5 clubs we miss in the Premier League
Despite the fact that the top six teams in the Premier League now seem nailed on each season, England’s top flight is actually a more fluid league than fans might think. Since it was inaugurated back in 1992/93, a total of 49 different clubs have played in the Premier League, which obviously means that some who once featured are no longer around.
No offence to fans of these teams, but some sides simply aren’t missed. Does anyone even remember when Swindon Town and Oldham Athletic were Premier League sides? The same can’t be said for a handful of clubs who just seemed to add much more to the top flight when they were there.
Here are five clubs that are no longer in the Premier League – for the time being – but are missed nonetheless.
#1 Aston Villa
Considering the West Midlands is an area which houses England’s ‘Second City’ – Birmingham – the current state of football in the area is pretty sad. Right now the Premier League’s only representatives of the West Midlands are West Bromwich Albion – who look likely to be relegated this season.
Wolves – another West Midlands side – look set to be promoted, but really, the team from the area that everyone misses are Aston Villa. Birmingham’s biggest and most successful club – sorry Birmingham City fans – were a Premier League staple for years until their relegation in 2015/16, and usually, they provided fans with some exciting football and notable players.
Under Martin O’Neill in the late 2000s they even pushed for a Champions League place, although they always seemed to fall short at the last hurdle. And even when relegation began to loom in 2014/15, the club managed to make it to the FA Cup final, going on a memorable run that involved knocking out Liverpool in an entertaining semi-final.
The biggest reason that the Premier League misses the Villa, though? The fact that they’re simply a huge club with a monstrous fanbase and a ton of history. They still hold the 6th highest attendance record in English football history – 76,588 fans packed Villa Park way back in 1946 for an FA Cup tie with Derby County – and they’re one of only 5 English clubs to have won the European Cup – the precursor to the Champions League.
Currently sitting in 4th place in the Championship, if the Villains manage to make it back to the Premier League, the top flight will be much better for their addition.