A football team which once won the FA Cup but is now in tier 14 of the English Football League is appealing for new players to help it regains its former glory.

Wanderers FC won the first-ever FA Cup final back in 1872 against Royal Engineers and retained the trophy the following year and were the first to win three finals in a row (between 1876-8).

Now they are hoping to climb to tier ten in the football league pyramid so they can re-enter the competition.

Club secretary Mark Wilson, who reformed the club in 2009, said: “We're looking for ambitious, experienced players to join us to help achieve that ambition."

The men’s team have won three promotions in three seasons to reach Level 14, and the club has recently relocated to new surroundings at Raynes Park, in Merton.

The club currently has two men’s teams and one women’s team playing competitively.

It was originally known as Forest Club FC after being formed in Epping Forest by brothers Charles and John Alcock in 1859. However following a row with his brother Charles decided to move the club to The Oval in 1863 and renamed it Wanderers FC.