Football was played in the city of Portsmouth from at least the 1860s, being popular with soldiers, sailors and dockers who came from northern towns and cities where association football was more widespread and established. Portsmouth were founded in 1898 with John Brickwood, owner of the local brewery, as chairman and Frank Brettell as the club's first manager. A common myth is that the club's first goalkeeper was Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. While Conan Doyle did play as "AC Smith" for the amateur side Portsmouth AFC, a precursor of the modern club that flourished from 1884 to 1896 the first goalkeeper of the professional era was Matt Reilly, who previously played for the successful Royal Artillery team.