Nowadays, competition within the UK is divided into several leagues.  In England, the top teams make it into the Premier League, which is followed by three divisions of the Football League (Championship, First Division and Second Division).  Below this is the Conference, made up of amateur and semi-professional teams.  Scotland boasts the Scottish Premier League and the Scottish Football League (with  First, Second and Third Divisions), whilst Wales has the League of Wales. 

Interestingly, there are some non-English teams in the English Football League system, an anomaly caused by the acceptance of some Welsh teams into the Football League in the late nineteenth century before it was ruled an 'English' league only.

Perhaps the most recognized league or division within the UK is the English Premier League which includes teams such as Manchester United, Liverpool FC, Chelsea FC and Arsenal.  The English Premier League enjoys extensive coverage both on the BBC and on Sky TV, as well as being broadcast over the internet and internationally.  English Premier League players are world-famous and receive huge pay cheques from endorsement deals and advertising campaigns aside from their agreed club wage.  In recent years, players like Wayne Rooney, David Beckham, Frank Lampard, Steven Gerrard and Michael Owen have made themselves internationally recognizable due to their success playing in the League.