1 March — formation of
Sussex County Cricket Club out of the Sussex Cricket Fund organisation that had been set up in 1836; Sussex is the oldest county club
A former
Rugby School pupil, Albert Pell, begins organising football matches at
Cambridge University. Because of the different school variations, a compromise set of rules has to be found and this is the origin of the famous
Cambridge Rules that will be published in 1863.
It is claimed that
Barnes RFC is founded in 1839 but there is no actual evidence. If the claim is true, Barnes is the world's oldest football club (all codes).
The
1839 Grand National is acknowledged to be the first official running of the race, the three earlier races being termed the Great Liverpool Steeplechase