Heritage NCFC plaque on the Mercure Hotel George Street Nottingham

[forwardmagpie]

A dedicated Notts County football fan is raising money for a plaque to commemorate the building where the first ever professional football club was formed.

Andy Black, 53, from Basford, has started a crowd-funding page for the plaque to be placed outside the Mercure Hotel on George Street.

On December 7, 1864, a group of football players gathered in Suite 102 in what was then the George Hotel - now the Mercure Hotel - on George Street, in Hockley, and created the first professional ‘football’ club in the world.


http://www.nottinghampost.com/news/nottingham-news/calls-plaque-recognise-meeting-city-424071

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/andy-black-1

[DaveSmithRules]

He's a right good sort is Andy Black. I've just chucked in a tenner.

[jonnyt1]

He's a right good sort is Andy Black. I've just chucked in a tenner.

1864?

[arnapie]

I've always believed there is a plaque there? Sure it is / was inside room 102?

[Iwantmypieback]

1864?

Before then, we were playing football but not associated with the FA. Think we joined the FA in 1864 but had been playing since 1862 if that make sense

[Old_pie]

I've always believed there is a plaque there? Sure it is / was inside room 102?

Maybe it ended up in Room 101 by mistake >:)

[arnapie]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DI86ZtHUwAEc5DV.jpg

It's still there

[60YearsAPie]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DI86ZtHUwAEc5DV.jpg

It's still there

A plaque inside saying 1862. A plaque outside saying 1864.

[SolSigns]

A plaque inside saying 1862. A plaque outside saying 1864.

Perhaps they stopped for a pint on the way out?

[tarquinbeech]

Perhaps they stopped for a pint on the way out?

...or a dozen pints/gallons?....this happens to me, someone says "Tarkers, you did well.....4 years".......my reply "Surely not....it feels like only two?"

[apieandpint]

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DI86ZtHUwAEc5DV.jpg

It's still there

That plaque is worded incorrectly though.

[Bohinen]

We need to get our story straight on this. As Forest only claim 1865 we would still be older than them, but Stoke were supposedly founded in 1863. Or were they?

It is claimed that Stoke Ramblers was formed in 1863 when former pupils of Charterhouse School formed a football club while they were apprentices at the North Staffordshire Railway works in Stoke-on-Trent. However, Stoke Ramblers' first documented match was five years later, on 17 October 1868

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_Stoke_City_F.C.

Given that there is evidence that Notts were playing football amongst themselves from 1862 (even if they weren't actually officially formed) that is 'founded in 1862' as much as Stoke were 'founded in 1863'. But if people want to be pedantic about it, it's 1864 (Notts) versus 1868 (Stoke).

[tarquinbeech]

Our Wiki entry says formed AND played in 1862...no mention of 1864 anywhere that I can see

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Notts_County_F.C.

[Wedgie_pie]

Come on Joe Pass aka Soccerman, you were around then can you clear this up please...:)

[DaveSmithRules]

6434

Andy Black has been in touch and asked me to post this on here to give you a bit more context about the 1862/1864 thing.

[JoePass]

Come on Joe Pass aka Soccerman, you were around then can you clear this up please...:)

Sorry, can't help, I had just joined up as a mercenary in the American Civil War so missed it.