The oldest football clubs in the world

As per the history books, football dates back thousands of years. Well, at least games that resemble football.

However, when it comes to what’s considered football today, eyes need only be cast back to the middle of the 19th century. In 1863, the Football Association (FA) was formed, the governing body that still regulates English football to this day. Impressively, it’s the oldest football association in the world.

While not many clubs from that period have survived – many turning into rugby union teams – some still stand. In fact, a handful actually predate the formation of the FA and are edging closer to a 200th birthday with each passing year.

Let’s take a look at the 20 oldest clubs in world football that remain active today.

The history books are a little fuzzy when it comes to the world’s oldest clubs, but Halesowen Town just about sneak into the top 20 in world football – well, of clubs that are still around today.

The West Midlands side were founded in 1873 but have seldom tasted much success, with their greatest efforts in the FA Cup seeing them only reach the third round. They did, however, win the FA Vase twice in the 1980s.

Cefn Druids are Wales’ oldest side that still play in the Welsh Football League. Formed in October 1872, the Ancients are located in Wrexham.

Playing their home matches at The Rock, Druids have won the Welsh Cup on eight occasions over the years, spending much of their time in the Cymru Premier.

There are not many bigger institutions in British football than Rangers, who are one of the world’s most decorated clubs having won well over 100 pieces of silverware since their inception in 1872. They are not Scotland’s oldest side, but they are its most successful.

Formed by just four men in the 19th century, Rangers has become one of the two most well supported sides in Scotland, with bitter Old Firm rivals Celtic not arriving on the scene for another 15 years.

They may no longer be eating at the top table, but Dumbarton were one of Scotland’s most powerful forces in the 19th century. Now yo-yoing in the lower divisions, they can take pride in being one of the nation’s oldest sides, forming in 1872.

Dumbarton also boast one of the most impressive stadiums in British football. While only seating around 2,000 people, it’s built parallel to Dumbarton Castle, which is visible from several stands within the ground.

Reading may not have an extensive list of trophies to boast, but they can claim to be one of the oldest sides to have played in the Premier League. Created in 1871, the Royals – formerly known as the Biscuitmen – turned professional in 1895 and were viewed as one of England’s biggest clubs in the late 19th century.

The club has fallen on hard times recently as they slip down the EFL, with financial difficulties threatening a club that has stood for over 150 years.

Uxbridge will not be a club known by many outside of a very small part of London, but the records suggest they preceded the modern goliaths of the footballing world by some distance. The Reds were forged in 1871 and even participated in the third FA Cup ever held.

During their infancy, they boasted Hubert Heron, who earned several international caps for England while representing Uxbridge. However, they now play within the Isthmian League, several steps below the EFL.

Similarly to Uxbridge, Marlow are a small club in London that lay claim to being one of England’s oldest. They competed in the inaugural FA Cup a year after their formation in 1870, with one of their star players Cuthbert Ottoway going on to captain England.

In 1882, Marlow pulled off their greatest achievement as they reached the semi-final of the FA Cup, sadly losing 2-0 to the Old Etonians. They too now play in the lower leagues of English football.

Stranraer had humble beginnings. It wasn’t until 1949 that they broke into the established leagues within Scotland and they only reached the second division for the first time in their history in 1994.

After over 100 years of relative anonymity, the Blues are still yet to reach the top flight but haven’t slumped lower than the fourth tier in the 21st century.

Maidenhead United formed in 1870 and have played at the historic York Road ground since 1871. The Magpies were also one of the sides to play in the first ever FA Cup and have made it to the last eight of competition on three separate occasions.

While they are yet to break into the EFL, they are currently plying their trade in the fifth tier and are just one good season away from making history.

Kilmarnock, known as the Pride of Ayrshire, were formed in 1869 and have gone on to become an established force in Scottish football. While never hitting the same heights as Celtic, Rangers and Aberdeen, they have had their fair share of success.

Their sole first division title came in 1965, while their most recent major trophy came in the form of the Scottish League Cup in 2011/12. They were also semi-regulars in the UEFA Cup in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Sheffield Wednesday were one of the first members of the English Football League, joining in 1892 just 25 years after their formation in 1867. They won the FA Cup three times prior to the Second World War, as well as four First Division titles. However, they haven’t won either since.

The Owls were also a founding member of the Premier League in 1992 but they haven’t reached the top tier since 2000.

Queen’s Park long for the 1800s. One of Scotland’s most successful sides in the 19th century, forming in 1867, the Spiders won ten Scottish Cup titles during a 19-year period at the end of the century.

They still play their matches at the national team stadium, Hampden Park, despite the fact that they haven’t made it to the top tier in Scotland since 1958. Not many lower league teams in world football can boast a more impressive home.

One of England’s most historic sides, Nottingham Forest are also one of the oldest. The club was founded in 1865 by a team of shinty players – a game that resembles field hockey – and has gone on to achieve exceptional things domestically and on the continent.

They have won the top division once, FA Cup twice and, of course, the European Cup twice. Under Brian Clough in the late 1970s, Forest were one of the world’s best teams.

Brigg Town is a club you’re unlikely to be familiar with, but they have been around since 1864. The Lincolnshire outfit currently play in the Northern Counties East Football League – the ninth and tenth tier.

They don’t boast a particularly sensational history or trophy cabinet, but the Zebras have won the FA Vase twice, most recently in 2002/03.

Older than their fellow Wrexham outfit Cefn Druids, the Red Dragons originated in 1864. They originally competed within the confines of Welsh football, but moved into the English game in 1905 where they have remained ever since.

With Hollywood ownership at the Racecourse Ground these days, Wrexham are enjoying a particularly fruitful period as they climb towards the upper echelons of English football.

Stoke City may have formed in 1863 but their first recorded match didn’t take place until five years later. Originally named Stoke Ramblers, they were one of the founding members of the English Football League in 1888 and have resided in the top four tiers for the majority of their history.

While they have never won the top division or FA Cup, they are the oldest football club to have ever participated in the Premier League.

The oldest club to play in the EFL, Notts County formed in 1862, three years before their Nottingham rivals Forest were founded. Another founding member of the Football League in 1888, they are also the oldest professional club on the planet.

Famously inspiring Juventus’ black and white jerseys, Notts County dropped below the fourth tier for the first time in their history in 2019 but have since returned to the EFL after several seasons in the National League.

Located in Sheffield, Hallam are still kicking about today – over 160 years after their birth. Created in 1860, they have never been a professional club and currently reside in the ninth tier.

However, they can proudly say they’re older than both Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield United, even if they’re not the oldest club in the city.

Based in Sidcup, London, Cray Wanderers are the oldest side from the south of England. The club was supposedly formed between twin villages St Mary Cray and St Paul’s Cray in 1860, with migrant railway workers forming the team after kicking a ball around on their lunch breaks.

Wanderers were a forced to be reckoned with in amateur London leagues and were even a nursery club for Arsenal for a period of time around the turn of the 20th century. They were briefly professional, but haven’t been since 1907.

Forget Wednesday, United and Hallam, Sheffield FC are the oldest club in world football. In fact, Hallam were actually formed to rival them during the 1860s, with Sheffield FC forming in 1857.

Set up by the local cricket club, they even invented their own rules – Sheffield Rules – for football, a form of the game that was played until the 1870s.

They have been an incredibly successful side at local and amateur level, even reaching the fourth round of the FA Cup in the late 19th century.

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