Top 10 Oldest Football Clubs in the World

The history of football goes back decades. During this time, teams from all over the world were created and disbanded. But some clubs have a long history and more than one change of composition. These clubs stood at the very origins of the game loved by millions, created the first associations, associations and leagues. It is partly because of them that we know football for what it is. We want to present you the top 10 oldest football clubs. Almost all the teams represented come from England.

10. Wrexham – 1864

The date of foundation of this football club is 1864. In addition to being the first team in Wales, it is also the third oldest team in the world as a whole. Created by cricket players to keep fit. Their first game was in 1864 against a team of firefighters. And after another 12 years, Wrexham took part in an international match against Scotland. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the team has been playing in the British Football League, has repeatedly won the Cup of its country and entered the third English division.

9. Brig Town – 1864

Brig Town Football Club Football players from this team come from Lincolnshire. The club was founded in 1864.  1881 they actively play in the Lincolnshire Cup and take first place there. In the 19th century, this championship was no less significant than the FA Cup as a whole. Members of Brigtown in 1948 became the founders of the Lincolnshire Football League, which is now considered the eleventh among all divisions. The team once even reached the tenth division and quite successfully.

8. Royal Engineers – 1863

Royal Engineers first squad As you might guess, the members of this club worked as engineers. In 1863 they united in Kent and since then their descendants have not left the football field. It is from them that the beginning of football as a team game is counted, in their tactics they actively used passes. In 1875, the Royal Engineers even managed to take the FA Cup. But later they left professional sports for the amateur league. Namely, the Army Football Association. This is not the most popular amateur league, but at least for the sake of the Royal Engineers, you can look at it.

7. “Civil Service” – 1863

The first squad of FC “Civil Service” Another team that appeared in 1863 and one of the founders of the Football Association of England. The members of the club were government employees and the newfangled game was just a hobby for them. Therefore, the players did not meddle in the professional league and began to develop amateur sports. Civil Service became the organizers of the amateur football alliance, the Southern and Isthmian amateur leagues. There they still play and do not really strive to move to another category.

6. Notts County –1862

Knots County legend Les Brad scores a goal Unlike previous associations from the list, Notts County was originally created as a professional team for big wins and big sport. It was formed in 1862 in the city of Nottingham. Together with other clubs, Notts became one of the founding members of the English Football League. And in it, he lasted until the present years. It’s amazing, but true. For 130 years, Knotts played in the same league. In the last season of 2018/2019, the team finally made it to the National League and broke the vicious circle. Notts County have won several prestigious awards in their time: the 1894 FA Cup, third place in their division and the Anglo-Italian Championship.

5. Stoke City – 1863

The very first team of Stoke City Football Club This is already the fourth club on the list, formed in 1863, yes, football was already popular then, albeit not on the scale of the 21st century. It was founded by graduates of the Charter House School. They worked as apprentices on the Staffordshire Railway. And in their free time they chased the ball around the field. And this is another team that stood at the founding of the English Football League. And in 1972, 109 years after its foundation, it became its winner. As they say, patience and work will grind everything. This year, Stoke City play in the Premier League, they have already approved participation in the 2018/2019 season. So, looking at their game, you can remember how long this club has existed.

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4. Cambridge University Football Club – 1856/1866

Fans of the Cambridge University Football Club This is not entirely accurate, but most likely the Cambridge University team can be called the oldest in the world. A document dated 1856 was found on the campus, regulating the rules of the game of football. But, unfortunately, this is the only evidence that such a club really existed. For lack of much evidence, various organizations do not recognize the Cambridge team as the first in the world. But one good and reliable thing is known. The found regulation formed the basis of the rules of the game and was officially approved by the first English league. Later, the university actively popularized this sport and real athletes and new clubs came out of small student competitions.

3. “Hallam” – 1860

The first stands of the Hallam Football Club This is one of those teams that was formed thanks to Cambridge, or rather, thanks to its graduates. Formed in 1860 and not planned to be professional, he was supposed to play among amateurs and compete with Sheffield. And it was in the Sheffield football leagues that she played until 1952. Since then, the club has entered the Yorkshire League, now called the Eastern Football League, taking place in the northern counties. The name has changed, but the essence remains the same. In this league, Hallam stayed in the Premier Division for a long time, but unfortunately in 2011 he returned to the first. Nevertheless, it’s too early to be upset for the guys, maybe they will be able to win back their well-deserved place.

2. Cray Wanderers – 1860

Cray Wanderers – Champions of the Kent League in 1861 And another team founded in 1860. It is impossible to say for sure whether she was amateur or professional. She was somewhere in between. Here, too, the railroad workers tried. They were migrants and worked on the London-Chatham-Dover line. And in their free time, they trained and participated in championships. In the season from 1893 to 1894, Cray played in amateur matches, and from 1895 he entered into real competition. So don’t underestimate amateurs. In 1894 he became the organizer of the Kent County Tournament, where he played for more than a century. And since 2004 he moved to the Isthmian League and occupies good positions there.

1. Sheffield – 1857

Sheffield is the very first football club to appear in the world And now let’s move on to the club, which is recognized by everyone as the very first in the world. This is the Sheffield team, formed by the then popular cricket players in 1855. But then they just drove the ball around the field without strict rules. Therefore, it is more correct to assume that they became footballers in 1857. All this was done in a formal meeting with all the necessary procedures. It happened in the town of Highfield. At first, the Chelny teams played only among themselves, then the newly created Hallam joined them, together they formed the Sheffield League. Unfortunately, the title of the first team in the world has become almost the only one. Sheffield is unworthy of big victories in history