As we get to the business end of the season and the League Two table starts to take shape, there are still 5 teams with realistic chances to win the league. A couple of months ago, Walsall looked set to run away with the trophy. Now with only 6 games left, just 5 points separate 1st and 5th place. A competitive season at the top of the league will generally mean a lower points tally is required to clinch victory. Let’s take a look at the previous 8 winners of League Two, the points they achieved and see what this year’s teams might need to write their names into history.
2023/24 – Stockport County – 92 points
It was a remarkable campaign for County, who pipped Wrexham to the title by 4 points. Dave Challinor steered his team to 27 wins and 11 draws over the course of the season, including a 12-match winning streak. This was a club-record win streak, as well as equalling the all-time League Two record. The main contributors to their title were goalkeeper Ben Hinchliffe, who kept a league-high 16 clean sheets, and Isaac Olafe who netted 20 goals. An 8-0 victory over Sutton United was a match that no Stockport fan will soon forget.
2022/23 – Leyton Orient – 91 points
A robust defence was the backbone of Leyton Orient’s title-winning season. Lawrence Vigouroux kept 24 clean sheets, conceding just 34 goals across the whole campaign. Richie Wellens guided his team to 26 wins and 13 draws, including a 13-game unbeaten run between February and April. Only one player hit double figures in goals, Paul Smyth (10), but Orient still managed a solid return of 61 goals across the whole season.
2021/22 – Forest Green Rovers – 84 points
With Rob Edwards in charge, Rovers won the league on goal difference to 2nd place Exeter City. Attacking prowess coupled with 19 clean sheets guided Forest Green to the club’s first-ever promotion to League One. Both forwards, Jamille Matt and Matty Stevens, netted 20 league goals, while full-back Kane Wilson provided 13 assists. They secured the league title with a 2-2 draw with Mansfield Town on the final day of the season.
2020/21 – Cheltenham Town – 82 points
This was Cheltenham’s first-ever football league title, powered by 24 wins and 10 draws. Alfie May was the club’s top scorer in the league with 9 goals. It was a season categorised by consistent performances and a solid defence, whereby young keeper Josh Griffiths kept 21 clean sheets. A 4-1 hammering of Harrogate Town on the final day secured a historic title for Cheltenham.
2019/20 – Swindon Town – 69 points
The COVID-19 pandemic led to the curtailment of the league in March of 2020. Swindon were crowned champions after the 24 clubs voted to end the season using a points-per-game calculation. They finished level on points with Crewe Alexandra but had played 1 game less. 21 wins and 6 draws over 36 matches was an impressive return, with Eoin Doyle contributing 25 goals – the eventual Golden Boot winner.
2018/19 – Lincoln City – 85 points
Under the management of Danny Cowley, Lincoln won their first football league title in 43 years. They started strong and remained in the top 2 for the majority of the season. A 19-match unbeaten run was the backbone of their title-winning campaign, as well as their solid defensive record (43 goals conceded). Promotion was secured with two games to spare, followed by the league title a week later after a 0-0 draw with Carlisle United.
2017/18 – Accrington Stanley – 93 points
Manager John Coleman oversaw Accrington’s first-ever League Two title and promotion to the third tier of English football. Twenty-nine wins and six draws meant it was theirs to lose as Stanley clinched the league in front of a record crowd and a game to spare. Billy Kee was the team and league top scorer with 25 goals, as well as goalkeeper Aaron Chapman keeping 19 clean sheets. A 15-game unbeaten run from February to April was a strong finish to what was a memorable campaign.
2016/17 – Portsmouth – 87 points
This was a dramatic season for Pompey, who sat in 7th place at the start of February before clinching the title on the final day of the season. A 6-1 victory over Cheltenham Town saw Portsmouth overtake Plymouth Argyle and Doncaster Rovers on goal difference to win the league. Kal Naismith netted 13 goals and David Forde kept 19 clean sheets.
Over the previous 8 seasons, the eventual champions have averaged 88 points (not including the COVID season). With Walsall currently on 72 points and a handful of clubs sitting right behind them, it makes for a dramatic end to the campaign. I don’t think we’ll see a points tally as high as that, but it will be worth sticking around to watch.
