TOP 10 OLDEST FOOTBALL CLUBS EVER!
THERE ARE SOME ANCIENT FOOTBALL CLUBS!
SillySeason look at ten of the oldest football clubs in the world…
10) Nottingham Forest (1865)
Nottingham Forest only turned professional in 1888 – 23 years after it was founded!
Forest have been very successful throughout the years gone by, winning the Football Alliance, FA Cup and two European Cups to name a few.
They now play in the Football League Championship and in this list, they are the most successful club in the last 150 years.
9) Wrexham FC (1864)
Wrexham FC is the third oldest professional club in world football!
They hold the record for winning the Welsh Cup on 23 occasions and they now play in the Conference Premier, the fifth division of English football.
Their home stadium is the Racecourse Ground which is also the oldest international stadium in the world that still hosts international fixtures.
8) Brigg Town FC (1864)
Brigg Town FC now stand as the oldest football club in the city!
In the non-league scheme, they are the fourth oldest club in the world and they currently compete in England’s Northern Premier League Division One South, which is the eighth division in the pyramid of English football.
Theoretically speaking, BTFC could be in the Premier League in 2023 if results go to plan…
7) Bradford Park Avenue AFC (1863)
Bradford Park Avenue were members of the Football League for over 60 years!
However, they were just previously known as Bradford and went through reformations in the 1970s and then established a new entity in 1988.
BPAFC are currently in the Northern Premier League Division One North.
6) Stoke City FC (1863)
Stoke City are the only club on this list to be currently playing in the Premier League!
They originally formed with the name ‘Stoke Ramblers FC’ and they are the second oldest professional club in world football and the sixth oldest overall, according to the codes of association football.
Despite their 153-year existence, they have failed to win a major tournament title.
5) Notts County FC (1862)
Notts County are the oldest professional team in world football!
They were one of the 12 founding members of the Football League and have been there ever since.
County reached the FA Cup final in 1891 and were champions in 1894.
They are currently competing in League Two, the fourth tier of English football.
4) Worksop Town FC (1861)
Worksop Town are a semi-professional club based in North-East Nottinghamshire and are the fourth oldest club in the world!
They now play in the North Premier League, the seventh division of the English football pyramid.
WTFC have failed to climb above the sixth tier and have only reached the last 64 round of the FA Cup on four occasions in their 155-year existence.
3) Cray Wanderers FC (1860)
Cray Wanderers are the first football club to come from the south of England!
They won the Kent League in the early twentieth century but then yo-yoed up and down the leagues before regaining their semi-professional status in the 1950s, winning two London League titles as well as finishing runners-up on two occasions.
The Wanderers are currently in the Northern Premier League, the same league as Worksop Town and have never been able to reach the sixth division.
2) Hallam FC (1860)
Hallam FC were initially founded as a cricket club!
They were established as a football club after 1860 and remain as the second oldest club of all time.
In 1867, the club competed in their first ever football tournament, beating rivals Sheffield.
HFC’s home ground is Sandygate, which has also been confirmed as the oldest sporting stadium in the world by the Guinness Book of Records.
They currently play in the Northern Counties East League Division.
1) Sheffield FC (1857)
Sheffield FC has been confirmed as the world’s oldest football club by the FA and FIFA!
The South Yorkshire club played their first game against Hallam in 1867 and it is still played today, known as the Sheffield derby.
SFC won the FA Amateur Cup in the 1903/04 season and finished runners-up in the 1977 FA Vase.
They have also been honoured with the FIFA Order of Merit and put into the English Football Hall of Fame for their services to the game.
Top 10 oldest football clubs ever:
10) Nottingham Forest (1865)
9) Wrexham FC (1864)
8) Brigg Town FC (1864)
7) Bradford Park Avenue (1863)
6) Stoke City (1863)
5) Notts County (1862)
4) Worksop Town FC (1861)
3) Cray Wanderers (1860)
2) Hallam FC (1860)
1) Sheffield FC (1857)
By Drew Darbyshire (@DarbySports)