Oldest Football Clubs
With a history dating back to the 19th century, it would be fair to say that football has truly stood the test of time.
Football first came to prominence in England in the mid-1850s and subsequently became more organised when the Football League was launched in 1888.
However, only a couple of the clubs in the 12-strong line-up feature in the list of top 10 oldest football clubs still active today.
1. Cambridge University
There is a dispute regarding which football club is the oldest in the world, with Cambridge University and Sheffield FC claiming the honour.
The Football Association awarded Cambridge a plaque to mark their 150th anniversary in 2006, officially recognising the club’s foundation date of 1856.
The current University of Cambridge team plays in the British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) system, the governing body for university sport in the United Kingdom.
2. Sheffield FC
Sheffield FC were founded in 1857 and are recognised as the oldest football club by FIFA. This is disputed by Cambridge, as Sheffield FC did not adopt the new FA rules until 1878.
They are one of only two clubs alongside Real Madrid to receive the FIFA Order of Merit prize – the highest accolade awarded by the governing body.
Sheffield FC currently compete in the Northern Premier League Division One East, which operates at level eight of the English football pyramid.
3. Hallam FC
Hallam FC were founded in 1860 and holds several notable football records.
The Sheffield-based club made history by winning the Youdan Cup in 1867, widely acknowledged as the world’s first-ever football tournament.
Hallam’s FC Sandygate Road Stadium is recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest football ground in the world.
4. Notts County
Notts County were founded in November 1862 and are recognised as the oldest active professional football club in the world.
The Magpies were one of the founding members of the Football League in 1888 and famously won the FA Cup six years later.
They lost their league status in at the end of the 2018/19 season, but gained promotion back from the National League in 2022/23.
5. Stoke City
Founded as Stoke Ramblers in 1863, they became Stoke Football Club in 1878 and adopted their current moniker in 1925.
Stoke City were one of the founding members of the Football League alongside Notts County, but had to apply for re-election after finishing bottom.
The club won the League Cup in 1972 and were a regular fixture in the Premier League from 2008/09 to 2016/17, but now play in the Championship.
6. Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers made plenty of headlines in football during the 1870s, winning the FA Cup in 1875 and finishing runners-up three times (1872, 1874 & 1878).
They were formed in 1863 under the leadership of Sir Francis Arthur Marindin to represent the Corps of Royal Engineers – a division of the British Army based in Kent.
The team competed in the Army Football Association Massey Trophy Division 1 last season, finishing third out of six teams.
7. Brigg Town
Brigg Town were established in 1864 and have spent their entire history playing in the lower echelons of the English football pyramid.
They were Northern Counties East League Premier Division champions in 2000/01 and won the FA Vase in 1995/96 and 2002/03.
The Lincolnshire-based club finished eighth in Division One of the Northern Counties East Football League last season. They were 21 points adrift of a play-off place.
8. Wrexham
Wrexham were founded in 1864 and are the oldest football club in Wales. Their highest position in the Football League was 15th in the old Second Division in 1978/79.
However, after nearly going out of business in 2011, the club are now just one promotion away from returning to the same level.
A takeover by Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney in 2020 has transformed the club’s fortunes and could fire them to even greater heights.
9. Nottingham Forest
Of the top 10 oldest football clubs in the world, one stands head and shoulders above the rest in terms of what they have achieved in the sport.
Founded in 1865, Nottingham Forest have won numerous titles, including the First Division (once), FA Cup (twice) and League Cup (four times).
Their biggest claim to fame was garnered on the continental stage when they won the European Cup in 1978/79 and 1979/80.
10. Queens Park
Founded in July 1867, Glasgow-based Queens Park are the oldest football club in Scotland and the oldest team in the world founded outside England and Wales.
They have won the Scottish Cup ten times – only Scottish Premiership giants Celtic (42) and Rangers (34) have lifted the trophy more times.
Queens Park is also the only Scottish team to have played in an FA Cup final. They were defeated in the final by Blackburn Rovers in 1884 and 1885.
