I don't know why you're arguing this. FIFA, our fearsome and benevolent overlords, have acknowledged it to be the first evidence of what we know as Association Football.
Well aware of that. Bit different though. Bolton had something like 11 years in the Premier League and are now having trouble finding £5m?
EDIT: Yep, 11 years:
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China invented football:
Cuju or Ts'u-chü is an ancient Chinese football game, also played in Korea, Japan and Vietnam. It is a competitive game that involves kicking a ball through an opening into a net. The use of hands is not allowed.[1] Invented in the Han Dynasty, it is recognized by FIFA...
There's an element of Trigger's broom with regards to the vaunted history of the football league.
The thing has gone through structural changes, rebranding, more structural changes, more rebranding, a breakaway which formed an entirely new league.
Is the league that Bolton helped found the...