1880s
There are no Knutsford Guardian historical archives for the period pre 1893 (Northwich Guardian covers 1876-1892)
However, the Heritage Museum has notes from 1888 re Freeholders and the Heath –
“Rugby was to be allowed and there was already Football played on the Heath”
The Heath also provided turf sods for the Knutsford Bowling Green which suggests the grass must have been cared for.
Football was first played in Knutsford in some form during the 1860s-1870s
In these times, the famous Knutsford May Day Festival attracted crowds in excess of 10,000 people.
In addition to playing on the Heath, there is a map from 1897 which shows there was a football ground on Manchester Road close to Sugar Pitt Lane and on the same side of the road (opposite the current Knutsford FC ground)
The North West has always been a strong footballing area
Organised friendly matches began in the late 1870s – early 1880s (the Cheshire Cup competition originated in 1880)
In the late 1880s - early 1890s organised local leagues and district cup competitions were formed in Northwich, Crewe, Sale and Manchester.
Knutsford Teams competed in organised friendlies and then these Leagues with various names playing on the Heath and a ground off Manchester Road.
Some of the Northwich District local teams playing in 1886/87 are: Middlewich, Hartford, Barnton Rovers, Davenham, Leftwich, Castle & Winnington Park.
On May Day 1888 Crewe Alexandra paraded the Cheshire Cup at the May Day Festival (but no mention of Knutsford FC)
The following records come from the Northwich & Knutsford Guardian 1876-1892 and the Knutsford Guardian 1892- plus some material from the Heritage Museum.
No precise date has been found in the archives as to the year that Knutsford FC was formally established (ie the records state that Middlewich FC were formed in 1908 – though various teams from Middlewich were playing organised football from as early as 1887)

1888-1889
The first known record of a formal Knutsford Team comes from Saturday 29th December 1888 when,
“On Boxing Day, the Knutsford Football Club greatly distinguished themselves on the Heath against the Manchester ‘Aberdeen’ Club - being successful in scoring 14 goals to nil.
On January 1889 the result: Knutsford 2 Barnton Rovers 4 is posted and on 23rd January Northwich Swifts 6 Knutsford 0 at the Drill Field. The season 88-89 saw much debate over the subject of ‘professionalism’ creeping into the game.

News Headlines from1888
Mar 22nd - The Football League is formed.
May 7th - George Eastman patents "Kodak box camera"
Sep 8th - In England the first six Football League matches ever are played
Sep 25th - Start of the Sherlock Holmes newspaper series - "Hound of Baskervilles"
Nov 9th - Jack Ripper's 5th & last known victim, Mary Jane Kelly is found

1898-1899 (Knutsford Parish Church AFC and the Cranford Club)

The earliest known record (from the Guardian archives) of a senior Knutsford Team playing in a recognised League The Manchester Federation League - is for season 1898-1899 – when Knutsford Parish Church Association Football Club - playing on the Mere Heath Ground won their very first trophy (the Manchester Federation Championship Trophy) on Saturday 14th April 1899 after defeating Edge Lane Wesleyans (Manchester) 3-0 in the final game of the season at Mere Heath – Team: C. Holden, W.H.Bebbington, J.A.Toft (captain) A.Spruce, H.Aspin, G.Murray, G.Woodcock, T.Parmenter, G.Crowther, J.Hurdsfield, D.Caulfield.
And with a marvellous record of P21 W18 D1 L2 Goals for 86 Goals against 24
The match report is available for review and contains the magic words
April 1899 - “The first time Knutsford Town have had the pleasure of winning a trophy for their native town”

In an article from the Knutsford 1899 May Day report there was the report:
Knutsford Parish Church AFC and the Cranford Club displayed silver cups and medals won in the Manchester Federation League and Hospital League respectively.
Which clearly indicates there were at least 2 senior football Clubs operating in Knutsford in 1898

News Headlines from 1899
April 5 – Annie Oakley promotes the service of women in combat situations with the United States military
December 16 - A.C. Milan is founded.
HP Sauce was founded