In the last two decades or so, football as a sport has undergone a very interesting transition. Football clubs, particularly those of substantial size, have always been a key organisation in their respective areas; they can bring a sense of joy that would be otherwise missing to the local community.
However, in the modern era, particularly since 1992, when the Premier League as we know it today was introduced in England, many of these teams have become more akin to global brands or businesses rather than traditional football clubs.
As a result, virtually every side, especially those in the Premier League and Championship, has seen an influx of overseas fans, reducing the importance of a local fan base. That has been crucial in allowing English sides to increase their revenues and begin competing more regularly on the European stage, but even still, there's nothing quite like supporting your local.
With that being said, if you are new to the sport or perhaps looking to do some groundhopping in your local area, here is a comprehensive list of all the major teams in each region of England.
South East
Football in the South East has taken off over the past 20 years. Initially, Southampton and Portsmouth put the area on the map in terms of the Premier League, but over the past decade, it has been Brighton and Hove Albion flying the flag for the region.
- Brighton and Hove Albion
- Southampton
- Oxford United
- Portsmouth
- Reading
- Wycombe Wanderers
- Crawley Town
- Gillingham
- MK Dons
- Aldershot Town
- Dorking Wanderers
- Eastleigh
- Ebbsfleet United
- Maidenhead United
- Oxford City
- Woking
London
Despite making up a fraction of the country in terms of land mass, it is perhaps no surprise that the capital is home to seven top-flight clubs, the most on this list. London has some huge sides further down the pyramid too, with the likes of Millwall and Charlton looking to return to the top once again. We have also created a London football ground map to help you navigate them all.
- Arsenal
- Brentford
- Chelsea
- Crystal Palace
- Fulham
- Tottenham Hotspur
- West Ham United
- Millwall
- Queens Park Rangers
- Charlton Athletic
- Leyton Orient
- AFC Wimbledon
- Sutton United
- Barnet
- Bromley
- Dagenham and Redbridge
- Wealdstone
North West
Although London is the capital of England, the best region for football is the North West. The nation's two most successful and biggest clubs, Man Utd and Liverpool, both reside here, and between them, they have 40 Premier League and Division one titles and nine Champions League titles. There is also the small matter of Man City, who have dominated English football for the past decade.
- Burnley
- Everton
- Liverpool
- Manchester City
- Manchester United
- Blackburn Rovers
- Preston North End
- Blackpool
- Bolton Wanderers
- Carlisle United
- Fleetwood Town
- Wigan Athletic
- Accrington Stanley
- Barrow
- Crewe Alexandra
- Morecambe
- Salford City
- Stockport County
- Tranmere Rovers
- Altrincham
- Fylde
- Oldham Athletic
- Rochdale
East of England
The east of England is considered by some as the home of the modern game, owing to the development of the “Cambridge Rules” in 1856. The region has had a lot of success recently, with Luton flying high in the Premier League and Ipswich and Peterborough both also looking upwards.
- Luton Town
- Ipswich Town
- Norwich City
- Watford
- Cambridge United
- Peterborough
- Stevenage
- Colchester United
- Boreham Wood
- Southend United
West Midlands
The success of Aston Villa might have come as a surprise this season, but the West Midlands has a long history of competing at the highest level. The region has six sides which all have solid claims to “big club” status, and there is also the small matter of having produced one of the best players in the world, Jude Bellingham.
- Aston Villa
- Wolverhampton Wanderers
- Birmingham City
- Coventry City
- Stoke City
- West Bromwich Albion
- Burton Albion
- Port Vale
- Shrewsbury Town
- Walsall
- Kidderminster Harriers
- Solihull Moors
South West
While arguably the weakest set of clubs in this list, the South West can still boast some really exciting outfits. Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth side have shocked many this season with their attractive, attacking football. Bristol City also have an FA Cup 4th Round tie to look forward to, having knocked out West Ham United recently.
- Bournemouth
- Bristol City
- Plymouth Argyle
- Bristol Rovers
- Cheltenham Town
- Exeter City
- Swindon Town
- Forest Green Rovers
Yorkshire and the Humber
It would probably be fair to say that the Yorkshire sides have suffered a bit of a slump in recent years. Sheffield United are the only side in the Premier League this season, and they look very likely to go down. But with them, Sheffield Wednesday and Leeds United, the region has some of the most historic clubs in the country.
- Sheffield United
- Huddersfield
- Hull City
- Leeds United
- Rotherham
- Sheffield Wednesday
- Barnsley
- Lincoln City
- Bradford City
- Doncaster Rovers
- Grimsby Town
- Harrogate Town
- Halifax Town
- York City
East Midlands
The East Midlands is another region with only one Premier League club, but its clubs are steeped in history. From Nottingham Forest’s back-to-back European Cup wins in 1979 and 1980, to Leicester City’s stunning Premier League win in 2016, East Midlands clubs have pulled off some of the biggest shocks in English football history.
- Nottingham Forest
- Leicester City
- Derby County
- Northampton Town
- Mansfield Town
- Notts County
- Chesterfield
North East
The North East might not be able to boast many clubs in the top five leagues, but what it lacks in quantity it more than makes up for in quality. The Tyne-Wear derby between Newcastle and Sunderland is one of the fiercest in the country, and all three league clubs in the region are enjoying periods of success after years languishing in the doldrums.
- Newcastle United
- Middlesborough
- Sunderland
- Gateshead
- Hartlepool