Crystal Palace want to be recognised as the oldest professional football club in existence as they believe they are a year older than Notts County, who currently hold the title.
Palace were believed to be founded in 1905 but new research carried out by author Peter Manning now suggests the club was established in 1861 as a founding member of the Football Association, before it played its first match in March 1862.
According to the Football Association, non-league Sheffield FC are the world's oldest club having been founded in October 1857, while Notts County are the oldest league club having been established in November 1862.
Manning told Palace's official website: "The Crystal Palace was the world's first major theme park and it was owned and run by the Crystal Palace Company.
"Everything within the Palace and its grounds was part of the Crystal Palace's and the Crystal Palace Company's business, including the Crystal Palace Cricket Club, set up in 1857, the emergence of the football club in 1861, through to the setting up and the taking of a majority share stake in the professional football club in 1905.
"Without the Crystal Palace and the Crystal Palace Company there would have been no Crystal Palace Football Club. It was always one club and always part of the Crystal Palace Company's business.
"As the founding of the football club dates back to 1861, it can claim to be the oldest professional league club in the world."
In light of the research the Premier League side have announced it will now be celebrating its 160th anniversary next year.
Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish said: "As a lifelong supporter of Crystal Palace, it's amazing that we have a legitimate claim to be the oldest professional league club still in existence, that we were in the very first FA meetings, and that our history dates all the way back to the Victorian cricketers of 1861 at the Palace even involving the great W.G. Grace.
"I would like to thank Peter Manning for the incredible work he has undertaken researching the definitive history of the club.
"It's a fascinating tale and one I hope supporters will very much enjoy seeing brought to life in this film."
Arunraj
0
I thought the old are the more Experienced ...But for Crystal Palace is vice versa..[Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
You're very young. To survive for these long years itself is achievement.. You take any organization in past and see how many survived more than a century.
Basselll123
4
Liverpool : Fight for EPL title Barca and Real Madrid : Fight for Laliga title Juventus, Inter and Lazio : Fight for Serie A title Crystal Palace, Notts County and Sheffield FC : Fight for oldest club Title
ALexKingWaweru
2
I thought the old are the more Experienced ...But for Crystal Palace is vice versa..[Crylaugh][Crylaugh]
Quickly-Now-Trent
0
All I remember is they're most likely the first football club formed in the early 1900s or even late 1800s. Used to live in Sheffield myself for a bit hence why I know. City of Steel ⚔
Sheffield FC were founded in 1857. Football Clubs are older than you think.
Nesaiknruy_Legend
1
Pretty sure they might actually be the oldest club in the world, so you’d be spot on the money there.
All I remember is they're most likely the first football club formed in the early 1900s or even late 1800s. Used to live in Sheffield myself for a bit hence why I know. City of Steel ⚔
Quickly-Now-Trent
0
Fair play, I meant oldest club in England.
Pretty sure they might actually be the oldest club in the world, so you’d be spot on the money there.
Nesaiknruy_Legend
1
They are the oldest team in England. They’ve never played in the English Top Flight, Premier League or otherwise. So technically not the oldest team in the Prem. They are an amateur team. The oldest teams to play in English Top Flight are Accrington, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Derby County, Everton, Notts County, Preston North End, Stoke, West Brom and Wolves. They are the 12 teams that started professional football in England in 1888. Of those teams I think it says in the article above that Notts County is the oldest. Sheffield FC are the oldest club, not the oldest professional club.
Fair play, I meant oldest club in England.
Quickly-Now-Trent
0
Well the oldest club was Sheffield FC in the prem. At least from what I remember.
They are the oldest team in England. They’ve never played in the English Top Flight, Premier League or otherwise. So technically not the oldest team in the Prem. They are an amateur team. The oldest teams to play in English Top Flight are Accrington, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Derby County, Everton, Notts County, Preston North End, Stoke, West Brom and Wolves. They are the 12 teams that started professional football in England in 1888. Of those teams I think it says in the article above that Notts County is the oldest. Sheffield FC are the oldest club, not the oldest professional club.
Nesaiknruy_Legend
1
Well the oldest club was Sheffield FC in the prem. At least from what I remember.
luwisclive
1
is oldest club now a title to Crystal palace?
Temple7
1
How many titles have Crystal Palace won being the Oldest Football Club
SHDK
0
Crystal Palace is still Crystal in 10-15 position