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English Championship: A League Full of Surprises The English Championship, also known as the Sky Bet Championship due to sponsorship reasons, is the second-highest tier of English football, just below the Premier League. While it may not have the glitz and glamour of its top-flight counterpart, the Championship is a league full of surprises and plenty of interesting facts and history. Here are some cold knowledge facts about the English Championship:
1. Most Goals Scored by a Team in a Single Season In the 1999-2000 season, Charlton Athletic scored an incredible 101 goals, setting a record for the most goals scored by a team in a single Championship season. Striker Clive Mendonca was a key player, scoring 27 goals to help Charlton earn promotion to the Premier League.
2. Shortest Managerial Reign Les Reed holds the ignominious record of the shortest managerial reign in Championship history. He was appointed as Charlton Athletic's manager in November 2006 but was fired just 41 days later, having won only one of his seven games in charge.
3. Most Successful Manager Brian Clough is widely regarded as the most successful manager in Championship history, having won promotion to the top flight four times with three different clubs - Derby County, Nottingham Forest, and Leeds United. He also won two European Cups with Forest and is considered one of the greatest British managers of all time.
4. Largest Crowd The largest attendance at a Championship game occurred in 2007 when Newcastle United played against Derby County at St. James' Park. A total of 52,181 fans watched the match, which ended in a 2-2 draw.
5. Most Wins in a Single Season Wolverhampton Wanderers, who were promoted to the Premier League in the 2017-18 season, hold the record for the most Championship wins in a single season. They won an impressive 30 games out of 46 during the 2017-18 campaign, finishing top of the table with 99 points.
6. Youngest Goal Scorer The youngest goal scorer in Championship history is Aaron Lennon, who scored for Leeds United against Ipswich Town in August 2003 at the age of 16 years and 129 days. He went on to have a successful career, playing for clubs like Tottenham Hotspur and Everton, and earning 21 caps for the England national team.
7. Most Goals Scored by a Player in a Single Season Glenn Murray set a Championship record in the 2012-13 season when he scored 30 goals for Crystal Palace. His goals helped Palace earn promotion to the Premier League, and he went on to become a regular scorer in the top flight for several years. In conclusion, the English Championship may not enjoy the same level of global attention as the Premier League, but it is still a fascinating league full of surprises and notable moments. From Charlton's goal-scoring feats to Clough's managerial success, the Championship has its own rich history that deserves recognition.