The oldest football clubs in England
Sheffield FC
This club was founded in 1857 and at that time there was no other registered club in England.
As there were still no firm and written football rules at that time, nor was the Football Association formed, these guys played by their own rules, which they established themselves and which are known as “Sheffield rules”.
Although FC Sheffield became a member of the newly formed Football Association six years later, they continued to play by the old rules until 1978. Until that moment, Sheffield played only with the surrounding clubs, which played by the same rules.
There were also several “excursions” outside their city, such as the one from 1865, when they played with Nottingham away, but according to special “Nottingham rules” according to which teams had 18 players on the field.
The oldest English and world football club have never managed to record any major success in history, and their brightest moment is winning the FA Amateur Cup in 1904.
FC Halem
Three years after FC Sheffield, FC Hallam FC was founded in the same city, which today plays in the tenth rank of the competition. Sheffield and Halem formed the first football rivalry and their match is the oldest football derby in the world, called the “Rules derby”. The last time these two ancient rivals competed was in 2012, and Sheffield won 3-2.
Since its founding, Halem has played on Sandygate Road, which is listed in the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest football stadium in the world.
Having won the Juden Cup, Halem became the first club in the world to win a trophy in a competition, and that item is still kept on the club’s premises today.
Cray Wanderers
Cray Wanderers was founded near London in the same year as Halem. Of course, the club still exists today, but it has never in its history gone beyond semi-amateurism. Wanderers are now competing in the seventh rank of English football.
Worksop Town
In 1861, Worksop Town was founded, and the greatest success in the history of the club is considered a goalless draw with Tottenham in the 1920 FA Cup.
The birth of a great man
Only next year, the first club in England will be founded, which will remain in professional waters to this day, although on rather low branches.
Notts County
Notts County was founded in 1862 and is the oldest football club competing in the professional leagues of England. It is also the oldest professional club in the world.
The “Magpies” have played close to 5,000 games in their history, and are currently in the fourth league. In its really huge history, Notts County spent some thirty seasons in the first rank of the competition, winning one FA Cup title in 1894.
However, since the formation of the Premier League, they have never been in the first league.
Coats of arms of the oldest English clubs:
1. Sheffield F.C. (1857)
1. Sheffield F.C. (1857)
2. Halam (1860)
3. Cray Wanderers (1860)
3. Cray Wanderers (1860)
4. Worksop Town (1861)
4. Worksop Town (1861)
5. Notts County (1862)
5. Notts County (1862)
6. Stoke City (1863)
6. Stoke City (1863)
7. Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C. (1863)
7. Bradford Park Avenue A.F.C. (1863)
8. Brig Town (1864)
8. Brig Town (1864)
9. Wrexham (1864)
9. Wrexham (1864)
10. Nottingham Forest (1865)
10. Nottingham Forest (1865)
When other clubs from the Premier League were formed
The most trophy-winning English clubs were formed many, many after these that we have listed so far.
• 1874 – Aston Villa
• 1878 – Everton, Manchester United, WBA
• 1879 – Sunderland
• 1880 – Manchester City
• 1881 – Watford
• 1882 – Tottenham
• 1884 – Leicester
• 1885 – Southampton
• 1886 – Arsenal
• 1892 – Liverpool, Newcastle
• 1895 – West Ham
• 1899 – Bournemouth
• 1902 – Norwich
• 1905 – Chelsea, Crystal Palace
• 1912 – Swansea