However, when Ronnie Moore guided the club in to the second tier we were joining three other clubs of similar stature that held a place in that league. Now almost six years on none of Grimsby, Walsall, Stockport and of course Rotherham are challenging in the Championship and what's more, the fortune's of all of those clubs have followed an alarming pattern.
Grimsby Town
Grimsby Town had performed miracles under Alan Buckley and after years of flitting between the bottom two leagues they had become something of an established outfit in Division One between the years of 1992 and 1997. They suffered relegation to Division Two but bounced back in 97-98. They once again began to establish themselves but the gradual influx of huge teams in to the league edged them towards the bottom of the table. After three years of bottom seven finishes they eventually lost their status in 2002/03.
More struggle followed as they suffered a second consecutive relegation in to the bottom league where their first season in Division Three they once again flirted with relegation before finishing 18th. A better season came when they were losing play off finalists in 2005/06 but this season they currently sit in 22nd position and are locked in a battle to sustain their league status.
Since the beginning of the 2001/02 season they have had eight managers with the longest serving manager being Russell Slade who managed two years in the job.
Season | League | Position |
98-99 | Division One | 11th |
99-00 | 20th | |
00-01 | 18th | |
01-02 | 19th | |
02-03 | 24th | |
03-04 | Division Two | 21st |
04-05 | League Two | 18th |
05-06 | 4th | |
06-07 | Currently 22nd |
Stockport County
Living in the shadows of the huge North West clubs Stockport, under the guidance of high profile managers, Stockport not only achieved the feat of promotion to Division One in 96/97 but also then stayed there for five seasons. However, a lack of investment and the sale of their better players doomed them to relegation as they were marooned at the bottom of the table in 2001/2002 with Rotherham taking six points off them in the process.
With Carlton Palmer now at the helm they had a consolidating two seasons in Division Two before a rot once again set in and they were relegated to the basement league and last season narrowly avoided losing their league status, finishing one place above the drop zone. This season they are fairing better and hope to be in the play off mix come May.
During the period of time from the start of the 01-02 season they have also had eight different managers including John Hollins and Chris Turner.
Season | League | Position |
97-98 | Division One | 8th |
98-99 | 16th | |
99-00 | 17th | |
00-01 | 19th | |
01-02 | 24th | |
02-03 | Division Two | 14th |
03-04 | 19th | |
04-05 | 24th | |
05-06 | League Two | 22nd |
Walsall
In 98/99, Walsall created history by being promoted to the league's second tier for the first time in their history, achieving promotion along side Fulham and Man City. Despite narrowly coming straight down the next season they bounced straight back thanks to an amazing play off victory to join Millwall and Rotherham as the promoted teams in 00/01.
They consolidated their position in Division One and although never threatening to fully establish themselves in the league they managed to stay there for 3 years and eventually got relegated in 2003/04 despite beating Rotherham on the last day of the season.
The Saddlers also had a period of consolidation finishing 14th in League One's first season before a tragic campaign saw them finish the last season with some of it as Paul Merson as boss, bottom of the table. Life has been good so far in League Two though as they look to bounce straight back to League One with them currently topping the table.
Merson, who left halfway through last season was one of seven managers to attempt to change the fortunes of the Midlands club since the start of 01-02.
Season | Division | Position |
01-02 | Division One | 18th |
02-03 | 17th | |
03-04 | 22nd | |
04-05 | Division Two | 14th |
05-06 | 24th |
Rotherham
'Little old Rotherham' defied the odds in 2001 when they claimed an astonishing back to back promotion to take their place in Division One against footballing elite such as Manchester City, Sheffield Wednesday and Nottingham Forest. Their first season saw them stay up on goal difference before Ronnie Moore began to build a side that established itself as a solid second tier team.
Ultimately the lack of investment and the failure to tie a key player down sent the club on a spiral that saw them finish the 04-05 season with a record low points total. It didn't get much better last season as they not only narrowly avoided a second successive relegation they only just avoided being shut down. A ten-point deduction greeted the beginning of this season and despite a run of early season form that saw them climb the table, a dismal set of results and the sale of two star players has seen the club slide back in to trouble and staring at a very black hole.
Season | Division | Position |
01-02 | Division One | 21st |
02-03 | 15th | |
03-04 | 17th | |
04-05 | 24th | |
05-06 | Division Two | 20th |
06-07 | Currently 23rd |
So, the pattern is there for all to see. Small club with limited funds defies odds and attains promotion to second tier. Few seasons of miracle survivals sees a continual lack of investment whilst at the same time the league overflows with huge clubs such as Leeds, Sunderland, Forest, West Ham, Wednesday. Little club eventually cannot compete any longer and suffers a comfortable relegation. Life in League One is tough and the first season in the league is either a lowly mid table finish or a relegation battle. Struggle eventually continues until relegation to the bottom league is confirmed. Then an immediate further struggle (with the exception of Walsall) to battle for league status.
The warning signs for Rotherham are clearly apparent but is there anything that can be done. Further back down the line Colchester and Southend had better read with care!
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