From the 1992-1993 to the 2003-2004 season, the Football League First Division was the highest division of The Football League and the second-highest division in the overall English football league system. Before that it was the top division overall, but that ended with the creation of the FA Premier League.

The First Division was replaced by the Football League Championship prior to the start of the 2004/05 season.

Teams

There were 24 teams in the First Division. At the end of each season the top two teams, together with the winner of the play-offs between the teams which finished in 3rd-6th position, were promoted to the Premier League and are replaced by the three teams that finished at the bottom of the Premier League. Similarly the three teams that finished at the bottom of the First Division were relegated to the Second Division and replaced by the teams which finished 1st, 2nd, and won the 3rd-6th place play-off winners, in that division.

Previous First Division champions

Winners of the old format First Division (1889-1992)

For quick reference, teams in bold are champions that also owned the league's top-scorer in the season they won the title.

Winners of the new format First Division (1993-2004)

As above, winners who also owned that season's top-scorer are in bold.