Who is the olddest football team in the world?

Answer 1

I will assume this question to be in reference to 'Football Association' rules football and not any of the other forms of football.

Sheffield FC founded 1857 was for a long time thought to be the world's oldest known football club. However, recent research has shown this not to be the case. Nor were they founder members of the Football Association (1863) or the Football League (1888). The world's oldest known football club was 'The Foot Ball Club' founded in Edinburgh in 1824. This is now recognised by FIFA. Sheffield FC are not even the oldest club continually playing Association football. That title is held by Cambridge University Football club who have a complete set of records going back to 1848 when they played games under their old Cambridge Rules which they changed for FA Rules shortly after they were introduced in 1863. Sheffield FC, on the other hand, did not adopt FA Rules until 1877 by which time there were dozens of teams playing association rules. Incidentally, the first game of football played under FA rules was played between The Barns Club v. Richmond FC in 1863. The oldest football ground in the world still in use today is in the tiny village of Chapeltown in Turton. Birthplace of Turton FC founded 1871, the oldest football club in Lancashire, new research has found that the pitch first staged a football match as early as 1830. The ground has been the home of Old Boltonians AFC since 1952 when Tuton FC moved to Edgworth.