English Premier League
The Premier League (or Premiership) is the senior club league in English football[1] (soccer). It was formed in 1992, replacing the old Football League First Division, and now consists of the top 20 clubs. Each year three clubs are relegated, and three are promoted to the Premier League from the Championship. The current Premier League champions (season 2008-09) are Manchester United, and the league is currently sponsored by the banking and finance group Barclays. The top two clubs gain automatic entry to the European Champions League whilst the third and fourth-placed clubs must play a qualification match in order to participate in the the first round.
At the end of the 2007-08 season, Newcastle United F.C., Middlesbrough F.C. and West Bromwich Albion F.C. were relegated to the Coca-Cola Chanpionship and Birmingham City F.C., Burnley F.C. and Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. were promoted.