Top 10 Oldest Football Clubs In England

Without a doubt, football is the most popular sport in the world. It is a universal language that fills in the blanks left by insufficient words. Which football clubs in the Premier League and EFL are the oldest? It's only reasonable to wonder with leagues like the English Premier League and the Championship drawing millions of spectators to stadiums and screens worldwide.

Learn more: Top 10 Youngest Football Clubs In England

Top 10 Oldest Football Clubs In England

Top 10 Oldest Football Clubs In England

1. Notts County FC

Founded in 1862

In short, it's the oldest active professional football club in Britain and, in a broader sense, the oldest professional club globally. Notts County Football Club was founded on November 28, 1862, making it older than the Football Association (1863). Due to this uniqueness, the club began enforcing its own set of regulations during matches. Notts County, another founding member of the Football League, finished third in 1891 and 1901 to record their best-ever league finishes.

The Magpies, who were in the Second Division at the time, became the first non-Premier League team to win the FA Cup in 1894, making it their first and only major trophy in club history. As time has gone on, Notts County has moved up to play in League Two, making them the second club in the city of Nottingham. They haven't tasted the top level since the 1991–1992 campaign.

2. Stoke City FC

Founded in 1863

Retracing its history to its founding as Stoke Ramblers, Stoke City is among the oldest football clubs in England. Regarded as one of the Premier League's most dangerous competitors, Stoke City has gained recognition for its extraordinary abilities in the modern game. The question, "Can a player excel on a chilly, wet night in Stoke?" perfectly captures the demanding atmosphere of playing against Stoke City. This is the oldest English football team in the country. Famous for frequent swings between the second and first divisions, it is also known for its unique long-ball playing style, which adds to its uniqueness in the football world.

3. Wrexham AFC

Founded in 1864

Although the list only includes the top 10 oldest teams in England, we couldn't resist bringing up Ryan Reynolds, the adorable Welsh player for AFC Wrexham! Situated in Wales, Wrexham is one of the oldest football clubs in England and has a notable place in football history. Currently, Hollywood actors Rob McElheney and Ryan Reynolds co-own the club. This English football team is the oldest; it was originally founded as a way for Wrexham Cricket Club members to play a different sport. After a 15-year break from competitive football, the club accomplished a noteworthy milestone in April of this year by returning to the EFL competitive Two.

4. Nottingham Forest FC

Founded in 1865

Founded in Nottinghamshire, England, in 1865, Nottingham Forest Football Club is now the oldest football team still in existence in the Premier League.

In 1865, a group of Nottingham players of shiny, a sport similar to hockey, got together at the Shakespeare Street location of the Clinton Arms. At this point, JS Scrimshaw's suggestion to start playing football was accepted, and Nottingham Forest Football Club was founded.

Unlike the other clubs on this list, Nottingham Forest was not formed by churchgoers. They will be the oldest Premier League team in the upcoming season. They have each won the First Division once, the FA Cup twice, and the League Cup four times.

5. Sheffield Wednesday FC

Founded in 1867

Sheffield Wednesday FC, a football division of The Wednesday Cricket Club, was established on September 4, 1867, first known as The Wednesday. A significant part of the club's founding was played by Charles Clegg.

In addition to being the Football Association's president, Clegg made history in November 1872 by participating in the first-ever international match between England and Scotland. In 1887, the club became professional, and in 1892, it joined Division 1 of the League. When the Owls won their first FA Cup in team history in 1896, it had its first significant victory. Sheffield Wednesday, which were renamed in 1929, are currently in the Championship and have won three FA Cups and four English league titles.

6. Reading FC

Founded in 1871

On December 25, 1871, Christmas Day, Reading FC was founded. Joseph Edward Sydenham founded the club in a public gathering at the Bridge Street Rooms, but it wasn't until 1895 that it became a formal organization. The club had nearly vanished a few years before, and now it was entering a new chapter.

The Biscuitmen were among the original members of the Southern League in 1894, but they didn't join the Football League or Football League Third Division South, which is the modern-day equivalent of League Two, until 1920. Although they have won the Championship twice (in 2006 and 2012) and had their best-ever Premier League result of eighth in 2007, Reading has never taken home a major prize.

7. Aston Villa

Founded in 1874

Having been one of the founding teams of the Football League in 1888, Aston Villa is a renowned name in English football. Four cricket players with ties to the church founded Birmingham-based Aston Villa in 1874.

The club would soon have football and rugby divisions, the latter for members looking for something to do during the winter vacation.

They were one of the five English teams to win the European Cup in 1981–1982. They have won seven titles in a row in the Football League First Division, the FA Cup, the League Cup, and the European Super Cup. The club has always finished fifth since the English top flight was established in 1888.

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8. Bolton Wanderers FC

Founded in 1874

The Reverend Joseph Farrall Wright, Vicar Perpetual of Christ Church Bolton, and Thomas Ogden, the headmaster of the nearby parish school, founded the team, which has its headquarters in the town of Horwich in Greater Manchester, as Christ Church FC in 1874. In 1877, the club changed its name to Bolton Wanderers.

The Trotters, who were also among the first members of the Football League, achieved their biggest triumphs in the start of the 1900s when they won three FA titles (1923, 1926, 1929). One of the most attended cup finals in football history, the FA Cup final nicknamed as "The White Horse final" was won by them in 1923 against West Ham, marking the first official match held at Wembley.

READ MORE: 2024 Premier League: Full Fixtures, TV Channels, Streaming of 380 Matches

9. Birmingham City FC

Founded in 1875

Founded in 1875, Birmingham City FC is a Championship team as well. In 1888, it changed its name from the Small Heath Alliance to Small Heath. In 1905, the name was changed once more to Birmingham FC. In 1945, it changed again to Birmingham City FC, which is the name it now uses.

Ten years after the club's founding, the Blue and Whites went professional, and the middle of the 20th century saw them experience their greatest level of success. They advanced to the FA Cup final in 1956 and, in the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final in 1960, became the first English club in history to reach a major European final. In addition, BCFC won its first League Cup in 1963. In 2011, the team added more hardware to its collection after defeating Arsenal in a thrilling final. The team now competes in the Championship despite having a lengthy history in the English football premier league.

10. Blackburn Rovers

Founded in 1875

One of the earliest professional teams in the United Kingdom, Blackburn Rovers FC was founded on November 5, 1875, by John Lewis and Arthur Constantine, two students from Shrewsbury School. Rovers won their first trophies at the end of the 19th century, winning five FA Cups (1884, 1885, 1886, 1890, 1891) in seven years. Only Wanderers FC also succeeded in winning the competition three times in a row (1876, 1877, 1878). Rovers were among the founding members of the Lancashire Football Association (1878) and then the Football League (1888).

Three-time English champions (1912, 1914, 1995), the team currently competes in the Championship and hasn't experienced Premier League action since 2011–12.

In summary

English football has the longest history of any sport in the world. Each of the thousands of clubs that coexist in the UK—officially, there are over 40,000 of them dispersed throughout the nation—has contributed in a distinctive way to the reputation of British football. The lengthy history of English football has been influenced by the ancient football teams.

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