Neuilly Athletic Circle

The Cercle Athlétique de Neuilly (English: Neuilly Athletic Circle), commonly abbreviated as CA Neuilly, was a French football club established in 1893 and dissolved in 1896. Based in Neuilly-sur-Seine, a commune adjacent to Paris, the club was one of the earliest football teams in France.

Throughout its brief existence, the club underwent two name changes: it became the Stade de Neuilly in 1894 and later the Sporting Club de Neuilly (abbreviated as SC Neuilly) in 1895.

CA Neuilly holds a significant place in French football history. It participated in the inaugural three editions of the French Championship, organized by the Union des sociétés françaises de sports athlétiques (USFSA), the first formal football competition in France. However, it struggled to compete against the dominant teams of the era—Club Français, Standard Athletic Club, and the White Rovers. Despite its modest record, CA Neuilly achieved notable milestones: it was the first French football club officially recognized by a federation and took part in the first official match in French football history, losing to the White Rovers in the preliminary round of the 1894 French Championship.

The club ceased operations after just three years, though the reasons for its dissolution remain unclear. Much of its legacy is preserved through the writings of Georges Duhamel, a former player who authored a seminal book on the early days of football in France.