THE THURSDAY CLUB #3 - CIVIL SERVICE FC

The Civil Service Football Club are one of the oldest in London and celebrate an amazing 150 years of the game this year. They are the one sole surviving Association Football club from the original eleven whom formed The Football Association in 1863. Of the other club's present on that day Barnes ("Barnes Rugby Football Club") and Blackheath ("Blackheath Football Club") also survive but now play Rugby Union.

"Forest of Leytonstone" who went on to become "Wanderers" were also one of the eleven but folded in 1887. They have recently been reformed in 2009 and since 2011 play in the Surrey South-East Combination. They finished in second place in the Junior Division Four in 2012/13 behind Norton and ahead of Cheam Village Warriors 'A'.

Civil Service FC competed in the first FA Cup competition and also provided the two umpires for the first final.

They were founder members of the Isthmian League in 1905 but left to join the Southern Amateur League (SAL) in 1907. They re-joined the Isthmian ranks after the first world war and stayed until 1929 when they re-joined the SAL where they have been members ever since. They were last crowned champions of the top division in season 1970/71

Last season the club's first XI finished in seventh place (of 11 teams) in the SAL Senior Division One playing against Nottsborough, Winchmore Hill, Old Wilsonians, Old Owens, West Wickham, Old Salesians, Alleyn Old Boys, Old Parkonians, East Barnet Old Grammarians and Broomfield.

The club's home is The King's House Sports Ground which is on the North side of the River Thames in Chiswick.

Their website can be found here