The Premier League, as the name suggests, is the league that should include the crème de la crème of English clubs - the biggest, the most successful and the most important.
As it stands, it contains the superb flowing football of Arsenal; the powerhouse that is Manchester United; England’s most successful club – Liverpool; moneybags Chelsea and Manchester City and the traditions of Everton.
However, not all of England’s biggest clubs dine at the top table. Some big names have dropped from the Premier League since its inception in 1992. Championship winners, European Cup winners and iconic clubs have all tumbled down.
So which clubs are missing? Who should be in the Premier League? And why should these clubs be there?
Here’s sport.co.uk’s top ten of those who deserve a place, and the reasons why they should be, in the top flight but aren’t:
1) Leeds United
We’ll start off with the obvious, shall we?
Leeds have a large and loyal fan base. Even since dropping down to League One, their Elland Road ground is an intimidating place to play.
It’s not just the fans that merit a place. Leeds have the silverware to back it up. One of the best sides of the 70s, they won the FA Cup in 1972 and have been English champions three times in 1968-69, 1973-74 and 1991-92.
Great players and managers have also passed through the Elland Road gates. Legends such as John Charles, Billy Bremner and Don Revie have all graced the Yorkshire clubs.
2) Newcastle
Like Leeds, the Magpies have a remarkable set of fans. Their 52,387 capacity St. James’ Park stadium is always close to full and their supporters are known as some of the most passionate in the country.
Unlike Leeds, however, their trophy cabinet is hardly fit to burst. This shouldn’t detract from the size of the club, though. Some of the game’s great characters have defined their career on Tyneside.
The Premier League’s all-time highest goal-scorer, and former England captain, Alan Shearer wore the coveted number nine shirt, Paul Gascoigne burst onto the scene in the black and white stripes and football’s gentleman Sir Bobby Robson sat keenly in the dugout.
3) Nottingham Forest
Twice European champions, the first English team to successfully defend the title, Nottingham Forest will always be high on the list of great English sides.
Under the leadership of the irreplaceable Brian Clough, Forest were one of the best sides of the late 70s. Their football was not only attractive but successful.
While Clough worked wonders on the pitch, his persona off of it was something that will go down in legend. With the aid of Peter Taylor, he helped turn Forest into one of the greatest teams around – becoming the first club to spend £1m on a player in the process.
4) Derby
Derby won the league title in 1972 under Brian Clough and reached the European Cup quarter-finals in the following season and their current manager, Nigel Clough, would love the chance to emulate his father’s achievements.
Despite having the record for having the lowest ever points tally in Premier League history, in 2007-08, Derby’s fans have remained loyal. So much so that they were voted the clubs ‘Player of the Year’ that season.
All big clubs have a big derby and The Rams’ is no different. Their rivalry with Nottingham Forest is a heated one as recent encounters have demonstrated!
5) Ipswich
The club where both Sirs Alf Ramsey and Bobby Robson made their names as managers, Ipswich enjoyed periods of success during the early 60s the 70s.
Ramsey won the First Division title in 1961-62 while Robson led the Tractor Boys to the FA Cup in ‘78.
They were not just a domestic success. The legendary Geordie also led them to the UEFA Cup in ‘81.
Not only were they a hit on the pitch, they were on the silver screen too. Ipswich players appeared alongside Pele and Sylvester Stallone in ‘Escape to Victory’.
That’s got to be worth a place on the top-flight alone!
6) West Bromwich Albion
The Premier League’s very own ‘Hokey-Cokey’ club.
Despite limited success in the big competitions, West Brom are an important club in the history of English football.
Under Ron Atkinson, they were the first English club to field three black players in the same side.
Cyril Regis, Laurie Cunningham and Brendon Batson all shone at West Brom, becoming role models to young, black footballers at a time when racism in the sport was rife.
Their attractive style of play has many fans and although they ultimately loose more than they win, in the top division, they look good doing it!
7) Sheffield Wednesday
Having won four league titles and three FA Cups, Wednesday are the most successful of the Sheffield sides. Unfortunately for them, though, the last of those major trophies came in 1935.
They did, however, win the League Cup in 1991, as well as reaching the final of both the League and FA Cups in 1993. They lost to Arsenal in both but did beat bitter rivals Sheffield United in the FA Cup semi.
Despite the lack of major success, the Owls have always had a large following that is worthy of more success.
Their Steel City derbies are not for the faint of heart, either.
8) Sheffield United
Completing the Steel City derby, Sheffield United are four times FA Cup winners and founder members of the Premier League.
Indeed, the Blades may still be in the Premier League if it wasn’t for Carlos Tevez.
Obviously, that is open to debate. What isn’t, however, is that Sheffield United fans have one of the best football song titles ever – The Greasy Chip Butty Song.
The song, about the joys of a night in Sheffield, has been adopted by clubs in both football and rugby league and has even had a version translated into Norwegian by the fans of Strømsgodset IF.
9) Southampton
Another team with a large fan base, although currently in the shadow of fierce rivals Portsmouth, Southampton once boasted an array of footballing talent.
Kevin Keegan, Mick Channon, Alan Ball, and Peter Shilton all once donned a Saints jersey.
Lawrie McMenemy led the club to their finest moment in 1976 when Bobby Stokes’ goal gave Southampton, then in the second tier of English football, a surprise 1-0 victory over, the overwhelming favourites, Manchester United in the F.A. Cup final.
In the early 80s, the Saints developed an attacking style of play that resulted in the club netting 76 goals in 1980-81.
10) Preston
While lacking the silverware and prestige of some of the clubs in this list, Preston North End are one of the countries most important sides.
They were founder members of the Football League and were the original ‘Invincibles’, going the entire1888-89 season without defeat and were also the first ever winners of ‘The Double’ of the FA Cup and Championship.
P.N.E. was also home to some of the greatest names in the game. Legendary Liverpool manager, Bill Shankly, once took to the hallowed Deepdale turf as did the city’s most famous resident and one of England’s all-time greats - Tom Finney.