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Which fans have suffered the most relegation heartache, league stagnation & cup final losses?

Suffering fans

Which fans have suffered the most relegation heartache, cup final losses and league stagnation over the last 50 years?

Coventry City face League One rivals Oxford United in the Checkatrade Trophy final at Wembley, live on Sky Sports this Sunday, but Sky Blues fans have had a rough ride since the millennium.

Daniel Agyei (right) celebrates scoring Coventry City's  equaliser
Image: Coventry have not finished in the top six of any league for 47 years

Incredibly, Coventry have not finished in the top six of any league for 47 years and suffered relegation twice since 2000/01 after 34 seasons in the top flight.

Live Checkatrade Trophy Final

But have Coventry fans suffered the most? Sky Sports looked at every club's season-ending league positions over the last 50 years to find out...

RELEGATIONS

Blackpool fans may well have suffered the most, having experienced relegation nine times over the last half a century - more than any other club.

The Seasiders slipped from the old Division One in 1966/67, plummeting to the foot of Division Four in the early '80s, rising to the Premier League in 2010/11 and falling to their current fifth-place standing in League Two.

Blackpool have been relegated on nine occasions since 1966/67
Image: Blackpool have been relegated on nine occasions since 1966/67

However, Southend fans have experienced a roller-coaster period of promotion elation and relegation heartache, hopping leagues on 17 occasions during the period - that's pain or glory every three years on average.

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ROOTED

In terms of being rooted in the bottom league, Rochdale fans have endured 40 years in England's fourth tier since 1966 - although the Dale have now spent three successive seasons in League One and are challenging for promotion to the Championship this term.

Image: Rochdale won promotion to League One in 2013/14

Outside of the top flight, the longest runs of current consecutive seasons in a league are held by Oldham in League One and Ipswich in the Championship, currently being in their 20th and 15th consecutive seasons in the respective leagues.

CUP PAIN

But when it comes to all-time cup final agony, Everton have suffered more than any other club. Since 1872, the Toffees have lost eight FA Cup finals and two League Cup finals.

Everton striker Gary Lineker opens the scoring past Liverpool's Bruce Grobbelaar as Alan Hansen looks on, during the 1986 FA Cup Final on May 10th, 1986
Image: Everton have lost eight FA Cup finals and won five

So Coventry fans are not alone with their suffering but the Sky Blues will be looking to claim their second major cup in the club's history when they face Oxford on Sunday, having won the FA Cup in 1987.

Meanwhile, Oxford will also be challenging for their second trophy after winning the League Cup in 1986 and will want to make amends for losing 3-2 to Barnsley in the Football League trophy final last term.

Watch Coventry v Oxford in the Checkatrade Trophy final live on Sky Sports 3 from 2pm on Sunday

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