1886 in Sports - Association Football

Association Football

England

• Arsenal FC founded as Dial Square FC by munitions workers from the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich in southeast London. Dial Square is the name of one of their workshops. At the end of the year, the players hold a pub meeting and change the club's name to Royal Arsenal. Five years later, the name is changed to Woolwich Arsenal. The club's present name will be adopted in 1914 after the move to Islington.
• 13 March — Tinsley Lindley scores in the first of his record 9 consecutive England games
• 10 May — The Football Association approves a proposal made by N. Lane Jackson, an Old Corinthian, that players be given a cap for every international match in which they take part.
• FA Cup final – Blackburn Rovers 2–0 West Bromwich Albion at The Oval; replay after 0–0 draw at The Oval. This is Blackburn's third successive victory and the final is the first to feature two extant members of The Football League.
• December 11 – Dial Square F.C., later to became Arsenal FC (see above)), play their first match, a 6–0 win over the Eastern Wanderers.

Ireland

• March — Linfield F.C. is formed in Belfast.

Scotland

• 20 March — John Lambie becomes the youngest Scotland player and captain, aged 17 years and 92 days.
• May 17— Motherwell Football Club is formed.
• Scottish Cup final – Queen's Park 3–1 Renton

Switzerland

• Grasshopper-Club Zürich founded.