Long before the glitz and glamour of the Premier League, the beautiful game was taking its first fledgling steps. In the cobbled streets and on the muddy fields of Victorian England, groups of gentlemen gathered to kick a ball about, unknowingly laying the foundations for the world’s most popular sport. We all know that football developed in England, but we rarely step back to remember which were the first clubs that started playing it.
These are not necessarily the household names that dominate today’s back pages, but their stories are etched into the very fabric of football. Football’s heartbeat began in England, and its oldest clubs are the lifeblood of that legacy. These teams didn’t just kick a ball about, they forged the game we know today.
That is why we want to remember England’s oldest football clubs and give them the recognition they deserve.
Sheffield FC (1857)
It all had to start somewhere, and that somewhere was Sheffield. Sheffield FC, born in 1857, claims the crown as the world’s oldest football club. Founded by Nathaniel Creswick and William Prest, it sprang from an idea to create a game with rules and structure. Their brainchild, the Sheffield Rules, shaped modern football, introducing concepts like free kicks. Early matches were club affairs. Members squaring off against each other. Before they took on local sides, sparking the world’s oldest derby with Hallam FC. Known as the ‘Rules Derby’, it is a nod to their shared history in establishing the game’s laws.
Today, Sheffield FC battles on in the Northern Premier League Division One East. Perhaps a far cry from the top flight, but a proud nod to their roots. They’ve never chased glory in the professional leagues, yet their legacy shines bright. In 2004, FIFA handed them the Order of Merit, an honour they share with Real Madrid, proof they’re more than just a footnote in football’s story.
Wanderers FC (1859-1887)
Founded as Forest Club in 1859, the team was later renamed Wanderers FC and became the first true giants of English football. Comprised of former public school and university students, they were a dominant force in the sport’s nascent years. Their place in history was cemented with the inauguration of the Football Association Challenge Cup, now simply the FA Cup, in 1871. Wanderers won the very first tournament, defeating Royal Engineers 1-0.
This was just the beginning of a golden era. The club went on to lift the FA Cup a total of five times in the first seven seasons of the competition, a staggering achievement. Their line-up often featured Charles W. Alcock, the man considered the “father of the FA Cup” for proposing the tournament in the first place.
However, as professionalism began to take hold in the north of England, the amateur ethos of Wanderers saw their influence wane. With a dwindling number of eligible players, the club dissolved in 1887. Leaving behind a legacy as the original cup specialists.
Hallam FC (1860)
Just three years after their Sheffield neighbours made history, Hallam FC was formed, also out of a cricket club. While Sheffield FC holds the title of the world’s oldest club, Hallam boasts a world record of its own. They play at Sandygate, which the Guinness Book of Records officially recognises as the “Oldest Football Ground in the World”. The first match at this historic venue was against Sheffield FC on Boxing Day 1860.
Hallam FC also has the distinction of winning the world’s first-ever football tournament, the Youdan Cup, in 1867, a proto-tournament before the FA Cup took hold. The final, against Norfolk, at Bramall Lane saw Hallam emerged victorious.
In a curious turn of events, the trophy was lost by the club for over a century. It was purchased from a Scottish antiques collector in the late 1990s. Like their oldest rivals, Hallam has remained a non-league club throughout its long history. They currently play in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, the tenth tier.
Crystal Palace FC (1861)
The Crystal Palace that football fans know today which recently won the FA Cup, was founded in 1905. However, an earlier, unrelated amateur club of the same name was a founding member of the Football Association in 1863. This original Crystal Palace FC was formed by members of the Crystal Palace Cricket Club and played a significant role in the sport’s early development. They were one of the teams that helped establish the initial rules of the game.
The club participated in the first-ever FA Cup in 1871-72. They reached the semi-finals, where the Royal Engineers knocked them out after a replay. Despite their influential start, the club’s existence was fleeting. Difficulties in securing a permanent home ground led to their dissolution in 1876. While there is no direct lineage to the modern Premier League club, the name Crystal Palace has been associated with football from its very earliest days.
Interestingly, their red and blue stripes, a nod to their kit, live on in the modern Palace side, linking past and present across a century.
Notts County (1862)
While Sheffield FC is the oldest club, Notts County holds the title of the world’s oldest professional football club. Founded in 1862, they were one of the twelve founder members of the Football League in 1888. It makes them the oldest club currently playing in the league system. The Magpies have a rich history, including a famous FA Cup victory in 1894, where they defeated Bolton Wanderers 4-1. With this win, they became the first team from outside the top division to win the trophy.
A fascinating piece of trivia is that Notts County inadvertently inspired one of Europe’s footballing giants. In 1903, a young Italian team, Juventus, were looking for a new kit and an English member of their side, John Savage, arranged for a set of Notts County’s black and white striped shirts to be sent over to Turin. Juventus have worn those iconic colours ever since.
After a spell in non-league football, Notts County are now back in the English Football League, competing in League Two. They’ve played over 5,000 competitive matches. Few clubs can match that mileage.
Barnes FC (1862)
Another of the FA’s founding members, Barnes FC, has a unique and enduring claim to fame. In the inaugural FA Cup of 1871-72, they were the first team to ever win a match in the competition. Then, they defeated Civil Service FC to lift the trophy. The club was captained by Ebenezer Cobb Morley, who was not only the first secretary of the FA but also drafted the first laws of the game at his home in Barnes.
The club competed in the FA Cup for fourteen of its first fifteen seasons, with their best performance being a run to the third round in 1878-79. Although they were a significant force in the early amateur era, like many southern clubs of the time, they faded as professionalism gained momentum. The club dissolved in the late 19th century, but came back to life in 2021 thanks to ex-chairman Mr. Leslie Kilsby, Janice Kilsby, and Julie Burges,s who re-established the club.
They play under the Surrey County Football Association and have won he award as Grassroots Club of the Year for 2023.
Stoke City FC (1863)
Founded as Stoke Ramblers in 1863 by former pupils of the Charterhouse School, Stoke City is the second oldest professional club in the Football League. The club’s first documented match took place five years later, in 1868. Adopting the nickname ‘The Potters’ due to the area’s pottery industry, they were another of the twelve founding members of the Football League in 1888.
Stoke’s history has seen them yo-yo between the divisions, with their most celebrated moment coming in 1972 when they won the League Cup, beating Chelsea 2-1 at Wembley. This remains their only major trophy to date. The club can also boast of having one of England’s greatest ever players, Sir Stanley Matthews, among its former stars. Today, Stoke City competes in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football.
Royal Engineers AFC (1863)
The Royal Engineers AFC played a pivotal role in the tactical evolution of football. In an era dominated by the individualistic “dribbling game,” where players would try to run with the ball as far as possible, the “Sappers,” as they were known, pioneered the “combination game.” This involved passing the ball between teammates. A revolutionary concept at the time that laid the groundwork for the team-focused nature of modern football.
The Engineers’ innovative style brought them considerable success. They reached four of the first seven FA Cup finals, winning the competition in 1875 with a 2-0 replay victory over Old Etonians. Their 1872 final against Wanderers was a clash of styles. As a team representing the British Army’s Corps of Royal Engineers, their players were serving soldiers. The club still exists today, competing in the Army Football Association.
Brigg Town (1864)
Hailing from Lincolnshire, Brigg Town is one of the oldest surviving town football clubs. Founded in 1864, the club, nicknamed “The Zebras” due to their black and white striped kits, have spent their entire history in non-league football. Their greatest moments have come in the FA Vase. It is a national competition for clubs in the lower echelons of the English football pyramid.
Brigg Town has won the FA Vase on two separate occasions, in 1996 and 2003, with both finals being memorable days out for the club and its supporters. Their first victory was a 3-0 win over Clitheroe at the old Wembley Stadium. The club set a record attendance of 2,000 back in 1953 for a match against Boston United. Currently, Brigg Town competes in the Northern Counties East League Division One.
Wrexham AFC (1864)
Although a Welsh club, Wrexham AFC has a history deeply intertwined with the English football system. Founded in 1864 by members of the Wrexham Cricket Club, they are the third oldest professional football club in the world. They played their early matches with up to 17 players before standardising the rules. The club has won the Welsh Cup a record 23 times.
Wrexham has gained global attention in recent years following their 2020 takeover by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. The investment and publicity have revitalised the club and its community. It led to a return to the Football League in 2023 after a 15-year absence. They have since secured back-to-back promotions and will be playing in the Championship for the 2025-26 season, marking a new chapter in their long and storied history.
