10 Longest Absences From The Premier League

10. Charlton Athletic - 13 Years

Had Leeds not finally made their way back to the Premier League for the upcoming season, they would’ve occupied this position. Instead, Charlton take it, having failed to secure another promotion since the end of their last stint in 2007.

At any given point, around a quarter of the league is made up of London-based teams. Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs have competed in every season and West Ham in most, but Charlton fall into a camp with the likes of QPR, Fulham and Crystal Palace, having fluttered between the top two divisions.

They made their debut after beating the more fancied Sunderland, who have exited the division on no fewer than four occasions, in the 1997/98 playoff final. Favourites for the drop from the off, they only succumbed to their fate after Southampton managed to win all three of their final games to beat them to 17th in the table.

Returning at the first time of asking, Charlton were then firmly established in the division for the next seven years, finishing as high as 7th in 2004 and narrowly missing out on Europe.

Since their most recent relegation, however, the club’s fortunes have plummeted and they have regularly switched between the Championship and League One, being relegated to the latter yet again this season.