The Football League was founded in 1888 by Aston Villa director William McGregor.
It originally consisted of a single division of 12 clubs (Accrington, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Derby County, Everton, Notts County, Preston North End, Stoke (now Stoke City), West Bromwich Albion, and Wolverhampton Wanderers), known as The Football League.
When the League admitted additional members from the rival Football Alliance in 1892, it was split into two divisions.
The First Division was renamed the Football League Championship prior to the start of the 2004–05 season, as part of a league-wide rebrand.
Liverpool were the most frequent winners of the First Division when it was the top flight of English football, winning it a total of 18 times.