Since 1992/93 you will see, there are some particularly interesting names which have been relegated to the National League over the years, while there has always been plenty of entertaining action.
Like with most leagues in the football pyramid, there is often at least one team that bounces straight back up, others that fluctuate between the two with regularity and some that don’t make it back. At least for a while.
Clubs such as Halifax Town, Kidderminster Harriers and Sutton United who have then spent lengthy years in the non-league, plus others who went out of business like East Yorkshire seaside club Scarborough Athletic.
Teams relegated from the League Two / Fourth Tier since 1992
| Season | Relegated Clubs (to fourth tier) |
|---|---|
| 1992–93 | Maidstone United (resigned), Halifax Town |
| 1993–94 | Northampton Town, Exeter City |
| 1994–95 | Hereford United, Exeter City |
| 1995–96 | Torquay United, Scarborough |
| 1996–97 | Hereford United, Doncaster Rovers |
| 1997–98 | Doncaster Rovers, Scarborough |
| 1998–99 | Scarborough, Halifax Town |
| 1999–2000 | Carlisle United, Chester City |
| 2000–01 | Barnet, Halifax Town |
| 2001–02 | Halifax Town, Lincoln City |
| 2002–03 | Shrewsbury Town, Exeter City |
| 2003–04 | Carlisle United, York City |
| 2004–05^ | Cambridge United, Kidderminster Harriers |
| 2005–06 | Oxford United, Rushden & Diamonds |
| 2006–07 | Boston United, Torquay United |
| 2007–08 | Mansfield Town, Luton Town |
| 2008–09 | Chester City, Luton Town |
| 2009–10 | Darlington, Grimsby Town |
| 2010–11 | Stockport County, Lincoln City |
| 2011–12 | Macclesfield Town, Hereford United |
| 2012–13 | Aldershot Town, Barnet |
| 2013–14 | Bristol Rovers, Torquay United |
| 2014–15 | Cheltenham Town, Tranmere Rovers |
| 2015–16 | Dagenham & Redbridge, York City |
| 2016–17 | Hartlepool United, Leyton Orient |
| 2017–18 | Barnet, Chesterfield |
| 2018–19 | Notts County, Yeovil Town |
| 2019–20 | Macclesfield Town (expelled), Stevenage |
| 2020–21 | Southend United, Grimsby Town |
| 2021–22 | Oldham Athletic, Scunthorpe United |
| 2022–23 | Hartlepool United, Rochdale |
| 2023–24 | Forest Green Rovers#, Sutton United# |
| 2024–25 | Crawley Town#, Colchester United |
Teams marked with # were relegated in the season immediately after promotion.
^ Denotes the start of the League Two era, formerly the fourth division.
Numerous clubs have been relegated from League Two over the last few decades, though, as opposed to other leagues, only two are relegated into non-league football.
For clubs in League Two that operate on a shoe string but still make it work – yes they might struggle, though they have a great chance of staying in the league.
Indeed, Maidstone United, who dropped down in 1992/93 along with Halifax Town, actually then resigned from the league. There is also a really interesting geographical spread of clubs that have been relegated from the fourth tier.
From the south west to the south east, north west to north east and everywhere in between, it seems that clubs (and their fans), have had to travel far and wide over the years
Clubs Relegated More Than Once (1992-93 to 2024–25)
| Club | Times Relegated | Seasons |
|---|---|---|
| Halifax Town | 3 | 1992–93, 1998–99, 2000–01 |
| Hereford United | 2 | 1994–95, 2011–12 |
| Scarborough | 2 | 1995–96, 1997–98 |
| Doncaster Rovers | 2 | 1996–97, 1997–98 |
| Carlisle United | 2 | 1999–2000, 2003–04 |
| Chester City | 2 | 1999–2000, 2008–09 |
| Lincoln City | 2 | 2001–02, 2010–11 |
| Exeter City | 2 | 1993–94, 2002–03 |
| York City | 2 | 2003–04, 2015–16 |
| Luton Town | 2 | 2007–08, 2008–09 |
| Grimsby Town | 2 | 2009–10, 2020–21 |
| Macclesfield Town | 2 | 2011–12, 2019–20 |
| Barnet | 2 | 2012–13, 2017–18 |
| Hartlepool United | 2 | 2016–17, 2022–23 |
Over the decades, there have been several clubs that have suffered relegation to the non-league on more than one occasion, however, the biggest figure isn’t as high as in some leagues, though it can be hard to get back up once you have been relegated.
Indeed, Halifax Town are the club to have been relegated three times – the only club to do so, while Doncaster Rovers, Grimsby Town and Exeter City are among those that have been relegated twice.
Longest Continuous Stays in the Fourth Tier (1992–93 to 2024–25)
| Club | Seasons | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Morecambe | 14 | 2007–08 → 2020–21 | Promoted in 2021 after 14 straight League Two seasons. |
| Accrington Stanley | 12 | 2006–07 → 2017–18 | Won League Two in 2017–18 to go up. |
| Newport County | 12 | 2013–14 → 2024–25 | Longest ongoing League Two tenure through 2024–25 (13 by 2025–26). |
| Mansfield Town | 11 | 2013–14 → 2023–24 | Promoted to League One in 2023–24. |
| Exeter City | 10 | 2012–13 → 2021–22 | Went up automatically in 2021–22. |
| Colchester United | 9 | 2016–17 → 2024–25 | 10th consecutive season confirmed for 2025–26; through 2024–25 it’s nine. |
| Stevenage | 9 | 2014–15 → 2022–23 | Promoted as League Two runners-up in 2022–23. |
| Cambridge United | 7 | 2014–15 → 2020–21 | Promoted as runners-up in 2020–21. |
Like League One, League Two can make a good long-term home for a club that is sensible with its finances if they are happy there. As such, Morecambe holds the record for the longest continuous stay in League Two, with 14 years, between 2007/08 and 2020/21. On 12 years, there is Welsh side, Newport County and Accrington Stanley.
Then, you have Mansfield Town who spent 11 years there between 2013/14 and 2023/24 and Exeter City on 10 years.
League Two Relegation Records & Trivia
League Two Relegation Records & Trivia
There is some interesting trivia about League Two relegation. Perhaps the most interesting one is that Oldham Athletic became the first ever Premier League club to drop into the fifth tier in 2021/22. The club were an inaugural top flight side and despite being relegated after just one season, they had been a football league side the whole time during the at period.
Meanwhile, the largest collapse happened to Luton Town, who suffered back-to-back relegations between 2007/08 and 2008/09 though the club gradually made it back, even to the Premier League.
- Most relegations (since 1992–93): Halifax Town – 3 times (1992–93, 1998–99, 2000–01).
- One-season stays ending in relegation (#): Examples include Barnet (1993–94), Carlisle United (1999–2000), Forest Green Rovers (2023–24), Sutton United (2023–24), Crawley Town (2024–25).
- First former Premier League club to drop into non-league: Oldham Athletic in 2021–22.
- Largest collapse: Luton Town suffered back-to-back relegations in 2007–08 and 2008–09.