On 5 April 1898, the Portsmouth Football and Athletic Company Limited - as it was originally named - was founded by John Brickwood, the owner of the Portsmouth based Brickwood's Brewery. Brickwood called together a group of five local enthusiasts to his solicitor's office at 12 High Street in Old Portsmouth to form a syndicate and share their resources to buy a piece of land on which to build a football ground. "The Portsmouth Football and Athletic Company" as it was originally known, had a capital of £8,000 amongst its chairman and five directors.: