The club was formed from the former pupils of Charterhouse School in Godalming, Surrey, during 1876. Reports in the press of games taking place at the school had appeared since March 1853 and Charterhouse had been one of the founding teams of The Football Association. It was one of several clubs formed from the old boys of public schools in England during the 19th century. Other clubs formed in similar circumstances include Old Etonians and Old Westminsters. Other former members of the school had previously founded Stoke-on-Trent F.C. in 1867, which would go on to be known as Stoke City. Old Carthusians entered the FA Cup for the first time in 1879–80. At the time of the founding of the Football League in 1888, Old Carthusians was the most southern team to be interested in joining the Northern dominated league, but were never added to the league. Old Carthusians became one of only four clubs to win the FA Cup in the first eleven years it was awarded when they won the trophy in 1881, defeating the aforementioned Old Etonians.