If you walk into a pub in England and ask to see the English Football League trophy, you’re probably going to get a bit of a confused look. Which one? People get this mixed up constantly. Are we talking about the massive silver three-handled cup that the winners of the Championship lift to get into the promised land of the Premier League? Or are we talking about the Bristol Street Motors Trophy, that knockout competition for League One and League Two teams that basically exists so fans can have a day out at Wembley? Honestly, the history of these pieces of silverware is a mess of sponsorship changes, weird traditions, and some genuinely heavy metal.
Silverware matters. It’s the physical manifestation of a grueling 46-game season. In the English Football League (EFL), the trophies aren't just decorative; they are artifacts. They’ve been dropped, dented, and doused in cheap champagne for over a century. Let’s get into what these trophies actually are and why the one everyone wants is technically the "old" First Division prize.
The Championship Trophy: A Piece of Victorian Grandeur
The big one. The real deal. When people search for the English Football League trophy, they usually mean the Lady. That’s the nickname for the trophy awarded to the winners of the Sky Bet Championship. It is a stunning piece of silver, standing roughly 2 feet tall, characterized by its iconic three handles. Why three handles? It’s practical, mostly. It allows the captain and two other players to hoist it simultaneously without it wobbling like a jelly.
This specific trophy has a pedigree that would make a Royal blush. Before the Premier League broke away in 1992, this was the trophy given to the champions of all of England. Liverpool, Everton, Aston Villa—they all lifted this exact design for decades. When the top flight split off to form the Premier League, they got their own trophy (the one with the lions on the crown). The EFL kept the original. So, ironically, the trophy for the "second" tier of English football is actually more historically significant than the one Manchester City keeps winning.
It's heavy. If you ever see a player struggling to lift it, they aren't faking. It weighs nearly 20 pounds. Vardon and Sons made it back in the day, and it features intricate engravings of the various club crests that have held it. Every year, a master silversmith has to go in and carefully etch the new winner into the base. There is something deeply cool about the fact that a team like Burnley or Leicester City can win a trophy that once belonged to the legendary Preston North End "Invincibles" of the 1880s.
The Bristol Street Motors Trophy: The Other One
Then there is the knockout version. This is also technically an English Football League trophy, but it’s a tournament cup, not a league title. You might remember it as the Checkatrade Trophy, the Johnstone’s Paint Trophy, or the LDV Vans Trophy if you’re of a certain age. It’s currently the Bristol Street Motors Trophy.
It looks different. It’s sleek, more modern, and frankly, a bit more divisive. This competition involves the 48 clubs from League One and League Two, plus a bunch of Under-21 "Academy" sides from the Premier League. Fans usually hate the academy part. They feel it dilutes the "proper" football of the lower leagues. But the trophy itself? It’s a ticket to Wembley. For a fan of a club like Wycombe Wanderers or Rotherham United, seeing their captain lift this specific English Football League trophy under the Wembley arch is a top-tier life memory.
The design is a large, silver-plated cup with a fairly wide bowl. It doesn't have the "Lady" handles. It feels more like a traditional knockout cup. While it doesn't have the 130-year history of the Championship trophy, it represents the grit of the EFL. It’s the trophy for the "real" clubs, the ones who don't have billion-dollar TV deals but have fans who show up in the rain on a Tuesday night in Morecambe.
What Happens When You Win the League?
Winning the English Football League trophy in the Championship is a logistical nightmare for the league officials. Think about it. On the final day of the season, two or even three different teams could technically win the title depending on goal difference. The EFL has a "real" trophy and a "replica" trophy. They also have two different sets of medals and two different presentation stages ready to go at two different stadiums.
In 2024, for example, the race went down to the wire. They had a helicopter on standby. They literally fly the trophy across the country if the lead changes mid-game. It’s high drama. If you’re at a stadium and you see the plinth being wheeled out, you know the league thinks your team has a 90% chance of winning. If the trophy is still in the back of a blacked-out SUV in the parking lot, things are still "fluid."
The Trophy Guard
There is actually a person whose job is to guard the English Football League trophy. They wear white gloves. They don't let anyone touch it unless they’ve earned it. There’s an old superstition in football: if you touch the trophy before you win it, you’ll lose the final. Most players take this incredibly seriously. They will walk past the trophy in the tunnel, eyes fixed forward, refusing to even glance at the silver. It’s a weird, psychological game.
Physical Stats of the Championship Trophy
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Material | Sterling Silver |
| Height | Approx 60cm (24 inches) |
| Weight | 8.5kg - 9kg |
| Distinctive Feature | Three handles for "The Lift" |
| Base | Plinth containing historical winners since 1888 |
The "Lower" Leagues: League One and League Two
Don't forget that League One and League Two have their own trophies. They look similar to the Championship one but are slightly smaller. They are the "Divisional Trophies." When a team like Portsmouth or Stockport County wins their respective league, they get a silver trophy that mirrors the classic design. It’s about continuity. The EFL wants the champion of the fourth tier to feel just as validated as the champion of the second tier.
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Actually, the League Two trophy has seen some things. Because these clubs have smaller budgets and less security, the trophies often end up in local pubs or the chairman’s house for a night. There are stories of trophies being found in the morning with kebab sauce on them or being left in the back of a taxi. It’s part of the charm. This isn't the sterile environment of the Champions League. This is the EFL.
The Misconception About Ownership
One thing people get wrong is thinking the clubs keep the English Football League trophy. They don't. You get to keep it for a year. You have to return it in pristine condition before the next season's awards ceremony. If you lose it or break it, the insurance claim is astronomical. Most clubs commission a high-quality replica to keep in their trophy room permanently, while the "real" one goes back to the EFL headquarters in Preston (or out on promotional tours).
Actionable Tips for Seeing the Trophies
If you actually want to see these trophies in person, don't just show up at the EFL offices. They aren't on display for the public there.
- Visit the National Football Museum: Located in Manchester, they often have the historical league trophies on loan. You can get within inches of the silver.
- Club Open Days: If your team wins a promotion or a title, the trophy usually goes on a "tour" of local schools and the club shop. This is your best chance for a photo.
- Wembley Stadium Tour: During the weeks leading up to the EFL Trophy final or the Play-Offs, the trophies are often stationed at Wembley for media events.
- Check the Sponsor's Socials: Often, the title sponsor (like Sky Bet) will take the trophy to a random local pub in the winning city. It's usually unannounced until the morning of, so keep notifications on.
The English Football League trophy is more than just metal. It’s the end of a journey. Whether it’s the three-handled masterpiece of the Championship or the hard-fought cup of the lower league knockout, these objects represent the soul of the English game. They represent the fact that in England, football didn't start in 1992 with the Premier League. It started in 1888, and the silver proves it.
Next Steps for Fans:
- Verify the History: Research the "Lady" trophy's origin at the National Football Museum's online archives to see photos of it from the 1920s.
- Track the Current Race: Check the current EFL Championship standings to see which city the trophy helicopter is likely heading to this May.
- Attend a Final: Book tickets for the Bristol Street Motors Trophy final in April to see the knockout trophy hoisted live at Wembley.