English football is one of the most popular sports in the world. It has a rich history and many strong leagues and teams.
London is considered the capital of Association football. There are many football teams in London, representing different levels of football. According to various estimates, there are 17 football clubs in London. This city is home to many famous clubs such as Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United. London is also the venue for many important football matches and tournaments. Football is an integral part of life in London, with many fan communities and events surrounding the game.
London Premier League Clubs
The English Premier League is made up of 20 clubs, of which 7 London teams play in the Premier League. Each team shares the goal of gaining the most points during the Premier League season in order to become champions or avoid relegation.
- Arsenal is one of the most famous and successful football clubs in the world, founded in 1886 in London. It was founded by workers from a factory in Woolwich and became the first professional club in the south of England. The team’s official colours are red and white. Their home stadium is the Emirates Stadium, which opened in 2006 and holds around 60,000 spectators. The club previously played at Highbury. Arsenal are multiple English champions, most recently winning the Premier League Cup in 2015-16. They have won the FA Cup 14 times, a record for the competition. Arsenal have also won the Community Shield numerous times. The club has traditional rivalries with teams such as Tottenham Hotspur (a long-running rivalry known as the North London Derby) and Chelsea. Arsenal is also famous for its academy, which has produced many talented players.
- Chelsea is another one of the most famous and successful London football clubs. The FC was founded in 1905 and is located in London. Their successes were particularly enhanced in the 2000s when the club was acquired by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich, allowing him to invest in players and infrastructure. The team’s colours are blue as the main colour and white. Training takes place at Stamford Bridge, which has a capacity of around 40,000 spectators. They have won the English Premier Football League title 6 times, most recently in the 2016–17 season. Chelsea are the holders of the FA Cup, which they have won 8 times. The club has won the UEFA Champions League title twice, in 2012 and 2021. Chelsea have also won the UEFA Europa League twice, in 2013 and 2019. They also have several other trophies, including the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
- Tottenham Hotspur was founded in 1882 and initially represented the interests of the local community. It is located in North London. The FC achieved considerable success in the early 20th century and continued to gain popularity. In the 1960s, the London club reached the top, winning many trophies, including the Cup Winners’ Cup. The main colours are white and blue. Tottenham Hotspur opened its newest stadium, Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, in 2019, which holds around 62,000 spectators. The club has won two English titles, most recently in 1960-61. Tottenham have won the FA Cup eight times, most recently in 1990-91. They also became the first London-based club to win the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1963. Tottenham reached the UEFA Champions League final in 2019, but lost to Liverpool.
- Crystal Palace was founded in 1905. It became famous for its team in the 1960s and 1970s and became one of the flagships of London football. In the 1980s and early 1990s, they played in the top division and achieved considerable success, including participation in European competitions. In 1990, Crystal Palace reached the FA Cup final, but lost to Manchester United. The team can be recognized by the red and blue colors of their uniform. They play at Selhurst Park, which has a capacity of around 25,500.
- Fulham is a professional football club based in Fulham, West London. It was founded in 1879 and is one of London’s oldest clubs. Its colours are white and black. The home stadium is Craven Cottage, which has a capacity of around 25,700 spectators. Fulham won the English Premier League in 1907 and have several trophies in the lower leagues. They reached the FA Cup final in 1975, but lost to West Ham. Their most notable achievement was reaching the Europa League final in 2010, where Fulham lost to Atletico Madrid.
- West Ham United was founded in 1895. Today it is one of the Premier League teams based in the London borough of West Ham, England. The club uses claret and blue colours. The London Stadium, which has a capacity of around 66,000 spectators, was built for the 2012 Olympic Games and was subsequently converted for football purposes. It has been home to West Ham since 2016. West Ham won the English Premier League in 1968 and 1976. The club has won the FA Cup three times – in 1964, 1975 and 1980. In 1965, West Ham won the European Cup Winners’ Cup, beating Eintracht Frankfurt. The club also reached the final of the Europa League (formerly the UEFA Cup) in 2021.
- Brentford was founded in 1889 and plays its home games at the Brentford Community Stadium, which has a capacity of around 17,000. The club has long played in the lower divisions, but has achieved significant success in recent years. In the 2020/2021 season, Brentford won promotion to the Premier League, returning to the top flight of English football after 74 years away.
Championship Football clubs based in London:
- Millwall is a football club founded in 1885. It is based in the Millwall district of south-east London. The club is known for its historical rivalries with a number of other clubs, notably Crystal Palace and West Ham United. Millwall play their home games at The Den, which has a capacity of around 20,000. The club has a long and rich history, including several seasons in the top flight of English football, as well as participation in cup competitions. One of the most memorable moments in the club’s history was reaching the FA Cup final in 2004. The team’s colours are blue and white.
- Queens Park Rangers was founded in 1882 and is based in London. The club plays its home games at Loftus Road. QPR have won the Championship (the second tier of English football) several times, with their most recent title coming in 2011. The club also won the FA Cup in 1967.
League One teams from London:
- Charlton Athletic, founded in 1905, play their home games at The Valley Stadium. They won the First Division (now known as the Premier League) twice, in 1937 and 1947. The club also won the FA Cup in 1947.
- Leyton Orient is a club founded in 1881 and based in Leyton, East London. The club plays its home games at Brevant Road Stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 9,300. Leyton Orient won the Third Division Championship in 1962 and 1964, and also won the Football League Cup in 1978.
London’s League Two teams:
- AFC Wimbledon was formed in 2002 by fans of Wimbledon, which was renamed Milton Keynes Dons in 2004. The club initially started out in local leagues but quickly thrived. In 2011, AFC Wimbledon achieved a historic moment by returning to the Football League, that is, League 2. The club was able to return to League One in 2016 after a successful season. The team currently plays its home games at Plough Lane Stadium, which opened in 2020 and has a capacity of around 9,100 spectators.
- Sutton United is a club located in Sutton, South London. It was founded in 1898 as an amateur team but soon became a founder member of the London Amateur League. The club has experienced ups and downs and has not always played in the top leagues. In 1960, Sutton United became pro and began playing in the lower leagues of English football. The club enjoyed considerable success in the 1970s and 1980s, including winning the FA Trophy in 1981 and 1988. In 2016, Sutton United made a big impression by winning promotion to the Football League (League 2), a major achievement for the club. Gander Green Lane is the home stadium of Sutton United and has a capacity of around 5,000.
London-based National League teams:
- Dagenham & Redbridge was founded in 1992 as a result of the merger of two teams – Dagenham and Redbridge. Dagenham & Redbridge achieved significant success, winning the Football Association title in 2010, which earned the club a place in League 2. Victoria Road is the club’s home stadium, with a capacity of around 6,000.
- Wealdstone was founded in 1887, making it one of the oldest clubs in the UK. The club began as an amateur club and played in local leagues for a long time. Wealdstone became a professional club in the 1970s. In 1985, the team won the FA Trophy, which was one of the best moments in the club’s history. The club spent several seasons in various leagues, including the Conference and later the National League, seeking to regain their status in the higher divisions. The club’s home is St. Georges Stadium, which has a capacity of approximately 4,000 spectators.
Of course, the above list of London clubs is not exhaustive, but highlights only the most famous teams. And the information provided about each FC is brief and not complete. However, London is home to other football clubs that have semi-professional and amateur status.
