List of association football clubs with multiple consecutive promotions or relegations
This is a list of association football clubs with multiple consecutive promotions or relegations.
For an association football club to achieve three consecutive promotions is somewhat rare, to achieve subsequent further promotions even rarer. Many football league systems are organised in a pyramid system, allowing league champions and, in many cases, clubs placed immediately behind the champions to achieve promotion, either directly or through a play-off system. To achieve three or more promotions all as league champions, like the now defunct Gretna did from 2004 to 2007, or Chester did from 2010 to 2013 is exceptional.
It is comparably easier for a club to achieve three consecutive relegations, as no particular effort is required. In professional football and, to a lesser extent, in semi-professional and amateur football, this is often caused by financial trouble.
A club that achieves promotion, followed by immediate relegation and a subsequent repeat of this cycle is often described as a Yo-yo club.
Clubs
The list is sorted by number of promotions or relegations followed by the alphabetical order of location:Promotions
Clubs with three or more consecutive promotions:| Club | Country | No | Leagues | Ref |
| Iwaki FC | Japan | 5 | 2015: Fukushima Prefectural League Division 3 – 1st2016: Fukushima Prefectural League Division 2 – 1st2017: Fukushima Prefectural League Division 1 – 1st2018: Tohoku League Division 2 South – 1st2019: Tohoku League Division 1 – 1st | |
| TV Herkenrath | Germany | 5 | 2010–11: Kreisliga C – 1st2011–12: Kreisliga B – 1st2012–13: Kreisliga A – 2nd2013–14: Bezirksliga Mittelrhein 1 – 1st2014–15: Landesliga Mittelrhein 1 – 2nd | |
| SV Rödinghausen | Germany | 5 | 2009–10: Kreisliga A – 1st2010–11: Bezirksliga Westfalen 1 – 1st2011–12: Landesliga Westfalen-Ost – 1st2012–13: Westfalenliga 1 – 1st2013–14: Oberliga Westfalen – 2nd | |
| Varesina Calcio | Italy | 5 | 2010–11: Terza Categoria Lombardy – 1st2011–12: Seconda Categoria Lombardy – 1st2012–13: Prima Categoria Lombardy – 1st2013–14: Promozione Lombardy – 1st2014–15: Eccellenza Lombardy – 1st | |
| Dalkurd FF | Sweden | 5 | 2005: Division 6 Dalarna Mellersta - 1st 2006: Division 5 Dalarna Södra - 1st2007: Division 4 Dalarna - 1st2008: Division 3 Södra Norrland - 1st2009: Division 2 Norra Svealand - 1st | |
| FC Enikon Augsburg † | Germany | 4 | 1990–91: A-Klasse Augsburg – 1st1991–92: Bezirksliga Schwaben-Süd – 2nd1992–93: Bezirksoberliga Schwaben – 2nd1993–94: Landesliga Bayern-Süd – 2nd | |
| Truro City | England | 4 | 2005–06: South Western League - 1st2006–07: Western League Division One – 2nd2007–08: Western League Premier Division – 1st2008–09: Southern League Division One South & West – 1st | |
| Shaw Lane A.F.C. | England | 4 | 2011–12: Sheffield & Hallam County Senior League Division 1 - 2nd2012–13: Sheffield & Hallam County Senior League Premier Division - 1st2013–14: Northern Counties East League Division 1 - 2nd2014–15: Northern Counties East League Premier Division - 1st | |
| Parma Calcio 1913 | Italy | 3 | 2015–16: Serie D - 1st2016–17: Serie C - 2nd2017–18: Serie B - 2nd | |
| Bromsgrove Sporting F.C. | England | 3 | 2016–17: Midland Football League Division 1 - 1st2017–18: Northern Football League Premier Divsion - 1st2018–19: Southern Football League Division One Central - 1st | - |
| South Shields F.C. | England | 3 | 2015–16: Northern Football League Division 2 - 1st2016–17: Northern Football League Division 1 - 1st2017–18: Northern Premier League Division One North - 1st | |
| Kings Langley F.C. | England | 3 | 2013–14: Spartan South Midlands Football League Division One - 2nd2014–15: Spartan South Midlands Football League Premier Division - 1st2015–16: Southern Football League Division One Central - 1st | |
| Chester F.C. | England | 3 | 2010–11: Northern Premier League Division One North - 1st2011–12: Northern Premier League - 1st2012–13: Conference North - 1st | |
| Slimbridge F.C. | England | 3 | 2007–08: Gloucester Northern Senior League Premier Division - 1st 2008–09: Gloucestershire County League - 1st2009–10: Hellenic League Division One West - 1st | |
| F.C. United of Manchester | England | 3 | 2005–06: North West Counties Football League Division Two - 1st2006–07: North West Counties Football League Division One – 1st2007–08: Northern Premier League Division One North – 2nd | |
| Gretna F.C. † | Scotland | 3 | 2004–05: Scottish Third Division – 1st2005–06: Scottish Second Division – 1st2006–07: Scottish First Division – 1st | |
| JK Dünamo Tallinn | Estonia | 3 | 2002: III Liiga North – 1st2003: II Liiga North/East – 1st2004: Esiliiga – 4th | |
| TSV 1860 München II | Germany | 3 | 1994–95: Bezirksoberliga Oberbayern – 2nd1995–96: Landesliga Bayern-Süd – 1st1996–97: Bayernliga – 1st | |
| CSA | Brazil | 3 | 2016: Série D – 2nd2017: Série C – 1st2018: Série B - 2nd | |
| Hanoi FC | Vietnam | 3 | 2006: Third League - 1st 2007: Second League - 2nd 2008: V.League 2 - 2nd |
Relegations
Clubs with three or more consecutive relegations:| Club | Country | No | Leagues | Ref |
| FC Kempten | Germany | 4 | 2007–08: Bayernliga – 18th2008–09: Landesliga Bayern-Süd – 14th2009–10: Bezirksoberliga Schwaben – 17th2010–11: Bezirksliga Schwaben-Süd – 13th | |
| SV Lohhof | Germany | 4 | 1999–2000: Regionalliga Süd – 18th2000–01: Bayernliga – 18th2001–02: Landesliga Bayern-Süd – 20th2002–03: Bezirksoberliga Oberbayern – 18th | |
| Tirsense | Portugal | 4 | 1995-96: Primeira Liga – 18th1996-97: Liga de Honra – 18th1997-98: Segunda Divisão – 18th1998-99: Terceira Divisão – 15th | |
| SpVgg Au/Iller 1 | Germany | 3 | 2008–09: Oberliga Baden-Württemberg – 17th2009–10: Verbandsliga Württemberg – 16th2010–11: Landesliga Württemberg 2 – 16th | |
| SpVgg Plattling | Germany | 3 | 1993–94: Bayernliga – 18th 1994–95: Landesliga Bayern-Mitte – 16th1995–96: Bezirksoberliga Niederbayern – 16th | |
| Bristol City F.C. | England | 3 | 1979-80: Football League First Division - 20th1980-81: Football League Second Division - 21st1981-82: Football League Third Division - 23rd | |
| Luton Town F.C. | England | 3 | 2006-07: Football League Championship - 23rd2007-08: Football League One - 24th2008-09: Football League Two - 24th | |
| Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. | England | 3 | 1983-84: Football League First Division - 22nd1984-85: Football League Second Division - 22nd1985-86: Football League Third Division - 23rd | |
| Cracovia | Poland | 3 | 1969-70: I liga - 14th 1970-71 II liga - 16th 1971-72 III liga gr. II - 13th | |
| Ruch Chorzów | Poland | 3 | 2016-17 Ekstraklasa - 16th 2017-18 - I liga - 17th 2018-19 - II liga - 17th |
Promotions and relegations
Yo-yo clubs, meaning clubs that consecutively bounce between two leagues and have, in the process, switched leagues five or more times:| Club | Country | No | Leagues | Ref |
| BFC Südring | Germany | 10 | 1950–51: Oberliga Berlin – 14th1951–52: Amateurliga Berlin – 2nd1952–53: Oberliga Berlin – 11th1953–54: Amateurliga Berlin – 1st1954–55: Oberliga Berlin – 11th1955–56: Amateurliga Berlin – 1st1956–57: Oberliga Berlin – 11th1957–58: Amateurliga Berlin – 2nd1958–59: Oberliga Berlin – 11th1959–60: Amateurliga Berlin – 2nd | |
| Aris Limassol | Cyprus | 10 | 1996–97: Cypriot First Division – 12th1997–98: Cypriot Second Division 1998–99: Cypriot First Division – 14th1999–2000: Cypriot Second Division 2000–01: Cypriot First Division – 14th2001–02: Cypriot Second Division 2002–03: Cypriot First Division – 13th2003–04: Cypriot Second Division 2004–05: Cypriot First Division – 14th2005–06: Cypriot Second Division | |
| FC Kuressaare | Estonia | 9 | 2001: Meistriliiga – 8th2002: Esiliiga – 2nd2003: Meistriliiga – 8th2004: Esiliiga – 5th2005: Meistriliiga – 9th2006: Esiliiga – 2nd2007: Meistriliiga – 9th2008: Esiliiga – 2nd2009: Meistriliiga – 8th | |
| SK Brann | Norway | 8 | 1979: 1. divisjon – 12th1980: 2. divisjon 1981: 1. divisjon – 10th1982: 2. divisjon 1983: 1. divisjon – 10th1984: 2. divisjon 1985: 1. divisjon – 11th1986: 2. divisjon | |
| Drogheda United | Ireland | 7 | 1993–94: Premier Division – 12th1994–95: First Division – 2nd1995–96: Premier Division – 11th1996–97: First Division – 2nd1997–98: Premier Division – 12th1998–99: First Division – 1st1999–2000: Premier Division – 12th | |
| Hong Kong FC | Hong Kong | 7 | 1972–73: Second Division League 1973–74: First Division League – 14th1974–75: Second Division League 1975–76: First Division League – 12th1976–77: Second Division League 1977–78: First Division League – 12th1978–79: Second Division League | |
| Deportivo de La Coruña | Spain | 7 | 1961–62: Segunda División – 1st1962–63: La Liga – 14th1963–64: Segunda División – 1st1964–65: La Liga – 16th1965–66: Segunda División – 1st1966–67: La Liga – 16th1967–68: Segunda División – 1st | |
| Avaí | Brazil | 6 | 2014: Série B – 4th2015: Série A – 17th2016: Série B – 2nd2017: Série A – 18th2018: Série B – 3rd2019: Série A – 20th | |
| Valur | Iceland | 6 | 1999: Urvalsdeild – 9th2000: 1. deild – 2nd2001: Urvalsdeild – 9th 2002: 1. deild – 1st 2003: Urvalsdeild – 10th 2004: 1. deild – 1st | |
| SV Linx | Germany | 6 | 2002–03: Verbandsliga Südbaden – 1st2003–04: Oberliga Baden-Württemberg – 16th2004–05: Verbandsliga Südbaden – 1st2005–06: Oberliga Baden-Württemberg – 18th2006–07: Verbandsliga Südbaden – 1st2007–08:Oberliga Baden-Württemberg – 18th | |
| TSG Weinheim | Germany | 6 | 1998–99: Verbandsliga Nordbaden – 1st1999–2000: Oberliga Baden-Württemberg – 15th2000–01: Verbandsliga Nordbaden – 1st2001–02: Oberliga Baden-Württemberg – 15th2002–03: Verbandsliga Nordbaden – 1st2003–04: Oberliga Baden-Württemberg – 18th | |
| Heart of Midlothian F.C. | Scotland | 5 | 1976–77: Scottish Premier Division –9th1977–78: Scottish First Division – 2nd1978–79: Scottish Premier Division – 9th1979–80: Scottish First Division – 1st1980–81: Scottish Premier Division – 10th | |
| 1. FC Köln | Germany | 5 | 2001-02: Bundesliga 2002-03: 2. Bundesliga 2003-04: Bundesliga 2004-05: 2. Bundesliga 2005-06: Bundesliga | |
| Kuban Krasnodar | Russia | 5 | 2006: National League - 2nd 2007: Premier League - 15th 2008: National League - 2nd 2009: Premier League - 15th 2010: National League - 1st | |
| U.S. Cremonese | Italy | 5 | 1988-89: Serie B 1989-90: Serie A 1990-91: Serie B 1991-92: Serie A 1992-93: Serie B | |
| Odra Opole | Poland | 5 | 1983–1984: II liga group 1 - 13th 1984–1985: III liga group. 5 - 1st 1985–1986: II liga group 1 - 14th 1986–1987: III liga group 5 - 1st 1987–1988: II liga group 1 - 13th |
Promotions and/or relegations
Clubs with four or more consecutive promotions and/or relegations, spread over three or more divisions:| Club | Country | No | Leagues | Ref |
| RC Celta de Vigo | Spain | 9 | 1974–75: La Liga 17th ↓1975–76: Segunda División 2nd ↑1976–77: La Liga 17th ↓1977–78: Segunda División 2nd ↑1978–79: La Liga 16th ↓1979–80: Segunda División 17th ↓1980–81: Segunda División B Grupo I 1st ↑1981–82: Segunda División 1st ↑1982–83: La Liga 17th ↓ | |
| UMF Sindri Höfn | Iceland | 8 | 1996: 3. deild ↑ 1997: 2. deild 10th ↓ 1998: 3. deild ↑ 1999: 2. deild 2nd ↑ 2000: 1. deild 9th ↓ 2001: 2. deild 2nd ↑2002: 1. deild 10th ↓2003: 2. deild 9th ↓ | |
| Comercial | Brazil | 7 | 2009: Campeonato Paulista Série A2 – 18th ↓2010: Campeonato Paulista Série A3 – 5th ↑2011: Campeonato Paulista Série A2 – 4th ↑2012: Campeonato Paulista – 20th ↓2013: Campeonato Paulista Série A2 – 4th ↑2014: Campeonato Paulista – 17th ↓2015: Campeonato Paulista Série A2 – 17th ↓ | |
| FC Kempten | Germany | 7 | 2004–05: Landesliga Bayern-Süd – 2nd ↑2005–06: Bayernliga – 16th ↓2006–07: Landesliga Bayern-Süd – 1st ↑2007–08: Bayernliga – 18th ↓2008–09: Landesliga Bayern-Süd – 14th ↓2009–10: Bezirksoberliga Schwaben – 17th ↓2010–11: Bezirksliga Schwaben-Süd – 13th ↓ | |
| Gazélec Ajaccio | France | 6 | 2010–11: Championnat de France amateur – 1st ↑2011–12:Championnat National – 3rd ↑ 2012–13: Ligue 2 – 20th ↓2013–14: Championnat National 3rd ↑2014–15: Ligue 2 – 2nd ↑2015–16 Ligue 1 - 19th ↓ | |
| IF Brommapojkarna | Sweden | 6 | 2014: Allsvenskan –16th ↓2015: Superettan – 16th ↓2016: Division 1 Norra – 1st ↑2017: Superettan – 1st ↑2018: Allsvenskan – 14th ↓2019: Superettan – 15th ↓ | |
| Tirsense | Portugal | 5 | 1995-96: Primeira Liga – 18th ↓1996-97: Liga de Honra – 18th ↓1997-98: Segunda Divisão – 18th ↓1998-99: Terceira Divisão – 15th ↓1999-2000: Divisão de Honra da AF Porto - 1st ↑ | |
| Manchester City F.C. | England | 5 | 1997-98: Football League First Division - 22nd 1998-99: Football League Second Division - 3rd 1999-2000: Football League First Division - 1st 2000-01: Premier League - 18th 2001-02: Football League First Division - 1st | |
| Gretna F.C. † | Scotland | 4 | 2004–05: Scottish Third Division – 1st ↑2005–06: Scottish Second Division – 1st ↑2006–07: Scottish First Division – 1st ↑2007–08: Scottish Premier League – 12th ↓ | |
| Água Santa | Brazil | 4 | 2013: Campeonato Paulista Segunda Divisão – 2nd ↑2014: Campeonato Paulista Série A3 – 4th ↓2015: Campeonato Paulista Série A2 – 4th ↑2016: Campeonato Paulista – 15th ↓ | |
| América | Brazil | 4 | 2004: Série B – 19th ↓2005: Série C – 2nd ↑2006: Série B – 4th ↑2007: Série A – 20th ↓ | |
| CSA | Brazil | 4 | 2016: Série D – 2nd ↑2017: Série C – 1st ↑2018: Série B - 2nd ↑2019: Série A - 18th ↓ | |
| Vitória | Brazil | 4 | 2004: Série A – 23rd ↓2005: Série B – 17th ↓2006: Série C – 2nd ↑2007: Série B – 4th ↑ |