150 years ago this week, on October 18th 1870 to be precise, Reigate Priory cricketers formed a Football Club and became a part of Football history and Folklore.

A year after its formation the first ever national football competition, the F.A.Challenge Cup, was created and Reigate Priory were one of the original 15 entrants. The other 14 were Barnes, Civil Service, Clapham Rovers, Hitchin, Maidenhead, Marlow, Donington School, Wanderers, Hampstead Heathens, Harrow Chequers, Royal Engineers, Upton Park, Crystal Palace and Queens Park, from Scotland. Wanderers were the first winners of the Final, played at the Oval.

This was still 17 years before the Football League was started and the top teams we know from today started to appear.

Another wonderful record for the Football Club is that they are reputed to be the club that has played on the same ground, Park Lane, longer than any other football club in the whole world. A proud and fascinating record.

The current Football clubhouse in the photo was of course the early cricket pavilion which hosted so many great matches before the current cricket pavilion was completed in 1930.

Such a shame for Reigate Priory Football club that Covid 19 is preventing them from celebrating their 150th anniversary in an appropriate manner.