The oldest professional sports team in the world is believed to be the Sheffield Football Club, founded in 1857. Located in the city of Sheffield, England, this team is the oldest club in the world that still exists today.
The club was founded by Nathaniel Creswick and William Prest. They were both members of the Sheffield Cricket Team, and were looking for a way to stay active during the winter months. After discussions with their teammates, they decided to form their own football club, and thus the Sheffield Football Club was born.
Initially, the game they played was quite different from the game we know today. The rules of the game were set by the newly formed club, and consisted of kicking the football with the feet, carrying the ball in hand was allowed, as was hacking. The rules were constantly evolving in the following years, as the Sheffield Football Club started to play against other teams.
The Sheffield Football Club was one of the founding members of the Football Association in 1863, who later created the football league in 1888. The team was also a founding member of the Sheffield and Hallamshire Football Association in 1867.
The Sheffield Football Club has a long and illustrious history. The club has won the FA Cup four times, and was the first English club to win the Football League Championship in 1893. In addition, the team has won the Football League Second Division five times, and the Northern Premier League four times.
The team has also produced some of England’s most famous footballers, such as Howard Wilkinson, Ian Porterfield and David Hirst. As well as being a successful side, the Sheffield Football Club is also renowned for its professionalism and dedication to the game.
Today, the Sheffield Football Club continues to play in the Football League, and has a loyal fanbase. With a long and illustrious history, the Sheffield Football Club is undoubtedly the oldest professional sports team in the world.
