The Club of Pioneers is a worldwide network of the oldest continuing association football clubs from each country.

The Club of Pioneers was founded in 2013 by Sheffield FC, the first and oldest association football club in the world. The Club of Pioneers aims to discover and connect the world's oldest existing football clubs, to build a global network of like-minded football clubs to promote the importance of football history and the grass roots and amateur game.

Definition of Pioneers

According to today's historical knowledge and available sources of football history, the Sheffield Football Club Foundation awards the honorary membership within the Club of Pioneers to those football clubs, who:

1. Still play football in amateur or professional football competition today.
2. Have constantly existed as a sports organisation since their date of foundation. (exceptions for periods of inactivity due to external reasons, for example war.)
3. Are by definition the oldest existing football club of their country, referring to the foundation date of a football team as part of a multi-sport club or as a proper football club, playing to association football rules.
4. Live and support the values of the game and amateur football: Integrity, Respect, Community.

Team Work

The club has a work team made up of great professionals who have been working in the field of football for many years.

1. President: Richard Tims
2. Partnerships: Dylan Ralph
3. Ambassador: Tom Simons (Belgium)
4. Latam Ambassador: Juan Alvarez (France - Uruguay)
5. Ambassador: Robert Zitzmann (Germany)

Current members

Club	founded in	League Season 23/24	Level	Country	Continent
Sheffield FC	1857, 24 October	Northern Premier League Division One East	8	England	Europe
Wrexham AFC	1864, 4 October	League Two	4	Wales	Europe
Queen's Park FC	1867, 9 July	Scottish Championship	2	Scotland	Europe
Kjøbenhavns Boldklub	1876, 26 April	Copenhagen Series	6	Denmark	Europe
FC St. Gallen	1879, 19 April	Swiss Super League	1	Switzerland	Europe
Koninklijke HFC	1879, 15 September	Second Division	3	Netherlands	Europe
Cliftonville FC	1879, 20 September	NIFL Premiership	1	Northern Ireland	Europe
Royal Antwerp FC	1880	Pro League	1	Belgium	Europe
Savages FC Pietermaritzburg	1882, 26 August	Not applicable[1]	n.a.	South Africa	Africa
Hong Kong F.C.	1886, 12 February	Hong Kong Premier League	1	Hong Kong	Asia
Yokohama C&AC	1886, 26 December	Not applicable[2]	n.a.	Japan	Asia
Associação Académica de Coimbra	1887, 3 November	Liga 3	3	Portugal	Europe
North Shore United AFC	1887	NRFL Division 1	3	New Zealand	Oceania
BFC Germania 1888	1888, 15 April	Kreisliga Berlin B Staffel 6	10	Germany	Europe
Mohun Bagan Super Giant	1889, 15 August	Indian Super League[3]	1	India	Asia
Real Club Recreativo de Huelva	1889, 23 December	Primera Federación	3	Spain	Europe
St. George's FC	1890	National Amateur League	3	Malta	Europe
Albion Football Club	1891, 1 June	Primera División	1	Uruguay	South America
Tvøroyrar Bóltfelag	1892, 13 May	1. deild	1	Faroe Islands	Europe
Santiago Wanderers	1892, 15 August	Primera B de Chile	2	Chile	South America
Genoa CFC	1893, 7 September	Serie A	1	Italy	Europe
Odds Ballklubb	1894, 31 March	Eliteserien	1	Norway	Europe
First Vienna FC	1894, 22 August	2. Liga	2	Austria	Europe
CS Fola Esch	1906, 9 December	National Division	1	Luxembourg	Europe
FK Ljuboten	1919, 28 March	Third Football League	3	North Macedonia	Europe
FK Sveikata	1919, 8 June	II Lyga	3	Lithuania	Europe
SV Voorwaarts	1919, 1 August	Topklasse	1	Suriname	South America
AC Libertas	1928, 4 September	Campionato Sammarinese di Calcio	1	San Marino	Europe

(4 September 2023)

Pioneers Cup

Members of the Club of Pioneers, can also take part in a Pioneers Cup: a football tournament where only 'oldest' clubs can participate, to showcase their pioneering heritage. The teams themselves do not play, but are represented by 'Pioneer' teams of fans, former-players, and staff of the club.