The article discusses the debate surrounding which club can claim to be the oldest in English football. The Football Association and FIFA have conflicting opinions on the matter. The top five clubs that claim to be the oldest are Notts County, Crystal Palace, Hallam FC, Sheffield FC, and Cambridge University.
Notts County, formed in 1862, is the second oldest professional club in the World. They were a founding member of the Football Association in 1888 and have won multiple championships in lower tiers of English football. They won the FA Cup once in 1894.
Crystal Palace, according to new research, is now recognized as the oldest league club still in existence, formed in 1861. They played in the first-ever FA Cup competition and have won titles in lower tiers. Their highest league position was third in 1991.
Hallam FC, founded in 1860, is based in South Yorkshire and has the oldest football ground in the World. They won the World‘s first football tournament, the Youdan Cup, in 1867. Despite playing in lower tiers, they boast home game attendances exceeding 1000.
Sheffield FC, established in 1857, claims to be “The World‘s First Football team” and has been recognized by FIFA as the oldest club in the World. They created the first official set of rules for the game of football. They have mainly played in lower tiers but won the FA Amateur Cup in 1904.
Cambridge University, formed in 1856, is recognized by the FA as the oldest club still in existence. In 2016, the National Football Museum also awarded them as the oldest in the World. They currently play in the British Universities and Colleges Sport.
The article highlights the historical significance of these clubs and their contributions to the development of the game. The debate surrounding the oldest club in English football remains unresolved, with the Football Association and FIFA offering different recognitions.
