1888day.year
In England, The Football League, the world's oldest professional association football league, meets for the first time.
The Football League held its inaugural meeting in England, founding the world's oldest professional association football competition.
On March 23, 1888, representatives of 12 clubs met in London to form The Football League, the first professional football league in the world. The founding members included teams such as Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, and Preston North End. The league established a structured fixture system and points table, replacing ad hoc scheduling common in the era. Its creation professionalized the sport, attracting paying spectators and formalizing competition. The first season kicked off later that year, laying the foundation for modern league football globally. The Football League's success inspired the establishment of similar competitions across Europe and beyond.
1888
The Football League
association football