Accrington F.C.

Accrington F.C. were one of the founder members of the Football League in England. Accrington F.C. was formed in Accrington, in Hyndburn, Lancashire following a meeting at a local public house in 1876. The 'Owd Reds' played at the Moorhead Park ground.

The club was part of the revolt against the Football Association in 1884 over professionalism. It joined the Football League on April 17, 1888, one of the original twelve teams. In the first season the club played 22 games, won six, drew eight and lost eight, finishing seventh in the league. The club withdrew from the league in 1893 because of financial problems, the club's best finish had been sixth in 1889-90, while in their final season the club ended up fifteenth. The club continued outside the league until 1896 when they finally folded following a 12-0 thumping on January 14 from Darwen in the Lancashire Senior Cup.

Following the collapse of the club a new team did not join the league from Accrington until 1921-22 with Accrington Stanley F.C. from the Lancashire Combination league.

The name Accrington F.C. was briefly revived by Accrington Stanley F.C. following their bankruptcy in 1964.

The first league games of Blackburn Rovers and of Everton were against Accrington F.C.