| AFC Bournemouth | | | | | | Web site: http://www.afcb.co.uk Founded: 1899 Nickname: The Cherries Stadium: Vitality Stadium Stadium Address: Dean Court, Bournemouth BH7 7AF League: Premier League
History: The present football club can trace its roots as far back as 1890 when Boscombe St. Johns Institute Football Club were playing in local football. They disbanded in 1899 and from the remains of that club, Boscombe FC were formed at a meeting under the streetlights in Gladstone Road, Boscombe.
Notes: Their stadium is still known to many fans as Dean Court.
| | | | 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 Winner of cup(s):
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
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.
| | | | Brighton & Hove Albion | | | | | | Web site: http://www.seagulls.co.uk Founded: 1901 Nickname: Seagulls Stadium: American Express Community Stadium Stadium Address: Tower Point, 44 North Road, Brighton BN1 1YR League: Premier League
History: Formed in 1901, Brighton & Hove Albion played their initial games in the Second Division of the Southern League on the County Cricket Ground in Hove. In the second season of its existence the club moved in to the Goldstone Ground and secured the championship, winning promotion to the First Division.
Notes: Prior stadium was Withdean Stadium. Stadium also known as Falmer Stadium.
| | | | Burnley | | | | | | Web site: http://www.burnleyfootballclub.com Founded: 1882 Nickname: Clarets Stadium: Turf Moor Stadium Address: Harry Potts Way, Burnley BB10 4BX League: Premier League
History: Founder members of the Football League, Burnley Football Club began life as a Rugby Club. However, Burnley Rovers soon switched codes and became Burnley Football Club in 1882. They moved to their Turf Moor home shortly afterwards, at the invitation of the town's cricket club, which is still situated next to the stadium.
| | | | 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
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.
| | | | Crystal Palace | | | | | | Web site: http://www.cpfc.premiumtv.co.uk Founded: 1905 Nickname: Eagles Stadium: Selhurst Park Stadium Address: Selhurst Park, South Norwood, London SE25 6PU League: Premier League
History: Crystal Palace Football Club was formed at the venue of the glass Palace that stood at the top of Sydenham Hill, the current location of the National Sports Centre.
| | | | Everton | | | | | | Web site: http://www.evertonfc.com Founded: 1878 Nickname: Toffees Stadium: Goodison Park Stadium Address: Goodison Road, Liverpool L4 4EL League: 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.
| | | | Leicester City | | | | | | Web site: http://www.lcfc.co.uk Founded: 1884 Nickname: Foxes Stadium: King Power Stadium Stadium Address: Filbert Way, Leicester LE2 7FL League: Premier League
History: Leicester Fosse Football Club played friendlies in their first four years of existence before signing their first professional in 1888. The team struggled financially through different leagues in the early 20th century. When Leicester was upgraded from a borough to a city, the team's name changed to Leicester City in 1919. The club entered the league in 1894 and have never been out of the top two divisions. Foxes comes from the proliferation of hunting activity in the area in central England.
| | | | Liverpool | | | | | | Web site: http://www.liverpoolfc.tv Founded: 1882 Nickname: Reds Stadium: Anfield Stadium Address: Anfield Road, Liverpool L4 0TH League: Premier League Winner of cup(s):
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 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
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
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
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.
| | | | Sheffield United | | | | | | Web site: http://www.sufc.co.uk Founded: 1889 Nickname: Blades Stadium: Bramall Lane Stadium Address: Bramall Lane, Sheffield S2 4SU League: Premier League
History: Sheffield United Football Club is formed as an offshoot of the Sheffield United Cricket Club, following a meeting in March 1889, the first game is against Sheffield Club in August of the same year, and results in a 3-1 victory for United.
| | | | 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
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.
| | | | Tottenham Hotspur | | | | | | Web site: http://www.spurs.co.uk Founded: 1882 Nickname: Spurs Stadium: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Stadium Address: Bill Nicholson Way, 748 High Road, Tottenham, London N17 0AP League: 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.
Notes: The stadium's previous name was White Hart Lane.
| | | | Watford | | | | | | Web site: http://www.watfordfc.premiumtv.co.uk Founded: 1881 Nickname: Hornets Stadium: Vicarage Road Stadium Stadium Address: Vicarage Road, Watford WD18 0ER League: Premier League
History: The club formed as Watford Rovers in 1881, became a wing of West Herts Club at Cassio Road in 1890, joined the Southern League in 1896, and became professional in 1897. In 1898 West Herts and Watford St. Mary's were unable to survive as separate professional clubs, so West Herts absorbed their rivals and changed their name to Watford Football Club.
| | | | West Ham United | | | | | | Web site: http://www.whufc.com Founded: 1895 Nickname: Irons or Hammers Stadium: London Stadium Stadium Address: Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, Stratford, London E20 2ST League: 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.
Notes: Previous stadium was Boleyn Ground. Stadium also known as Olympic Stadium.
| | | | Wolverhampton Wanderers | | | | | | Web site: http://www.wolves.co.uk Founded: 1877 Nickname: Wolves Stadium: Molineux Stadium Stadium Address: Waterloo Road, Wolverhampton WV1 4QR League: Premier League
History: Another of the many clubs in the West Midlands, Wolves are located just north of Birmingham. they began as St. Luke's in 1877, but merged with a cricket club two years later called Wanderers. They have played at Molineux since 1889 although it has been refurbished many times. One of the best teams in England in the 1950's, financial problems drove them into the fourth division in the mid-80's. They were back in the top flight 20 years later.
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