Notts County were created in the year 1862. The club predates The Football Association and were a founder member of the original Football League. Notts County are further considered to be one of the pioneers of football, even being credited with the invention of the offside trap. They are the oldest surviving professional football club in the world. At the time of their formation, Notts County, like most essential sports teams, were considered to be a gentleman only club. The club initially starred at Park Hollow in the grounds of the old Nottingham Castle. In December 1864, the decision was taken to play games against outside opposition and it was decided that the club needed to find a larger venue. After playing at different grounds The Magpies settled at Trent Bridge Cricket Ground in 1883.

In 1888, along with eleven other football clubs, Notts County became founder members of The Football League. Their first league season was unsuccessful one as they finished 11th. They avoided the dubious honour of the wooden spoon which went to Midlands rivals Stoke City. County did however achieve their highest ever league finish of 3rd in 1890-91 (an achievement they repeated 10 seasons later.)

On March 25, 1891, Notts County made the FA Cup final for the first occasion. The Magpies were beaten 3-1 by Blackburn Rovers at The Oval despite having beaten the same side 7-1 in the league only a week earlier. Notts County made up for this on March 31, 1894, when they lifted the FA Cup at Goodison Park for the first and thus far only occasion in their history. The Magpies defeated Bolton Wanderers 4-1 in a match where Jimmy Logan scored the first hat-trick in FA Cup final history.