International Journal of Sports Science & Coaching Volume 10 · Number 2+3 · 2015 543 A Comparison of Physical and Technical Match Performance of a Team Competing in the English Championship League and Then the English Premier League Following Promotion Ryland Morgans 1 , David Adams 2 , Richard Mullen 2 , Joao Sacramento 4 , Chris McLellan 3 and Morgan Williams 2 1 Liverpool Football Club, Liverpool, England Ryland.morgans@liverpoolfc.com 2 University of South Wales, Wales 3 Bond University, Australia 4 AS Monaco FC, France ABSTRACT The changes in match demands when a team is promoted from the English Championship League (ECL) to the English Premier League (EPL) remain unknown. To date, estimates of between-league differences are made using different teams. This study explores differences in physical and technical performance of players who competed in the ECL and then the EPL following promotion. Although total distance covered over the season was the only measure to significantly differ (p = 0.0001) between the ECL and EPL, the 3% increase in total distance in the EPL was deemed practically non-significant. In the EPL, players had an extra 57 ± 6 hours (p = 0.0002) between matches, yet this had little affect on total, sprint and high intensity distances. In summary, higher league standard may not require greater physical capacity and developing a tactical strategy to suit the ability of players that is sustainable across leagues is important. Key words: Association Football, Ball Possession, Performance Analysis, Soccer, Sport Analytics INTRODUCTION The English Premier League (EPL) is the top league in English domestic football and the English Championship League (ECL) is the second highest league in the pyramid system. Teams can be relegated and promoted between these leagues dependent upon performance across the season and final league position. With limited budgets, teams promoted to the EPL generally retain players from the previous season and it has been previously suggested that Reviewers: Bill Gerrard (University of Leeds, UK) Holden MacRae (Pepperdine University, USA)