[2] In the Midland League, they finished second in 1953–54, third the following year, and then embarked on a run of five consecutive championships, scoring more than 100 goals in each campaign.
Repeated attempts at election to the Football League failed – albeit narrowly in 1958–59 – until they finally gained admission to the Fourth Division in 1960 at the expense of Gateshead.
[4] Their momentum continued into the new Football League season: in second place with Christmas approaching, Peterborough did not lose again until the following April.
[2] Back-to-back promotions – via a fourth-place finish in 1990–91 and the play-offs in 1992, beating Stockport County 2–1 in the final,[2][8] – earned Peterborough a place in the second tier for the first time in the club's history.
[11] They returned to the Championship as 2020–21 League One runners-up,[12] went straight back down, and lost to Sheffield Wednesday on penalties in the 2023 play-off semifinal.