FOOTBALL PIONEERS
The Club of Pioneers is a worldwide network of the oldest continuing football clubs from each country in the world, originally founded by Sheffield FC, the world’s first football club in 2013. The Club of Pioneers aims to discover and connect the world’s oldest existing football clubs, to build a global network of like-minded football clubs to promote the importance of football history and the grass roots & amateur game.
The Sheffield Football Club Foundation awards the honorary membership within the “Club of Pioneers” to those football clubs, who….
- Still play football in amateur or professional football competition today.
- Have constantly existed as a sports organisation since their date of foundation. (exceptions for periods of inactivity due to external reasons, for example war.)
- Are by definition the oldest existing football club of their country, referring to the foundation date of a football team as part of a multi-sport club or as a proper football club, playing to association football rules.
- Live and support the values of the game and amateur football: Integrity, Respect, Community.
in the picture: Lt. Col. Sir Nathaniel Creswick – The first Honorary Secretary Treasurer and Captain of Sheffield Football Club.
“AS FOOTBALL EVOLVES SO TOO MUST ITS PIONEERS!”
Richard Tims
Chairman, Sheffield FC
If you wish to discuss the possibility of joining the Club of Pioneers, please email: [email protected] and [email protected].
CURRENT MEMBERS
CLUB
FOUNDED
COUNTRY
CONTINENT
Sheffield FC
24 October 1857
England
Europe
Wrexham AFC
4 October 1864
Wales
Europe
Queens Park
9 July 1867
Scotland
Europe
Kjøbenhavns Boldklub
24 October 1878
Denmark
Europe
FC St. Gallen
19 April 1879
Switzerland
Europe
Koninklijke HFC
15 September 1879
Netherlands
Europe
Cliftonville FC
20 September 1879
Northern Ireland
Europe
Royal Antwerp FC
1880
Belgium
Europe
Savages FC Pietermaritzburg
1882
South Africa
Africa
Hong Kong FC
12 February 1886
Hong Kong
Asia
Yokohama C&AC
26 December 1886
Japan
Asia
Associação Académica de Coimbra
3 November 1887
Portugal
Europe
North Shore Utd
1887
New Zealand
Oceania
BFC Germania 1888
15 April 1888
Germany
Europe
Mohun Bagan ac
15 August 1889
India
Asia
Real Club Recreativo de Huelva
23 December 1889
Spain
Europe
St. George’s FC
1890
Malta
Europe
Albion FC
1 June 1891
Uruguay
South America
Tvoroyrar Boltfelag
13 May 1892
Faroe Islands
Europe
Santiago Wanderers
15 August 1892
Chile
South America
Genoa CFC
7 September 1893
Italy
Europe
Odds Ballklubb
31 March 1894
Norway
Europe
First Vienna FC
22 August 1894
Austria
Europe
CS Fola Esch
9 December 1906
Luxembourg
Europe
FK Ljuboten Tetovo
28 March 1919
North-Macedonia
Europe
FK Sveikata 1919
8 June 1919
Lithuania
Europe
CURRENT MEMBERS
Sheffield FC
24 October 1857
England
Europe
Wrexham AFC
4 October 1864
Wales
Europe
Queens Park
9 July 1867
Scotland
Europe
Kjøbenhavns Boldklub
24 October 1878
Denmark
Europe
FC St. Gallen
19 April 1879
Switzerland
Europe
Koninklijke HFC
15 September 1879
Netherlands
Europe
Cliftonville FC
20 September 1879
Northern Ireland
Europe
Royal Antwerp FC
1880
Belgium
Europe
Savages FC Pietermaritzburg
1882
South Africa
Africa
Hong Kong FC
12 February 1886
Hong Kong
Asia
Yokohama C&AC
26 December 1886
Japan
Asia
Associação Académica de Coimbra
3 November 1887
Portugal
Europe
North Shore Utd
1887
New Zealand
Oceania
BFC Germania 1888
15 April 1888
Germany
Europe
Real Club Recreativo de Huelva
23 December 1889
Spain
Europe
St. George’s FC
1890
Malta
Europe
Albion FC
1 June 1891
Uruguay
South America
Genoa CFC
7 September 1893
Italy
Europe
Odds Ballklubb
31 March 1894
Norway
Europe
First Vienna FC
22 August 1894
Austria
Europe
CS Fola Esch
9 December 1906
Luxembourg
Europe
FK Ljuboten Tetovo
28 March 1919
North-Macedonia
Europe
PIONEERS CUP
Pioneers Cup 2013 – Sheffield, England
Date: 16 November 2013
Venue: Sheffield FC The Home of Football Stadium
Winners: Sheffield FC
Participating Teams: Sheffield F.C (England) with Chris Waddle, Carlton Palmer & John Beresford, RC Recreativo de Huelva (Spain), Genoa CFC (Italy) with Tomáš Skuhravý & Gennaro Ruotolo.
Pioneers Cup 2014 – Haarlem, Netherlands
Date: 30 August 2014
Venue: Haarlem, Netherlands
Winners: Sheffield FC
Participating Teams: Sheffield F.C (England) with Chris Dolby, Koninklijke HFC (Netherlands) with Tom Van Schaick, Royal Antwerp FC (Belgium)
Pioneers Cup 2014 – Huelva, Spain
Date: 6 September 2014
Venue: Nuevo Colombino, Huelva, Spain
Winners: RC Recreativo de Huelva
Participating Teams: RC Recreativo de Huelva (Spain), Koninklijke HFC (Netherlands), Genoa CFC (Italy)
Pioneers Cup 2016 – Antwerp, Belgium
Date: 21 May 2016
Venue: Bosuilstadion, Antwerp, Belgium
Winners: Koninklijke HFC
Participating Teams: Royal Antwerp F.C. (Belgium) with Jonas De Roeck, Koninklijke HFC (Netherlands) with Tom Van Schaik and Paulo Meijnderhagen, CS Fola Esch (Luxembourg) with Pascal Welter
Other information: Pioneers Cup Ambassador: Laszlo Fazekas
