Founder Members of the English Football League
The Football League was founded on 17 April 1888 with 12 founder member clubs. We list all 12, where they sit today, and the history of the world's first football league.
The Football League was founded on 17 April 1888 at the Royal Hotel in Manchester — the world's first organised football league. 12 founder members were drawn from the North of England and the Midlands. Preston North End won the first season (1888-89) unbeaten — the original "Invincibles".
The 12 founder members
- Accrington. No longer exists in original form (folded 1896); modern Accrington Stanley is a different club.
- Aston Villa. Premier League — one of England's most successful historic clubs.
- Blackburn Rovers. Currently EFL Championship.
- Bolton Wanderers. Currently EFL Championship.
- Burnley. Premier League / Championship yo-yo club.
- Derby County. Currently EFL Championship.
- Everton. Premier League — never relegated from the top flight (longest unbroken top-flight run).
- Notts County. Currently in League Two — the world's oldest professional football club (founded 1862).
- Preston North End. Currently EFL Championship; founder champions + first English domestic double winners.
- Stoke (City). Premier League / Championship.
- West Bromwich Albion. Currently EFL Championship.
- Wolverhampton Wanderers. Currently Premier League.
Why these 12
- Geographic split. All from the North + Midlands; Southern English football was less professional in 1888.
- William McGregor. Aston Villa director who proposed the league concept; widely credited as the founder.
- Professional clubs only. Founding members all professional; amateur clubs were excluded.
- Initial competitive structure. Each club played the others home + away; 22-game season.
Frequently asked questions
- Who were the founder members of the English Football League?
- The 12 founder members of the English Football League (founded 17 April 1888) were: Accrington, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Derby County, Everton, Notts County, Preston North End, Stoke (City), West Bromwich Albion, and Wolverhampton Wanderers. All from the North of England and Midlands.
- When was the English Football League founded?
- The Football League was founded on 17 April 1888 at the Royal Hotel in Manchester — the world's first organised football league. William McGregor (Aston Villa director) is credited as the founder. The first competitive season ran 1888-89; Preston North End won unbeaten as the original "Invincibles".
- Which is the oldest football club among the founders?
- Notts County is the oldest of the 12 — founded in 1862 — and is recognised as the world's oldest professional football club still in existence. Despite this, Notts County play below the top flight in modern times, while less historic founders (Aston Villa, Everton, Wolves) play in the Premier League.
References
- Wikipedia — Football League Founders — Wikipedia
- EFL — History Innovation — EFL
- GiveMeSport — EFL Founders — GiveMeSport
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