The home of football

We all know that the two largest football clubs in the premier league Manchester City và Manchester United play here. Both two teams compete in the Premier League, the top division of English football, and they have both won several Premier League trophies in addition to other awards. The two meetings between the clubs, collectively known as the Manchester derby, are two of the largest football matches in the world and draw millions of spectators from across the world. Manchester United and Manchester City supporters are referred to be the red and blue sides of the city, respectively, dividing the city's population. But did you know that Manchester was also the site of the establishment of the first professional football league in the world in 1888?

On April 17, 1888, a conference held at Manchester's Royal Hotel saw the official name and formation of the new league. The initial name suggested was "Association Football Union," but it was rejected because it was too similar to "Rugby Football Union." Instead, Major William Sudell suggested "The Football League," and everyone readily accepted it. The inaugural season of the brand-new "Football League" began on September 8th, 1888, with just 12 clubs participating, including Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Burnley, Derby County, and Everton.

The league has gone under several names because of the organization's many changes in sponsorship. In 2016–17, the league changed its name to the "English Football League," or "EFL," which is also the name of the league's governing body. The Royal Hotel is regrettably no longer there, but the location of its former location is commemorated by a red plaque on the Royal Buildings on Market Street.