RE-ELECTION

Re-election was something I thought was way in the past, but it ran for almost 100 seasons from the first season in 1888 through to 1986.

The idea was that teams in the lowest division had no relegation to be afraid of, so they had to ask to be allowed to the stay in the League. That was through the process of Re-Election, where they presented their case at the Football League Annual General Meeting and, presumably, sweated on the vote.
If they passed re-election they were allowed to stay in the League. If they failed, they were replaced with a non-League team that had requested an Election to the League.


THE TEAMS
The teams that faced the most re-elections were Hartlepool United and Lincoln City, both with fourteen. Amazingly, Hartlepool passed every one.

Total Division 1 Division 2 Division 3 Division 4
Club Count Pass Fail Count Pass Fail Count Pass Fail Count Pass Fail Count Pass Fail
Hartlepool United1414000000033011110
Lincoln City14113000963000550
Crewe Alexandra13121000431330660
Barrow11101000000550651
Halifax Town11110000000660550
Southport11101000000550651
Stockport County11101000651000550
Newport County1091000000651440
Rochdale10100000000440660
Exeter City880000000660220
Accrington Stanley770220000550000
Chester City770000000220550
Darlington770000000330440
Walsall761000101660000
Workington761000000220541
York City770000000110660
Bradford Park Avenue541000000110431
Burslem Port Vale532000532000000
Chesterfield541000541000000
Gillingham541000000541000
Grimsby Town532000312110110
New Brighton541000000541000
Blackpool431000321000110
Doncaster Rovers422000202000220
Glossop North End431000431000000
Northampton Town440000000000440
Norwich City440000000440000
Aldershot330000000220110
Bradford City330000000110220
Burnley330220110000000
Burton United321000321000000
Colchester United330000000220110
Crystal Palace330000000330000
Darwen312101211000000
Gainsborough Trinity321000321000000
Hereford United330000000000330
Leicester Fosse330000330000000
Loughborough321000321000000
Merthyr Town321000000321000
Stoke321321000000000
Swindon Town330000000330000
Torquay United330000000110220
Tranmere Rovers330000000220110
Aberdare Athletic211000000211000
Ashington211000000211000
Bournemouth and Boscombe Athletic220000000220000
Brentford220000000220000
Burton Swifts220000220000000
Derby County220220000000000
Durham City211000000211000
Gateshead211000000110101
Millwall220000000220000
Nelson211000000211000
Nottingham Forest220000220000000
Notts County220220000000000
Oldham Athletic220000000000220
Queens Park Rangers220000000220000
Rotherham Town211000211000000
Scunthorpe United220000000000220
Southend United220000000220000
Walsall Town Swifts211000211000000
Watford220000000220000
Aston Villa110110000000000
Barnsley110000110000000
Birmingham City110000110000000
Brighton and Hove Albion110000000110000
Bristol Rovers110000000110000
Burton Wanderers101000101000000
Cambridge United110000000000110
Cardiff City110000000110000
Carlisle United110000000110000
Charlton Athletic110000000110000
Clapton Orient110000110000000
Coventry City110000110000000
Leeds City110000110000000
Luton Town101000101000000
Manchester City110000110000000
Mansfield Town110000000110000
Northwich Victoria101000101000000
Port Vale110000000000110
Preston North End110000000000110
Rotherham County110000000110000
Rotherham United110000000110000
Swansea City110000000000110
West Bromwich Albion110110000000000
Wrexham110000000000110

RE-ELECTIONS BY SEASON
This is a list of the re-elections for each season, with notes for each season's changes. The first 20 seasons get confusing with elections, resignations and expansions, but hopefully it's all made crystal clear now!

Division Pos Club Pass/Fail Replaced With Notes
1888-89
19BurnleyPass
110Derby CountyPass
111Notts CountyPass
112StokePass
1889-90
110Notts CountyPass
111BurnleyPass
112StokeFailSunderlandStoke demoted to the Football Alliance; re-elected next season
1890-91
19Aston VillaPass
110Accrington StanleyPass
111Derby CountyPass
112West Bromwich AlbionPass
League expanded by 2 clubs - Darwen elected and Stoke re-admitted
1891-92
111Accrington StanleyPass
113StokePass
114DarwenFailSubsequently admitted to the new Division 2 for next season
West Brom finished 12th but were reprieved from re-election due to winning the FA Cup. However, the League was expanded to an extra division (Division 2), so Darwen were re-admitted to the new division.
1892-93
29Lincoln CityPass
210Crewe AlexandraPass
211Burslem Port ValePass
212Walsall Town SwiftsPass
Division 2 was expanded from 12 to 15 clubs. Liverpool, Middlesbrough Ironopolis, Newcastle, Rotherham and Woolwich Arsenal joined.
1893-94
213Manchester CityPass
214Rotherham TownPass
215Northwich VictoriaFailFailed re-election and resigned from the League
Division 2 was expanded from 15 to 16 clubs. Burton Wanderers and Leicester were admitted.
1894-95
213Lincoln CityPass
214Walsall Town SwiftsFailLoughborough TownResigned from the League
215Burslem Port ValePass
216Crewe AlexandraPass
Lincoln and Walsall tied on 20 points, so both were forced into Re-election. Walsall Town Swifts failed, and resigned from the League.
1895-96
214Burslem Port ValeFailBlackpoolResigned from the League
215Rotherham TownFailGainsborough TrinityResigned from the League
216Crewe AlexandraFailWalsallResigned from the League
1896-97
214Burton SwiftsPass
215Burton WanderersFail
216Lincoln CityPass
1897-98
214Lincoln CityPass
215DarwenPass
216LoughboroughPass
1898-99
216BlackpoolFail
217LoughboroughPass
218DarwenFail
1899-00
216BarnsleyPass
217Luton TownFail
218LoughboroughFail
1900-01
216WalsallFail
217Stockport CountyPass
218Burton SwiftsPass
1901-02
216ChesterfieldPass
217Stockport CountyPass
218Gainsborough TrinityPass
1902-03
216Doncaster RoversFail
217Stockport CountyPass
218BurnleyPass
1903-04
216Stockport CountyFail
217Glossop North EndPass
218Leicester FossePass
1904-05
216Burslem Port ValePass
217Burton UnitedPass
218Doncaster RoversFail
1905-06
218ChesterfieldPass
219Burton UnitedPass
220Clapton OrientPass
1906-07
216Burslem Port ValeFail
218ChesterfieldPass
219Lincoln CityPass
220Burton UnitedFail
1907-08
218Grimsby TownPass
219ChesterfieldPass
220Lincoln CityFail
1908-09
218Stockport CountyPass
219ChesterfieldFail
220BlackpoolPass
1909-10
218Gainsborough TrinityPass
219Grimsby TownFail
220Birmingham CityPass
1910-11
220Lincoln CityFail
1911-12
218Glossop North EndPass
219Leeds CityPass
220Gainsborough TrinityFail
1912-13
218Glossop North EndPass
219Stockport CountyPass
220BlackpoolPass
1913-14
218Leicester FossePass
219Lincoln CityPass
220Nottingham ForestPass
1914-15
218Nottingham ForestPass
219Leicester FossePass
220Glossop North EndFail
1919-20
220Coventry CityPass
221Lincoln CityFail
222Grimsby TownFail
1920-21
321BrentfordPass
322GillinghamPass
1921-22
3N19Halifax TownPass
3N20RochdalePass
3S21Exeter CityPass
3S22Southend UnitedPass
1922-23
3N19AshingtonPass
3N20Durham CityPass
3S21Aberdare AthleticPass
3S22Newport CountyPass
1923-24
3N21Hartlepool UnitedPass
3N22BarrowPass
3S21Bournemouth and Boscombe AthleticPass
3S22Queens Park RangersPass
1924-25
3N21Tranmere RoversPass
3N22Rotherham CountyPass
3S21BrentfordPass
3S22Merthyr TownPass
1925-26
3N21WalsallPass
3N22BarrowPass
3S21Charlton AthleticPass
3S22Queens Park RangersPass
1926-27
3N21Accrington StanleyPass
3N22BarrowPass
3S21WatfordPass
3S22Aberdare AthleticFail
1927-28
3N21Durham CityFail
3N22NelsonPass
3S21Merthyr TownPass
3S22Torquay UnitedPass
1928-29
3N21Hartlepool UnitedPass
3N22AshingtonFail
3S21Exeter CityPass
3S22GillinghamPass
1929-30
3N21Halifax TownPass
3N22BarrowPass
3S21GillinghamPass
3S22Merthyr TownFail
1930-31
3N21RochdalePass
3N22NelsonFail
3S21Newport CountyFail
3S22Norwich CityPass
1931-32
3N20New BrightonPass
3N21RochdalePass
3S21GillinghamPass
1932-33
3N21New BrightonPass
3N22DarlingtonPass
3S21Newport CountyPass
3S22Swindon TownPass
1933-34
3N21Rotherham UnitedPass
3N22RochdalePass
3S21Bournemouth and Boscombe AthleticPass
3S22Cardiff CityPass
1934-35
3N21SouthportPass
3N22Carlisle UnitedPass
3S21Southend UnitedPass
3S22Newport CountyPass
1935-36
3N21SouthportPass
3N22New BrightonPass
3S21Newport CountyPass
3S22Exeter CityPass
1936-37
3N21GatesheadPass
3N22DarlingtonPass
3S21Exeter CityPass
3S22AldershotPass
1937-38
3N21BarrowPass
3N22Accrington StanleyPass
3S21WalsallPass
3S22GillinghamFail
1938-39
3N21Hartlepool UnitedPass
3N22Accrington StanleyPass
3S21WalsallPass
3S22Bristol RoversPass
1946-47
3N21SouthportPass
3N22Halifax TownPass
3S21Norwich CityPass
3S22Mansfield TownPass
1947-48
3N21Halifax TownPass
3N22New BrightonPass
3S21Norwich CityPass
3S22Brighton and Hove AlbionPass
1948-49
3N21SouthportPass
3N22Bradford CityPass
3S21AldershotPass
3S22Crystal PalacePass
1949-50
3N21Halifax TownPass
3N22York CityPass
3S21Newport CountyPass
3S22MillwallPass
1950-51
3N23Accrington StanleyPass
3N24New BrightonFail
3S23WatfordPass
3S24Crystal PalacePass
1951-52
3N23DarlingtonPass
3N24WorkingtonPass
3S23Exeter CityPass
3S24WalsallPass
1952-53
3N23WorkingtonPass
3N24Accrington StanleyPass
1953-54
3N23Halifax TownPass
3N24Chester CityPass
3S23Colchester UnitedPass
3S24WalsallPass
1954-55
3N23Grimsby TownPass
3N24Chester CityPass
3S23WalsallPass
3S24Colchester UnitedPass
1955-56
3N23Bradford Park AvenuePass
3N24Crewe AlexandraPass
3S23Crystal PalacePass
3S24Swindon TownPass
1956-57
3N23Tranmere RoversPass
3N24Crewe AlexandraPass
3S23Swindon TownPass
3S24Norwich CityPass
1957-58
3N23SouthportPass
3N24Crewe AlexandraPass
3S23MillwallPass
3S24Exeter CityPass
1958-59
421Oldham AthleticPass
422AldershotPass
423BarrowPass
424SouthportPass
1959-60
421SouthportPass
422GatesheadFail
423Oldham AthleticPass
424Hartlepool UnitedPass
1960-61
421Exeter CityPass
422BarrowPass
423Hartlepool UnitedPass
424Chester CityPass
1961-62
421Doncaster RoversPass
422Hartlepool UnitedPass
423Chester CityPass
1962-63
421Chester CityPass
422Lincoln CityPass
423Bradford CityPass
424Hartlepool UnitedPass
1963-64
421SouthportPass
422York CityPass
423Hartlepool UnitedPass
424BarrowPass
1964-65
421BarrowPass
422Lincoln CityPass
423Halifax TownPass
424Stockport CountyPass
1965-66
421RochdalePass
422Lincoln CityPass
423Bradford CityPass
424WrexhamPass
1966-67
421RochdalePass
422York CityPass
423Bradford Park AvenuePass
424Lincoln CityPass
1967-68
418Port ValePass
421York CityPass
422Chester CityPass
423WorkingtonPass
424Bradford Park AvenuePass
1968-69
421York CityPass
422Newport CountyPass
423Grimsby TownPass
424Bradford Park AvenuePass
1969-70
421Newport CountyPass
422DarlingtonPass
423Hartlepool UnitedPass
424Bradford Park AvenueFail
1970-71
421Lincoln CityPass
422Newport CountyPass
423Hartlepool UnitedPass
424BarrowPass
1971-72
421Northampton TownPass
422BarrowFail
423Stockport CountyPass
424Crewe AlexandraPass
1972-73
421Crewe AlexandraPass
422Colchester UnitedPass
423Northampton TownPass
424DarlingtonPass
1973-74
421Crewe AlexandraPass
422Doncaster RoversPass
423WorkingtonPass
424Stockport CountyPass
1974-75
421DarlingtonPass
422Swansea CityPass
423WorkingtonPass
424Scunthorpe UnitedPass
1975-76
421Stockport CountyPass
422Newport CountyPass
423SouthportPass
424WorkingtonPass
1976-77
421Halifax TownPass
422Hartlepool UnitedPass
423SouthportPass
424WorkingtonFail
1977-78
421Hartlepool UnitedPass
422York CityPass
423SouthportFail
424RochdalePass
1979-80
421Hereford UnitedPass
422DarlingtonPass
423Crewe AlexandraPass
424RochdalePass
1980-81
421Tranmere RoversPass
422Hereford UnitedPass
423Halifax TownPass
424York CityPass
1981-82
421RochdalePass
422Northampton TownPass
423Scunthorpe UnitedPass
424Crewe AlexandraPass
1982-83
421BlackpoolPass
422Hartlepool UnitedPass
423Crewe AlexandraPass
424Hereford UnitedPass
1983-84
421Halifax TownPass
422RochdalePass
423Hartlepool UnitedPass
424Chester CityPass
1984-85
421Halifax TownPass
422Stockport CountyPass
423Northampton TownPass
424Torquay UnitedPass
1985-86
421Exeter CityPass
422Cambridge UnitedPass
423Preston North EndPass
424Torquay UnitedPass