The Teams
ARSENAL FC
Shirt Colors: Red shirt, white sleeves
Ground: Emirates Stadium (London)
Local Rivals: Tottenham Hotspur
Known as the ‘Gunners’, Arsenal were formed in 1886 and won three English league titles in a row in the 1930s. They have also lifted the FA Cup 10 times as well as winning four European trophies.
ASTON VILLA FC
Shirt Colors: Claret shirt, blue sleeves
Ground: Villa Park (Birmingham)
Local Rivals: Birmingham City
Villa were founder members of the Football League and have lifted the First Division trophy and the FA Cup seven times apiece. They are also one of only four English clubs to have lifted the European cup.
BLACKBURN ROVERS FC
Shirt Colors: Blue and white halves
Ground: Ewood Park
Local Rivals: Burnley
Based in Lancashire, Blackburn are also founder members of the Football League. In 1995/96 led by legendary striker Alan Shearer, Rovers became only the second team to the win the English Premier League.
BOLTON WANDERERS FC
Shirt Colors: White
Ground: Reebok Stadium
Local Rivals: Bury
Bolton’s main success came in the 1920s when they lifted the FA Cup three times in six years. They won it again in 1958 thanks to two goals from striker Nat Lofthouse who is the club’s record goal scorer with 285 goals. Wanderers have spent a total of 69 seasons in the top flight without winning the title – a record.
CHELSEA FC
Shirt Colors: Blue
Ground: Stamford Bridge (London)
Local Rivals: Fulham
Based in West London, the Blues are currently enjoying the most successful era in their history, thanks in no small part to the riches of Russian owner Roman Abramovich. They won their first League title in 1955 and had to wait 50 years for another one when Jose Mourinho won back-to-back Premier League crowns. They are the current FA Cup holders.
EVERTON FC
Shirt Colors: Blue
Ground: Goodison Park (Liverpool)
Local Rivals: Liverpool
Known as the Toffeemen, Everton have contested more seasons in the English top flight than any other team. They were founded 14 years earlier than their great Merseyside rivals Liverpool and have won nine League titles – the fourth highest in England.
FULHAM FC
Shirt Colors: White
Ground: Craven Cottage (London)
Local Rivals: Chelsea
Fulham are the oldest professional team based in London but they have never won a major honor. The closest they came was a 2-0 FA Cup Final defeat to West Ham in 1975. Their Chairman is Mohamed al-Fayed, owner of iconic London department store Harrods.
LIVERPOOL FC
Shirt Colors: Red
Ground: Anfield
Local Rivals: Everton
Liverpool are the most successful team in the history of English football, boasting 18 league titles, seven FA Cups, seven League Cups and five European Cups. However, their dominance in the top league has been recently superseded by Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea leaving Liverpool without a league title since 1990. They are also famous for their anthem ‘You’ll Never Walk Alone’ which is played before every game at their famous Anfield Stadium.
MANCHESTER CITY FC
Shirt Colors: Sky blue
Ground: Eastlands
Local Rivals: Manchester United
United’s city rivals were founded in 1880 and enjoyed their most successful period during the late 1960s and 1970s winning several trophies under Joe Mercer. They have recently been bought by the super-rich Abu Dhabi Group, leading to the signing of star players such as Robinho.
MANCHESTER UNITED FC
Shirt Colors: Red
Ground: Old Trafford
Local Rivals: Manchester City
Manchester United are one of the world’s most popular football clubs. Founded in 1878, they have scooped 11 Premier League titles since its inception in 1992 under the management of Sir Alex Ferguson, who has steered the club to a total of 23 trophies since his arrival in 1986. In 1968 they became the first English club to win the European Cup, beating Benfica 4-1.
NEWCASTLE UNITED FC
Shirt Colors: Black and white vertical stripes
Ground: St. James Park
Local Rivals: Sunderland
Returning to the Premier League one year after relegation, Newcastle United was formed by the merger of two local clubs in 1892. They have not won a first division title since 1927, but did finish second in the Premier League twice in the 1990s.
NORWICH CITY
Shirt Colors: Yellow and green
Ground: Carrow Road
Local Rivals: Ipswich Town
The ‘Canaries’ were promoted back to the Premier League after finishing second in last season’s Championship. Their last major honor came in 1985 when they won the League Cup.
QUEENS PARK RANGERS
Shirt Colors: Blue and white horizontal stripes
Ground: Loftus Road
Local Rivals: Fulham
The ‘Hoops’ were promoted back to the Premier League after winning the Championship last season. They were a founding member of teh Premier League.
STOKE CITY FC
Shirt Colors: Red and white vertical stripes
Ground: Britannia Stadium
Local Rivals: Port Vale
Stoke are the oldest club in the Premier League and the second oldest professional Club in the world. Known as the Potters, Stoke are contesting their second season in the Premier League. They won their only major honor in 1972, lifting the League Cup.
SUNDERLAND AFC
Shirt Colors: Red and white vertical stripes
Ground: The Stadium of Light
Local Rivals: Newcastle
Sunderland have won six First Division titles since their foundation in 1879, their last coming in 1936. Since then, the ‘Black Cats’ have bagged two FA Cups most recently in 1973. They have contested the Tyne-Wear derby with Newcastle since 1898.
SWANSEA CITY AFC
Shirt Colors: White and orange
Ground: Liberty Stadium
Local Rivals: Cardiff City
Swansea are one of the most succesful teams in Welsf football. They are teh first and only Welsh club to play in the Premier League.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC
Shirt Colors: White
Ground: White Hart Lane (London)
Local Rivals: Arsenal
Commonly referred to as Spurs, Tottenham have been Arsenal's long-standing North London rivals for decades. Founded in 1882, they have won eight FA Cups and two UEFA Cups, including the inaugural trophy in 1972.
WEST BROMWICH ALBION FC
Shirt Colors: Blue and white vertical stripes
Ground: The Hawthorns
Local Rivals: Wolverhampton
The Baggies founded in 1878, were one of the founding members of the Football League. They returned to the Premier League for the 2010/11 season after finishing second in the Championship.
WIGAN ATHLETIC FC
Shirt Colors: Blue and white vertical stripes
Ground: JJB Stadium
Local Rivals: Bolton Wanderers
Wigan are currently the ‘youngest’ club in the Premier League having only been formed in 1932. They gained their first ever promotion to the top flight in 2004/05 and have stayed there ever since. The ‘Latics’ play at the JJB Stadium, which they share with rugby league side Wigan Warriors.
WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS
Shirt Colors: Gold
Ground: Molineux Stadium
Local Rivals: West Bromwich Albion
‘Wolves’ were promoted back to the Premier League in the summer after five seasons in the Championship. Formed in 1877, they were one of the founder members of the Football League and were only the second English team, after Man United, to play in the European Cup. The team from Molineux enjoyed their most successful period in the 50s when they scooped three titles.
