2010–11 Football League Championship


The 2010–11 Football League Championship was the seventh season of the league under its current name and nineteenth season under its current league division format. It started on 6 August 2010 and concluded on 7 May 2011, with the resultant play-offs concluding with the final on 30 May.
Queens Park Rangers secured the Championship title on 30 April 2011, ending their 15-year hiatus from the Premier League, while Norwich City secured the second automatic promotion spot two days later, ending a six-year absence from the top flight. Swansea City won the play-off final to take the final promotion place.
Preston North End, Scunthorpe United and Sheffield United were relegated to League One.

Changes from last season

Team changes

From Championship

Promoted to Premier League:
Relegated to League One:
Relegated from Premier League:
Promoted from League One:

Off-field rules

After Coca-Cola's sponsorship contract expired and was not renewed, Npower signed a three-year contract to become the Football League's official partner. The Coca-Cola Player of the Month and Coca-Cola Manager of the Month awards are therefore now known as the Npower Player of the Month and the Npower Manager of the Month award respectively.

Team overview

Stadia and locations

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
BarnsleyBarnsleyOakwell23,009
Bristol CityBristolAshton Gate21,497
BurnleyBurnleyTurf Moor22,546
Cardiff CityCardiffCardiff City Stadium26,828
Coventry CityCoventryRicoh Arena32,609
Crystal PalaceLondonSelhurst Park26,309
Derby CountyDerbyPride Park Stadium33,597
Doncaster RoversDoncasterKeepmoat Stadium15,231
Hull CityKingston upon HullKC Stadium25,404
Ipswich TownIpswichPortman Road30,311
Leeds UnitedLeedsElland Road39,460
Leicester CityLeicesterKing Power Stadium32,500
MiddlesbroughMiddlesbroughRiverside Stadium34,988
MillwallLondonThe Den20,146
Norwich CityNorwichCarrow Road27,033
Nottingham ForestNottinghamCity Ground30,576
PortsmouthPortsmouthFratton Park20,224
Preston North EndPrestonDeepdale23,408
Queens Park RangersLondonLoftus Road18,360
ReadingReadingMadejski Stadium24,224
Scunthorpe UnitedScunthorpeGlanford Park9,088
Sheffield UnitedSheffieldBramall Lane32,702
Swansea CitySwanseaLiberty Stadium20,532
WatfordWatfordVicarage Road23,500

Personnel and sponsoring

1Middlesbrough's sponsors include: Deepdale Solutions, Wiring Services, Ramsdens, Marie Curie Cancer Care

Managerial changes

Ownership changes

League table

Play-offs

Semi-finals

Swansea City won 3 – 1 on aggregate.
Reading won 3 – 0 on aggregate.

Final

Results

The fixtures for the Championship were released on 17 June 2010. The season kick-off was announced for 6 August 2010 and it concluded on 7 May 2011.

Season statistics

Top scorers

Top assists

Hat-tricks

PlayerForAgainstResultDate
Chris IwelumoBurnleyPreston North End11 September 2010
James VaughanCrystal PalacePortsmouth14 September 2010
James CoppingerDoncaster RoversNorwich City14 September 2010
Jon ParkinPreston North EndLeeds United28 September 2010
Jonny HowsonLeeds UnitedScunthorpe United30 October 2010
Luciano BecchioLeeds UnitedBristol City13 November 2010
Grant HoltNorwich CityIpswich Town28 November 2010
Wes HoolahanNorwich CitySheffield United28 December 2010
Jason PuncheonMillwallCrystal Palace1 January 2011
Matty FryattHull CityScunthorpe United5 February 2011
Connor WickhamIpswich TownDoncaster Rovers15 February 2011
YakubuLeicester CityMiddlesbrough2 April 2011
Grant HoltNorwich CityScunthorpe United2 April 2011
Simeon JacksonNorwich CityScunthorpe United2 April 2011
Scott McDonaldMiddlesbroughHull City23 April 2011
Simeon JacksonNorwich CityDerby County25 April 2011

Scoring

  • First goal of the season: John Eustace for Watford against Norwich City
  • Highest scoring game: 10 goals – Leeds United 4–6 Preston North End
  • Most goals scored in a game by one team: 6 goals
  • * Millwall 1–6 Watford
  • * Portsmouth 6–1 Leicester City
  • * Leeds United 4–6 Preston North End
  • * Doncaster Rovers 0–6 Ipswich Town
  • * Norwich City 6–0 Scunthorpe United
  • Widest winning margin: 6 goals
  • * Doncaster Rovers 0–6 Ipswich Town
  • * Norwich City 6–0 Scunthorpe United
  • Fewest games failed to score in: 5 – Norwich City
  • Most games failed to score in: 21 – Scunthorpe United

    Discipline

  • Most yellow cards : 86 – Leeds United
  • Most yellow cards : 12
  • * Robbie Savage
  • Most red cards : 13 – Sheffield United
  • Most red cards : 2
  • * Matthew Connolly
  • * Claude Davis
  • * Alan Dunne
  • * Marlon King
  • * Shane Lowry
  • * Dean Moxey
  • * Ricardo Rocha
  • * Jamie Ward
  • * Lee Williamson
  • Most fouls : 554 – Leeds United
  • Most fouls : 103 – Grant Holt

    Clean sheets

  • Most clean sheets: 25 – Queens Park Rangers
  • Fewest clean sheets: 4 – Preston North End

    Monthly awards

Team of the year