The FA celebrates its 151st birthday on Sunday, as it was on 26 October 1863 that the eight Founding Fathers met in The Freemasons’ Tavern in Holborn, London to form ‘The Football Association’ and later codify the first Laws of the Game.
Those Founding Fathers of football were Ebenezer Cobb Morley, Arthur Pember, Charles William Alcock, Francis Maule Campbell, John Forster Alcock, Herbert Thomas Steward, George Twizell Wawn and James Turner.
The site where The FA was founded 151 years ago
And they were all recognised last year during The FA's 150th anniversary celebrations with a string of activities taking place to celebrate that milestone.
That included the nationwide Sir Bobby Robson National Football Day last August and a celebration of 150 grassroots heroes at Buckingham Palace.
The FA used its 150th anniversary to shine a light on the national game and specifically the seven million players of all ages, 400,000 volunteers, 300,000 coaches and 27,000 qualified referees who all help keep the grassroots going.
A plaque was also unveiled at the Grand Connaught Rooms – the original site of The FA’s founding in 1863.
And relatives of the Founding Fathers travelled from as far afield as New Zealand and the United States to take part in a ceremony honouring their ancestors, where there is finally a permanent record of the birthplace of the world’s most popular sport.
The FA President, HRH The Duke Of Cambridge was involved throughout the 150th anniversary year celebrations in 2013
The Grand Connaught Rooms hosted the FA150 Gala Dinner on Saturday 26 October 2013, where the original 1863 FA Minute Book took centre-stage as FA President, HRH The Duke Of Cambridge, was chief guest.
Valued at £2.5m, the book contains the handwritten 13 original laws of football penned over a century and a half ago by Ebenezer Cobb Morley, The FA’s first secretary.
Guests also included, FIFA President Joseph S. Blatter, UEFA President Michel Platini and a trio of FIFA World Cup winners in George Cohen, Martin Peters and Sir Geoff Hurst.
Read more on The FA's history by clicking here.
Watch highlights of The FA's 150 years in 150 seconds
