Crystal Palace claim to be world's oldest professional club

For decades Notts County, currently playing in England's fifth-tier National League, have been regarded as the oldest professional club following their foundation in 1862.

But author Peter Manning, working on behalf of Premier League side Palace, has discovered a link between the south Londoners, founded as a professional club in 1905, and a cricket and football club formed a year before County were born.

The research claims there is a direct connection between the two outfits through their ownership by the Crystal Palace Company.

"Without the Crystal Palace and the Crystal Palace Company there would have been no Crystal Palace Football Club," said Manning.