The English Football League (EFL) is the oldest football league in the world. Today, it’s made up of the Championship , League One and League Two and teams from across the country compete to achieve promotion to the next division and work their way up to the Premier League . You can bet on all English soccer matches at Stake Sportsbook , including League Two games.
What is the EFL League Two?
League Two is the third division of the EFL and the fourth tier of English football. Teams playing in League Two compete for a chance to be promoted to the EFL League One and to avoid being relegated to the National League below. League Two also allows participating teams to qualify for and compete in the FA Cup , EFL Cup and EFL Trophy .
The English football pyramid is made up of ten separate tiers. The Premier League sits at the very top of the pyramid, representing the goal of any club, fan and footballer in English football. Below this is the EFL, which consists of the Championship, League One and League Two. Below League Two is non-league football.
Promotion and relegation work between every level of the English football pyramid. As a result, it’s possible for a non-league team to work their way up through the divisions and ultimately compete in the Premier League. In addition, it’s possible for a Premier League team to theoretically end up in non-league.
History of the EFL League Two
The English Football League was founded in 1888, making it the oldest football league in the world. Before 1885, soccer in England had been amateur only under the order of the Football Association (FA). Teams competed in the FA Cup and organised various matches between themselves. However, there was no standard league, and after teams started to turn professional, it was difficult for them to earn consistent revenue.
After the FA allowed teams to begin paying players to compete, William McGregor proposed a league competition with a guaranteed number of fixtures. The Football League began with twelve original members, all from the Midlands and the North of England.
Over the years, the league expanded and introduced subdivisions with promotion and relegation. League Two was founded as Division Four in 1958. In 1992, the top teams from the First Division broke away to form the Premier League, although promotions and relegation were kept. League Two then became Division Three, though it was rebranded to its current name in 2004.
Which Teams Play in League Two?
Accrington Stanley – League Two winners 2017-18
AFC Wimbledon - League Two play-off winners 2016
Barrow - National League winners 2019-20
Bradford City – Championship winners 1907-08
Bromley – National League play-off winners 2024
Carlisle United – Second Division promotions 1973-74
Cheltenham Town – League Two winners 2020-21
Chesterfield – League Two winners 1969-70, 1984-85, 2010-11, 2013-14
Colchester United – League One runners-up 2005-06
Crewe Alexandra – Second Division runners up 2002-03
Doncaster Rovers – League One winners 1934-35, 1946-47, 1949-50, 2012-13
Fleetwood Town – League Two play-off winners 2014
Gillingham – League Two winners 1963-64, 2012-13
Grimsby Town – Second Division winners 1898-99, 1933-34
Harrogate Town – National League play-off winners 2020
Milton Keynes Dons – League Two winners 2007-08
Morecambe -League Two play-off winners 2021
Newport County – Third Division South winners 1938-39
Notts County – Second Division winners 1896-97, 1913-14, 1922-23
Port Vale – League One winners 1929-30, 1953-54
Salford City – National League play-off winners 2019
Swindon Town – First Division play-off winners 1990, 1993
Tranmere Rovers – Third Division winners 1937-38
Walsall - League Two winners 1959-60, 2006-07
Format & Schedule of the 2024–25 League Two
League Two features 24 teams which must each play a home and away fixture against every other team in the league. Teams earn three points for a victory, one point for a draw and none for a loss. Points are used to determine the league position, and the top team at the end of the season is crowned champion.
The top three teams at the end of the season all earn automatic promotion to League One, while the final team is determined by playoffs. Teams that finish in 4th to 7th place compete in the playoffs. The bottom two teams at the end of the season are relegated to the National League.
The League Two fixtures kick off on 9 August 2025, and the final day of the season takes place on 3 May 2025.
The playoff final will be held between 24 and 26 May 2025.
Read our guide on how to bet on soccer or our full sports betting guide over on our sports blog for detailed information on how to place bets. If you want to get started quickly, you can follow these steps:
Log into your Stake.com account or create one if you don’t already have one.
Make a deposit using any of the accepted payment methods .
Search for a team or use the sports menu to find soccer > England > League Two.
Select a single match or outright betting market and then choose from any of the available soccer betting markets.
Enter your stake in the bet slip and confirm to place the bet.
Watch the live stream to see if you’re a winner.
There are many ways to bet on soccer at Stake, including the following betting markets on League Two games:
Live Stream League Two & Live Soccer Betting
League Two is always exciting to watch, with some of England’s most historic soccer clubs taking part and attempting to climb up the football pyramid to reach the biggest stage. You can bet on all the games at Stake, with live and pre-live betting markets available. To bet live , simply log into your account during the game. We’ve got stats and live streams, so you can place your bets based on what’s happening on the pitch.
EFL League Two Betting Odds & Payouts
Your soccer odds tell you how much you’ll potentially win from your bet, and you need to be able to calculate them before you start placing bets. Here are the main types of odds and how to work out the payout:
Decimal – Simply multiply the decimal odds by your stake to get the total amount you’ll receive back from a winning bet. For example, if you bet $10 at 2.5 odds and win, you’ll receive your $10 stake plus $15 profit.
Fractional – Multiply your stake by the top number and divide by the bottom number to work out your potential profit. For example, if you bet $30 on 1/3 and win, you’ll gain $10 profit plus your original stake.
American – These show the odds with either a plus or minus symbol. The plus sign tells you your profit if you bet $100 and win, while odds with the minus sign tell you the amount you’d have to bet to make $100 profit.
EFL League Two Betting Tips, Predictions & Strategies
Make the most of promos – As with betting on any sports at Stake, you can enjoy our promos to get more value out of your bets and have more fun. The VIP Club lets you earn regular rewards , and there are plenty of other offers available for your soccer bets.
Betting on overs – Last season saw an average of 2.98 goals scored per game in League Two. If this trend continues, the popular betting market over 2.5 goals could bring success. However, you should always use the stats to back up your bets and bet responsibly using our Stake Smart guidelines .
Recent success and history – League Two features a wide variety of different teams, including clubs that are just over twenty years old and some that are well over one hundred years old. Check the recent fortune of each club and their past performance before deciding on your bets.
