10 Oldest Football Clubs Around the World.
One of the most popular sports of the 21 st century , Football evolved from it’s infant stages in the 19 th
century. Initially formed as fitness clubs of institutions, football clubs came under the parenthood of
the Football Association when it was formed in 1863.
Subsequently, there have been a lot of clubs which were formed, but also a lot of them which were liquidated. The following clubs continue to participate in footballing matches ,though not at a fully professional level but , certainly at semi-professional levels.
Since the British Isles is where the sport was born, naturally all of the clubs are British teams. Tough, there have been teams outside of Britain, such as the South American Lima Fc, or even the Indian club Mohun Bagan, but they have been started by the British migrants.
1. Sheffield Fc 1857
Sheffield Fc is recognised to be the oldest club in world recognised both by the FA as well as FIFA.
In 1855, members of the Sheffield cricket club informal kick-abouts without any rules which
subsequently led to the formation of the Football club.
The Club’s most notable achievement came when they won the FA amateur cup in 1904.Unfortunately the club from South Yorkshire , find themselves presently playing in the Northen Premier League Division South, which if you don’t like geography can be just called 8 th level in the football league system!
2. Hallam Fc 1860
Just about three years after the formation of Sheffield Fc, a neighbouring Football club, Hallam Fc
was formed in Sheffield itself , to oppose it’s neighbouring club.
The two teams first played on the Boxing day of the year 1860. And the match between the two teams is famously called as the Rules Derby, which is even played today. In 1867 the club made history by winning the world’s first ever football tournament, the Youdan Cup.
The club however, has gone down in the ranks of English football, and now play at the 10 th level of English Football League .
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3. Notts county Fc 1862
Notts County is a professional football club based in the city of Nottingham. It is recognised as the
oldest team in the world currently playing professional football.
They have played 4756 Football League matches which are the most by any English team. The club has the honour of winning the 1894 FA Cup final. Presently, the club plays in the Football League two or the 4 th division of the English Football League System.
4. Stoke City 1863
Stoke City was founded as Stoke Rambles Fc , in 1863 in Stoke-on- trent, Staffordshire. They are the
second oldest professional football clubs after Notts County.
The club’s only major trophy up to date came in 1972 when they won the Football League Cup. Their highest finish in the league was in 1935-36 and 1946-47 season when they had managed to finish 4 th .Stoke City is the only club among the ten clubs which currently play in the Premier League, the top division of English Football.
5. Nottingham Forrest 1865
Nottingham Forrest Fc is a Professional Football Club founded in 1865, in Nottingham. Forest were
founder members of the Football Alliance in 1889 and joined the Football League in 1892.
They have competed majorly in the top two divisions of English Football. The club enjoyed most amount of
success from 1975 to1993, wherein they won the League in 1978, four League Cups and back to back
European Cups, a feat which still, hasn’t been equalled.
They were managed by Brian Clough one of the top managers of world in those times. They currently play in the Football Championship which is the 2 nd division of English Football.
6. Wrexham AFC 1864
Wrexham Association Football Club is a professional association football club based in Wrexham,
Wales. Based on the club's recorded formation date of 1864, they are the oldest club in Wales and
the third oldest professional football team in the world.
Wrexham's honours include winning the Third Division title in 1977–78, the Welsh Cup a record 23 times, the Football League Trophy in 2005 at the Millennium Stadium and the FA Trophy in 2013 at Wembley Stadium.
The Club currently plays in the National League the 5 th tier of English Football.
7. Sheffield Wednesday 1867
Sheffield Wednesday are a professional football club currently playing in the second tier of English
Football. It was formed as an offshoot to the Wednesday Cricket Club, and hence was known as the
Wednesday Football Club until their current name in 1929.
They go by the nickname The Owls and have played most of it’s Football in the top division of English Football until 2000. The club has won four league titles, three FA cups, one League Cup and a Community Shield.
8. Brigg Town FC 1864
Brigg Town is a Football Club based in Brigg, Lincolnshire. They were established in 1864 and were
one of the oldest clubs. They Competed mainly in the Lincolnshire League winning the league as
much as eight times.
They currently play in the Northern Counties East League Division one.
9. Chesterfield Fc 1866
Chesterfield Fc is a professional football club formed in 1866 and plays in the Football League one, or
the 3 rd division of English Football.
Chesterfield have never competed in the top division of England, reaching the second division twice in the 1930s. Apparently there have been potentially five or more teams which have been called Chesterfield at different times .
The club was put into voluntary Liquidation in 1915. The current Chesterfield was formed in 1919 as Chesterfield Municipal FC, noted mostly for winning the Football League Trophy in 2011-12.
10. Reading Fc 1871 Nicknamed as The Royals, Reading were formed in 1871 in Reading, Berkshire. Though one of the oldest English teams, Reading did not join the Football League until 1920.
The Club managed it’s highest finish in 2006-07 season when they finished 8 th in the Premier League. The club Compete currently in the second tier or the Football Championship.
10. Reading Fc 1871
Nicknamed as The Royals, Reading were formed in 1871 in Reading, Berkshire. Though one of the
oldest English teams, Reading did not join the Football League until 1920. The Club managed it’s
highest finish in 2006-07 season when they finished 8 th in the Premier League. The club Compete
currently in the second tier or the Football Championship.