| 1896-97 | Joined Southern League Division One |
|
| Also played in United League (founder member) |
| 1897-98 | United League runner-up |
| 1899-00 | Southern League Champions |
| 1900-01 | F.A. Cup Winners |
|
| Also joined Western League |
| 1901-02 | Southern League runner-up |
|
| Western League runner-up |
| 1903-04 | Southern League runner-up |
|
| Western League Champions |
| 1907-08 | Western League Division 1B runner-up |
| 1908 | Elected to Football League |
| 1908-09 | Football League Division Two runner-up |
|
| Promoted to Division One (on goal average) |
| 1915 | Relegated to Division Two |
| 1919-20 | Football League Division Two Champions |
|
| Promoted to Division One |
| 1920-21 | F.A. Cup Winners (2nd time) |
| 1921-22 | Football League runner-up |
|
| F.A. Cup semi-finalists |
| 1928 | Relegated to Division Two |
| 1932-33 | Football League Division Two runner-up |
|
| Promoted to Division One |
| 1935 | Relegated to Division Two |
| 1939-40 | Football League programme abandoned due to outbreak of war |
| 1947-48 | Football League semi-finalists |
| 1949-50 | Football League Division Two Champions |
|
| Promoted to Division One |
| 1950-51 | Football League Champions |
| 1951-52 | Football League runner-up |
| 1952-53 | F.A. Cup semi-finalists |
| 1955-56 | F.A. Cup semi-finalists |
| 1956-57 | Football League runner-up (on goal average) |
| 1960-61 | Football League Champions (2nd time) |
|
| F.A. Cup Winners (3rd time) |
| 1961-62 | Football League runner-up |
|
| European Cup semi-finalist |
|
| F.A. Cup Winners (4th time) |
| 1962-63 | European Cup Winners Cup Winners |
| 1966-67 | Missed runner-up spot on goal average |
|
| F.A. Cup Winners (5th time) |
| 1968-69 | Football League Cup semi-finalists |
| 1970-71 | Football League Cup Winners |
| 1971-72 | UEFA Cup Winners |
|
| Football League Cup semi-finalists |
| 1972-73 | UEFA Cup Semi-Finalists |
|
| Football League Cup Winners (2nd time) |
| 1973-74 | UEFA Cup runner-up |
| 1975-76 | Football League Cup semi-finalists |
| 1977 | Relegated to Division Two |
| 1977-78 | Promoted to Division One (on goal average) |
| 1980-81 | F.A. Cup Winners (6th time) |
| 1981-82 | European Cup Winners Cup Semi-Finalists |
|
| Football League Cup runner-up |
|
| F.A. Cup Winners (7th time) |
| 1983-84 | UEFA Cup Winners (2nd time) |
| 1984-85 | Missed runner-up spot on goal difference |
|
| UEFA Cup Quarter Finalists |
| 1985-86 | Screen Sport Super Cup semi-finalists |
| 1986-87 | Football League Cup semi-finalists |
|
| F.A. Cup runner-up |
| 1990-01 | F.A. Cup Winners (8th time) |
| 1991-92 | European Cup Winners Cup Quarter Finalists |
|
| Football League Cup semi-finalists |
| 1992-93 | Founder members of FA Premiership |
|
| F.A. Cup semi-finalists |
| 1994-95 | F.A. Cup semi-finalists |
| 1998-99 | Football League Cup Winners (3rd time) |
|
| F.A. Cup semi-finalists |
| 2000-01 | F.A. Cup semi-finalists |
| 2001-02 | Football League Cup runner-up |
