The Club of Pioneers is a global network that connects the oldest existing association football clubs from each country. The Club of Pioneers was founded in 2013 by Sheffield F.C., the first and oldest association football club in the world. The Club of Pioneers aims to discover and connect the world's oldest existing association football clubs, to build a global network of like-minded association football clubs to promote the importance of football history and the grass roots and amateur game.
Definition of Pioneers According to today's historical knowledge and available sources of football history, 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.
Staff The club’s staff includes coaches and administrators with experience in football.
Office Staff President Richard Tims Partnerships Dylan Ralph Ambassador Tom Simons Ambassador Robert Zitzmann Latam Ambassador Juan Alvarez
Current members
Club Country Founded League Tier Continent Sheffield F.C. England Northern Counties East Football League Premier Division 9 Europe Wrexham A.F.C. Wales EFL Championship 2 Europe Queen's Park F.C. Scotland Scottish Championship 2 Europe Kjøbenhavns Boldklub Denmark DBU Copenhagen Serie 1 7 Europe FC St. Gallen Switzerland Swiss Super League 1 Europe Koninklijke HFC Netherlands Tweede Divisie 3 Europe Cliftonville F.C. Northern Ireland NIFL Premiership 1 Europe Royal Antwerp F.C. Belgium Belgian Pro League 1 Europe Savages FC Pietermaritzburg South Africa Not applicable n.a. Africa Balgownie Rangers FC Australia Illawarra Premier League 2 5 Oceania Hong Kong F.C. Hong Kong Hong Kong Premier League 1 Asia Yokohama C.A.C. Japan Not applicable n.a. Asia North Shore United AFC New Zealand NRFL Championship 3 Oceania Académica de Coimbra Portugal Liga 3 3 Europe Örgryte IS Sweden Allsvenskan 1 Europe BFC Germania 1888 Germany Kreisliga B Berlin 10 Europe Mohun Bagan Super Giant India Indian Super LeagueMohun Bagan Super Giant represents the football section of Mohun Bagan AC since 2020. 1 Asia Recreativo de Huelva Spain Segunda Federación 4 Europe St. George's F.C. Malta Maltese National Amateur League II 4 Europe Albion F.C. Uruguay Liga AUF Uruguaya 1 South America Tvøroyrar Bóltfelag Faroe Islands 1. deild 2 Europe Santiago Wanderers Chile Campeonato Nacional Primera B 2 South America Genoa CFC Italy Serie A 1 Europe Odds BK Norway Norwegian First Division 2 Europe First Vienna FC Austria 2. Liga 2 Europe CS Fola Esch Luxembourg Luxembourg Division of Honour 2 Europe Botev Plovdiv Bulgaria First Professional Football League 1 Europe FK Ljuboten North Macedonia Macedonian Third Football League 3 Europe FK Sveikata Kybartai Lithuania II Lyga 3 Europe S.V. Voorwaarts Suriname Suriname Major League 1 South America Al-Ittihad Club Saudi Arabia Saudi Pro League 1 Asia AC Libertas San Marino Campionato Sammarinese 1 Europe
Pioneers Cup Members of the Club of Pioneers, can also take part in a Pioneers Cup: a football tournament where only 'oldest' clubs can participate, to showcase their pioneering heritage. The teams themselves do not play, but are represented by 'Pioneer' teams of fans, former-players, and staff of the club.
2013 Pioneers Cup Date 16 November 2013 Venue Sheffield F.C. Stadium - England Participating teams Sheffield F.C. with Chris Waddle, Carlton Palmer, John Beresford Recreativo de Huelva Genoa CFC with Tomáš Skuhravý, Gennaro Ruotolo Winners Sheffield F.C.
2014 Pioneers Cup Date 30 August 2014 Venue Haarlem - Netherlands Participating teams Sheffield F.C. with Chris Dolby Koninklijke HFC with Tom Van Schaick Royal Antwerp F.C. Winners Sheffield F.C.
2014 Pioneers Cup Date 6 September 2014 Venue Estadio Nuevo Colombino - Huelva - Spain Participating teams Recreativo de Huelva Koninklijke HFC Genoa CFC Winners Recreativo de Huelva
2016 Pioneers Cup Date 21 May 2016 Venue Bosuilstadion - Antwerp - Belgium Participating teams Royal Antwerp F.C. with Jonas De Roeck Koninklijke HFC with Tom Van Schaik, Paulo Meijnderhagen CS Fola Esch with Pascal Welter Winners Koninklijke HFC Notes Pioneers Cup Ambassador: László Fazekas
2019 Pioneers Cup Date 31 August 2019 Venue Haarlem - Netherlands Participating teams FK Sveikata Kybartai with Gintaras Cibirka, Audrius Paškevičius Koninklijke HFC Royal Antwerp F.C. Winners FK Sveikata Kybartai
2024 Pioneers Cup Date 7 September 2024 Venue Haarlem - Netherlands Participating teams FK Sveikata Kybartai Koninklijke HFC Royal Antwerp F.C. Winners FK Sveikata Kybartai
References
Sources Sheffield F.C. - the world's first. Cliftonville F.C. : Introduction to the Club of Pioneers, 10 March 2013 Genoa C.F.C. F.C. St. Gallen Royal Antwerp F.C. - Club of Pioneers Globalise then localize Game of the People, 27 juli 2013 Sheffield Pioneers Cup BBC.com, 17 November 2013 El Recreativo de Huelva ingresa con honores en el “Club of Pioneers”, Cihefe.es, 5 May 2013 Entra en el ‘Club of Pioneers’ HuelvaYa.es, 5 May 2013 KHFC new member for the Club of Pioneers TheStar.co.uk 5 September 2014 St-Gallen aufnahme in Club of Pioneers Blick.ch, 23 September 2015 FC St-Gallen kommt inden Club of Pioneers Tagblatt, 22 August 2014 Antwerp Pioneers Cup GvA, 18 May 2016 Antwerp treedt toe tot Club of Pioneers GvA, 23 May 2016 Fola Esch, entering Club of Pioneers FuPa Lux, 14 November 2016 Fola fir 110. Anniversaire am "Club of Pioneers" opgeholl RTL.lu, 13 December 2016 Odds Ballklubb celebrated their place in "Club of Pioneers" at halftime in their match against Strømsgodset 13 May 2017 Odds BK - Club of Pioneers Vi ønsker at folk skal kjenne til Odd når de snakker om fotball i Norge Vardens, 15 May 2017 Classic Football Shirts, 19 July 2017 Savages celebrate in style The Witness, 21 August 2017 Academica integrase no Club of Pioneers Académica-oaf.pt, 4 November 2017 Academica integrase no Club of Pioneers DSport.pt, 6 November 2017 First Vienna FC neue mitglieder ,21 April 2018 KB i eksklusivt selskab "Club website", 5 November 2018. ljuboten-enters-club-of-pioneers "Ljuboten enters Club of Pioneers" ,11 May 2019 Ceremonia de ingreso Club of Pioneer "Corporation Wanderers", 24 August 2019 Invitation for Cracovia Twitter, 13 June 2023 Ботев официално е един от най-старите клубове в света "Botev is officially one of the oldest clubs in the world", 2 May 2024 Club of Pioneers on marca.com sportsviahistoryfc.substack.com, 18 April 2024 sportsviahistoryfc.substack.com, 3 May 2024 sportsviahistoryfc.substack.com, 10 July 2024
See also Oldest football clubs List of oldest football competitions
External links A club of Pioneers with a list of members on sheffieldfc.com (archived)