When the FA Premier League was formed, the Third Division become the fourth tier of English football.
Geographical separation was abolished in 1958 with the creation of the Football League Fourth Division.
The original members in 1958–59 were: Of these, Bournemouth, Bradford, Brentford, Hull, Norwich, Notts, QPR, Reading, Southampton, and Swindon have made the top flight in either the First Division or the Premier League era.
Stockport, Doncaster, Notts County and Rochdale were the first to be relegated into the Fourth Division the following season (1959–60), starting the bottom-four-team turnover tradition for the third tier.
Plymouth Argyle were the most successful team at this level during these years, winning the national title twice, having already won the southern section twice.