Which teams have endured the least successful seasons in football history?

“Idly looking at league tables pre-match at the weekend, we discovered what we reckon was the worst season anyone has ever suffered: Airbus, in the Welsh Premier Division,” writes Andy Pechey. “Played 32, scored 18, conceded 100, points -4 (deducted 6). Can anyone find a grimmer campaign?”

This season’s misery is something of a comedown for Airbus, who won the Cymru North division last year to seal promotion to the top flight. It seems fair to say they have found the transition rather difficult.

But there are plenty of rivals for the tag of worst season ever. “In the top four English divisions there is one season that really stands out,” writes Chris Roe. “Worst overall goal difference, most goals conceded, one of only five instances of a team scoring fewer than 10 points and in the bottom 10 for goals scored … look no further than Darwen in the 1898-99 season. Accruing a mere nine points from 34 matches and scoring just 22 goals in the season, their overall goal difference of -119 is 32 worse than any other team in the history of the league. Their 141 goals conceded is also the most in an English league season.”

Fort William is perhaps best known as the gateway to Ben Nevis but amid the high peaks the football club has experienced some major lows. “Fort William’s 2018-19 Highland League campaign takes some beating,” offers Chris Matterface. “In 34 games they also achieved no wins and two draws, but they had nine points deducted for a final points tally of -7. While they did score slightly more goals than Airbus, finding the net 21 times, their defence conceded an astounding 245, for a goal difference of -224. They conceded double figures 10 times, including a 14-1 defeat away to Formartine United. It was the nadir of a