Is AFC Richmond a Real Team?

If you have watched Ted Lasso, you have probably asked this question at least once: Is AFC Richmond a real team? The players feel real. The stadium feels real. The drama, the wins, the losses. It all looks like actual English football. So what is the truth?

TLDR: AFC Richmond is not a real football club. It was created for the TV show Ted Lasso. However, it feels real because it uses real stadiums, real football culture, and believable characters. That mix of fiction and reality makes many fans wonder if Richmond truly exists.

Let’s break it down in a fun and simple way.

Table of Contents

So, Is AFC Richmond a Real Team?

The short answer is no.

AFC Richmond is a fictional football club. It was created for the Apple TV+ show Ted Lasso. The show first aired in 2020. It quickly became a global hit. Fans fell in love with the team, even though the team does not exist in real life.

There is no AFC Richmond in the English Premier League. There is no official club website. You cannot buy tickets to see them play a real match.

But here is the interesting part.

Everything about the team feels very real.

Why Does AFC Richmond Feel So Real?

The creators of Ted Lasso paid close attention to detail. They wanted the football world to feel authentic. And they succeeded.

Here are a few reasons why people get confused:

Real stadiums are used for filming.
Real football rules are followed.
Realistic league structures are shown.
Believable fan culture is portrayed.

All of this makes AFC Richmond blend smoothly into the real football world.

Where Do They Film AFC Richmond?

AFC Richmond’s home stadium is called Nelson Road in the show. But in real life, the filming mostly takes place at Selhurst Park.

Selhurst Park is the real home stadium of Crystal Palace Football Club in South London.

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When you see Richmond fans cheering in the stands, you are often looking at the home of Crystal Palace. The production team edits banners and signs. They change colors to Richmond’s red and blue. It is clever movie magic.

This smart use of a real stadium makes everything feel authentic. The crowd noise. The pitch. Even the camera angles match real Premier League broadcasts.

Is There a Real Richmond Football Club?

Now here is where it gets slightly tricky.

There are clubs called Richmond in England. But none of them are AFC Richmond from the show.

For example:

There is a Hampton & Richmond Borough FC.
There is also Richmond Rugby Club.

But there is no Premier League club simply called AFC Richmond.

The show places Richmond in Southwest London. This area does exist. It is a beautiful part of London. Very green. Very charming. But the football club itself is fictional.

What League Does AFC Richmond Play In?

In the show, AFC Richmond starts in the English Premier League.

Then they get relegated. That means they move down to the Championship, which is the league below the Premier League.

Later, they fight their way back up.

This promotion and relegation system is very real. English football truly works this way. The show follows the real structure:

Premier League
EFL Championship
League One
League Two

This realistic setup adds to the confusion. It feels like Richmond is just another club fighting to survive.

Are the Players Based on Real Footballers?

Some characters feel very familiar. That is not an accident.

For example:

Jamie Tartt has similarities to flashy, confident stars like Jack Grealish.
Roy Kent reminds many fans of Roy Keane because of his name and tough personality.
Dani Rojas captures the joyful spirit of many Latin American players.

However, these characters are not direct copies. They are inspired by football culture. The writers studied the sport. They understood the personalities. Then they created original characters.

This makes Richmond feel like a club full of real athletes.

Who Owns AFC Richmond?

In the show, the club is owned by Rebecca Welton.

She gets the team after divorcing her wealthy husband. At first, she wants to sabotage the club to hurt him. Later, she grows to truly care about the team.

This storyline may sound dramatic. But wealthy owners running football clubs is very real in England.

Many Premier League clubs are owned by:

Billionaires
Investment groups
Foreign investors

So even the ownership story feels believable.

How Does AFC Richmond Compare to a Real Club?

Let’s look at a simple comparison chart.

Feature	AFC Richmond	Real Premier League Club
Exists in real life?	No	Yes
Real stadium used?	Yes (Selhurst Park)	Yes
Promotion and relegation?	Yes (in the show)	Yes
Merchandise sold?	Yes (official show merch)	Yes
Real players?	No (actors)	Yes (professional athletes)

This table shows something interesting. Even though the club is fake, it mirrors reality in many ways.

Can You Buy AFC Richmond Merchandise?

Yes, you can.

This is one reason people get confused. You can buy:

Richmond jerseys
Scarves
Hats
Training tops

The jerseys look just like real Premier League kits.

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When thousands of fans wear Richmond shirts around the world, the club starts to feel real. It creates a strange situation. A fictional team with very real supporters.

Did AFC Richmond Ever Play a Real Match?

No official competitive matches have taken place.

However, during filming, scenes were shot during real events. Some scenes were filmed around actual FA Cup matches. This added to the realism.

But AFC Richmond has never appeared in official FA or Premier League records.

You will not find them in historical standings.

Why Did the Creators Invent AFC Richmond?

This is actually very smart storytelling.

If the show used a real club, it would be risky. Real fans might dislike how their team is portrayed. Storylines could clash with real-world results.

By inventing AFC Richmond, the writers had full freedom.

They could:

Relegate the team.
Promote the team.
Create dramatic winning streaks.
Invent rivalries.

No real club’s reputation was affected. It was the safest and most creative option.

Do Fans Treat AFC Richmond Like a Real Club?

Yes. And that is one of the most fascinating parts.

Fans sing the chants. They wear the colors. They debate about players online. Some even discuss tactics as if Richmond were playing on the weekend.

This shows the power of storytelling.

When fiction is done well, it feels real.

What Makes AFC Richmond Special?

AFC Richmond is not just about football.

It represents:

Belief
Kindness
Teamwork
Growth

Real football clubs focus on winning. Richmond focuses on heart. That emotional connection makes the team unforgettable.

People do not just watch Richmond. They care about Richmond.

Could AFC Richmond Ever Become Real?

In theory, yes.

Someone could create a lower-division club named AFC Richmond. There is no rule against it. But it would not be the same club from the show.

The magic of AFC Richmond lives in storytelling. It lives on screen.

Still, stranger things have happened in football. Clubs have been formed by fans before. So never say never.