Original Names of English Soccer Teams Quiz

Answer: Bristol Rovers

Black Arabs F.C. were founded in Bristol in 1883, their name being a combination of a local rugby team called The Arabs, and their all black jerseys. Within a year they had changed their name to Eastville Rovers, after the district of Bristol where they were based.

When they turned professional in 1897, they added Bristol to the front of their title before abandoning the Eastville bit two years later, finally settling on Bristol Rovers as their permanent name.

Answer: Arsenal

Dial Square F.C. were formed in 1886 by workers at the Royal Arsenal in Woolwich, South London. Dial Square was the name of the particular workshop where they were based. They changed their name to Royal Arsenal later that same year, and then to Woolwich Arsenal in 1893.

The club relocated north of the River Thames to Islington in 1913, renaming themselves The Arsenal the following year. In 1919 they became Arsenal F.C., the name by which they are still known worldwide in the 21st century.

Answer: Gillingham

New Brompton F.C. were founded in 1893 in the Medway area of Kent, which includes the towns of Brompton, Gillingham, Chatham and Rochester. Despite their name, they were based in Gillingham rather than Brompton, with their original ground of Priestfield Stadium being the same one where they were still based in 2018. The club changed its name to Gillingham F.C. in 1912.

Answer: Manchester United

Newton Heath F.C. was formed in northeast Manchester in 1878 by workers of the Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway. Their original colours of green and gold were those of the railway company. They relocated to the Clayton district of the city in 1893, and changed their name to Manchester United in 1902, adopting the famous red shirts in the same year.

They relocated to the Old Trafford ground in 1910.

Answer: Oldham Athletic

Pine Villa F.C. were founded in Oldham in 1895, taking their name from the Pine Mill which was close to their first ground. When another local team, Oldham County, folded in 1899, Pine Villa moved into their ground and changed their name to Oldham Athletic. They moved into Boundary Park in 1904.

Answer: Everton

St Domingo F.C. were formed in the Everton district of Liverpool in 1878 by church parishioners who already played cricket in the summer and wanted a sport to play in the winter months. The Everton F.C. name was adopted in 1879. The club moved into Anfield Stadium in 1884, but, after a dispute with their landlords in 1892, relocated across Stanley Park to Goodison Park.

A new club, Liverpool F.C., were subsequently founded to play at Anfield.

Answer: Southampton

St Mary's Young Men's Association F.C. were formed in Southampton in 1885 by members of St Mary's Church. The Y.M.A. part of the name was dropped in 1887. In 1894, when the club joined the Southern League, they changed their name to Southampton St Mary's. Three years later their name was shortened to Southampton F.C.

In 2001, when the club moved out of their long time home of The Dell, they named their new ground St Mary's Stadium.

Answer: Coventry City

Singers F.C. was founded in Coventry in 1883 by employees of the bicycle manufacturers Singer Motors. They were renamed Coventry City in 1898 shortly before moving into their long term home of Highfield Road. In 2005 the club relocated to the Ricoh Arena on the outskirts of the city.

Answer: Birmingham City

Small Heath Alliance were formed in 1875 in the Small Heath district of Birmingham. They dropped the Alliance part of their name in 1888 and joined the Football League four year later. They changed their name to Birmingham F.C. in 1905, and then to Birmingham City in 1943. They moved into their long time home of St Andrew's in 1906.

Answer: West Ham United

Thames Ironworks F.C. was formed in the east end of London in 1895 by the owner of the Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Company. They were briefly wound up in 1900 before being relaunched under the name of West Ham United. The club moved into the Boleyn Ground (universally known as Upton Park) in 1904, before relocating to the London (Olympic) Stadium in Stratford in 2016.