Nelson Football Club is a football club, based in Nelson, Lancashire, England. Established in 1882, the club played in the Lancashire League, Lancashire Combination and Central League before becoming founder members of the Third Division North of the Football League in 1921. They were Division Three North champions in 1922–23 and were promoted to Division Two. However, they were relegated back to the Third Division North after a single season. In 1931 the club lost their Football League status and dropped back into the Lancashire Combination, where they played until folding in 1936. They were reformed after World War II and rejoined the Lancashire Combination, playing in the league until it merged to form the North West Counties League in 1982. They dropped out of the league between 1988 and 1992, playing in the West Lancashire League. Although the club left the league again in 2010, they returned the following year, and are currently members of the North West Counties League Division One North, playing home matches at Victoria Park. Nelson FC were the first team to beat Real Madrid on Spanish soil.
