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Modern football is synonymous with magnificent stadiums, professional competitions, and clubs with millions of fans. Long before all that, the world's oldest football clubs were founded in the 19th century, when the rules of the game were still developing and not yet standardized.
Interestingly, determining the oldest club is not simply a matter of looking at its founding year. There is a distinction between the oldest existing football club, the oldest professional club, and the oldest clubs based on specific regions.
So, who is actually in first place? Let’s learn the history of these clubs and see how football evolved from a simple game into a global sport.
[[svrg_takeaways]]
title: Key Points:
- Sheffield FC was founded in 1857| and is known as the oldest surviving football club in the world
- Hallam FC, Notts County, and Stoke City| are among the oldest football clubs with long histories
- Notts County| is known as the world's oldest professional football club, having been founded in 1862
- Wrexham, Queen's Park, and Kilmarnock| are the oldest clubs representing the history of Welsh and Scottish football
[[/svrg_takeaways]]
How Did Football Start to Evolve?
Games similar to football have been known for centuries, but they lacked uniform rules. In 19th-century England, the game began to develop in an organized manner through schools, communities, and sports clubs.
Different rules meant that each group had its own way of playing. This condition eventually led to the emergence of clearer and more uniform rules.
In 1863, the Football Association (FA) was formed in England, marking a key milestone in the development of modern football. The rules that were drafted helped form the foundation of the game used today.
As clubs and competitions grew, football spread to various countries and developed into a professional sport. Early clubs like Sheffield FC and Notts County became an essential part of the long history of football.
Also read: The History of World Football: Evolution Over Time
List of the 10 Oldest Football Clubs in the World
1. Sheffield FC (1857)
Sheffield FC was founded in 1857 and is the name that appears most often when discussing the world's oldest football clubs. Nathaniel Creswick and William Prest founded it when football was still played with different rules in each region.
The club later played a role in the development of the Sheffield Rules, which helped shape the organized football game in its early era. Sheffield FC also has a history of matches against Hallam FC, including the 1860 meeting which is an important part of the history of inter-club matches.
2. Hallam FC (1860)
Hallam FC was established in Sheffield in 1860 and is known as one of the oldest existing football clubs. The club has close ties to the Hallam Cricket Club and uses Sandygate as its home ground.
Sandygate has historical significance as it is known as one of the oldest football grounds in the world. The 1860 match between Sheffield FC and Hallam also forms an important part of the early history of inter-club football.
3. Notts County FC (1862)
Notts County was founded in Nottingham in 1862 and holds a special place in the history of professional football. The club is widely known as the oldest professional football club in the world, so its name often comes up when people discuss the oldest football clubs.
It is this difference in context that causes Sheffield FC and Notts County to both be frequently mentioned in such discussions. Sheffield FC is associated with the status of the oldest club, while Notts County is associated with its professional history.
4. Stoke City FC (1863)
Stoke City has a history that began in 1863 and is among the oldest clubs in English football. The club's journey has spanned major changes in English football, from the early era of the game to an increasingly organized competition system.
This long history makes Stoke one of the key clubs when discussing the early development of English football. The club's age also demonstrates how long their journey has been in following the structural changes of professional football.
5. Wrexham AFC (1864)
Wrexham AFC was founded in 1864 and is known as the oldest football club in Wales. The Wrexham-based club has a history spanning over a century and a half in football.
Wrexham also has a close relationship with the Racecourse Ground, a stadium that is an important part of the club's identity. Its long history makes Wrexham one of the examples of how 19th-century clubs continue to have a place in modern football.
Also read: 7 Best Football Clubs in the World of All Time and Their Achievements
6. Nottingham Forest FC (1865)
Nottingham Forest was founded in 1865 and is one of the oldest football clubs still widely known today. The club originated from the sporting circles of Nottingham at a time when various forms of the game were beginning to develop.
In its journey, Nottingham Forest later became an important part of English football. This shows that clubs born in the early era of football can continue to evolve along with the changes in the sport for over a century.
7. Queen's Park FC (1867)
Queen's Park FC was founded on July 9, 1867, in Glasgow and is known as the oldest football club in Scotland. The club played a vital role in the development of Scottish football from its early era.
Queen's Park is also famous for its contribution to the development of the passing style of play. At a time when football was still developing, this approach to play helped shape the character of Scottish football.
8. Sheffield Wednesday FC (1867)
Sheffield Wednesday has a history that began in 1867 and has quite unique origins. The club was initially related to the Wednesday Cricket Club, with football played as a sports activity during the winter.
The name The Wednesday later evolved into Sheffield Wednesday. This history shows that a number of the oldest football clubs were not always born as pure football organizations but evolved from communities and other sports clubs.
9. Kilmarnock FC (1869)
Kilmarnock FC was founded on January 5, 1869, and is one of the oldest clubs in Scotland. The club later evolved into part of professional Scottish football and is based at Rugby Park.
Kilmarnock is also known as the oldest professional club in Scotland. This long history makes it one of the clubs that is important in the development of professional football in that country.
10. Reading FC (1871)
Reading FC was founded in 1871 and completes the list of historic football clubs born in the 19th century. The club was formed in Reading when football began to develop into an increasingly organized sports activity.
More than 150 years later, Reading is still part of English football. Its journey shows how old clubs can survive through various changes in competition structures and the development of the sport.
Also read: 5 Best and Most Popular Football Leagues in the World in 2026
Oldest Football Club vs. Oldest Professional Club
The terms "oldest football club" and "oldest professional club" do not always refer to the same club. The difference lies in the criteria used to determine a club's age.
|
Category |
Club |
Year |
|
Oldest football club |
Sheffield FC |
1857 |
|
Oldest professional club |
Notts County |
1862 |
|
Oldest football club in Wales |
Wrexham AFC |
1864 |
|
Oldest football club in Scotland |
Queen's Park FC |
1867 |
|
Oldest professional club in Scotland |
Kilmarnock FC |
1869 |
Therefore, calling Notts County the oldest club without providing context can cause confusion. Sheffield FC remains the primary name when discussing the oldest existing football club, while Notts County has the historical claim as the oldest professional club.
This difference also shows that a club's age is not a measure of success. A club founded earlier does not necessarily have the most trophies or always play in the top competition.
Learn More About the History and Development of Football
The history of the world's oldest football clubs shows that this sport has gone through a long journey. From early clubs like Sheffield FC to modern football, every club has a story that has helped shape the development of this sport.
Knowing the history of football can help you understand how this sport grew to become a part of many people's lives. If you want to experience the thrill, consistency in playing and practicing remains an essential part that needs to be built gradually with comfortable equipment.
To support your daily sporting activities, you can choose equipment that suits your training and activity needs. Explore the best football equipment collection from SVRG to help make your sports routine feel more comfortable and consistent.
[[svrg_faq]]
title: FAQ About the World's Oldest Football Clubs
- q: What is the oldest football club in the world?
a: Sheffield FC, founded in 1857, is widely recognized as the world's oldest existing football club. The club was founded by Nathaniel Creswick and William Prest in Sheffield, England.
- q: Is Sheffield FC still active?
a: Yes, Sheffield FC still exists and operates as a football club. It remains an important part of football history due to its age and contribution to the development of the game.
- q: What is the oldest professional club in the world?
a: Notts County is known as the oldest professional club in the world and has a history dating back to 1862. This status is different from Sheffield FC, which is known as the oldest football club in general.
- q: Why is Notts County often called the oldest club?
a: Notts County is often called that because of its status as the oldest professional club. Meanwhile, Sheffield FC has an earlier claim as the oldest existing football club.
- q: What is the oldest football club in Indonesia?
a: PSM Makassar is generally known as one of the oldest football clubs in Indonesia, citing a history of establishment dating back to 1915. Its early history is related to the Makassar Voetbal Bond, although there are differing sources regarding the chronology of the organization's formation.
[[/svrg_faq]]
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