the football league

8/11/2019 The Football League

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The Football League

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the English football league. For the Greek football league with the same name, see Football

League (Greece.

The Football League

Country England

Other club(s) from Wales

Confederation !EF"

Founded #$$$

Divisions

Football League %hampionship

Football League &ne

Football League Two

Number of teams ' () in each di*ision

Levels on pyramid +)

Promotionto remier League

elegationto Football %onference

Domestic cup(s)F" %up,Football League %up

Football League Trophy -#

!nternational cup(s) !EF" Europa League-

Current championsLeicester %ity

(/#0+#)

"ost championships Li*erpool(#$ titles

T# partners1ky 1ports

22%(3ighlights only

$ebsite football4league.co.uk

201415 Football League

The Football Leagueis a league competition featuring professional men5s association footballclubs from

England and Wales. Founded in #$$$, it is the oldest such competition in world football. 6t was the top4le*el

football league in England from its foundation in the #7th century until #77, when the top clubs split away

to form the remier League. The Football League has been associated with a title sponsor since #7$0. "s this

sponsor has changed o*er the years the league too has been known by *arious names.-0resently, it is called the

%&y 'et Football Leagueafter its sponsor, 1ky 2etting and Gaming.-)

1ince #778 it has had ' clubs e*enly di*ided into three di*isions, which are known as the%hampionship,

League &ne, and League Two,with ) clubs in each di*ision. romotion and relegation between these di*isionsis a central feature of the League and is further e9tended to allow the top %hampionship clubs to e9change

places with the lowest placed clubs in the remier League, and the bottom clubs of League Two to switch with

the top clubs of the Football %onference, thus integrating the League into the English football league system.

"lthough primarily a competition for English clubs, two clubs from Wales,:ewport %ountyand %ardiff %ity,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_(Greece)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_(Greece)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_association_footballhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFAhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Championshiphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Onehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Twohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promotion_and_relegationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promotion_and_relegationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_Conferencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FA_Cuphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Cuphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Cuphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Trophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Trophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Europa_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Europa_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leicester_City_F.C.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013%E2%80%9314_Football_League_Championshiphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool_F.C.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Sportshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Sporthttp://www.football-league.co.uk/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014%E2%80%9315_Football_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_footballhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_football_around_the_worldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Betting_and_Gaminghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Betting_and_Gaminghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League#cite_note-Sky_Bet-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Championshiphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Championshiphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Onehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Twohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Twohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_Conferencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_football_league_systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_County_A.F.C.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiff_City_F.C.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiff_City_F.C.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Football_League.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_(Greece)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_(Greece)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geography_of_association_footballhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFAhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Championshiphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Onehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Twohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promotion_and_relegationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Promotion_and_relegationhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_Conferencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FA_Cuphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Cuphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Trophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/UEFA_Europa_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leicester_City_F.C.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2013%E2%80%9314_Football_League_Championshiphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liverpool_F.C.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Sportshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Sporthttp://www.football-league.co.uk/http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2014%E2%80%9315_Football_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_footballhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_football_around_the_worldhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League#cite_note-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Betting_and_Gaminghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League#cite_note-Sky_Bet-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Championshiphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Onehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Twohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_Conferencehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_football_league_systemhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newport_County_A.F.C.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardiff_City_F.C.


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also take part, while in the past 1wansea %ity, Wre9ham, ;erthyr Townand "berdare "thleticha*e been

members.

The Football League is also the name of the go*erning body of the league competition, and this body also

organises two knock4out cup competitions, the Football League %upand the Football League Trophy. The

operations centre of The Football League is located in reston, while its commercial office is in London.-86t

was formerly based in Lytham 1t "nnes,after its original spell in reston.-


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The Football League was founded in #$$$ by then "ston @illadirector William ;cGregor,originally with #

member clubs. 1teady growth and the addition of more di*isions meant that by #78/ the League had 7 clubs.

Financial considerations led to a maAor shake4up in #77 when, in a step to ma9imise their re*enue, the leading

members of the Football League broke away to form their own competition, the F" remier League, which was

renamed in //' as the remier League. The Football League therefore no longer includes the top / clubs who

belong to this group, althoughpromotion and relegationbetween the Football League and the remier League

continues. 6n total, #0< teams ha*e played in the Football League-'up to /#0 (including those in the remier

League, since clubs must pass through the Football League before reaching the former.

Competition

This section does not citeanyreferences or sources. lease help impro*e this section by adding

citations to reliable sources. !nsourced material may be challenged andremo*ed. (September 2012)

League

The Football League5s ' member clubs are grouped into three di*isions> the Football League %hampionship,

Football League &ne, and Football League Two(pre*iously theFootball League First =i*ision,Football

League 1econd =i*isionand Football League Third =i*isionrespecti*elyB they were renamed for sponsorshipreasons. Each di*ision has ) clubs, and in any gi*en season a club plays each of the others in the same

di*ision twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents. This makes for a total of ) Football records in England

League sponsorship

1ee also> English football sponsorship

1ince #7$0 the League has accepted lucrati*e sponsorships for its main competition. 2elow is a list of sponsors

and the League5s name under their sponsorship>

#7$0+#7$ %anon(%anon League

#7$ 2arclays 2ank(2arclays League"

#770+#77 Endsleigh 6nsurance(Endsleigh League

#77:ationwide 2uilding 1ociety(:ationwide Football League
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004-05_in_English_footballhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_First_Divisionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Second_Divisionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Second_Divisionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Third_Divisionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Championshiphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Onehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Onehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Twohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Twohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Twohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Colahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationwide_Building_Societyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationwide_Building_Societyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sponsor_(commercial)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sponsor_(commercial)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_Museumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League_1888%E2%80%9389http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League_1987%E2%80%9388http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League_1988%E2%80%9389http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League_2003%E2%80%9304http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League_2004%E2%80%9305http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_records_in_Englandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_football_sponsorshiphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_(company)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Today_(UK_newspaper)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barclayshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endsleigh_Insurancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationwide_Building_Societyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Football_League.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Football_League_logo_%281988%E2%80%932004%29.svghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:The_Football_League_logo_until_1988.pnghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004-05_in_English_footballhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_First_Divisionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Second_Divisionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Third_Divisionhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Championshiphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Onehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Twohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Twohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Colahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationwide_Building_Societyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sponsor_(commercial)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Football_Museumhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League_1888%E2%80%9389http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League_1987%E2%80%9388http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League_1988%E2%80%9389http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League_2003%E2%80%9304http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League_2004%E2%80%9305http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_records_in_Englandhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_football_sponsorshiphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Canon_(company)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Today_(UK_newspaper)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barclayshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endsleigh_Insurancehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nationwide_Building_Society


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//)+/#/> %oca4%ola(%oca4%ola Football League-#

/#/+/#0> npower(npower Football League-

/#0+/#$> 1ky 2et(1ky 2et Football League-)

"!pon the breakaway of the first di*ision in #770 to form the remier League,2arclays became a secondary sponsor in the

newly formed top di*ision, becoming the primary sponsor from //# up to the present.

"fter the formation of the remier Leaguethe newly slimmed4down football League ('/ clubs until #778 and

' clubs since renamed its di*isions to reflect the changes. The old 1econd =i*ision became the new First=i*ision, the Third =i*ision became the 1econd =i*ision, and the Fourth =i*ision became the Third =i*ision.

The financial health of its clubs had become perhaps the highest League priority due to the limited resources

a*ailable. 3owe*er, there were some promising signs for the future, as the League planned to announce new

initiati*es beginning with the //)+/8 season, coinciding with the start of a new sponsorship agreement with

%oca4%ola. The first of these changes was a rebranding of the League with the renaming of the First =i*ision as

The %hampionship, the 1econd =i*ision as League &ne and the Third =i*ision as League Two. The League5s

cup competitions ha*e had different sponsors.

"edia rights

The other maAor source of re*enue is tele*ision. The #7$/s saw competition between terrestrial broadcasters for

the rights to show League matches, but the arri*al on the scene of satellite broadcaster 2ritish 1ky 2roadcasting

(1ky T@, eagerly searching for attracti*e programming to build its customer base and willing to pay huge

sums, changed the picture entirely. The League5s top tier clubs had been agitating for se*eral years to be able to

keep more of the League5s re*enue for themsel*es, threatening to break away and form their own league if

necessary. 6n #77 the threat was realised as the First =i*ision clubs left to establish the F" remier Leagueand

signed a contract for e9clusi*e li*e co*erage of their games with 1ky T@. The F" remier League agreed to

maintain the promotion and relegation of three clubs with The Football League, but The League was now in a

far weaker position I without its best clubs and without the clout to negotiate high4re*enue T@ deals. This

problem was e9acerbated with the collapse in // of 6T@ =igital, holder of T@ rights for The Football

League, which cost League clubs millions of pounds in re*enue.

6n //# the league signed a 7// million deal with 6T@ =igital, but in ;arch // the channel was put into

administration by its parent companies when the league refused to accept a #0/ million reduction in the deal.

6n :o*ember //' the league announced a new domestic rights deal worth terrestrial and pay tele*ision, broadband internet, *ideo4on4demand and

mobile ser*ices. The deal represents a #08J increase on the pre*ious deal and works out at an a*erage of o*er

#. million per club per season, though some clubs will recei*e more than others. 1ky will pro*ide the

maAority of the co*erage and the 22% broadcast #/ e9clusi*ely li*e matches from the %hampionship per season

and the semi4finals and finals of the League %up.-06n /#, 1ky 1ports signed a new e9clusi*e deal to

broadcast all ;atches after the 22% pulled out of the deal owing the financial cuts that the 22% 1portdepartment was going through. 3owe*er the 22% signed a new deal to still broadcast The Football League

Showhighlights programme.

?adio co*erage in the !nited Hingdom is also a maAor source of li*e footballand is a maAor output source for

the Football League,with e*ery maAor game broadcast nationally on 22% ?adio Fi*e Li*e,Talk1&?Tand

digitally on 22% ?adio 8 Li*e 1ports E9trawhich is a*ailable digitally onlineor *ia ="2 ?adio. Globally,

matches are sometimes broadcast on22% World 1er*ice. ;any Football Leaguematches are broadcast to local

audiences *ia 22% Local ?adiostations or by commercial stations.

&n #$ 1eptember //$, the Football League un*eiled a new oca!ola Football Leaguepodcast, hosted by

22% ?adio Fi*e Li*e5s ;ark %lemmitto be released e*ery Thursday.-)6n the /# K /#0 season the odcastwas renamed the npower "ootball league showbut still hosted by ;ark %lemmit. ;ark %lemmit continued to

host the show as Tradeoint came on board in the /#0 K /#) season to be the title sponsor of the newly re4
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Colahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League#cite_note-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RWE_npowerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League#cite_note-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Betting_and_Gaminghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League#cite_note-Sky_Bet-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Colahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Championshiphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Sky_Broadcastinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITV_Digitalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITV_Digitalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Trophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League#cite_note-23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League#cite_note-23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League#cite_note-23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_footballhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Radio_Five_Livehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Radio_Five_Livehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TalkSPORThttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Radio_5_Live_Sports_Extrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onlinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onlinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Audio_Broadcastinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_World_Servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_World_Servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Local_Radiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Local_Radiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Radio_Five_Livehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Radio_Five_Livehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Clemmithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Clemmithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League#cite_note-24http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Colahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League#cite_note-21http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RWE_npowerhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League#cite_note-22http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Betting_and_Gaminghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League#cite_note-Sky_Bet-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coca-Colahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Championshiphttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_Sky_Broadcastinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Premier_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITV_Digitalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ITV_Digitalhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_League_Trophyhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League#cite_note-23http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_footballhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Radio_Five_Livehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TalkSPORThttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Radio_5_Live_Sports_Extrahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onlinehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Digital_Audio_Broadcastinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_World_Servicehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Football_Leaguehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Local_Radiohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/BBC_Radio_Five_Livehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mark_Clemmithttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Football_League#cite_note-24


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branded 5Football League ?adio5. The programme is now produced by digital production studio, Engage 1ports

;edia.

6overnance and management

'oard

The Football League 2oard meets monthly and consists of two independent directors, three directors

representing the %hampionship, two representing League &ne, and one representing League Two. %urrent

("ugust /#) members are>-8

o Greg %larke 4 %hairman

o 1haun 3ar*ey4 %hief E9ecuti*e

o =ebbie De*ans %2E 4 6ndependent =irector

o "ndy "mbler (;illwall

o Heith Lamb(;iddlesbrough F%o Harl &yston(2lackpool F%

o Dames ?odwell (:otts %ounty

o ;att orter (Leyton &rient

o 6an Lenagan(&9ford !nited

%enior "anagement

"ndy Williamson &2E+ %hief &perating &fficer

?ichard 3easelgra*e+ %hief %ommercial &fficer

Former Presidents

William ;cGregor#$7+7)

Dohn 2entley#$7)+#7#/

Dohn ;cHenna#7#/+0

No7 %easonFirst Division

Champions

%econd Division

Champions

Third Division (North)

Champions

Third Division (%outh)

Champions

0/.#7#+

Li*erpool :ottingham Forest 1tockport %ounty 1outhampton

0#.#7+

0Li*erpool :otts %ounty :elson 2ristol %ity

0.#70+

)3uddersfield Town Leeds !nited

Wol*erhampton

Wanderersortsmouth

00. #7)+8

3uddersfield Town Leicester %ity =arlington 1wansea Town

0).#78+

No7 %easonFirst Division

Champions

%econd Division

Champions

Third Division

Champions

Fourth Division

Champions


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#/$. //8+/< ?eading 1outhend !nited %arlisle !nited

#/7. //


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ClubTop flight

titles

Football League

titles

.11/3.//+

Premier League

titles

.//93+,.4

Football League

titles

.//93+,.4

Leicester City / / / #

"iddlesbrough / / / #

Norich City / / / #

;ueens Par& angers / / / #

Football League titles

6ncludes remier Leaguetitles.

Team First tier %econd tier Third tier Fourth tier Total Titles

;anchester !nited /

Li*erpool #$ )

"rsenal #0 #0

E*erton 7 # #/

"ston @illa ' # #/1underland < 8 # #

1heffield Wednesday ) 8 7

:ewcastle !nited ) 0 '

%helsea )

the football league

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