Which 22 Clubs Played In The First Ever Premier League Season? (And Where They Finished)

The Premier League’s inception in 1992 signalled a bright new world for English football. The sport had been in decline throughout the 1980s, with hooliganism, crumbling stadia and dwindling attendances all contributing to the national game being at something of a low ebb by the end of the decade.

England’s impressive performance at the 1990 World Cup would lift spirits and rekindle enthusiasm, but it wouldn’t be until the start of the Premier League, two years later, that this football-obsessed nation really had something to shout about.

It has, of course, grown to be the most-watched league in the world. It all started over three decades ago, when 22 clubs competed in the first-ever Premier League season. If you think you can name them before scrolling down, this football quiz will be right up your street. If not, you'd better read the full article.

Arsenal (10th)

Arsenal, under George Graham, finished the inaugural Premier League season in 10th place. Despite being mid-table, they had a strong season in the cups, winning both the FA Cup and the League Cup. Their league campaign was patchy; after promising spells, they failed to maintain consistency, ending with more losses than some above them despite wins against big clubs that showed potential.

Aston Villa (2nd)

Aston Villa secured 2nd place in 1992-93, a fine achievement as one of the leading sides in the first Premier League year. They mounted strong challenges, especially at the start and middle of the season, but could not keep up with Manchester United’s form. Their solid performance set them up as one of the early powerhouses in the Premier League era.

Blackburn Rovers (4th)

Blackburn Rovers finished 4th in the first Premier League season, just behind Norwich on goal difference and other strong sides. Backed by owner Jack Walker and buoyed by the arrival of Alan Shearer, they showed that investment could bring rapid improvement. It was their first season in the top flight for many years, and they made it count.

Chelsea (11th)

Chelsea ended the 1992-93 season in 11th place. Their campaign was fairly average — neither challenging for top spots nor seriously threatened by relegation. There were moments of promise, but inconsistency in results meant they could not push up into the top half.

Coventry City (15th)

Coventry City finished the season in 15th place, surviving comfortably but without making a major impact. They were a steady presence, mixing wins, draws and losses, but lacked the firepower or defensive solidity to trouble the higher-placed teams. Their performance showed the gulf between top contenders and those simply aiming for stability.

Crystal Palace (20th - Relegated)

Crystal Palace were relegated after finishing 20th in the first Premier League season. Despite picking up 49 points, they were still condemned to relegation on goal difference. It was a cruel outcome for them and reflected how tight the bottom half was, but ultimately, their goal difference wasn’t enough to save them.

Everton (13th)

Everton ended the season in 13th place, a somewhat disappointing finish given their history in English top-flight football. Their form was mixed: capable of strong performances, but too many dropped points turned them into a mid-table side rather than challengers.

Ipswich Town (16th)

Ipswich Town managed to stay above the relegation fight, finishing 16th. They had moments of hope during the season, at times looking as if they might push for something better, but ultimately lacked consistency and depth to sustain a higher finish.

Leeds United (17th)

Leeds United finished 17th, narrowly avoiding relegation. The season was difficult for them, suffering from defensive frailties and inconsistent results. Although they never looked likely to challenge the very top, their survival was an important outcome for a club of their stature.

Liverpool (6th)

Liverpool came in 6th place, a respectable position but likely below what their fans had hoped for. They were solid in many parts, showing flashes of their traditional attacking prowess, but they lacked enough consistency (or perhaps strength in depth) to compete with the top four.

Manchester City (9th)

Manchester City finished 9th in the first Premier League campaign. Their season was marked by a number of solid results but also quite a few losses. As with several mid-table clubs that year, they were safe from relegation but not close to the top.

Manchester United (1st - Champions)

Manchester United were crowned the very first Premier League champions, finishing 1st. Under Sir Alex Ferguson, they combined attacking flair with much improved consistency, especially in tight matches. Their title became the foundation for what would become a dominant era in Premier League history.

Middlesbrough (21st - Relegated)

Middlesbrough finished 21st and were relegated in that inaugural season. After returning to the top flight, their stay was short-lived as defensive issues and an inability to grind out enough points meant they couldn’t avoid the drop.

Norwich City (3rd)

Norwich City surprised many by finishing 3rd, after leading the league for a significant portion of the season, including at Christmas. Their attack was impressive, though their defensive record suffered, leaving them with a negative goal difference. Still, their final position remains one of the most memorable overperformances in Premier League history.

Nottingham Forest (22nd - Relegated)

Nottingham Forest ended the season in 22nd place and were relegated. This was a particularly dramatic and emotional outcome, not least because it marked the end of Brian Clough’s long managerial reign at the club.

Oldham Athletic (19th)

Oldham Athletic finished 19th, surviving relegation by a narrow margin on goal difference. Their campaign saw plenty of effort but just enough slips to put them in danger; in the end, they managed to stay up thanks to results elsewhere.

Queens Park Rangers (5th)

Queens Park Rangers achieved a commendable 5th place, and were one of the surprise packages of the season. They had one of the best defensive records among those not at the very top, and were generally consistent, punching above their weight compared to expectations.

Sheffield United (14th)

Sheffield United ended up in 14th place, far enough above relegation to avoid serious danger but not close to the leading pack. Their season comprised mixed results, occasionally impressive but too often letting in avoidable goals.

Sheffield Wednesday (7th)

Sheffield Wednesday finished 7th, a solid place in the first Premier League season. They were competitive in many fixtures, definitely in the upper mid-table, and avoided the relegation battles that troubled others behind them.

Southampton (18th)

Southampton came in at 18th, just above the relegation zone. Their search for safety saw them involved in several close matches and key results towards the end of the season, which were enough to keep them among the survivors.

Tottenham Hotspur (8th)

Tottenham Hotspur finished the season in 8th place. Their campaign was inconsistent, sometimes spectacular, sometimes frustrating, but overall they held their own in among the better half of the teams, avoiding any serious threat of relegation.

Wimbledon (12th)

Wimbledon ended in 12th place. They were one of the mid-table clubs whose season featured both memorable upsets and disappointing losses. Their survival felt comfortable, even if they did not threaten anything higher up.