List of football clubs in England and Wales by year formed


List of football league clubs in the English football league system, as of the 2019–20 season. This represents the top four divisions of English football.
Different sources offer alternative dates for club foundation dates, and therefore given dates can vary. Reasons for differences include:
Many clubs have been incorporated at some point in their existence, this is not used in the list below as a revised foundation date.
The year in the left hand column is the year published by the club itself. Where month and day are also published, these are recorded in the notes.
Year published by clubClubSeason
2019-20		Notes
1863Stoke CityChampionshipThe club state they are the oldest professional Football League Club in the world, existing since 1863.
The club was originally known as Stoke Ramblers. Evidence for foundation in 1863 is provided by "The Book of Football", which names four founder players, and a date of 1863 while discussing Stoke City. That date was adopted by the current club for anniversary celebrations in 1963 and 2013, and included in the current crest.
However the 1863 date is disputed. The earliest known Stoke Ramblers newspaper reports, in 1868, stated that the club had been formed that season, and some of the details in these reports may have been used in the 1905 book in the description of the events claimed to be in 1863.
The club underwent a merger in 1878, when it became known simply as Stoke, and was liquidated in 1908, but refounded shortly after. Contemporary reports called this refounded club, "new"
1865Nottingham ForestChampionshipNottingham Forest state that a group of shinney players founded the club in 1865.
The exact date of the club's formation is unknown, but returns from the club to the 1870s Alcock's Football Annual stated October 1865 as the month of formation, and football matches were documented from 1866. A late Victorian source described the date of formation of Forest as "a matter of some uncertainty, but most probably as far back as 1864".
Former league club Notts County claim an earlier foundation date of 1862; following their relegation from the fourth tier of the English Football League in 2019, the EFL stated that Nottingham Forest were now the oldest professional football league club. This was contested by Stoke City, who claim 1863 as their foundation year.
1867Sheffield WednesdayChampionshipThe club state a foundation date of 4 September, 1867.
The club were founded as The Wednesday Football Club in 1867 as an offshoot of The Wednesday Cricket Club formed 1820. The exact date of formation is disputed, with both 4 and 5 September 1867 reported as the date of formation in newspapers published in the same week. The first reported practice match was on 12 October 1867; their first competitive fixtures were in February 1868 in the Cromwell Cup.
The club formally adopted its current name in 1929, previously it was referred to variously as Wednesday, The Wednesday and Sheffield Wednesday.
1871ReadingChampionshipSome doubt on whether 1871 or 1872
1874Aston VillaPremier LeagueSome debate over March or November 1874 Villa say 21 November 1874 is a legend.
1874Bolton WanderersLeague OneFormed as Christ Church FC, no exact date known though possibly June. Renamed Bolton Wanderers in 1877
1875Birmingham CityChampionshipFounded as Small Heath Alliance in 1875, exact date unknown
1875Blackburn RoversChampionshipFounded at a meeting on 5 November 1875
1876MiddlesbroughChampionshipOriginal club founded in 1876, though date stated as vague. Other source says 20 October 1876. Club merged then demerged from another club in 1892.
1876Macclesfield TownLeague TwoMerger of 8th Cheshire Rifle Volunteers football team and the Olympic Cricket Club, date 21 October 1876
1876Port ValeLeague TwoDisputed whether original club foundation is 1876 or 1879,. Exact date in 1876 not known. The club was wound up, with the name used by a successor club in 1909.
1877Crewe AlexandraLeague TwoNo date for formation in 1877.
1877Wolverhampton WanderersPremier LeagueOriginally called St Lukes, date not recorded. Merged with another club in 1879.
1878EvertonPremier LeagueFormed as St Domingo's, 1 January 1878
1878Grimsby TownLeague Two
1878Ipswich TownLeague OneFounded 16 October 1878. Merged with a rugby club in 1888.
1878Manchester UnitedPremier LeagueFounded in 1878 as Newton Heath LYR F.C. Renamed in 1902; liquidation was avoided.
1878West Bromwich AlbionChampionshipDisputed whether 1878 or 1879, any football in 1878 on an informal basis. Club states 1878.
1879Doncaster RoversLeague OneLiquidated and reformed in 1914.
1879FulhamChampionshipPrimarily cricket in its early days.
1879SunderlandLeague OneFirst recorded competitive game was against Ferryhill Athletic on 13 November 1880. In 1881 the club's name was changed to Sunderland Association Football Club. Dispute over 1879 and 1880.
1879Swindon TownLeague TwoDispute on whether formation was in 1879 or 1881. Merged with another club in 1881. Club only states 1879.
1880Manchester CityPremier LeagueStarted as a church team, exact date not known
1880Preston North EndChampionshipGiven in club history as May 1880, not clear when football started to be played.
1881WatfordPremier LeagueUnderwent merger in 1898; the 1881 date is for one of the two merged clubs.
1882BurnleyPremier League
1882Tottenham HotspurPremier League5 September 1882 as Hotspur Football Club
1882Queens Park RangersChampionshipAmalgamation of two clubs in 1886 with the older formed in 1882, 1882 is in the club crest. The club states 1882 "signifies the very earliest roots of our club's beginnings"
1883Bristol RoversLeague OneSeptember 1883
1883Coventry CityLeague OneCoventry City formed as Singers F.C. in 1883 at an unknown date before adopting their current name in 1898.
1884Derby CountyChampionshipAn offshoot of Derbyshire County Cricket Club
1884Leicester CityPremier LeagueOriginal club, Leicester Fosse, closed down in 1919 to be replaced by Leicester City. Club's history states first football match 1 November 1884.
1884Tranmere RoversLeague OneOriginal club, Belmont FC, closed down in 1884 to be replaced by Tranmere.
1884Lincoln CityLeague OneThe club state they were officially formed as an amateur association in 1884, though there had been a team playing since the 1860s
1885Luton TownChampionshipMerger between local clubs, Wanderers and Excelsior, announced on 11 April 1885
1885MillwallChampionshipNo exact date supplied by club
1885SouthamptonPremier League
1886ArsenalPremier LeagueNo exact date given, described as 'late 1886'
1886Plymouth ArgyleLeague TwoThe club state 1886 was the year "the original Argyle was formed".
1886Shrewsbury TownLeague OneClub views 1886 as the origin, though says roots go back to 1879.
1887BlackpoolLeague OneFormed by breakaway from another club 1877 sometimes claimed, however club states "founded in 1887 on the back of a breakaway from local outfit St John's FC"
1887BarnsleyChampionshipFounded as "Barnsley St. Peter's" on 17 September 1887, but subsequently dropped the "St. Peter's" in 1897.
1887Cheltenham TownLeague TwoClub states previously thought to be 1892, moved back to 1887 due to evidence of football being played earlier in the town.
1887Wycombe WanderersLeague One
1888WalsallLeague TwoAmalgamation of two older clubs as Walsall Town Swifts
1888Leyton OrientLeague TwoFounded in 1881 as the Glyn Cricket Club; the club began playing football as Orient in 1888. Club state the existing Cricket Club adopted football on 3 March 1888.
1889BrentfordChampionshipClub states 10 October 1889.
1889Forest Green RoversLeague TwoFounded October 1889
1889Sheffield UnitedPremier LeagueClub state foundation on 22 March 1889
1892LiverpoolPremier LeagueThe club state that nn 15 March 1892, John Houlding broke from the board of Everton to form Liverpool FC, and that the club was formally recognised by the Board of Trade on 3 June.
1892Newcastle UnitedPremier LeagueBegan in May 1892 when two clubs joined.
1893GillinghamLeague One
1893Oxford UnitedLeague OneHistory includes a merger in 1911.
1894Bristol CityChampionship
1895Oldham AthleticLeague TwoFormed as Pine Villa in 1895. Refounded as Oldham Athletic on 4 July 1899.
1896Crawley TownLeague TwoPlayed informally from 1890.
1897Mansfield TownLeague TwoClub states "many dates have been given, however most are apocryphal or at the very least wildly inaccurate"
1897Northampton TownLeague TwoWent into administration in 1992 but escaped liquidation. Club states foundation on 6 March 1897.
1898PortsmouthLeague OneWound up and immediately reformed in July 1912 to evade debts of the original 1898 club. Club state 1898 in their history without the winding-up.
1899BournemouthPremier LeagueFormed as Boscombe FC in 1899 from a earlier club; some give 1890 as original date.
1899Cardiff CityChampionshipFormed as Riverside.
1899Scunthorpe UnitedLeague Two
1900West Ham UnitedPremier LeagueForerunner was Thames Ironworks in 1895, however the club does not use this in their foundation date.
1901Brighton & Hove AlbionPremier LeagueClaims of connection to previous clubs. Club states date of 24 June 1901.
1901Exeter CityLeague TwoAdopted current name in 1904, previously thought to be a merger.
1902Norwich CityPremier LeagueOriginal club liquidated 1917 and reformed 1919.
1903Bradford CityLeague Twoformed from Manningham FC after a switch from Rugby League
1904Carlisle UnitedLeague TwoLiquidation and reform in 1911.
1904Hull CityChampionship
1905Charlton AthleticChampionship
1905ChelseaPremier LeagueDate given by club 10 March 1905.
1905Crystal PalacePremier League10 September 1905
1906Southend UnitedLeague OneClub make no claim to history of earlier club with the same name
1907RochdaleLeague One14 May 1907
1908Huddersfield TownChampionshipLiquidated and reformed in 1912
1912Cambridge UnitedLeague Two
1912Swansea CityChampionshipOriginal club wound up in 1985
1919Leeds UnitedChampionshipFormed 17 October 1919 following disbanding of a previous club.
1920MorecambeLeague TwoClub states 7 May 1920
1925Rotherham UnitedLeague One1925 merger
1932Wigan AthleticChampionshipSeveral teams created and wound up prior to current club.
1934Peterborough UnitedLeague OneClub created 17 May 1934.
1937Colchester UnitedLeague TwoReplaced an amateur club which folded the same year Club announced 14 July 1937
1940Salford CityLeague Two
1950Burton AlbionLeague OneSucceeded other clubs in the town.. Club states 6 July 1950.
1968Accrington StanleyLeague OneReformed, following the demise of a previous club of the same name in 1963.
1976StevenageLeague TwoFounded following bankruptcy of a previous club. No exact date given on club website.
1989Newport CountyLeague TwoLiquidated and reformed in 1989. Club states "It is important to distinguish between Newport County a club of the past and Newport County AFC."
1997Fleetwood TownLeague OneSeveral previous versions. The club site states "The club reformed as Fleetwood Wanderers in 1997"
2002AFC WimbledonLeague Oneviewed as a new club and not a continuation of Wimbledon FC
2004MK DonsLeague OneAlthough the club was a continuation of Wimbledon FC, moving from Wimbledon to Milton Keynes in 2003, the club considers its foundation from when the club was renamed in 2004.