What team has been in top flight football the longest?

Arsenal have been in the top flight the

Arsenal have been in the top flight for football the longest, in fact when Arsenal celebrate 87 years in the top flight during 2006 the nearest team to them will be Everton on 52 years

Coventry,who were promoted under Jimmy Hill's stewardship in 1967, are the fourth-longest serving members of the elite. Liverpool were promoted in 1963, and haven't slummed it in the meantime, while neighbours Everton have held their top-flight status ever since 1954, despite their best efforts during the 90s.

Then there's Arsenal. They were promoted from the old Second Division in 1919 and have never been away since. But, predictably, seeing as they hold the record for current top-flight longevity, the nature of their promotion that year is controversial, to say the least.

In 1919, the First Division was extended from 20 to 22 clubs. During previous expansions, the relegated clubs from the previous season were re-elected, while the top Second Division sides were promoted as usual.

So Derby and Preston, the two top Second Division sides in 1915 - there had been a break for the War - did indeed move on up. And Chelsea, who had finished 19th that season, were, as expected, re-elected.

But the reason for Chelsea's escape were somewhat arbitrary. In 1915, Manchester United had, to avoid relegation, fixed their last game (against Liverpool of all people). They won 2-0 and sent Chelsea into the relegation places instead, but Liverpool chairman John McKenna must have felt some guilt, because at the League's AGM in 1919 he gave a speech insisting on the continued presence in the top flight of the Stamford Bridge club.

For some reason however, he also suggested that lowly Arsenal, who had finished fifth in the Second, should be rewarded for their long service to the League. They should replace the team which came 20th in 1915, he argued.

And so it came to pass. The unfairly relegated club? Why, Tottenham Hotspur.

UP THE GOONERS

First answer by ID3567153421. Last edit by RazorRIP. Contributor trust: 22 [recommend contributor]. Question popularity: 39 [recommend question]