Corinthians were perhaps the most famous of the early amateur sides. They were founded in 1882, to provide players for the nascent England team who had developed a habit of losing to Scotland. Within four years they provided nine players to the England side, and later provided the entire selection. They beat the ‘Invincibles’ of Preston in 1889 and still hold the record for Man Utd’s worst ever defeat. Their greatest legacy comes in South America, where Corinthians of Brazil, one of the continent’s most successful sides, was set up in response to a tour by the English amateurs. In the 1930s, they combined with Casuals to become Corinthian-Casuals, who still play in the Isthmian League to this day.
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