Grimsby Town are back in the Football League after their National League play-off final victory over Solihull Moors at London Stadium on Sunday, bringing a swift end to their stay outside the top four tiers.
Their immediate return following relegation in 2021 marks them out as one of the fortunate clubs, with many others who have taken the tumble out of the Football League over the past 30 years having struggled to recover. In a huge number of cases, clubs have even gone out of business in the years following demotion from the EFL.
Here is a full list of clubs who have dropped out of the professional ranks since 1992 and have yet to make their way back.
1992 – Aldershot (wound up in March 1992, phoenix club set up)
1993 – Maidstone United (liquidated at the beginning of 1992-93, phoenix club set up)
1999 – Scarborough (wound up in 2007, phoenix club set up)
2002 – Halifax Town (dissolved in 2008, phoenix club set up)
2005 – Kidderminster Harriers (4th in National League North – 6th tier)
2006 – Rushden & Diamonds (dissolved in 2011, phoenix club set up)
2007 – Boston United (7th in National League North – 6th tier)
2008 – Wrexham (2nd in National League – 5th tier)
2009 – Chester City (wound up in March 2010, phoenix club set up)
2010 – Darlington (13th in National League North – 6th tier)
2012 – Hereford United (wound up in December 2014, phoenix club set up)
2013 – Aldershot Town (20th in National League – 5th tier)
2014 – Torquay United (11th in National League – 5th tier)
2016 – Dagenham & Redbridge (8th in National League – 5th tier)
2016 – York City (Promoted to National League – 5th tier)
2018 – Barnet (18th in National League – 5th tier)
2018 – Chesterfield (7th in National League – 5th tier)
2019 – Notts County (5th in National League – 5th tier)
2019 – Yeovil Town (12th in National League – 5th tier)
2020 – Macclesfield Town (wound up in October 2020, phoenix club set up)
2021 – Southend United (13th in National League – 5th tier)
2022 – Oldham Athletic (Relegated to National League – 5th tier)
2022 – Scunthorpe United (Relegated to National League – 5th tier)
