Unofficial Champions of England: Arsenal 1-2 Ipswich Town, 01/11/2000

The Gunners reign as champions was brief at three games but the previous two were a London derby victory over West Ham United and a thumping 5-0 victory over Manchester City.

George Burley's Ipswich Town side arrived at Highbury for a Worthington Cup tie as the surprise package of the 2000/01 season. Early season relegation candidates, they would finish a brilliant 5th in the Premier League.

As was Arsene Wenger's tradition in the League Cup, many changes were made to the Arsenal line up though it still contained likes of Ashley Cole, Matthew Upson, Jermaine Pennant and Sylvain Wiltord.

Ipswich won it with goals from Jamie Clapham and James Scowcroft, though Igor Stepanovs did get one for Arsenal.

After four and a half years, Ipswich Town were English Champions for the third time.

Match Report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/worthington_cup/1000608.stm

Unofficial Champions of England: Arsenal 1-0 Aston Villa, 14/10/2000

An international break meant Aston Villa got to enjoy two weeks as English Champions.

When they returned to action, a single goal from Thierry Henry was enough to win it for the Gunners at Highbury.

Arsene Wenger's men were champions for the 5th time.

Unofficial Champions of England: Aston Villa 4-1 Derby County, 30/09/2000

Paul Merson celebrates scoring Villa's second

Derby County's time as English Champions was all too brief.

Their first defence of the title was away at Villa Park. Aston Villa hadn't exactly been flying at that point but they were far too strong for a poor Derby side.

The damage was done by two goals from Julian Joachim, one for Paul Merson and one from Alan Wright for John Gregory's men. Chris Riggott did get one back for Derby but it made no difference.

This was the first time Aston Villa had won the Unofficial English Championship.

Unofficial Champions of England: Oldham Athletic, Peterborough United, Swansea City, West Bromwich Albion, Derby County, 2000-01

Oldham Athletic 1-0 Huddersfield Town, 22/08/2000

Huddersfield Town's time as English champions would run to 3 matches before a League Cup tie against Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park. A 1-0 win for the Latics was enough for the win and brought the English championship back into Division 2 after a 2 year gap.

Oldham Athletic 1-4 Peterborough United, 26/08/2000

Oldham would immediately surrender the title however in a 1-4 home drubbing by Peterborough United, claiming their maiden English Championship.



Peterborough United 0-2 Swansea City, 28/08/2000

Peterborough's time at the top would only last two days however as they surrendered their title to Swansea City, the second side to bring the English Championship back to Wales (after Wrexham).
A 0-2 win was enough for the Swans.

I don't know what was going on with the fixture list at this time but this was the fourth title change in 9 days.



West Bromwich Albion 2-1 Swansea City, 06/09/2000

Swansea held on to the title for a little longer but a League Cup match at the Hawthorns where a 2-1 win was enough to gain West Brom the English Championship and take it back into Division One.



West Bromwich Albion 2-4 Derby County, 26/09/2000

West Brom done well to hold on to their title but another League Cup tie brought Premier League side Derby County to The Hawthorns.

A valiant effort by the Baggies but they couldn't stop the Rams from claiming the title.

Unofficial Champions of England: Sheffield Wednesday 2-3 Huddersfield Town, 19/08/2000

Kevin Gallen extends Huddersfield's lead

Sheffield Wednesday were the first team to be relegated as English Champions. Life in Division One started relatively well with a draw away at Wolverhampton Wanderers but their second game was a Yorkshire derby against Huddersfield Town.

While Wednesday had struggled the previous season, by contrast Huddersfield had just missed out on the Division One play-offs. The moods around the two clubs couldn't have been more contrasting.

Huddersfield started like a house on fire and raced into a three goal lead by forty minutes thanks to two goals from Martin Smith sandwiching Kevin Gallen's effort.
Wednesday weren't going down easy though and came back with goals from Andy Booth and Andy Hinchcliffe but too little, too late.

A third English Championship for Huddersfield.

Unofficial Champions of England: Sheffield Wednesday 4-0 Leicester City, 14/05/2000

Alan Quinn scores Wednesday's first.

Leicester City were likely already on their summer holidays when they turned up at Hillsborough for the final game of the 1999-2000 season.

Sheffield Wednesday were already relegated, so it was a bizarre time for them to turn in one of their best performances of the season. Four goals from Alan Quinn (an excellent solo goal), Andy Booth, Niclas Alexandersson and Gilles De Bilde gave the rampant Owls the win.

So, it was some unwanted history for Wednesday as they became the first side to be relegated as England's Unofficial Champions.

Unofficial Champions of England: Leicester City 3-0 Bradford City, 06/05/2000

Matt Elliott celebrates his first goal.

Bradford City cemented their position as English Champions with a 3-0 win over fellow relegation battlers Wimbledon.

Their next game was away at Filbert Street to play Leicester City. The Foxes were in a comfortable mid-table position and had already booked their place in next seasons UEFA cup after winning the League Cup against Tranmere Rovers.
So, they had nothing to play for. Except the Unofficial English Championship, of course.

Bradford held on for an hour but were then undone by 3 goals in nine minutes. Two headed goals from Matt Elliott and a third from Tony Cottee won Leicester their 6th Championship to go along with their League Cup.

Unofficial Champions of England: Sunderland 0-1 Bradford City, 24/04/2000

John Dreyer celebrates his goal

Sunderland had no time to enjoy their time as champions as they were back in action just two days later at the Stadium of the Light, taking on the visitors Bradford City.

Like previous opponents Sheffield Wednesday, Bradford were also desperate for points in their relegation battle.

One goal was all that was required for Bradford to take three vital points and the English Championship. John Dreyer was the hero, heading in from Peter Beagrie's second-half cross.

Unofficial Champions of England: Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Sunderland, 22/04/2000

Sheffield Wednesday may have been English Champions but they were in no position to celebrate as they were involved in a huge relegation battle.

Sunderland were in no mood to make life any easier for the Owls. Sunderland had surprised many with their good form following promotion the previous season. This owed no small part to the leagues leading scorer Kevin Phillips, who had outscored the likes of Alan Shearer, Thierry Henry and Andy Cole.

It was Phillips again who was the Black Cat's hero, scoring with two more predatory finishes to win Sunderland's third Unofficial Championship and inflict more misery on Wednesday supporters.

Unofficial Champions of England: Sheffield Wednesday 1-0 Chelsea, 15/04/2000

Wim Jonk scores for Wednesday

When Chelsea turned up at Hillsborough, they were on a good run of domestic form having been unbeaten in 20 games including six as English Champions. They had even picked up wins over Marseille, Feyenoord and Barcelona in that time and booked a place in the FA Cup final. Relegation battlers Sheffield Wednesday should have been a foregone conclusion.

The Owls had different ideas though. Points were desperately needed by Wednesday and they were set on their way through a second half penalty. Gilles De Bilde was adjudged to have been brought down by Chelsea goalkeeper Ed De Goey, who was a tad fortunate to escape a red card. Wim Jonk stepped up to dispatch the penalty kick for Wednesday.
Chelsea had their chances but it just wasn't their day.

Sheffield Wednesday may have been stuck near the bottom but at least they were Champions.

Unofficial Champions of England: Newcastle United 0-1 Chelsea, 04/03/2000

Gus Poyet scores for Chelsea

Newcastle United were riding high after their victory over Manchester United and cemented their place as English Champions with hard fought victories over Sheffield Wednesday and er, Tranmere Rovers.

Game three was a visit from Chelsea. Chelsea were in a similar position to the Magpies of threatening to break into the top echelon but hadn't quite made it (yet).

One goal was all that was needed, Gustavo Poyet heading in from Jody Morris's cross in the 22nd minute. Gianluca Vialli's Blues were English Champions for the 6th time.

Unofficial Champions of England: Newcastle United 3-0 Manchester United, 12/02/2018

Duncan Ferguson scores on the volley.

Having secured their place as English Champions, Manchester United started the new millenium with a trip to South America to play in the World Club Championship where they had mixed results. On returning to England, they saw off challenges from Arsenal, Middlesbrough, Sheffield Wednesday and Coventry City.
Next up was a trip to St James' Park to play Newcastle United.

The Toon Army had threatened to be a major player in English football in the mid-nineties but had fallen just short. Following a disastrous run under manager Ruud Gullitt they had lost a lot of their lustre but the appointment of former England manager Bobby Robson had brought new optimism to the club.

Man United started well but it was the Magpies struck first, a rare non-headed goal from Duncan Ferguson who scored a delightful volley from the edge of the box.
Had goal-line technology existed United may have had an equaliser but Andy Cole's effort was ruled not to have crossed the line. It got worse for United when captain Roy Keane was sent off for a second yellow card.

It only got better for Newcastle though when Alan Shearer scored a brace, the first a curling effort from outside the box and the second a sliding effort from inside the penalty area.

New optimism for Newcastle, the new Champions of England.

Unofficial Champions of England: Manchester United 4-0 Bradford City, 26/12/1999

Quinton Fortune scores Man United's first.

Bradford City's reign as English Champions started well with a 2-0 victory over Newcastle United but their second match brought the daunting prospect of a visit to the home of Treble winners Manchester United.

Played on a horrible Old Trafford pitch, for a time the Bantams may have felt the United players had overdone the Christmas turkey the day before. It took 75 minutes to break the dead-lock, Quinton Fortune sliding in to convert Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's low cross.
The goals flowed after that with one each for the deadly strike duo of Andy Cole and Dwight Yorke.
The win was rounded off with a typical bursting run and finish from United's iconic captain Roy Keane.

With their title reclaimed for the 7th time, a 2-2 draw with Sunderland two days later guaranteed Manchester United would enter the new millenium as both England's Official and Unofficial Champions.

Unofficial Champions of England: Crewe Alexandra 1-2 Bradford City, 11/12/1999

Bradford on their way to FA Cup glory (apologies for low quality, only footage I could find)

Crewe Alexandra's time at the top of the English football tree was short lived but they did manage one successful defence, with an admirable 2-0 victory over West Bromwich Albion.

The FA Cup brought Premier League side Bradford City to Gresty Road. Bradford were struggling in the Premier League as many had predicted they would, so the FA Cup was a good distraction for Paul Jewell's men.

The Division One side kept the Bantams at bay for 53 minutes before eventually, Robbie Blake found a way through.

Crewe weren't giving up easily though as they forced an equaliser in the 75th minute through Colin Little.

It was all for ought though as veteran striker Dean Saunders came off the bench to score for Bradford, putting them through to the Fourth Round and more crucially, making Bradford City Champions of England for the first time.

Unofficial Champions of England: Crewe Alexandra 2-0 Crystal Palace, 04/12/1999

Paul Tait chips Crewe Alexandra into the lead.

Crystal Palace's reign as English Champions began with a nice win over Nottingham Forest. Game two would bring them to Gresty Road to face fellow strugglers Crewe Alexandra.

Crewe have been in the football league since 1921 but have never been in the top flight, spending most of their time in the lower divisions. Indeed, they hold the record for finishing bottom of the league (eight times). So, this was a relative golden period for the Railwaymen under their legendary manager Dario Gradi (whom in two spells managed Crewe for a combined 26 seasons).

Crewe's first came early in the first half, a delightful chip by Paul Tait from outside the box. The second was a more straight forward affair, Steve Macauley left unmarked in the box to volley in from a free-kick.

The trophy cabinet may not be bulging at Gresty Road but at least Crewe fans can say they were once Champions of England.

Unofficial Champions of England: Crystal Palace 1-0 Norwich City, 23/11/1999

Mathias Svensson scores the winning goal

Norwich City, under manager Bruce Rioch, enjoyed a relatively lengthy run as champions defending their title five times, They saw off challenges from Stockport County, Fulham, Nottingham Forest, Swindon Town and Ipswich Town.

Game six brought them to Selhurst Park to face a struggling Crystal Palace side, back under former manager Steve Coppell, who hadn't been able to get their season started.

It took until the last minute before Swedish striker Mathias Svensson was the first to react to Terry Phelan's cross to win the game and the English Championship for Crystal Palace. The Eagle's second championship and first since 1994.

Unofficial Champions of England: Norwich City 2-1 Bolton Wanderers, 24/10/1999

The Allardyce reign as English Champion was short lived.

Bolton retained their title in a 2-2 draw with Crewe Alexandra before visiting Norwich City for a Division One game.

The Canaries had been stuck in the second tier for four years with yearnings for a return to the top. Two goals from midfielder Darel Russell (with one in reply from Ricardo Gardner) were enough for Norwich to claim their first ever English Championship.

Unofficial Champions of England: Bolton Wanderers 1-0 Huddersfield Town, 16/10/1999

After the elation of beating high flying Chelsea to become English Champions, it was back to league action in Division One for Huddersfield Town.

Just three days on, the Terriers were defending their title at the Reebok Stadium against Bolton Wanderers. Bolton were looking to make a return to the Premier League (as well as claim their second Unofficial Championship) but a poor start to the season had cost manager Colin Todd his job, with Phil Brown taking charge in a caretaker role. Watching from the stands was Bolton's next full-time manager, Samuel 'Big Sam' Allardyce.

One goal was all that was required on the day, coming from Jamaican Ricardo Gardner. Big Sam's dream had come true, he was taking over a championship winning side.

Unofficial Champions of England: Chelsea 0-1 Huddersfield Town, 13/10/1999

Imagine the scene: you've just beaten the League and European Champions 5-0 whilst barely breaking a sweat.

Next up is a League Cup tie at home against a second-tier side. Piece of cake, right.
Football is never that simple.

Huddersfield weren't doing too badly in Division One at the time but not many really thought they would beat Chelsea in this tie.

Sure, Chelsea rested a lot of players but that shouldn't take away from a determined Huddersfield outfit.
The winning goal came on 77 minutes, Kenny Irons writing himself into Terriers folklore with a 30 yard effort into the top corner.

A memorable night for Huddersfield Town as they claimed their maiden Unofficial English Championship.

Match report: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sport/football/474278.stm

Unofficial Champions of England: Chelsea 5-0 Manchester United, 03/10/1999

Jody Morris scores Chelsea's fifth goal

Manchester United are the treble winners and Unofficial Champions. They haven't lost a league game in ten months. They look unstoppable.
All except one thing and his name is Massimo Taibi. To be fair, it was a big ask for any keeper to fill the gloves of United's legendary keeper Peter Schmeichel. Taibi's time in Manchester was short but the stuff of legends.

Chelsea took the lead after just 27 seconds. Dan Petrescu played the ball forward for Gus Poyet to head past a stranded Taibi.
Chris Sutton, who didn't score many in his time at Stamford Bridge, made it 2-0 with a looping header from Albert Ferrer's cross.
It got worse for United when Nicky Butt was red carded for lashing out at Chelsea skipper Dennis Wise.

United survived conceding anymore until the second half when Gus Poyet got his second goal, scoring on the rebound after Taibi had saved Frank Leboeuf's low effort.
The fourth goal, despite Sutton's best efforts to claim it for himself, was an own goal from Henning Berg, sliding in to turn in Gianfranco Zola's low cross.
The final goal came from Jody Morris, completing Taibi's miserable day by shooting between his legs.

The Treble winners were well and truly humbled.