Football’s global empire — with billions of fans and thousands of professional teams — began humbly in 19th-century England. Long before glittering stadiums, transfer markets, and TV deals, small groups of passionate men met on muddy fields, united by their love for a simple game: kicking a ball between two goals. From these early beginnings came the world’s first football clubs — pioneers like Sheffield FC and Notts County — who laid the foundation for every club that followed.

The Birth of the World’s First Club: Sheffield FC (1857)

The story begins in 1857 in the industrial city of Sheffield, England — widely recognized as the birthplace of club football. Two young cricketers, Nathaniel Creswick and William Prest, wanted a way to stay active during the winter. Together, they founded Sheffield Football Club, officially the world’s first football club.

But there was one problem: there were no standard football rules yet.

So Creswick and Prest created their own — known as the “Sheffield Rules.” These rules introduced innovations that still shape football today, such as:

• Free kicks for fouls

• Corner kicks

• Throw-ins

• The concept of a crossbar (instead of just goalposts)

At first, Sheffield FC played matches among its own members — “married vs. single,” or “professionals vs. amateurs.” But soon, other clubs in the area, like Hallam FC, formed to challenge them. The Sheffield Derby between Sheffield FC and Hallam FC in 1860 became the world’s first club football match, marking the birth of competitive football.

In 2004, FIFA officially recognized Sheffield FC as the oldest football club in the world, honoring them as “the cradle of the game.”

The World’s Oldest Professional Club: Notts County (1862)

Just a few years after Sheffield FC was formed, another historic team appeared — Notts County, founded in 1862 in Nottingham, England. While Sheffield FC was the first football club overall, Notts County holds the title of the oldest professional football club still in existence.

Notts County helped develop and refine early football rules and was one of the 12 founding members of the English Football League (EFL) in 1888, the first official football league in the world. Their black-and-white striped kits became iconic — so iconic, in fact, that Juventus FC, one of Italy’s greatest clubs, later adopted the same colors in their honor.

Though Notts County’s success on the pitch has fluctuated over the years, their contribution to football’s history remains timeless. They are living proof of how small-town passion shaped a global sport.

Other Early Football Pioneers

Following Sheffield and Notts County, football clubs began to appear rapidly across England:

• Stoke City (1863) – One of the earliest clubs still active in top-tier English football.

• Fulham FC (1879) – London’s oldest professional club.

• Aston Villa, Everton, and Blackburn Rovers – All emerged in the late 1800s as local church or cricket teams seeking winter competition.

These early clubs weren’t formed for fame or profit — they were born from community, friendship, and the simple joy of playing. Yet they unknowingly built the framework for today’s massive footballing industry.

From Local Matches to Global Leagues

By the 1870s, football clubs began organizing regional competitions, and the sport’s popularity soared. The Football Association Cup (FA Cup) was introduced in 1871, giving clubs a national stage to compete on. This tournament — still running today — became a symbol of English football’s rich tradition.

As football spread across Europe and South America, other nations began forming their own clubs, inspired by the English model. Clubs like Real Madrid (1902), FC Barcelona (1899), and AC Milan (1899) all traced their origins back to English influence.

Legacy of the Pioneers

Today, the legacies of Sheffield FC and Notts County are celebrated around the world. These clubs remind us that football’s greatness didn’t start with superstars or billion-dollar deals — it began with ordinary people, a ball, and a shared love of the game.

Sheffield FC still plays in the lower English divisions but holds a sacred place in football’s history. Notts County continues its proud existence, carrying the same badge and colors that inspired generations.

Without them, football as we know it — with leagues, fans, and traditions — might never have existed. They are the true founders of club football, the spark that ignited a global passion.

Football’s history is not just about trophies or fame — it’s about pioneers who dared to organize, play, and believe. And it all began with Sheffield FC and Notts County, the clubs that started it all.