Yorkshire is Britain’s biggest county and is full to bursting when it comes to football clubs.
Yes, they might not have generated the same level of success as clubs in Lancashire or even London, but the Yorkshire clubs have a special pedigree that shouldn’t be scoffed at.
So, here’s the 10 biggest clubs in God’s own county – Yorkshire.
10. Doncaster Rovers
The Rovers have been around for an astonishing 142 years giving them plenty of status. As does their persistent presence in the professional league structure. However, despite their longevity they’ve won little silverware. The most prestigious league title they’ve won is that of the third tier – a division they don’t look like getting out of at this moment in time which is part of the reason they’re bottom of this list – and they won very few cups. That said they did win their fair share of Sheffield and Hallamshire County Cups – not exactly the Champions League however.
9. Rotherham United
Last year Rotherham claim a place in the Championship. They may sit 22nd in the table right now but with three games in hand survival wouldn’t be considered a miracle. Garnering promotion to England’s second tier was quite the achievement for the 95-year-old club and they’ll hope to stay there. In terms of honours they haven’t won much but have finished top of League One and League Two on a number of occasions.
8. Bradford City
My prevailing memory of Bradford City was their heroic journey to the League Cup Final back in 2013. Since then, they’ve broken out of their League Two prison only to stumble back into it. They are a club who need to be in a higher division especially considering it wasn’t that long ago that they were plying their trade in the Premier League. In fact, in 2000 they were even playing European football. Things might not be going great at the minute but they are a club of huge stature.
7. Hull City
For a long time, Hull weren’t a team affiliated with the upper echelons of English football. However, the 21st century has re-characterised the club and many remember them as a Premier League team. They even played in the 2014 FA Cup Final arguably the biggest game in English football every year. The Tigers might have slipped down to the third tier but they look set to return to the Championship and maybe one day will find their way back to the Premier League.
6. Barnsley
You’d be a brave man betting against Barnsley breaking into the Premier League this year the way they’re going. The 134-year-old club are in scintillating form and could very well return to the Premier League for the first time since 1998 despite flirting with relegation last year. Although this is a brilliant time to be a Barnsley supporter, the club have had previous highs including winning the FA Cup in 1912.
5. Middlesbrough
Some debate whether or not Middlesbrough is in Yorkshire. However, it cannot be disputed that they’re a big club. They’ve all the makings of a Premier League team and for a long time were a mainstay in the competition even attracting some of Brazil’s best players. In the last 30 years they’ve won the League Cup and FA Cup and even made it to the UEFA Cup final in 2006. Things haven’t worked out since their lasts stint in the Prem back in 2017 however current boss Neil Warnock has a great track record when it comes to getting teams promoted.
4. Huddersfield Town
Huddersfield have been in the Premier League even more recently than Middlesbrough. Town were only dumped out of the top tier in 2019. Now settled back in the Championship having stopped the rot following Premier League relegation, it’s clear looking back that their best days came a century ago in the 1920s. They had a monopoly over English football winning the league three times in a row whilst also playing in three FA Cup finals winning one.
3. Sheffield United
The Blades are a current Premier League team – albeit perhaps not for much longer – and have had more than one spell in the best league in the world. They’ve also had previous major success winning the FA Cup four times. As the 20th century neared, they dominated winning the Cup and the league in consecutive years. Sadly, they’ve not reaches those heights again and look to be headed in the opposite direction. Here’s hoping they don’t plummet back down to League One.
2. Sheffield Wednesday
Slightly bigger than their Steel City rivals, Sheffield Wednesday should be considered one of England’s biggest clubs despite their current struggles. In fact, the pair no doubt bring the best out of each other making them even bigger than they are. Wednesday themselves have nine major domestic honours to their name including four league titles.
1. Leeds United
Who else was it going to be? Leeds United played in the biggest game in club football when they butted heads with Bayern Munich in the 1975 European Cup Final. That’s not the only European competition the Mighty Whites have battled in even playing in the modern Champions League at the turn of the century. They were a major powerhouse in the late 60s and 70s winning the FA Cup, League Cup and of course the League title. They were also the last winners of the old Division One back in 1992. Based on their success they’re already a huge club but their amazing fan base add to that making them one of the biggest clubs in the country.
