11 Biggest English Clubs to Never Win a Major Trophy [Ranked]

Summary

• There are no shortage of top-flight honours available with English clubs chasing silverware across various cups and leagues.

• Top clubs like Liverpool and Man United have the most trophy wins in the history of English football.

• Other reputable names remain trophyless, despite many close calls.

It has been over 150 years since football teams in England could compete for a trophy, with the first edition of the FA Cup kicking off in 1871. 17 years later, the Football League officially began and, ever since then, clubs across the country have been vying to get their hands on silverware.

In that time, more domestic cups have been added to teams depending on what level of the football pyramid they are at. Then came the introduction of the European Cup in 1955, which would later be re-branded as the Champions League. Alongside this, there would become a second and even third continental honour for English clubs to chase. There is no shortage of top-flight honours available to be won.

There have been teams who have won plenty more than others. Those bigger sides tend to play in the Premier League and win with reasonable frequency. Liverpool and Manchester United top the tree when it comes to most top-flight trophies in the country as they continue to battle it out.

Yet, at the other end of the scale, there are some very recognisable teams who have yet to get their hands on any major silverware despite being some of the most reputable names around. Here at GIVEMESPORT, we are going to take a look at some of the teams who have not won a major trophy and see just how close they have come to one in their history.

11 Plymouth Argyle

Championship

By no means a small club, the well-supported Plymouth Argyle - affectionally monikered The Pilgrims - are yet to, as a club, get their hands on a major trophy since their formation in 1886. They have, of course, had no shortage of success in their 139-year existence, having won the third tier three times - in 1958/59, 2003/04 and 2022/23.

They also reigned victorious at the turn of the year in England's fourth tier, but achieving major success has been a sore subject in the southwest. For the first time in their history, the side from Devon - as a second tier side - reached the League Cup semi-final in 1965 but, unfortunately, were beaten on that day by Leicester City.

In terms of FA Cup success, they've reached the Round of 16 on three occasions. First up, they locked horns with South Shields in the 1950s and were narrowly defeated 1-0. Years later, they played a less-accustomed Manchester City in 1987/88 and lost 3-1. The fans, to their credit, will never stop believing that success is just around the corner. More recently, in 2024/25, after beating Premier League table-toppers Liverpool the round earlier, it took Pep Guardiola's men to beat them in the Round of 16 to prevent their chances of moving closer to success.

10 Millwall

Championship

Situated in Bermondsey, south London, Millwall currently ply their trade in the Championship but, across the years, have won every league title in England apart from the top flight. Their most recent season in Division One was in 1989/90 when they, spearheaded by Teddy Sheringham, concluded the campaign at rock bottom.

Yet to win a major trophy, despite boasting a raucous fanbase, the closest Millwall came to success on the big scale came in 2004 when they faced none other than Manchester United in the FA Cup final. Cristiano Ronaldo and Ruud van Nistelrooy bagged on the day to run out convincing winners in a 3-0 triumph.

The capital club's highest-placed finish in the top flight of English football came in the 1988/89 season when they finished 10th in the First Division - but things have since plateaued as they contend with persistent life in the lower levels. They could always have a cup run in them, however, as all teams in the second tier do.

9 Bristol City

Championship

Bristol City were FA Cup finalists in the 1908/09 campaign and then finished second in the league just two years later - but, years on from the club's golden era, their recent history suggests they are a) punching below their weight and b) not any closer to bunking the trend of being one of English football's nearly men.

In fact, the side from Bristol have never taken part in the Premier League but have added to their silverware cabinet over the years, having won the EFL trophy on three occasions.

The closest Bristol City have come to competing for major silverware since 1909 was seven years ago, as they, against the odds, reached the semi-finals of the League Cup. They defeated four Premier League clubs en route to the penultimate round, including Manchester United, before losing to Manchester City 5-3 on aggregate.

8 Reading

League One

Unfortunately, winning the Championship title - an achievement conquered by Reading in 2005/06 and 2011/12 - is not considered major silverware, which means the Royals and their fans are eagerly awaiting their chance to remove themselves from this list.

They've also reigned victorious in the third and fourth divisions - but never in the top flight. Last in the Premier League during the 2012/23 campaign, Nigel Adkins' men were duly relegated and have failed to return since.

From an FA Cup point of view, the Englishmen reached the semi-finals in 2014/15 but lost to Arsenal, after extra-time, to see them miss out on a final spot. As well as that, Reading - whose 7-4 loss to Portsmouth is regarded as one of the most entertaining matches in British football history - have also reached the League Cup's Round of 16 a handful of times.

7 Brentford

Premier League

Brentford's climb to the Premier League has been a real rags-to-riches story. It was as recently as 2019 that the Hounslow club did not have a stadium that met Premier League rules and regulations. Now, they are looking to survive in the division for the fourth consecutive season, despite losing the talismanic Ivan Toney in the summer of 2024. Because of their humble beginnings, Brentford don't have much to celebrate in terms of silverware.

In fact, unlike the others on this list, they haven't made a cup final in their history. The closest they have come was in the 2021 Carabao Cup, where they were ousted by Tottenham. Having overcome the likes of Southampton and Newcastle in earlier rounds, that semi-final exit was a bitterly disappointing blow. In terms of league position, their best-ever finish in the top flight was 5th, all the way back in 1936. These days, staying in the division will be the main aim. Anything else that comes along with that would just be an added bonus.

6 Bournemouth

Premier League

It's been a while since Bournemouth were deemed a small club looking to make waves in English football. Eddie Howe, appointed boss in 2012, transformed the club from the south coast into a title-winning side - but that, of course, stopped when they stepped foot in England's toughest division in 2016. They did, however, win the EFL trophy - a 2-1 win over Hull - in the 1983/94 campaign - but that doesn't count. Since becoming a regular feature in top flight football in England, the Cherries have often reached the quarter-finals of the League Cup.

In fact, they were beaten by fellow Premier League outfit Chelsea in back-to-back League Cup campaigns in 2017/18 and 2018/19 and their FA Cup luck hasn't been much better. Their joint-best run was in 2020/21, but they were comfortably beaten by rivals Southampton at the quarter-final stage. With the club, who entered administration in February 2008 as financial terror struck, now in the quarter-finals against Manchester City, any people believe it's slowly, but surely, coming.

5 Hull City

Championship

Hull City, since their formation in June 1904, have been what many would consider a successful club in English circles and, barring 2020/21, have been in and around the nation's top two divisions since the 2005/06 season - but sadly for their loyal fanbase, are yet to accrue major silverware.

Nicknamed The Tigers, they have been winners of the third tier on four different occasions (1932/33, 1948/49, 1965/66 and 2020/21) but are yet to go one better and lift a major trophy in their long and storied history of moments, fireworks and the occasional heartbreak.

The closest they've ever got to holding major silverware aloft was just north of a decade ago when they went toe-to-toe with Arsenal in the FA Cup final. It took Aaron Ramsey's 109th-minute strike at Wembley to prevent the tie going to penalties, thus splitting Hull City hearts in half.

4 Brighton & Hove Albion

Premier League

For fans new to the game, it might be hard to imagine a time when Brighton & Hove Albion weren't competing in and around the top half of the Premier League table. They have cemented their position as a creditable threat to secure European football over the last couple of seasons under the likes of Graham Potter and Roberto De Zerbi - and now Fabian Hurzeler.

However, for the south coast side, much of their history has been spent in the lower leagues of the footballing pyramid, making competing for top trophies extremely difficult. Their golden generation in recent years have taken steps in that direction. They made the 2022/23 FA Cup semi-finals and were the better of the two teams as they took on Manchester United.

Having been unable to find a breakthrough in the stalemate, they lost the lottery of a penalty shootout after Solly March blazed his effort over David De Gea's goal. Had they made it to the final, they would've had to contend with eventual treble winners Manchester City. Safe to say the odds would've been stacked against them. That being said, the only time they did reach the final of England's oldest competition, they nearly did pull off a magical upset against a Manchester side.

It was United again who they faced in the 1983 final, with the game finishing 2-2. Back in those days, finals went to a replay, which United would go on to win 4-0. To this day, that remains the closest Brighton have come to a top-flight trophy.

3 Watford

Championship

Watford are the team that have squandered the most chances of success on this list. The club from just outside of London have been bouncing up and down between the Premier League and Championship in recent years, and chances of major silverware seem to be in the distance.

Heartbreakingly for the Hornets, two of their closest calls came in consecutive years. Having finished runners-up in the 1983 first division behind Liverpool, Watford made the FA Cup final the following year against another Merseyside staple in Everton. Yet again, they fell short, losing 2-0 on the day. They would have to wait 35 years for their next trip to the final, although many may have wished they had not bothered.

What ensued in 2019 was a record-equalling 6-0 defeat at the hands of Man City. Though that may have been a disappointing end to their cup run, the extra-time comeback victory of Wolves in the semi-final is a game that is sure to live long in the memories of supporters.

2 Fulham

Premier League

In 2008, Fulham managed to pull off the great escape, having seemed destined for relegation throughout the second half of the season. Having managed to stay up, they somehow managed to qualify for the Europa League the following year. It was expected to be a nice yet short-lived experience for Fulham, but they continued to defy the odds and keep on winning.

They managed to qualify from their group in second. Finishing above Basel and CSKA Sofia, only Roma could top Roy Hodgson's men as they made an impressive start to the tournament. Having got past Ukranian giants Shakhtar Donetsk in the Round of 32, one of Europe's most formidable names awaited them. Drawn against Juventus in the Round of 16, it seemed as though the fun was over as they were beaten 3-1 in the first leg. No one could've foreseen what would happen when the Italians came to Craven Cottage.

The Old Lady crumbled as their lead began to evaporate before their very eyes. Inspired by Bobby Zamora and Zoltan Gera, the English side went on to win 5-4 on aggregate and eventually progressed all the way to the final. There, they met an Atletico Madrid side that contained an attacking duo of Diego Forlan and Sergio Aguero. Unfortunately, Fulham were unable to complete the miracle, narrowly losing 2-1 on the night. It was the second time in their history they finished runners-up in a major competition, with the first being in the 1975 FA Cup final. On that day, they were beaten 2-0 by West Ham.

1 Crystal Palace

Premier League

It is not just Brighton who have felt heartbreak in an FA Cup final against Manchester United. Crystal Palace have also been there. Twice. The London club has spent the last decade consolidating themselves in the Premier League, something which chairman Steve Parish has reiterated is his priority.

At times, this has maybe distracted the Eagles from pushing on in other competitions. That being said, they have come bitterly close, but fell short on two occasions against the mighty Red Devils. The first of these came in 1990. Historically, this was the cup final that saved Sir Alex Ferguson's skin at Manchester United and gave him more credit in the bank to go and achieve the legacy that he ended up creating.

But Palace were so close to stopping this. Like with Brighton, the final originally finished as a draw, with United stealing the replay just five days later thanks to a Lee Martin goal. Fast-forward 26 years, and Palace had the opportunity to exact revenge. They even took the lead through Jason Puncheon, and manager Alan Pardew couldn't help but celebrate, wildly.

The dancing may have been a bit presumptuous, as United were level just moments later. With no replay this time around, extra time was needed to separate the finalists. Louis Van Gaal's men went down to ten men when Chris Smalling was sent off for a second booking. However, Palace couldn't make use of the extra man advantage. Jesse Lingard volleyed home one of the greatest strikes in FA Cup final history to hand his team their first trophy in the post-Fergie era, and leave Pardew's Palace empty-handed once again.