Football Club Mergers

This is a list of football clubs created by the merging of two or more clubs.

Belgian clubs

Clubs currently in the Belgian First Division A or the Belgian First Division B:
* Beerschot VA created by the merger of ''KFCO Wilrijk'' and Beerschot AC in 2013. Both merging clubs had been formed out of a merger as well:
** Beerschot AC, known as Germinal Beerschot until 2011, had been formed in 1999 as a merger of ''Germinal Ekeren'' and Beerschot VAC.
** KFCO Wilrijk had been formed in 1993 as a merger of ''KFC Wilrijk'' and ''Olympia Wilrijk '72''.
* Eupen created by the merger of ''La Jeunesse d'Eupen'' and ''FC Eupen 1920'' in 1945.
* Excel Mouscron created by the merger of Peruwelz and Mouscron in 2010.
* Genk created by the merger of Waterschei and ''Winterslag'' in 1988.
* Kortrijk created by the merger of ''Kortrijk Sport'' and ''Stade Kortrijk'' in 1971.
* Lierse Kempenzonen created by the merger of ''FC Oosterzonen'' and Lierse in 2018.
* Lommel created by the merger of ''Racing Mol-Wezel'' and ''KVSK United Overpelt-Lommel'' in 2010 and initially called Lommel United. KVSK United Overpelt-Lommel had itself been formed as a merger of ''Overpelt-Fabriek'' and KFC Lommel SK in 2003.
* OH Leuven created by the merger of '' Zwarte Duivels Oud-Heverlee'', ''Daring Club Leuven'' and '' Stade Leuven'' in 2002.
* Oostende created by the merger of AS Oostende and ''VG Oostende'' in 1981.
* RWDM47 was formed out of a merger. In 2015, Standaard Wetteren and ''Wetteren-Kwatrecht'' merged into RFC Wetteren, continuing with the football licence of the latter, but selling the licence of the former to a group wanting to revive the legacy of R.W.D. Molenbeek and its successor FC Brussels which had gone into default respectively in 2002 and 2014. Strictly speaking, RWDM47 is hence the successor of Standaard Wetteren.

* Sint-Truiden created by the merger of ''FC Union'' and ''FC Goldstar'' in 1924.
* Waasland-Beveren created by the merger of ''Red Star Waasland'' and Beveren in 2010.
* Westerlo created by the merger of ''Westerlo Sport '' and ''VC Westerlo'' in 1942.
* Zulte Waregem created by the merger of ''Zultse VV'' and Waregem in 2001.

Croatian clubs

* HNK Rijeka comes from the merger of CS Gloria into CS Olimpia in 1926.

Cypriot clubs

*AEK Larnaca FC was created by the merger of EPA Larnaca FC and Pezoporikos Larnaca FC in 1994.
*AEP Paphos FC was created by the merger of APOP Paphos FC and Evagoras Paphos in 2000.
*Ayia Napa FC was created by the merger of APEAN Ayia Napa and Enosis Neon Ayia Napa at 1990.
*Pafos FC was created by the merger of AEK Kouklia FC and AEP Paphos FC at 2014.
*Enosis Neon Parekklisia FC was created by the merger of AMEP Parekklisia and ATE PEK Parekklisias at 2006.
*Many other teams from lower divisions.

Dutch clubs

* ADO Den Haag was created by the merger of FC Den Haag and Holland Sport in 1971.
* AZ was created by the merger of Alkmaar '54 and FC Zaanstreek in 1967. The name AZ stands for Alkmaar Zaanstreek.
* FC Amsterdam created by the merger of three clubs from the city of Amsterdam- Blauw-Wit, DWS, and De Volewijckers in 1972.
* FC Den Bosch was created by the merger of BVV and Wilhelmina in 1967.
* FC Twente was created by the merger of Sportclub Enschede and Enschedese Boys in 1965.
* FC Utrecht created by the merger of three clubs from the city of Utrecht - DOS, Elinkwijk, and Velox in 1970.
* Fortuna Sittard was created by the merger of Fortuna '54 and Sittardia in 1968.
* N.E.C. was created by the merger of SV Nijmegen and SV Eendracht in 1910. The name Nijmegen Eendracht Combinatie, means combination of Nijmegen and Eendracht.
* NAC Breda was created by the merger of ADVENDO and NOAD in 1912. Both acronyms, NOAD stands for Nooit Opgeven, Altijd Doorzetten (English: Never giveup, always go for it) and AVENDO stands for Aangenaam Door Vermaak En Nuttig Door Ontspanning (English: Pleasant For Entertainment And Useful For Relaxation) and C for Combinatie (English: Combination). The full name of NAC Breda is the longest name for a football club in the World with 80 characters.
* PEC Zwolle was created by the merger of Prins Hendrik and EDN (Ende Desespereert Nimmer) in 1910. The name P.E.C. stands for PH EDN Combinatie (PH EDN Combination).
* RKC Waalwijk created by the merger of three clubs from the city of Waalwijk- HEC, WVB and Hercules in 1940. The name stands for Rooms Katholieke Combinatie (English: Roman Catholic Combination)
* Roda JC Kerkrade was created by the merger of multiple clubs from the town of Kerkrade, SV Kerkrade and SV Bleijerheide merged to become Roda Sport in 1954. That same year Rapid '54 and amateur club Juliana merged to form Rapid JC. Roda Sport then merged with Rapid JC to form Roda JC in 1956. The town of Kerkrade was added to the club name in 2010 after the municipality had to bail the club out financially.
* SC Telstar was created by the merger of IJVV Stormvogels and VSV in 1963.

English clubs

Clubs currently in the Premier League, the Football League or the Football Conference:
* Bury created by the merger of Bury Unitarians and Bury Wesleyans in 1885.
* Stoke City created by the merger of Stoke Ramblers and Stoke Victoria in 1878.
* Luton Town created by the merger of ''Luton Town Wanderers'' and ''Excelsior'' in 1885.
* Ipswich Town created by the merger of ''Ipswich A.F.C.'' and ''Ipswich Rugby Club'' in 1888.
* Newcastle United created by the merger of Newcastle West End and Newcastle East End in 1892.
* Watford created by the merger of ''West Hertfordshire'' and ''Watford St Mary's'' in 1898.
* Maidenhead United created as Maidenhead Town by the merger of Maidenhead and ''Maidenhead Norfolkian'' in 1919 before changing its name to Maidenhead United in 1920.
* Torquay United created by the merger of ''Torquay Town'' and ''Babbacombe'' in 1921. ''Torquay Town'' was itself created by the merger of the original Torquay United and Ellacombe in 1910.
* Rotherham United created by the merger of Rotherham County and Rotherham Town in 1925.
* Ebbsfleet United created as ''Gravesend & Northfleet'' by the merger of Gravesend United and Northfleet United in 1946 before changing its name to Ebbsfleet United in 2007.
* Dagenham & Redbridge created by the merger of Dagenham and Redbridge Forest in 1992. Redbridge Forest itself was created by the merging of three separate clubs. Ilford and Leytonstone merged in 1979 to become Leytonstone & Ilford which then merged with Walthamstow Avenue in 1988 to become Redbridge Forest.
* Rushden & Diamonds created by the merger of Rushden Town and Irthlingborough Diamonds in 1992.
* Hinckley United created by the merger of Hinckley Town and Hinckley Athletic in 1992.
* Havant & Waterlooville created by the merger of Havant Town and Waterlooville in 1998. Havant Town was itself created as ''Havant & Leigh Park'' by the merger of the original Havant Town and ''Leigh Park'' in 1969, before being renamed Havant Town in 1982.
* Hayes & Yeading United created by the merger of Hayes and Yeading in 2007.
* Solihull Moors created by the merger of Solihull Borough and Moor Green in 2007.
* Queens Park Rangers created by the merger of Christchurch Rangers and St Judes in 1886.
* Ossett United created by the merger of Ossett Town and Ossett Albion in 2018

Filipino clubs

* Army FC GTI was a temporary merger of ''Philippine Army FC'' and ''General Trias International FC''.
* Pachanga Diliman FC was created by the merger of ''Pachanga FC Red Phoenix'' and ''Diliman FC''.

French clubs

* Paris Saint-Germain Football Club originally known as ''Stade Saint Germain'' merged with Paris FC.

German clubs

* Hamburger SV created by a succession of mergers, most notably ''SC Germania Hamburg'', ''Hamburger FC'' and ''FC Falke Eppendorf'' in 1919.
* Karlsruher SC created by a succession of mergers, most notably ''KFC Phoenix'' and ''VfB Mühlburg'' in 1952.
* 1. FC Köln created by the merger of ''Kölner BC'' and ''Spielvereinigung 1907 Köln-Sülz'' in 1948.
* VfB Stuttgart created by the merger of ''Stuttgarter FV'' and ''Kronen-Club Cannstatt'' in 1912.

Greek clubs

* Atromitos F.C. merged with Halkidona in 2005.
* Ethnikos Olympiakos Volos F.C. created by the merger of ''Ethnikos Volos'' and ''Olympiakos Volos'' in 1961.
* Panserraikos F.C. created by the merger of ''Iraklis'' and ''Apollon'' (two local clubs) in 1964.

Indian clubs

* ATK Mohun Bagan FC originally known as Mohun Bagan FC merged with ATK FC in 2020

Italian clubs

* ACF Fiorentina created by the merger of CS Firenze and PG Libertas in 1926.
* AS Roma created by the merger of Roman FC, SS Alba-Audace and Fortitudo-Pro Roma SGS in 1927. Fellow Rome football club S.S. Lazio refused to be merged.
* Sampdoria created by the merger of ''Sampierdarenese'' and ''Andrea Doria'' in 1946, after a previous attempt in 1927.
* US Fiumana created by a merger of CS Gloria into CS Olimpia in 1926, the club later changed its name to NK Rijeka.
*''Società Sportiva Ambrosiana'', created by the merger of Football Club Internazionale and Unione Sportiva Milanese in 1928 by the fascist Italian government. Their name was changed to Associazione Sportiva Ambrosiana in 1929, Associazione Sportiva Ambrosiana-Inter in 1931 after fan pressure to add back Inter, and the club finally regained their name of Football Club Internazionale Milano at the end of World War II in 1945 after the fascists were defeated.

Japanese clubs

* JEF United Ichihara Chiba created by the merger of ''Furukawa Electric'' and ''JR East F.C.'' in 1991.
* Yokohama Flügels merged with ''Yokohama Marinos'' in 1998 to create Yokohama F. Marinos.
* Kataller Toyama created by the merger of ALO's Hokuriku and YKK AP SC in 2007.
* Kagoshima United FC created by the 2014 merger of ''Volca Kagoshima'' and ''Osumi NIFS United'', originally based in Kanoya.

Kazakhstani clubs

* FC Lokomotiv Astana created by the merger of FC Almaty and FC Megasport in 2009.

Luxembourgish clubs

* Racing FC Union Luxembourg created by the merger of CS Alliance 01, CA Spora Luxembourg and Union Sportive Luxembourg in 2005.

Portuguese clubs

* ''Sport Lisboa'' merged with ''Grupo Sport Benfica'' in 1908 to form Sport Lisboa e Benfica.
* ''União Foot-Ball Lisboa'' merged with ''Carcavelinhos Football Clube'' in 1942 to form Atlético Clube de Portugal.

Scottish clubs

* Aberdeen F.C. created by the merger of ''Aberdeen F.C.'', ''Victoria United'' and ''Orion F.C'' in 1903.
* Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. created by the merger of Caledonian F.C. and Inverness Thistle F.C. in 1994.
* Heston Rovers F.C. created by the merger of ''Heston Rovers F.C'' and ''Dumfries F.C.'' in 2008.
* Ayr United F.C. created by the merger of ''Ayr F.C'' and ''Ayr Parkhouse F.C'' in 1910.

Serbian clubs

* FK Milicionar merged into FK Radnički Obrenovac in 2001.
* FK Zvezdara merged into FK Srem in 2002.
* FK Železnik merged into FK Voždovac in 2005.
* FK Železničar Vranjska Banja merged into FK Radnik Surdulica in 2008.
* FK Zlatibor Voda merged with FK Spartak Subotica into FK Spartak Zlatibor Voda in 2008.
* FK Šumadija 1903 merged with FK Radnički Kragujevac into FK Šumadija Radnički 1923 in 2009.
* FK Big Bull merged with FK Radnički Šid into FK Big Bull Radnički in 2010.
* FK Sevojno merged with FK Sloboda Užice into FK Sloboda Point Sevojno in 2010.
* FK Budućnost Valjevo merged with FK Krušik Valjevo to create FK Budućnost Krušik 2014 in 2014.
* FK Dorćol merged with FK GSP Polet to create FK GSP Polet Dorćol in 2017.
* FK Proleter Novi Sad merged into RFK Novi Sad 1921 in 2022.

Spanish clubs

* Celta Vigo created by the merger of Real Vigo Sporting and Real Club Fortuna de Vigo in 1923.
*Real Oviedo created by the merger of ''Stadium Ovetense'' and ''Real Club Deportivo Oviedo'' in 1926.

Surinamese clubs

* Nacional Deva Boys created by the merger of FCS Nacional and S.V. Deva Boys in 2013.

Welsh clubs

* Druids United FC created by the merger of Druids FC with Acrefair United FC in 1923.
* Cefn Druids AFC created by the merger of Druids United with Cefn Albion FC in 1992.
* UWIC Inter Cardiff FC created by the merger of Inter Cardiff FC with UWIC FC in 2000.
* The New Saints F.C. created by the merger of Total Network Solutions (Who were renamed from Llansantffraid F.C. for Sponsorship reasons), and Oswestry Town F.C. in 2003.

Proposed mergers

Dutch clubs

* Roda JC and Fortuna Sittard were going to form Sporting Limburg; Fell through after a failure to gain financial support for the new club.

English clubs

* Bury F.C., Oldham Athletic A.F.C. and Rochdale A.F.C. in 1999 as ''Manchester North End''

* Fulham F.C. and Woolwich Arsenal in 1912; controversial owner of both clubs Henry Norris planned on merging the two clubs to create a "London Superclub". The Football Association blocked the move, but didn't stop Norris serving as chairman to both clubs.
* Huddersfield Town F.C. and Leeds United A.F.C. in 1919; scrapped due to Huddersfield Town supporters purchasing shares in club to ensure independence
* Manchester City F.C. and Manchester United F.C. in 1964; proposed by chairman of Manchester City F.C. Frank Johnson
* Port Vale F.C. and Stoke City F.C. in 1926 and 2003; Stoke rejected merger proposals in 1926, before their owners made a failed attempt to buy out a Port Vale in administration 77 years later.
* Queens Park Rangers F.C. and Brentford F.C. in 1967.
* Oxford United F.C. and Reading F.C. in 1983 by Robert Maxwell; scrapped after both teams' supporters objected. Team would have been named " Thames Valley Royals".
* Queens Park Rangers F.C. and Fulham F.C. in 1987 as ''Fulham Park Rangers''.
* Sheffield Wednesday F.C. and Sheffield United F.C.; a debate on whether or not the two big clubs should merge has often been made when one of the clubs have come into financial difficulties.
* Queens Park Rangers F.C. and Wimbledon F.C. in 2001; nothing came of the discussion and Wimbledon later relocated to become the Milton Keynes Dons F.C.
* Chester City F.C. and Tranmere Rovers F.C. in 2002; nothing came of the talk and Chester City folded a few years later.
* Redditch United F.C. and Bromsgrove Rovers F.C. in 2008 and 2009; talks took place about a possible merger, but came to nothing.
* Team Bath F.C. and Bath City F.C. in 2009; the merger did not go ahead and Team Bath folded.
* Burnley F.C. and Colne Dynamoes in 1987; Colne owner and Burnley Fan 'Chalky' White proposed the merger if Burnley were relegated from Div 4. They survived due to the Orient game and Colne folded in 1990 after they were refused entry to the conference.

Irish clubs

* St Patrick's Athletic and St Francis during the 2001–2002 season, would have seen the club named either ''St Patrick's Athletic including St Francis'' or ''Dublin Saints''.

Italian clubs

* Genoa 1893 and Sampdoria in 2001.

Scottish clubs

* Dundee F.C. and Dundee United F.C.
* Heart of Midlothian F.C. and Hibernian F.C. as ''Edinburgh United''.

Welsh clubs

* Gap Connah's Quay F.C. and Flint Town United F.C. in 2009. Confirmed to merge for the 2009/2010 season.

See also

* List of association football club rivalries in Europe
* List of association football clubs playing in the league of another country
* List of association football competitions

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Football club mergers
Club mergers
Club mergers
Sportclub Enschede players