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Premier League: concise guide to the clubs (last updated 26 Jan 2011)

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NB: ‘Latest total wages’ in the club profiles below is the club’s bill for ALL employees (many hundreds, sometimes thousands), and not just the players’ salaries.

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Arsenal

Formed: 1886, originally as Dial Square, by a Scot, David Danskin, in Woolwich, south London.

Stadium: Emirates Stadium, capacity 60,361.

Majors honours: 13 league titles, 10 FA Cups, 2 League Cups, 1 European Cup-Winners’ Cup.

Owned by: NB ongoing battle for control with Stan Kroenke’s takeover offer underway There are 62,217 shares, split between four major shareholders, who own 88 per cent of the club between them. Stan Kroenke owns 18,656 shares (29.985 per cent, as of 20.03.10); Alisher Usmanov (and associates via Red and White Securities) owns 16,223 shares (26.07 per cent, as of 10.12.9); Danny Fiszman owns 10,025 shares (16.11 per cent); Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith owns 9,893 shares (15.9 per cent). Known holdings of minor shareholders include Peter Hill-Wood’s 400 shares (0.64 per cent) and  Sir Chips Keswick’s  55 shares (0.084 per cent, as of 23.12.9, when be bought 15 more shares).

Manager: Arsene Wenger.

Lastest income: 2009-10 = £379.9m (£222.9m football income, the rest from property).

Latest total wages: 2009-10 = £110.7m.

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2009-10 = £56m.

Website: www.arsenal.com

Blogs and other non-official sites: The influential Arsenal Supporters Trust can be found here; Myles Palmer’s Arsenal News Review is here; Andy Weber’s Arsenal FC Blog is here; The AnotherArsenalBlog at blogger.com is here; The gunnerblog is here; The ArsenalInsider blog is here.

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Aston Villa

Formed: 1874, originally as an offshoot from the Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapel cricket team, by Jack Hughes, Frederick Matthews, Walter Price and William Scattergood.

Stadium: Villa Park, capacity 42,783.

Major honours: 7 league titles, 7 FA Cups, 5 League Cups,  1 European Cup-Winners’ Cup.

Owned by: Randy Lerner.

Manager: Gerard Houllier (previously Martin O’Neill).

Lastest income: 2008-09 = £84.2m.

Latest total wages: 2008-09 = £70.6m.

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2008-09 = (£46.2m).

Website: www.avfc.co.uk

Blogs and other non-official sites: TheVillaBlog is here.

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Birmingham City

Formed: 1875, originally as Small Heath Alliance, by members of a church cricket team from Bordesley Green.

Stadium: St Andrew’s, capacity 30,079.

Major honours: 1 League Cup.

Owned by: Carson Yeung.

Manager: Alex McLeish.

Lastest income: 2008-09 = £47.8m.

Latest total wages: 2008-09 = £27.1m.

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2008-09 = (£20.5m).

Website: www.bcfc.com

Blogs and other non-official sites: The joysandsorrows site is here.

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Blackpool

Formed: 1877, as a breakaway from St John’s FC, to become a club that bore the name of the town in which it played.

Stadium: Bloomfield Road, capacity 16,220.

Major honours: 1 FA Cup.

Owned by: Owen Oyston / Valeri Belokon.

Manager: Ian Holloway.

Lastest income: 2008-09 (in the Championship) = £7m.

Latest total wages: 2008-09 = £5.7m.

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2008-09 = (£1.1m).

Website: www.blackpoolfc.co.uk

Blogs and other non-official sites: Recommend one here.

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Blackburn Rovers

Formed: 1875, by John Lewis and Arthur Constantine.

Stadium: Ewood Park, capacity 31,154.

Major honours: 3 league titles, 6 FA Cups, 1 League Cup.

Owned by: Venky’s (since 19.11.10, previously Jack Walker’s trust).

Manager: Steve Kean (previously Sam Allardyce).

Lastest income: 2008-09 = £50.9m.

Latest total wages: 2008-09 = £46.1m.

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2008-09 = £3.6m.

Website: www.rovers.co.uk

Blogs and other non-official sites: Recommend one here.

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Bolton Wanderers

Formed: 1874, originally as Christ Church FC, by the Sunday School teacher Thomas Ogden, and the vicar.

Stadium: The Reebok Stadium, capacity 28,101.

Major honours: 4 FA Cups, 2 League Cups.

Owned by: Eddie Davies.

Manager: Owen Coyle.

Lastest income: 2008-09 = £59.3m. (£51.8m football income, the rest from a hotel).

Latest total wages: 2008-09 = £40.9m.

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2008-09 = (£13.2m).

Website: www.bwfc.co.uk

Blogs and other non-official sites: Recommend one here.

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Burnley (relegated 2010)

Formed: 1882, originally as Burnley Rovers, who switched from rugby to football in May that year.

Stadium: Turf Moor, capacity 22,700.

Major honours: 2 league titles, 1 FA Cup.

Owned by: Barry Kilby (30 per cent); Brendan Flood (24.4 per cent); other directors combined (30.5 per cent); others (15.1 per cent).

Manager: Eddie Howe (previously Brian Laws).

Lastest income: 2008-09 = £11.2m.

Latest total wages: 2008-09 = £13.4m.

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2008-09 = (£11.7m).

Website: www.burnleyfootballclub.com

Blogs and other non-official sites: Recommend one here.

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Chelsea

Formed: 1905.

Stadium: Stamford Bridge, capacity 42,449.

Major honours: 4 league titles, 6 FA Cups, 4 League Cups, 2 European Cup-Winners’ Cups.

Owned by: Roman Abramovich.

Manager: Carlo Ancelotti.

Lastest income: 2008-09 = £206.4m.

Latest total wages: 2008-09 = £155.2m. (Includes £12.6m of ‘exceptional’ pay-offs).

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2008-09 = (£44.4m).

Website: www.chelseafc.com

Blogs and other non-official sites: Recommend one here.

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Everton

Formed: 1878, originally as St Domingo FC.

Stadium: Goodison Park, capacity 40,157.

Major honours: 9 league titles, 5 FA Cups.

Owned by: Bill Kenwright (25 per cent), Robert Earl (23.3 per cent), Jon Woods (18.9 per cent), others (32.8 per cent).

Manager: David Moyes.

Lastest income: 2008-09 = £79.7m.

Latest total wages: 2008-09 = £49.1m.

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2008-09 = (£6.9m).

Website: www.evertonfc.com

Blogs and other non-official sites: Recommend one here.

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Fulham

Formed: 1879, as Fulham St Andrew’s Church Sunday School.

Stadium: Craven Cottage, capacity 25,478.

Major honours: None.

Owned by: Mohamed Al Fayed.

Manager: Mark Hughes (previously Roy Hodgson).

Lastest income: 2008-09 = £63.1m.

Latest total wages: 2008-09 = £46.2m.

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2008-09 = (£6.9m).

Website: www.fulhamfc.com

Blogs and other non-official sites: Recommend one here.

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Hull City (relegated 2010)

Formed: 1904, in the face of opposition from the Rugby League, who banned football on RL grounds.

Stadium: KC Stadium, capacity 25,404.

Major honours: None.

Owned by: The Allam family (previously Russell Bartlett).

Manager: Nigel Pearson (previously Iain Dowie).

Lastest income: 2008-09 = £51.1m.

Latest total wages: 2008-09 = £33.6m.

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2008-09 = £1.4m

Website: www.hullcityafc.net

Blogs and other non-official sites: Recommend one here.

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Liverpool

Formed: 1892, by John Houlding, the year after Everton had left Anfield for Goodison Park.

Stadium: Anfield, capacity 45,276

Major honours: 18 league titles, 7 FA Cups, 7 League Cups, 5 European Cups, 3 Uefa Cups.

Owned by: New England Sports Ventures (John W Henry et al).

Manager: Kenny Dalglish (previously Roy Hodgson, previously Rafael Benitez).

Lastest income: 2008-09 = £177.3m.

Latest total wages: 2008-09 = £100.5m.

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2008-09 = (£16.4m).

Website: www.liverpoolfc.tv. For more club stories on on this website: Click to archive link here.

Blogs and other non-official sites: Recommend one here.

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Manchester City

Formed: 1880, by St Mark’s Church, as Manchester City FC, later Ardwick, then Manchester City again.

Stadium: City of Manchester Stadium, capacity 47,405.

Major honours: 2 league titles, 4 FA Cups, 2 League Cups.

Owned by: Sheikh Mansour.

Manager: Roberto Mancini.

Lastest income: 2009-10 = £125m.

Latest total wages: 2009-10 = £133.3m.

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2009-10 = (£121.3m).

Website: www.mcfc.co.uk.  For more club stories on on this website: Click to archive link here.

Blogs and other non-official sites: Blue Moon is here, while Jack Pitbrooke’s The Lonesome Death of Roy Carroll (tldorc) is here.

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Manchester United

Formed: 1878, as Newton Heath.

Stadium: Old Trafford, capacity 75,769.

Major honours: 18 league titles, 11 FA Cups, 4 League Cups, 3 European Cups, 1 European Cup-Winners Cup.

Owned by: The Glazer family.

Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson.

Lastest income: 2009-10 = £286.4m.

Latest total wages: 2009-10 = £131.7m (group).

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2009-10 = (£79.6m).

Website: www.manutd.com. For more club stories on on this website: Click to archive link here.

Blogs and other non-official sites: Recommend one here.

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Newcastle United

Formed: 1892, after the merger of two other clubs dating back to 1881.

Stadium: St James’ Park, capacity 52,387.

Major honours: 4 league titles, 6 FA Cups.

Owned by: Mike Ashley.

Manager: Alan Pardew (previously Chris Hughton).

Lastest income: 2008-09 = £86m.

Latest total wages: 2008-09 = £73.3m .

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2008-09 = (£18.2m).

Website: www.nufc.co.uk

Blogs and other non-official sites: Recommend one here.

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Portsmouth (relegated 2010)

Formed: 1898.

Stadium: Fratton Park, capacity 20,709.

Major honours: 2 league titles, 2 FA Cups.

Owned by: Balram Chainrai.

Manager: Steve Cotterill (previously Avram Grant).

Lastest income: 2008-09 = £59.9m.

Latest total wages: 2008-09 = £65.2m.

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2008-09 = (£24.2m).

Website: www.portsmouthfc.co.uk

Blogs and other non-official sites: Recommend one here.

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Stoke City

Formed: 1868 is the confirmed date that Stoke Ramblers first played; but they may have existed since 1863.

Stadium: The Britannia Stadium, capacity 27,500.

Major honours: 1 League Cup.

Owned by: Peter Coates.

Manager: Tony Pulis.

Lastest income: 2008-09 = £53.5m.

Latest total wages: 2008-09 = £29.7m.

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2008-09 = £503,000.

Website: www.stokecityfc.com

Blogs and other non-official sites: Recommend one here.

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Sunderland

Formed: 1879, by Glaswegian James Allan, as Sunderland & District Teachers’ Association FC.

Stadium: Stadium of Light, capacity 48,707.

Major honours: 6 league titles, 2 FA Cups.

Owned by: Ellis Short.

Manager: Steve Bruce.

Lastest income: 2008-09 = £64.6m.

Latest total wages: 2008-09 = £49.5m.

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2008-09 = (£3m).

Website: www.safc.com

Blogs and other non-official sites: Recommend one here.

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Tottenham Hotspur

Formed: 1882, originally as Hotspur FC, by cricketers from Hotspur Cricket Club.

Stadium: White Hart Lane, capacity 36,230.

Major honours: 2 league titles, 8 FA Cups, 4 League Cups, 2 Uefa Cups, 1 European Cup-Winners’ Cup.

Owned by: ENIC (Joe Lewis, 84 per cent).

Manager: Harry Redknapp.

Lastest income: 2008-09 = £113m.

Latest total wages: 2008-09 = £60.5m.

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2008-09 = £33.4m.

Website: www.tottenhamhotspur.com

Blogs and other non-official sites: Recommend one here.

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West Bromwich Albion

Formed: 1878, as the West Bromwich Strollers.

Stadium: The Hawthorns, capacity 28,000. (At 551ft, or 168m above sea level, it’s the highest ground in English professional football).

Major honours: 1 league title, 5 FA Cups, 1 League Cup.

Owned by: Jeremy Peace, majority shareholder.

Manager: Roy Hodgson (previously Roberto Di Matteo).

Lastest income: 2008-09 = £47m.

Latest total wages: 2008-09 = £30.7m.

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2008-09 = £7.7m.

Website: www.wba.co.uk

Blogs and other non-official sites: Recommend one here.

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West Ham

Formed: 1895, as Thames Ironworks FC.

Stadium: Upton Park, capacity 35,303.

Major honours: 3 FA Cups, 1 European Cup-Winners’ Cup.

Owned by: David Sullivan / David Gold (25 per cent each, and operational control); CB Holding (50 per cent).

Manager: None as at 18.5.11 (previously Avram Grant, Gianfranco Zola).

Lastest income: 2008-09 = £76.1m.

Latest total wages: 2008-09 = £66.7m.

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2008-09 = (£16.2m).

Website: www.whufc.com

Blogs and other non-official sites: Recommend one here.

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Wigan Athletic

Formed: 1932, after four other Wigan clubs (County, United, Town and Borough) had failed.

Stadium: DW Stadium, capacity 25,133.

Major honours: None.

Owned by: Dave Whelan.

Manager: Roberto Martinez.

Lastest income: 2008-09 = £46.3m.

Latest total wages: 2008-09 = £42.2m.

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2007-08 = (£5.8m).

Website: www.wiganlatics.co.uk

Blogs and other non-official sites: Recommend one here.

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Wolverhampton Wanderers

Formed: 1877, as St Luke’s FC.

Stadium: Molineux, capacity 29,303.

Major honours: 3 league titles, 4 FA Cups, 2 League Cups.

Owned by: Steve Morgan.

Manager: Mick McCarthy.

Lastest income: 2008-09 = £18.4m.

Latest total wages: 2008-09 = £16.7m.

Latest pre-tax profit (loss): 2008-09 = (£6.5m).

Website: www.wolves.co.uk

Blogs and other non-official sites: Recommend one here.

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Mind the drop: former Premier League clubs (status as of 18.5.11)

Barnsley – last relegation 1998 (one season in EPL in one spell), now in Championship. Went into administration after EPL drop.

Bradford City – last relegation 2001 (two seasons in EPL in one spell), now in League Two. Went into administration after EPL drop.

Charlton Atheltic – last relegation 2007 (eight seasons in EPL in two spells), now in League One.

Coventry City – last relegation 2001 (nine seasons in EPL in one spell), now in Championship. Narrowly avoided administration in 2007.

Crystal Palace – last relegation 2005 (four seasons in EPL in four spells), now in Championship. Went into administration after 1999 EPL drop. And again in January 2010.

Derby County – last relegation 2008 (seven seasons in EPL in two spells), now in Championship.

Ipswich Town – last relegation 2002 (five seasons in EPL in two spells), now in Championship. Went into administration after 2002 EPL drop.

Leeds United – last relegation 2004 (12 seasons in EPL in one spell), now in Championship. Went into administration after EPL drop.

Leicester City – last relegation 2004 (eight seasons in EPL in three spells), now in Championship. Went into administration after 2002 EPL drop.

Middlesbrough – last relegation 2009 (14 seasons in EPL in three spells), now in Championship.

Norwich City – last relegation 2005 (four seasons in EPL in two spells), now in Championship (about to be in Premier League).

Nottingham Forest - last relegation 1999 (five seasons in EPL in threes spell), now in Championship.

Oldham Athletic – last relegation 1994 (two seasons in EPL in one spell), now in League One. Went into administration after EPL drop.

QPR – last relegation 1996 (four seasons in EPL in one spell), now in Championship (about to be in Premier League). Went into administration after EPL drop.

Reading – last relegation 2008 (two seasons in EPL in one spell), now in Championship.

Sheffield United – last relegation 2007 (three seasons in EPL in two spells), now in Championship.

Sheffield Wednesday – last relegation 2000 (eight seasons in EPL in one spell), now in Championship.

Southampton – last relegation 2005 (13 seasons in EPL in one spell), now in League One (about to be in Championship). Went into administration after EPL drop.

Swindon Town – last relegation 1994 (one season in EPL in one spell), now in League One (about to be in League Two). Went into administration twice after EPL drop.

Watford – last relegation 2007 (two seasons in EPL in two spells), now in Championship. Have been close to administration more than once.

Wimbledon (now MK Dons) – last relegation 2000 (eight seasons in EPL in one spell). MK Dons now in League One. Went into administration after EPL drop.