Promotion and relegation are at the heart of English football. Unlike closed leagues in some other sports, clubs here can rise or fall through the divisions based on results, which keeps every match meaningful, even for teams far from the title.
Going down
At the end of each Premier League season, the three clubs with the fewest points drop into the Championship. Relegation can be costly, because the Premier League brings much larger television and commercial income.
Going up
The top two clubs in the Championship are promoted automatically. The next four teams enter a play-off competition, and the winner of the play-off final earns the third promotion place. The final is often described as the richest match in football.
Parachute payments
To soften the financial blow of relegation, clubs that go down receive additional payments for a limited period. These payments help them keep competitive squads while they try to return to the top flight.
Why it matters
The threat of the drop and the promise of promotion give the whole English pyramid its drama and are a major reason supporters follow the league so closely.