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Liverpool, Man Utd, Arsenal, Tottenham and Everton are the only ever present sides in the top flight since the advent of the playoffs in 1987 and, for obvious reasons, have never been involved in any of the playoffs. Salford City were promoted to the football league last season and have also never been involved in the Championship/League 1/League 2 playoffs.
How many other current league sides across all 4 divisions have never taken part in the playoffs?
Given the rip-roaring success of this thread, here's the answer.
Apart from the 5 clubs who have always been in the top flight since 1987 and newly promoted Salford, only 1 league side has never appeared in the playoffs - Crawley Town. They've been in the league for around a decade so they're due an appearance soon I would have thought. All other 85 sides have appeared in the playoffs.
In addition, these former league sides have also taken part in the playoffs:
Aldershot
Barnet
Chester City
Chesterfield
Dagenham & Redbridge
Darlington
Hartlepool Utd
Hereford Utd
Maidstone Utd
Notts County
Rushden & Diamonds
Scarborough
Stockport County
Torquay Utd
Wrexham
Yeovil Town
York City
So, one hundred and three teams have competed in the Play Offs since their inception and the side with the worst home record in them by far is the only one who has spent more than a single season in the Premier League and never stayed up - I see .