, lifting the FA Cup in 1953.
The team has won some minor trophies more recently. In 1971, the team did win the now-defunct Anglo-Italian Cup, although the competition wasn’t regarded as a major competition. They also won the EFL Trophy in seasons 2001/02 and 2003/04, but not many would consider the EFL Trophy a major competition.