The 2006–07 Football League was the 108th completed season of England's league competition beneath the Premier League. The season brought together 72 professional clubs across three divisions — the Championship, League One and League Two — competing for promotion, avoiding relegation and places in end-of-season playoffs.
Competition format
The Football League operates as a system of promotion and relegation between its three divisions. The second tier, the Championship, sits below the Premier League and above League One. Typical arrangements during this era saw the top two teams in the Championship gain automatic promotion to the Premier League, while the next four clubs entered a playoff to decide the third promoted side. Conversely, the lowest-placed Championship clubs were relegated to League One. Similar promotion and relegation mechanisms applied between League One and League Two and between League Two and the National League, with a set number of clubs moving up and down each season.
Championship outcome
The standout result of the 2006–07 campaign was the Championship title won by Sunderland, who secured promotion back to the top flight. Under the management of Roy Keane, Sunderland returned to the Premier League after a campaign that was characterized by strong home support and consistent league form. The Championship also concluded with the customary playoff series to determine the third promoted club, and a group of clubs battling to avoid relegation to the third tier.
Across League One and League Two the season produced the usual mix of promotion achievers and relegation casualties, reflecting the competitive and often unpredictable nature of the lower professional divisions. Playoffs in both tiers offered late-season drama and opportunity for clubs to alter their fortunes.
Significance and legacy
Promotion to the Premier League carried substantial financial and sporting implications for promoted clubs, affecting transfer activity, revenues and long-term planning. The 2006–07 Football League season exemplified how rapid changes in league status can reshape clubs’ ambitions and resources, and it remains a reference point for supporters remembering promotions, decisive matches and managerial milestones.
- Season: 108th Football League campaign.
- Champions (Championship): Sunderland.
- Structure: three divisions with promotion, relegation and end-of-season playoffs.