Five things in EFL: Fallen giants and ambitious upstarts
August 21, 2026 10:42
The EFL season opens with a striking contrast: relegated Premier League sides arriving with strong ambitions and high-profile signings, while recently promoted lower-league clubs are settling into life at higher levels. West Ham have spent heavily — including a £22m deal for Celtic midfielder Arne Engels and a loan for Leeds striker Joel Piroe — and will host Charlton at a sold-out London Stadium this weekend.
Meanwhile, Lincoln City have returned to the second tier for the first time in 66 years, and smaller clubs such as Bromley and York City are riding the momentum from recent promotions. Tony Mowbray has resumed charge of Blackburn Rovers and began his second spell with a 2-2 draw at Wolves.
KEY CONTEXT
- West Ham’s recent parachute from the Premier League follows a pattern in which relegated top-flight clubs are often expected to push for immediate promotion; the club’s transfer outlay set a new EFL record. The Hammers previously spent the 2011–12 campaign in the Championship and secured top-flight return via the play-offs that season.
- Lincoln’s second-tier return comes after decades away and two spells in non-league since their last Championship stint; the club endured a notable low point in 2014 when they lost 4-0 at home to North Ferriby United in the FA Trophy.
- Tony Mowbray, 62, has a long association with Middlesbrough as a player and former manager, overcame bowel cancer, and previously guided Blackburn to promotion from League One in 2017–18.
- Bromley’s recent history in the lower tiers is noted in the piece: after promotion from the National League South they later finished 14th in the National League in 2015–16.