A century after the Football League was formed, English football reached its lowest ebb in the 1980s. Clubs had been banned from European competitions while supporters had to endure dilapidated and outdated facilities as public interest in the nation's professional game continued to drain away.
The health and image of English football commenced an unimaginable transformation in 1992. The First Division clubs broke away from the Football League to create the FA Premier League. Taking advantage of unprecedented lucrative TV rights deals, the newly formed competition has since grown into a global phenomenon.
A previously British dominated game now attracts players from around the world with matches, played in state-of-the-art all-seater stadiums, viewed on television screens worldwide throughout the season.
Although the leading positions have become dominated by a select band of elite clubs, Swansea City's promotion in 2011 means that almost half of the Football League member clubs have now, at some stage, competed in the Premier League.
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