Have you ever been sat there in the pub and someone has asked, “Hey, who do you think has been the most successful team in the League Two…like ever since we went to four divisions?” Well now you may be able to answer that question thanks to the Stats Geeks at The72…courtesy of Statto.com.
Top 5 most succesful current FL72 sides in England’s fourth tier
- Rochdale: P 2190: W 734, D 617, L 839, F 2792, A 3021, GD -229: 2570 points, Win ratio .476
Home: W 491, D 309, L 295, F 1666, A 1188, GD +478
Away: W 243, D 308, L 544, F 1126, A 1833, GD -707 - Torquay United: P 2012: W 692, D 561, L 759, F 2522, A 2702, GD -180: 2367 points, Win ratio .483
Home: W 465, D 282, L 259, F 1504, A 1101, GD +403
Away: W 227, D 279, L 500, F 1018, A 1601, GD -583 - Hartlepool United: P 2039: W 664, D 491, L 884, F 2495, A 3115, GD -620: 2174 points, Win ratio .446
Home: W 461, D 273, L 286, F 1568, A 1199, GD +369
Away: W 203, D 218, L 598, F 927, A 1916, GD -989 - Northampton Town: P 1708: W 647, D 425, L 636, F 2359, A 2328, GD +31: 2111 points, Win ratio .503
Home: W 422, D 218, L 214, F 1382, A 921, GD +461
Away: W 225, D 207, L 422, F 977, A 1407, GD -430 - Scunthorpe United: P 1593: W 590, D 458, L 545, F 2176, A 2055, GD +121: 2053 points – Win ratio .514
Home: W 396, D 227, L 173, F 1321, A 831, GD +490
Away: W 194, D 231, L 372, F 855, A 1224, GD -369
Rochdale, currently in the League 1 (England’s third tier of football), are the most successful team in England’s fourth tier – a division that is now the Sky Bet League 2 and they boast the most points scored (2570). Furthermore, Rochdale also manage to be represented in most other ‘headline’ categories: most games played (2190), most wins (734), most draws (617), most losses (839) and most goals scored (2792). However, one other team, Hartlepool United, pinches in ahead of the Dale when it comes to most goals conceded (3115).
Just in case you need some other ‘ammunition’ for your mates down the pub, here’s a few other ‘leading’ teams…mostly that aren’t Rochdale. Some of these teams are now in the League 1, still in the League 2, relegated to non-league football or no longer in existence.
- Highest goal difference: Peterborough United +301
- Worst goal difference: Hartlepool United -620
- Highest win ratio (100+ total games): Wimbledon .622 (184 games)
- Lowest win ratio (100+ total games): Halifax Town .418 (1234 games)
- Most away wins (100+ total games): Darlington 248 (1274 away games)
- Least away wins (50+ away games): Maidstone United (old) 14 (67away games)
- Most home wins (100+ home games): Rochdale 491 (1095 home games)
- Least home wins (50+ games): Newport County 20 (57 away games)
- Least home goals scored (50+ home games): Newport County 80 (57games)
- Least total points (100+ games): Yeovil Town 170
So, if anyone challenges you to name the most successful team ever to play in the third tier of English football – you can say with total confidence and aplomb, “Points-wise? It’s Rochdale fella, but I bet you a couple of pints of Boddingtons that you don’t know who leads the other main categories.”
