Accrington F.C. were one of the founder members of the Football League in England. Accrington F.C. was formed in Accrington (now in Hyndburn, Lancashire), following a meeting at a local public house in 1876. The 'Owd Reds played at the Moorhead Park ground.

The club was part of the revolt against the Football Association in 1884 over professionalism. They joined the Football League on April 17, 1888, one of the original twelve teams. In the first season the club played 22 games, won six, drew eight and lost eight, finishing seventh in the league. Their best-ever season was 1889-90, when they finished sixth in the table. However, they did not last long in league football: in the 1892/93 season they finished fifteenth, second from bottom and were relegated after losing a "test match" (an early version of a play off game) game 0-1 against Sheffield United at Trent Bridge. Accrington then resigned from the league rather than play in the Second Division.

Shortly afterwards, Accrington F.C. became prey to financial problems, which eventually led to their demise. The club continued outside the league until 1896, when they finally folded following a 12-0 thumping on January 14 from Darwen F.C. in the Lancashire Senior Cup.

Following the collapse of the club a new team did not join the league from Accrington until 1921-22 with Accrington Stanley F.C. from the Lancashire Combination league.

The name Accrington F.C. was briefly revived by Accrington Stanley F.C. following their bankruptcy in 1964.

The first-ever league games of Blackburn Rovers and of Everton were against Accrington F.C.