It is more than likely there existed a Great Ayton team in some form or other as early as 1889, under the promotion, stewardship & encouragement of the Kitching’s, staunch supporters of local sports even to this very day. This is surprising, considering association football only really came of age in a professional sense with the formation of the Football League in the summer of that year - hence ensuring its ever increasing popularity as a game to be enjoyed by the masses.