Football teams of the decades

1890s

The top side, with four league titles and two FA Cup wins, was Aston Villa. Everton, who started the decade by moving from Anfield to Goodison Park, were the best supported side.

1900s

With three league titles, one FA Cup success and the highest average gate it was Newcastle United.

1910s

With two league titles from just five competitive seasons it has to be Blackburn Rovers, with the magnificent Robert Crompton at the back, although Chelsea were the best-supported side.

1920s

With three consecutive titles and one FA Cup success it was Huddersfield although Chelsea, despite six seasons in Division Two had the highest average gate.

1930s

With five league titles, three in consecutive years, and two FA Cup wins the best-supported side Arsenal were clearly the side of the 30s.

1940s

With two league titles from just four seasons it was Portsmouth, although Second Division Newcastle were the best-supported club.

1950s

With three league titles apiece Wolves narrowly piped Manchester United for the honour of the being the team of the decade with success at the 1959-60 FA Cup Final. Attendance wise there was little to choose between Manchester United, Spurs, Arsenal and Chelsea. Best watched away side was however Stanley Matthews’ Blackpool!!

1960s

Tottenham Hotspur won the most trophies with three FA Cup successes and victory in the 1963 Cup-Winners Cup to add to their single league success. However it could well be argued that the record of Manchester United was superior as in addition to winning the FA Cup in 1963 they also twice captured the Division One Championship and won the European Cup in 1968.

1970s

Liverpool with four league titles, a single FA Cup success, two European Cup and two UEFA cup wins were the team of the decade but off the pitch Manchester United assumed their virtually permanent place at the top of the attendance tree from 1972-73 onwards broken only by Liverpool in 1987-88 and 1988-89.

1980s

With six league titles, two FA Cup’s, four League Cups and two more European Cups then Liverpool were the number one team. 

1990s

Manchester United, with five Premier League titles, four FA Cups, one League Cup, one Cup-Winners Cup and the 1999 Champions Clubs’ Cup were the team of the decade.

First decade of the twenty-first century

With eleven trophies, including the FIFA Club World Cup, Manchester United were the team of the decade, with Chelsea three behind.