Editing Carlton Football Club (section)

===Early history===
[[File:Carlton_fc_south_yarra_winners.jpg|thumb|right|upright|Carlton won the 1871 club season and South Yarra Presentation Cup]] 
[[File:Carlton Footballer George Coulthard.jpg|thumb|upright|right|[[George Coulthard]], an early champion Carlton footballer in 1880]]
During a meeting on 17 May 1865 at the University Hotel in Grattan Street Carlton the Carlton Football Club nominated secretary Ben James and president James Linacre respectively.<ref name="founding">[https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/715680/moment-7-in-the-beginning Moment 7: In the beginning...] By Tony De Bolfo, Carlton Media 23 May 2014</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155026445 |title=THE NEWS OF THE DAY. |newspaper=[[The Age]] |issue=3,293 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=19 May 1865 |accessdate=27 November 2024 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>[https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/726629/the-university-hotel-where-it-all-began The University Hotel - where it all began] By Tony De Bolfo for carltonfc.com.au 24 Jan 2013</ref> The club formally adopted the [[Melbourne Football Club]] rules.<ref name="founding" /> This is the earliest record of incorporation however the club believes it was formed earlier based on numerous indirect accounts<ref name="founding" /><ref name="Foundation Blueseum">[https://www.blueseum.org/Formation+of+the+Club Formation of the Club - Blueseum]</ref> and officially celebrates anniversaries based on a foundation date of 1864.<ref>[https://www.carltonfc.com.au/news/1537437/carlton-to-embark-on-160th-year-celebration Carlton to embark on 160th year celebration] By Tony De Bolfo, Carlton Media 24 April 2024</ref> It also continues to investigate evidence of an earlier foundation, including the proposed formation of a Carlton Football Club on 21 May 1861 connected to a Carlton Cricket Club.<ref>The Argus (Melbourne). No.4, 666. Victoria, Australia. 17 May 1861. p. 8.</ref><ref>"Advertising". The Argus (Melbourne). No. 4, 668. Victoria, Australia. 20 May 1861. p.8.</ref><ref>"Sporting Notes and Notions". Table Talk. No. 672. Victoria, Australia. 13 May 1898. p. 16.</ref><ref>"CARLTON FOOTBALL CLUB". The Coburg Leader. Vol. XXV, no. 47. Victoria, Australia. 8 December 1906. p. 4.</ref><ref>"FOOTBALL JUBILEE CARNIVAL". The Age. No. 16669. Victoria, Australia. 15 August 1908. p. 16.</ref>

The earliest records of the club playing were from 1865 out of Princes Park in Carlton.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155040312 |title=THE NEWS OF THE DAY. |newspaper=[[The Age]] |issue=3,378 |location=Victoria, Australia |date=26 August 1865 |accessdate=23 November 2022 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

In the early days, Carlton became particularly strong competitively and grew a large supporter base. It became a fierce rival to the [[Melbourne Football Club]] in early competitions, including the [[Challenge Cup (Australia)|South Yarra Challenge Cup]], and the club is recognised as senior Victorian premiers in 1871, 1873, 1874 and 1875.