5 Teams With the Highest-Ever Points Tallies in the EFL

In 2004, the English Football League was reformatted into its current system of the Championship, League One and League Two. Over these 18 years, there have been some incredible teams and ridiculously high points tallies achieved.

This article looks at the top five highest-ever points totals in modern EFL history. To start with though, there have to be some special mentions to a few teams that didn't make the top five but nonetheless are regarded as some of the best EFL teams of the modern era; 2011–12 Charlton Athletic 101 points in League 1, 2017-18 Wolverhampton Wanderers 99 points in the Championship, 2020-21 Norwich City 97 points in the Championship.

Since the EFL rebrand, 99 points is the League Two record, and it was achieved in 2015-16 by Northampton Town, then managed by former Sheffield United boss, Chris Wilder.

Wilder won three Manager of the Month awards as the Cobblers charged to the division title, scoring 82 goals on the way. Winning 29 games from 46, Northampton won the league by 13 points, ahead of second-placed Oxford United.

Interestingly, only three teams, in the 18 League Two seasons since the rebrand, have achieved over 90 points, and only Accrington Stanley has reached the 90-point mark since The Cobbers did in 2016.

Wolverhampton Wanderers have come a long way since their League One points record-breaking campaign, back in 2015. Wolves were then managed by former Portsmouth boss, Kenny Jacket.

At the conclusion of the season, Jackett was the joint-winner of the LMA Awards Manager of the Year for League One.

Wolves amassed an incredible 103 points, winning 31 of their 46 games, and losing just five. Though Wolves were heavily backed to make an immediate return after their relegation from the Championship in 2013, 103 points was an outstanding achievement and is still an unbroken record.

Leicester City, 2013/14 - 102pts

Leicester City, who were managed by Nigel Pearson, broke the 100-point mark, with a 102-point haul, a season that started Leicester's incredible rise that ultimately saw the club win the Premier League and reach the Champions League knockouts.

The Foxes won 31 league games, as David Nugent ended the season with 22 goals, firing Leicester back to the Premier League. It was the club's seventh-second-tier title.

Newcastle United, 2009/10 - 102pts

Newcastle’s 2008/09 squad may not have been too good to go down, however, the squad that was relegated took the Championship by storm, as the Magpies went unbeaten at home for an immediate return to the Premier League. The Magpies lost just four games as they stormed back to the Premier League in style, winning 30 matches.

The Toon Army had players such as star striker Andy Carroll, and Midfield general Kevin Nolan running the show. Manager, Chris Hughton, was not greatly backed in the window by Mike Ashley, however, he managed to keep many of their previous season's squad together.

Reading, 2005/06 - 106pts

The record-breaking Royals put together one hell of a squad in 2005/06, winning the Championship title, with 106 points - the most of any EFL side ever.

The Royals signed well, as Kevin Doyle and Shane Long were joined by countryman Stephen Hunt and club-record signing Leroy Lita.

Manager Steve Coppell led Reading to their first-ever top-flight campaign, after losing just one game out of the 46, and scoring 99 goals in total. They put five past Millwall, Brighton, Derby and Cardiff – twice – while also keeping things tight, as Steve Sidwell and James Harper protected a reliable defence.

Championship: Burnley

Burnley are having a superb season under Vincent Kompany in the Championship at present. The Clarets are on 65 points from 29 matches and would need 41 points from the next 51 available to match Reading’s second-tier record from 2006.

The Clarets need an average of 2.41 points per game in their next 17 fixtures to match the Royals' average points tally of 2.3 that season.

League One: Sheffield Wednesday & Plymouth Argyle

It would take a staggering effort for anybody to match Wolverhampton Wanderers’ 103 points tally from the 2014/15 campaign, however, Sheffield Wednesday and Plymouth are both on 61 points from 28 and 29 matches this campaign.

The Owls were the pre-season favourites to be promoted following their strong transfer window under Darren Moore and need 42 points from the next 54 available to match Wolves’ record, while Plymouth have less margin for error, with 51 points being there to be won.

League Two: Leyton Orient

Leyton Orient look the most likely to get close to Northampton’s record of 99 points with 63 points from 30 matches. However, this does require them to earn 36 points from the 48 available, meaning that this will take an incredible effort on top of their already impressive campaign.

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