| 1889-90 | Founder member of Northern League |
| 1890-91 | Northern League runners-up |
| 1891-92 | Northern League runners-up |
| 1893-94 | Northern League Champions |
| 1894-95 | Northern League Champions (2nd time) |
|
| F.A. Amateur Cup Winners |
| 1896-97 | Northern League Champions (3rd time) |
| 1897-98 | Northern League runner-up |
|
| F.A. Amateur Cup Winners (2nd time) |
| 1899-00 | Joined Football League Division Two |
| 1901-02 | Football League Division Two runner-up |
|
| Promoted to Division One |
| 1923-24 | Relegated to Division Two |
| 1926-27 | Football League Division Two Champions |
|
| Promoted to Division One |
| 1928 | Relegated to Division Two |
| 1928-29 | Football League Division Two Champions |
|
| Promoted to Division One |
| 1939-40 | Football League programme abandoned due to outbreak of war |
| 1966 | Relegated to Division Three |
| 1966-67 | Football League Division Three runner-up |
|
| Promoted to Division Two |
| 1973-74 | Football League Division Two Champions |
|
| Promoted to Division One |
| 1975-76 | Football League Cup semi-finalists |
|
| Anglo Scottish Cup Winners |
| 1982 | Relegated to Division Two |
| 1986 | Relegated to Division Three |
| 1986-87 | Football League Division Three runner-up |
|
| Promoted to Division Two |
| 1987-88 | Missed automatic promotion to Division One on goal difference, |
|
| but promoted after play-offs (SF Bradford City 2 Middlesbrough 1, |
|
| Middlesbrough 2 Bradford City 0 - Agg 3-2, F Middlesbrough 2 |
|
| Chelsea 0, Chelsea 1 Middlesbrough 0 - Agg 2-1) |
| 1989 | Relegated to Division Two (on goal difference) |
| 1990-91 | Made play-offs on goal difference, but not promoted (SF |
|
| Middlesbrough 1 Notts County 1, Notts County 1 Middlesbrough 0 - |
|
| Agg 1-2) |
| 1991-92 | Football League Division Two runner-up |
|
| Promoted to Division One. Division One clubs then formed F.A. |
|
| Premiership |
|
| Football League Cup semi-finalists |
| 1992-93 | Founder members of F.A. Premiership |
|
| Relegated to Football League Division One |
| 1994-95 | Football League Champions |
|
| Promoted to F.A. Premiership |
| 1996-97 | Three points deducted for failing to fulfill fixture at Blackburn, |
|
| leading to relegation to Football League Division One |
|
| F.A. Cup runner-up |
|
| Football League Cup runner-up |
| 1997-98 | Football League runner-up |
|
| Promoted to F.A. Premiership |
|
| Football League Cup runner-up |
| 2001-02 | F.A. Cup semi-finalists |
| 2003-04 | Football League Cup winners |
| 2005-06 | UEFA Cup runner-up |
|
| F.A. Cup semi-finalists |
