Football club marks 'remarkable' 150th anniversary

Harwich & Parkeston FC faced Oxford-based Pegasus in the 1953 FA Amateur Cup final in front of 100,000 people at Wembley Stadium

A non-league football club are celebrating what they describe as the "remarkable" achievement of reaching their 150th anniversary.

Harwich & Parkeston FC were founded on 25 October 1875 at what was the Three Cups Hotel in the Essex seaside town.

Club historian Andy Schooler says they will have an exhibition and memorabilia on show at their home match later against Soul Tower Hamlets in the Essex Senior League.

A souvenir programme will also be available for fans, featuring the Shrimpers' historic FA Amateur Cup final in 1953 against Oxford side Pegasus at Wembley.

Harwich & Parkeston are the second side in Essex to reach the 150-year milestone after Saffron Walden Town, who achieved this in 2022.

There are only 10 existing clubs in the top four leagues of English football older than Harwich & Parkeston, including top-flight Nottingham Forest and Aston Villa.

"There's not too many around at all, so it's a big achievement," said Mr Schooler.

Francis Marindin, former president of The Football Association, helped to found the club after he was posted to Harwich with The Royal Engineers.

"It's quite an interesting story," said Mr Schooler.

"And that seems to be the reason why Harwich ended up getting a football club when it did.

"He's quite a historic figure in footballing terms."

Harwich & Parkeston have had a grandstand at their home ground, Royal Oak, for more than 75 years

Mr Schooler says this "remarkable" history is "what separates Harwich & Parkeston out from a lot of the local clubs at this level".

"I know Maldon & Tiptree are making the headlines at the moment but Harwich have [played in the FA Cup first round] six times, including playing Crystal Palace who are the current holders.

"You get a lot of Champions League games these days but the very first game between an English and European team played in England was played at Harwich & Parkeston when Belgian side Royal Antwerp came over in 1892 on the boat - and Harwich won 11-0!"

Harwich & Parkeston won the Thurlow Nunn First Division North in 2025 to reach step five of non-league English football

Harwich & Parkeston nearly dropped out of the English football pyramid in 2010 because of financial struggles.

But they are now playing in the ninth tier, sitting mid-table in the Essex Senior League.

Mr Schooler added: "There were some dark times.

"I think it's quite remarkable that the club's gone from step eight to step five in the last decade, which shows you things are very much on the up.

"It's good to see things going well on the pitch. Manager Matt Carmichael's been doing a great job."