| Arsenal | | | | | | Web site: http://www.arsenal.com Founded: 1886 Nickname: Gunners Stadium: Emirates Stadium Stadium Address: Ashburton Grove, Islington, London N7 7AF League: Premier League (Barclays Premier League)
History: The club was originally founded in 1886 as Dial Square by workers at Woolwich Arsenal Armament Factory in Woolwich, south-east London. They were renamed to Royal Arsenal shortly afterwards. They renamed themselves again to Woolwich Arsenal after turning professional in 1891. After moving to Arsenal Stadium in North London in 1913, the name was shortened to Arsenal. The nickname Gunners comes from what the workers used to make, when they weren't playing soccer, of course.
They made their home at the venerated Highbury until May 2006. In July 2006 the club moved to the new 60,000-seat Emirates Stadium in nearby Ashburton Grove. Arsenal have a long-standing and fierce rivalry with Tottenham Hotspur, located four miles away in Tottenham, whom they play in the North London derby.
Notes: Prior stadium was Arsenal Stadium at Avenell Road, Highbury, London N5 1BU.
| | | | Aston Villa | | | | | | Web site: http://www.avfc.co.uk Founded: 1874 Nickname: Villains Stadium: Villa Park Stadium Address: Trinity Road, Birmingham B6 6HE League: Premier League (Barclays Premier League)
History: Located in the steel city of Birmingham in the West Midlands, Aston Villa were founded by four members of the Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapel cricket team who were looking for a sport to play during the winter. The Aston part of the name came from nearby Aston University. Indeed, their first match was played against Aston Brook St. Mary's. Villains is a natural extension of Villa, which is what most soccer fans in the know call them. They even play their matches at Villa Park.
| | | | Chelsea | | | | | | Web site: http://www.chelseafc.com Founded: 1905 Nickname: The Blues Stadium: Stamford Bridge Stadium Address: Fulham Road, London SW6 1HS League: Premier League (Barclays Premier League) Winner of cup(s):
History: The pride of Southwest London, Chelsea's origin dates back to the 1870's as well. Their stadium, Stamford Bridge, was originally used by a track and field team. The land was purchased by two brothers with the intent of turning it into a soccer ground. Initially the stadium was offered to Fulham FC to play there, they turned down the chance and so instead a new side, Chelsea FC, was born in 1905 and moved into the new Stamford Bridge stadium. Their nickname, of course, comes from their uniforms. The Lion on their logo is descendant from England's national team which is known as the Three Lions.
| | | | Everton | | | | | | Web site: http://www.evertonfc.com Founded: 1878 Nickname: Toffees Stadium: Goodison Park Stadium Address: Goodison Road, Liverpool L4 4EL League: Premier League (Barclays Premier League)
History: Located in Liverpool, the club was founded by St. Domingo Methodist Church which was looking to find an activity for its cricket players to do in the winter. St. Domingo FC became Everton FC in 1878, named for the district around the church, because other city residents wanted to join the team. In 1892, they moved from Anfield to Goodison Park, their present home. Even though they have been known as the Blues for their royal blue kits, they are also called "The Toffees" or "The Toffeemen".
According to an Everton's fan site, there are two versions to explain how this name was adopted: the better known is that, in those days, a Mrs Noblett had a candy store near Goodison called Mother Noblett's Toffee Shop, where she advertised and sold her tasty merchandise on match days. Another reason might be that there was a house called Ye Anciente Everton Toffee House near the Queen's Head hotel. The word "toffee" also referred to Irishmen, of which there was a large population in the Liverpool area at the turn of the century.
| | | | Fulham | | | | | | Web site: http://www.fulhamfc.com Founded: 1879 Nickname: Cottagers Stadium: Craven Cottage Stadium Address: Stevenage Road, Fulham, London SW6 6HH League: Premier League (Barclays Premier League)
History: A church named St. Andrews of West Kensington found the club in 1879 in London as Fulham St. Andrews. Over the next decade, that name was dropped to just Fulham. They are called the Cottagers because their home since 1896 has been Craven Cottage.
| | | | Liverpool | | | | | | Web site: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv Founded: 1882 Nickname: Reds Stadium: Anfield Stadium Address: Anfield Road, Liverpool L4 0TH League: Premier League (Barclays Premier League)
History: In 1888, Everton was the biggest team in the city of Liverpool and played their matches at Anfield. When Everton bolted Anfield in 1892, the owner of the ground, John Houlding, decided to bring a team into the abandoned ground. According to Liverpool's website, the famous stand was called "The Kop" after the Liverpool Echo newspaper compared it in the early 1900's to the Spionkop; the hill where Boer guerrillas had inflicted a heavy defeat on the British army a few years earlier in the Boer War in South Africa. Their nickname comes from their all red uniforms.
More importantly, their anthem "You'll Never Walk Alone" was not originally a song created by the club itself, but rather from the Rogers and Hammerstein musical "Carousel". Liverpool native Gerry Marsden from the "Gerry and the Pacemakers" popularized it in the 1960s and the fans in the kop took it up. The song gained great reverence for its comfort for Liverpool fans after the Hillsborough disaster in 1989 that killed 96 fans.
| | | | Manchester City | | | | | | Web site: http://www.mcfc.co.uk Founded: 1880 Nickname: Blues Stadium: Etihad Stadium Stadium Address: Rowsley Street, Manchester M11 3FF League: Premier League (Barclays Premier League) Winner of cup(s):
History: They started their existence as Gorton St Marks', but seven years later, they became Ardwick FC. In 1894, the club became a limited liability company and changed their name again to Manchester City. While Manchester United has set up camp on the West side of the city, Manchester City now plays in East Manchester at their new ground, City of Manchester Stadium. Like many clubs, they are known as 'City', but they are mostly called the Blues for their uniforms.
Notes: Stadium known as City of Manchester Stadium, CoMS, and Eastlands.
| | | | Manchester United | | | | | | Web site: http://www.manutd.com Founded: 1878 Nickname: Red Devils Stadium: Old Trafford Stadium Address: Sir Matt Busby Way, Manchester M16 0RA League: Premier League (Barclays Premier League)
History: The club was founded as Newton Heath by members of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway company, but that team went bankrupt in 1902 leading to the formation of Manchester United. The club was known since the turn of the 20th century as United, but in the late 40's and early 50's when Talismanic manager Matt Busby led the team to its greatest successes, the media and fans referred to the club as "Busby's Babes." Sadly, in 1958, a airplane crash in Munich took the lives of seven players as well as injuring Busby himself. After the crash, Busby's Babes seemed inappropriate so a new name was sought. English rugby club Salford toured France wearing red shirts and became known as "The Red Devils". Busby liked the sound of it, thinking a devil was more intimidating to opponents than angelic babes. He declared Manchester United should also be known as the "The Red Devils" and soon the club began incorporating the devil logo into match programs and scarves. In 1970 the club badge was redesigned, but now with a devil in the center holding a pitch-fork.
| | | | Newcastle United | | | | | | Web site: http://www.nufc.co.uk Founded: 1881 Nickname: Magpies Stadium: Sports Direct Arena Stadium Address: Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 4ST League: Premier League (Barclays Premier League)
History: First, Newcastle is one of the northernmost English cities near the border with Scotland, and their people have a very distinct culture and linguistic differences. Newcastle is a club that came from the merger of two clubs Newcastle West End and Newcastle East End in 1892 although both had begun 11 years earlier.
Since Newcastle wears black and white jerseys, they have been called Magpies, which is a black and white bird. You will also hear them described as Tynesiders for being on the Tyne River and Geordies which all Newcastle residents are called. You might hear Newcastle called Toon which is a word in Newcastle for town. An unofficial slang has developed there called Newcastle English. Newcastle fans are often called the Toon Army.
Notes: Their stadium is also known as St. James' Park.
| | | | Norwich City | | | | | | Web site: http://www.canaries.premiumtv.co.uk Founded: 1902 Nickname: Canaries Stadium: Carrow Road Stadium Address: Carrow Road, Norwich NR1 1JE League: Premier League (Barclays Premier League)
History: Norwich City Football Club was formed at a meeting held at the Criterion Café in White Lion Street Norwich, on Tuesday 17th June 1902. They played their first competitive game in an FA Cup preliminary round, away at Lowestoft Town on Saturday 20th September 1902, losing 5-0. There was mention of a Norwich Football Club as early as 1868, which very much coincides with the formation of the first English teams such as Notts County and Sheffield United, but early reports included 13 or 14 men per side games with 'touchdowns' being scored.
| | | | Queens Park Rangers | | | | | | Web site: http://www.qpr.co.uk Founded: 1882 Nickname: The Superhoops (or The R's or The Hoops?) Stadium: Loftus Road Stadium Stadium Address: South Africa Road, Shepherds Bush, London W12 7PA League: Premier League (Barclays Premier League)
History: Queens Park Rangers were formed in the year 1882 by the old boys of Droop Street Board School. The boys were members of the St. Jude's Institute as they used this as the club headquarters, and in the early days were known as St. Judes. They obtained the name of Queens Park Rangers when they merged with a team called Christchurch Rangers in 1886. They called themselves Queens Park Rangers because most of the players came from the district of Queens Park.
| | | | Reading | | | | | | Web site: http://www.readingfc.co.uk Founded: 1871 Nickname: The Royals Stadium: Madejski Stadium Stadium Address: Reading RG2 0FL League: Premier League (Barclays Premier League)
History: Reading Football Club was formed in 1871, when the inaugural meeting of the club was held at the Bridge Street Rooms under the chairmanship of Mr JE Sydenham, who later became the first Honorary Secretary of the club.
The early matches were played at Reading Recreation Ground, and the club later fulfilled its fixtures at Reading Cricket Ground, Coley Park and Caversham Cricket Ground before finally moving to Elm Park on 5th September 1896.
| | | | Southampton | | | | | | Web site: http://www.saintsfc.co.uk Founded: 1885 Nickname: Saints Stadium: Friends Provident St. Mary's Stadium Stadium Address: Britannia Road, Southampton SO14 5FP League: Premier League (Barclays Premier League)
History: They are located on the English channel just west of Portsmouth. A club that has only recently come into prominence, Southampton were formed in 1885 and became founder members of Division 3 in 1920. They remained in this division until 1960 and finally made it to the top division 6 years later. Originally known as Southampton St. Mary's - the nickname Saints stuck. You will also see them referred to as Soton which is simply an abbreviation of the club's name.
| | | | Stoke City | | | | | | Web site: http://www.stokecityfc.com Founded: 1863 Nickname: The Potters Stadium: The Britannia Stadium Stadium Address: Stanley Matthews Way, Trentham Lakes, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 4EG League: Premier League (Barclays Premier League)
History: Stoke City have long been considered the second-oldest Football League club, although uncertainty clouds the actual date of formation. In 1863 the story goes that former pupils of the Charterhouse School formed a football club while apprentices at the North Staffordshire Railway works in Stoke. But little evidence exists of any matches taking place, even though at that time some form of soccer may have already existed in the area as the headmaster of Stoke St Peter's School, J. Thomas, was an active sportsman and secretary of the local Victoria Athletic Club.
| | | | Sunderland | | | | | | Web site: http://www.safc.com Founded: 1879 Nickname: Black Cats Stadium: Stadium of Light Stadium Address: Sunderland SR5 1SU League: Premier League (Barclays Premier League)
History: There is a song, made popular by Scottish football fans, that includes the line: "I'd walk a million miles for one of your goals." The history of Sunderland AFC starts in 1879, in Glasgow, and ends, so far, in 2005 at the Sunderland Stadium of Light. Whilst the journey from Scotland's second city may not be far, perhaps a mere 150 miles, the 125-year route has probably taken the club's players, officials and fanatical support a million miles and beyond.
| | | | Swansea City | | | | | | Web site: http://www.swanseacity.net Founded: 1912 Nickname: Swans Stadium: Liberty Stadium Stadium Address: Morfa, Swansea SA1 2FA League: Premier League (Barclays Premier League) Winner of cup(s):
History: In 1912/13 the club turned professional. First season in Southern League, Welsh Cup Winners, beating Pontypridd. In 1913/14 the Swans became the first Welsh Club to play in the FA Cup First Round proper.
Notes: Prior stadium was Vetch Field, Glamorgan Street, Swansea SA1 3SU.
| | | | Tottenham Hotspur | | | | | | Web site: http://www.spurs.co.uk Founded: 1882 Nickname: Spurs Stadium: White Hart Lane Stadium Address: Bill Nicholson Way, 748 High Road, Tottenham, London N17 0AP League: Premier League (Barclays Premier League)
History: They took their name from the gallant adventures of Harry Hotspur, a Shakespeare character and Hotspur FC was born, soon changed to Tottenham Hotspur to avoid confusion with London Hotspur. The club used to play near Tottenham Court Road, hence the name, before moving to North London.
| | | | West Bromwich Albion | | | | | | Web site: http://www.wba.co.uk Founded: 1878 Nickname: Baggies Stadium: The Hawthorns Stadium Address: Halfords Lane, West Bromwich B71 4LG League: Premier League (Barclays Premier League)
History: West Bromwich Albion Football Club was formed by workers from Salter's Spring Works in West Bromwich, West Midlands in 1878.
This famous football club was one of the original founding members of the English Football League. Although not as fashionable as some other English football teams, over the years 'The Albion' has made a great contribution to football. It was the first English team to play in Russia and then a couple of decades later the first English team to play in China. During the Chinese tour, one player was asked what he thought of the Great Wall, his famous reply was "You've seen one wall, you've seen them all". Their original nickname, 'The Throstles' originated because they had a thrush on their shirt badges. The more colloquial nickname and the more popular one is 'The Baggies'. There are several theories for how this name may have originated, a popular one being that the team wore unfashionably long shorts at one stage.
| | | | West Ham United | | | | | | Web site: http://www.whufc.com Founded: 1895 Nickname: Irons or Hammers Stadium: Boleyn Ground Stadium Address: Green Street, Upton Park, London E13 9AZ League: Premier League (Barclays Premier League)
History: Formed in 1895 as Thames Iron Works FC, turned professional in 1898, then in 1900 as West Ham United FC. Their stadium is also referred to as Upton Park, named after the surrounding area.
| | | | Wigan Athletic | | | | | | Web site: http://www.wiganlatics.co.uk Founded: 1897 Nickname: Latics Stadium: The DW Stadium Stadium Address: Loire Drive, Robin Park, Wigan WN5 OUH League: Premier League (Barclays Premier League) Winner of cup(s):
History: 102 years of Association Football came to an end in May 1999, with the last ever game at Springfield Park being the Play-Off Semi-Final 1st Leg against Manchester City, which Latics drew 1-1.
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