NCEL Premier Division side Sheffield FC have held on to their status as the oldest football club in the world.

Doubts arose after Cambridge University's footballers celebrated their 150th anniversary last weekend.

This led to reports that Cambridge were the world's oldest club, but a statement from the Football Association on Thursday declared: "The FA and FIFA continue to recognise Sheffield FC, founded in 1857, as the oldest club in the world."

It also emerged that the debate over the issue started after the university's footballers were presented with an illuminated script recogning the importance of the 'Cambridge Rules' in developing the original code for football.

Sheffield chairman Richard Tims said he was always confident the club would retain the accolade.

He said: "We're very happy but it seems like old news to me."