12 EFL Championship Clubs That Started with Different Names

The upcoming Championship season looks set to be fiercely competitive. Only four of the 24 clubs have played in the top tier during the Premier League era: Bristol City, Millwall, Preston North End, and Wrexham. Each is on an upward trajectory.

This campaign features eight of the 12 founding Football League members, boasting some of England's largest fanbases. The Championship has long been home to historic clubs, and 2026-27 continues that tradition. It includes former top-flight champions like Blackburn Rovers and renowned cup teams such as Bolton Wanderers. Legendary sides like the 'Invincibles' Preston North End and European trophy winners West Ham United add depth, alongside storied names like Burnley, Derby County, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Only three clubs in this division were founded after 1900. The youngest is Swansea City, established in 1912 but initially under a different name. Many others began differently too, including Bolton Wanderers, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Cardiff City, Millwall, Queens Park Rangers, Southampton, and Watford.

Here is a rundown of these 12 clubs and their original names:

• Birmingham City: Founded in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, named after a Birmingham suburb. Dropped ‘Alliance’ in 1888 becoming Small Heath, changed to Birmingham FC in 1905 upon moving grounds, then finally became Birmingham City in 1943.
• Bolton Wanderers: Started in 1874 as Christ Church. After a dispute with the church vicar near their first ground, the club renamed itself Bolton Wanderers, reflecting multiple home venues at the time.
• Cardiff City: Began as Riverside AFC in 1899 to keep local cricketers fit during winter, playing at Sophia Gardens. Attempts to rename to Cardiff City were rejected in 1905 but accepted in 1908 after joining the South Wales League.
• Millwall: Formed as Millwall Rovers in London’s Isle of Dogs. Renamed Millwall Athletic in 1889 following a move to The Athletic Grounds, then simply Millwall when they joined the Football League in 1920.
• Queens Park Rangers: Resulted from a merger between St Jude’s and Christchurch Rangers in 1886. QPR traces its origins back to 1882 as Christchurch Rangers.
• Southampton: Founded in 1885 as St Mary’s Young Men Association FC (St Mary’s YMA). Later shortened to Southampton St Mary’s in 1894, before finally adopting Southampton in 1896.
• Stoke City: Established either in 1863 or 1868 as Stoke Ramblers. The 'Ramblers' tag was dropped in 1878, and the club was known as Stoke. In 1925, with Stoke-on-Trent gaining city status, the club became Stoke City.
• Swansea City: Formed in 1912 as Swansea Town since Swansea was then a town. The name changed to Swansea City in 1970 after the city status was granted in 1969.
• Watford: Created as Watford Rovers in 1898, switching to West Herts in 1893 (a reference to Hertfordshire). In 1898, after merging with Watford St. Mary’s, the club became Watford FC.
• West Bromwich Albion: Founded in 1878 by workers at George Salter’s Spring Works as West Bromwich Strollers. The name changed to West Bromwich Albion within a couple of years, inspired by the Albion area of West Bromwich (now Greets Green).