Radders Bar & Lounge (or something like that) were the first versions of this that I recall (back in my CompuServe days) on my 28K modem in 94/95. Prior to that there was an e-mail list (that still exists but no one uses) - I remember marvelling at how I could get reuters reports of Barnsley games via CompuServe half way across the world. Prior to that I had to rely on family posting over the local rag! How times change...
It's still going strong! A slight diversion onto Chris Shuker in the early 2000s but back with a bang.