South Bank F.C.

South Bank's claim to have been founded in 1868 would make them the oldest club in the North-East and one of the oldest in England. While the date is recognised by most football historians, there is little contemporary evidence to support it. The club initially played friendly matches with other clubs in the Middlesbrough area. In 1885 they amalgamated with South Bank Eribus and South Bank Excelsior and in 1886 incorporated South Bank Black Watch. It was at this time that the club left their Cricket Field home, which had been criticised due to the narrowness of the playing field, to move to the Paradise Field, a site which was later to be covered by the sinter plant at British Steel’s…