UK Football Facts & Statistics
Data-driven facts about football in the United Kingdom — from the thousands of non-league clubs playing every weekend to the historic grounds and legendary players that make the grassroots game special.
The Numbers
Club Facts
Over 14,000 football clubs are tracked in our database, from the National League down to county-level grassroots teams, walking football clubs and youth development squads.
90% of clubs in our database have a recorded founding year. The oldest date back to the 1850s and 1860s — predating the founding of the FA itself. See the oldest clubs →
Women's football is one of the fastest-growing areas of the game. Thousands of women's and girls' clubs now play in structured leagues across every county in England. Women's football →
Walking football has exploded in popularity since 2011, with hundreds of dedicated walking football clubs now operating across the UK. Walking football clubs →
Ground & Venue Facts
6,900+ football venues are catalogued across the UK, from historic non-league grounds to modern 3G complexes and community pitches. Ground guide →
3G and 4G pitches have transformed grassroots football. All-weather surfaces mean fewer postponements and more playing time year-round. Pitch finder →
The largest non-league grounds can hold several thousand spectators with covered stands, terracing and clubhouse facilities. Biggest venues →
Historical Facts
The Football Association was founded in 1863 at the Freemasons' Tavern in London — but many clubs in our database predate even the FA, with founding dates in the 1850s.
The FA Cup, first played in 1871–72, is the oldest national football competition in the world. Non-league clubs can still enter and occasionally produce famous giant-killings.
The pyramid system connecting non-league to the Football League through promotion and relegation was formalised in 1987 with the creation of the Conference (now the National League). Football pyramid guide →
The FA Vase and FA Trophy replaced the old FA Amateur Cup in the 1970s, creating dedicated knock-out competitions for different levels of non-league football. FA Vase guide | FA Trophy guide