5 Oldest Football Clubs in the World That Invented Football

Football is the most popular and watched sport on Earth. Its origins can be traced all the way to Ancient China, Greece, and Mesoamerica. In the middle of the 19th century, the game started to have its familiar form and the first professional teams, resulting in the emergence of the oldest football clubs in the world that still exist today. Let’s take a look at these clubs and their history. If you are interested in other sports-related rankings, read about the weirdest football stadiums worldwide. 

5 Oldest Football Clubs in the World 

England is considered the home of modern football. The University of Cambridge came up with a first set of rules in 1848, which was altered by several school-based teams in England by 1857. Around this time, the very first professional football clubs popped up, becoming the oldest football clubs in the world that are still active. What are these teams? Spoiler: they come from the same island.

Sheffield F.C.

Sheffield F.C. is the most notable club with a long history. It is the oldest football club on the planet, as recognized by FIFA. In their 165 years of existence, the Dronfield players have not achieved much, winning the FA Amateur Cup and finishing second in the FA Vase in 1977, but they basically started the football history and will always be remembered for that. Currently, Sheffield competes in the Northern Premier League Division One East. New bets on Premier League divisions are available at online gambling sites in Ireland.

Notts County

Notts County was formed in Nottingham in 1862. Their best results include the FA Cup win in 1893/1894 and three-time champion titles of the Second Division, the second tier of the FA before the 1992 reform. Their performance throughout history has been neither good nor bad, reaching the highest FA tier on several occasions, although nothing spectacular.

They are now playing in the League Two, fourth tier of the FA. Notts County and its history connected with Juventus. In the early 1900s, the team was struggling with their shirt supplier and color patterns, so the team asked their player John Savage if he had a contact in England to help with the jerseys. Savage’s contact was a Notts County supporter and sent Juventus stripped black and white shirts. Ever since, Juventus have worn black and white.

Stoke City F.C. 

Stoke City F.C. is one of the oldest football clubs in the world, established in 1863. However, this date is disputed by rival fans. Their major honors include winning the League Cup in 1971/1972 and EFL Trophy in 1991/1992 and 1999/2000. Ivibet has great odds on the next EFL winner. Meanwhile, players from Stoke City are currently playing in the Championship, the second tier of the FA. Notably, Stoke City is the first club in the list that played in European competitions: UEFA Cup in the 70s and Europa League in 2011/2012, where they reached Round of 32 before being eliminated by Valencia.

Wrexham AFC

Wrexham AFC emerged in Wales in 1864, making it the third-oldest professional team in the world. Although it is one of the oldest football clubs ever, it has been in the spotlight for about a year already courtesy of Ryan Reynolds, who bought the club and made it a force to be reckoned with.

Their latest achievement is promotion to League Two in a dramatic ending to a National League season finale against Notts County when Ben Foster deflected a penalty kick in the 90th+ minute. You can bet on the club’s future at the best online sportsbooks in Ireland.

Nottingham Forest

The fifth-oldest club in the world is Nottingham Forest, and this is the only one in the list that truly can be considered legendary. Formed in 1865, Nottingham was not a powerful club until the late 1970s, when Brian Clough left Derby County to take a new challenge with Forest. At the time, Clough made Derby County the strongest team in England, taking several titles in the early 1970s. In 1976/1977, Forest were promoted to the First Division and then the next season they stormed the League and claimed the League Cup.

In the next two seasons of the European Cup, which is known today as UEFA Champions League, Nottingham Forest took both titles back-to-back, making themselves the second (and last as of today) English club to achieve that, Liverpool FC being the first. Two years ago, Nottingham Forest won the Championship playoff final and were promoted to the Premier League, where they have been playing ever since.

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