Top 5 Highest Points Finishes in League One History

Birmingham City are looking to break the record for the most points scored in a League One season, but where will their season stack up compared to the best seasons of the past? Let’s find out.

5 - Luton Town - 98 points (2004-05)

In the inaugural League One season, Luton Town topped the table with 98 points, setting an early benchmark that would not be topped for half a decade. Mike Newell’s side were incredibly strong defensively, headed up by youth graduate Curtis Davies, who went on to make 173 Premier League appearances and scored in the 2014 FA Cup Final for Hull City. The team also scored 87 goals in total, with a lot of those coming late on in matches, showing their ‘never give up’ attitude.

4 - Sheffield United - 100 points (2016-17)

The 2016-17 season was the start of the Chris Wilder era at Sheffield United, and what a way to start. Wilder had just won the League Two title with Northampton Town the season prior, scoring 99 points, but he went one better the following season, scoring 100 points with Sheffield United to claim the League One title. Billy Sharp stole the show that season, scoring 30 league goals. Alongside him in the squad was the likes of Jack O’Connell, Chris Basham and John Fleck, all of whom went on to play for the Blades in the Premier League.

3 - Plymouth Argyle - 101 points (2022-23)

Just a few years ago, Plymouth bagged triple digit points which returned them to the Championship for the first time since 2010. Argyle won a League One title which was hotly contested between themselves, Ipswich and Sheffield Wednesday, with the Pilgrims winning the title by three points. Ryan Hardie scored 13 league goals to set Plymouth on their way, and the likes of Finn Azaz and Morgan Whittaker starred, both of whom have since moved on to Middlesbrough.

2 - Charlton Athletic - 101 points (2011-12)

The team to break Luton’s record-setting season was Charlton Athletic, who amassed 101 points in the 2011-12 season under manager Chris Powell. Much of the success can be put down to striker Bradley Wright-Phillips, who scored 22 goals in the league, over a quarter of Charlton’s total goals that season. The squad also included Johnnie Jackson, who went on to manage the team in the 2021-2022 season and is now the manager of AFC Wimbledon.

1 - Wolverhampton Wanderers - 103 points (2013-14)

The current record belongs to Wolverhampton Wanderers, who set the bar high in the 2013-2014 season, scoring 103 points under manager Kenny Jackett. They won 31 of their 46 matches on their way to an astonishing season. Nouha Dicko shone in the second half of the season, scoring 13 goals in four months. The squad also included the likes of Matt Doherty, who has since re-signed for Wolves in the Premier League, Wayne Hennessey and Bakary Sako. So, Wolves hold the record as it stands, but how likely are near-neighbours Birmingham to break it?

As of April 15, 2025 the Blues have accumulated 95 points from 40 matches. With six games remaining, they have the potential to surpass Wolves’ record if they secure at least nine more points, which means they only need to win half of their remaining matches. This is fairly likely as Chris Davies’ side have already picked up 29 wins from their 40 matches this season, but they have also been susceptible to a slip up every now and then. This includes failing to beat Northampton Town on both occasions, losing to 24th placed Shrewsbury Town and most recently losing to Peterborough United in the EFL Trophy Final, a match they were expected to win without an issue.

Despite the pressures, Birmingham are expected to break the points record, and with the money they spent in the summer, it is no surprise.