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Origins of Modern Football in England

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Origins of Modern Football in England

by Christopher Tillotson

Origins of Modern Football in England
Milestone Image
English Amateur Football National Team London, England 1908 [1]


Abstract

This capstone focused on researching the following question: "When and how did modern football come into being in England?". The paragraph should give a three to five sentence abstract about your entire London HUA experience including 1) a summary of the aims of your project, 2) your prior experience with humanities and arts courses and disciplines, and 3) your major takeaways from the experience. This can and should be very similar to the paragraph you use to summarize this milestone on your Profile Page. It should contain your main Objective, so be sure to clearly state a one-sentence statement that summarizes your main objective for this milestone such as "a comparison of the text of Medieval English choral music to that of the Baroque" or it may be a question such as "to what extent did religion influence Christopher Wren's sense of design?"

Introduction


I suggest you save this section for last. Describe the essence of this project. Cover what the project is and who cares in the first two sentences. Then cover what others have done like it, how your project is different. Discuss the extent to which your strategy for completing this project was new to you, or an extension of previous HUA experiences.

Section 1: History of Football in England 1300s-1915 (A.D.)


Game Origins

In order to provide an accurate chronology for telling the story of English football there needs to be a distinction of when the sport of football actually originated. For the purposes of this milestone the history will be referred to in two separate sections to avoid confusion. The event that I will use separate these two periods of football history is the creation of the English Football Association, commonly known as the FA, in 1863.[2]

Pre-Association Football


Introduction to Pre-Association Football

It is most difficult to determine an origin of when football, the modern game we know today, truly began. The reason for this comes from how we wish to define the game itself. Ball games have been a part of English culture for hundreds of years, but the first recognizable versions of the game we know today have only arrived recently.[3][4] England is similar to other cultures in the way that sports developed as a recreational activity, and football is no exception. The reason it was unrecognizable up until recently is that every local area in England had it's own version of the game.[5] Some versions had slight similarities but a vast majority included the use of hands, or more closely resembled what would later become rugby.[6]

Football in the Middle Ages

The types of "football" played in this time period only truly share the similarity with modern games in the way that they are played with a ball and are recreational in nature. The term football was coined in 1314 and was played throughout England and parts of mainland Europe.[7] Most of what we know about the sport in this time period comes from colloquial writings. Manson argued that for a large part of the middle ages football was disliked by the public because it took many schoolboy's attentions away from archery.[8]

Buildup to the Football Association

There is no one singular reason for the creation of the Football Association in 1863, but rather a culmination of events and circumstances in England in the years prior. Over time football became something different to different social classes in England. In the 18th century the aristocracy, and landed gentry played the game through public schools.[9] Unlike modern public schools in the U.S. these schools were only attended by the children of aristocrats. This would be the origin of organized football. During the 18th century common people couldn't yet send their children to school, and for this reason something resembling modern pick-up football became the more popular version of the sport.[10]

The common version of football became a nuisance to the people of England for a variety of reasons. The first of these reasons is that "common football" was a very violent game and resulted in injury as well as damage to property.[11] Football was also being played in the streets at this time leading to legislation in the Highway Act of 1835 to be passed by parliament making it illegal to play football in the streets.[12] To say that football was only being played by school aged children would not be true. Football became a part of local cultures and riots would often occur as a result.[13]

As England became more industrialized with railways communication and travel between local areas became more frequent.[14] This would mean that different local versions of football would begin to clash more than ever. Also in the 1840's public schools were made more accessible to the common people beginning to unify the aristocratic, and common versions of the game.[15] The differences in "football" at this time were not a problem at the public school since each institution had their own set of rules. However, one catalyst for common rules for the game came from English universities.[16] When boys got to institutions of higher education the fact that each boy knew a different version of the game became a hindrance to playing "football". Universities, such as Cambridge in 1838, began to draw up common rules for their students to play by.[17] However at this time interscholastic football competition could not be held because of different versions of the game at different institutions.

In 1859 brothers Charles and John Alcock formed the Forest Football Club.[18] This team was comprised of former public school football players who would play against other similar teams in London. Charles would later become the first secretary of the Football Association.[19] Although "football" had become more standardized than ever it became apparent to a group of men in 1863 that a common set a rules was a necessity.[20]

Association Football


Introduction to Association Football

Encyclopedia Britannica describes football in the following manner "Football, also called association football or soccer, game in which two teams of 11 players, using any part of their bodies except their hands and arms, try to maneuver the ball into the opposing team’s goal. Only the goalkeeper is permitted to handle the ball and may do so only within the penalty area surrounding the goal. The team that scores more goals wins."[21] This modern "football" description varies from the original rules of the game drawn up by the Football Association in 1863.[22] However the creation of the football association would pave the way for modern English football, and it is still the governing football body to this day.

A British Game Solidified in a London Pub

On October 26th, 1863 a number of London clubs sent their captains and representatives to a meeting at Freeman's Tavern in Lincoln Inn's Field.[23] The aim of this meeting was to come up with a common set of rules that would allow inter club competition in London.[24] The 12 clubs in attendance consisted of Barnes, Blackheath, Perceval House, Kensington School, the War office, Crystal Palace, Blackheath Proprietary School, The Crusaders, Forest, Subiton, No Names, and Charterhouse School (who would not vote in proceedings).[25] The representative of Barnes named Ebenezer Morley proposed the creation of the Football Association and the vote passed 11 to one.[26] Arthur Pember became the first president, and Charles Alcock became the first secretary.[27] The group met a number of times until they finally decided on a set of rules on December 8th, 1863.[28]

The FA and Other Organizations Unify

By the year 1868 thirty clubs made up the FA, and other football associations were beginning to pop up around England.[29] The other association with arguably as much notoriety as the FA at the time was known as Sheffield. In 1871 the first competition between the FA and Sheffield was held.[30] Then in 1877 the two organizations came together to create a single set of rules.[31] As time would carry on the FA in London gained more and more influence as many other associations desired to join the FA. By the 1880's the FA had grown from a group of clubs to a group of local and county associations.[32]

The FA Cup

The FA cup is to this day Britain's most popular knock out style football competition. The first FA cup was held in 1871-1872 and was won by Charles Alcock's team the Wanderers who beat the Royal Engineers 1-0 in London.[33][34] This cup competition would allow for the FA to grow in stature and influence over the years although initial growth was slow.[35] The first competition in 1872 drew 15 teams to compete, and by 1884 101 teams would enter the contest.[36]

FA Cup Winners 1872-1915[37]
1872 Wanderers 1873 Wanderers 1874 Oxford University 1875 Royal Engineers
1876 Wanderers 1877 Wanderers 1878 Wanderers 1879 Old Etonians
1880 Clapham Rovers 1881 Old Carthusians 1882 Old Etonians 1883 Blackburn Olympic
1884 Blackburn Rovers 1885 Blackburn Rovers 1886 Blackburn Rovers 1887 Aston Villa
1888 West Bromwich Albion 1889 Preston North End 1890 Blackburn Rovers 1891 Blackburn Rovers
1892 West Bromwich Albion 1893 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1894 Notts County 1895 Aston Villa
1896 Sheffield Wednesday 1897 Aston Villa 1898 Nottingham Forest 1899 Sheffield United
1900 Bury 1901 Tottenham Hotspur 1902 Sheffield United 1903 Bury
1904 Manchester City 1905 Aston Villa 1906 Everton 1907 Sheffield Wednesday
1908 Wolverhampton Wanderers 1909 Manchester United 1910 Newcastle United 1911 Bradford City
1912 Barnsley 1913 Aston Villa 1914 Burnley 1915 Sheffield United



The Rise of Professional Football

Like most of the history of football in England it is hard to pin down an exact time or reason why football became a professional sport. The road to professional football happened over the course of a long period of time for a variety of reasons. A date that could be considered as the beginning of professional football in England occurred in 1885 when the FA allowed for clubs to play their players.[38] Traditionally historians such as Manson claim that professional football rose out of a high demand in football interest. On the other hand modern historians such as Taylor claim that the story is not that simple. Taylor argues that it was investments by certain businessmen into professional clubs that really developed the professional game.[39] By the 1900's professional football was on the rise in England and there to stay.

Origins of Selected Football Clubs in London


Introduction

The following three clubs were selected for this milestone to highlight the different ways that football clubs started to develop in the late 19th century. One of the large ways that football clubs developed was from church teams that took off in London. The second major way that clubs developed was through recreational teams formed by workers either through a company in London or as a separate entity set up by the workers.

Fulham Football Club

The Fulham football Club was originally founded by St. Andrews as a church team in 1879.[40] Fulham isn't alone in this regard as many other famous London clubs got their start as church teams. Fulham F.C. slowly transitioned it's way to become a professional club over the years. Then in 1896 Fulham solidified itself as a staple of London football with the opening of a new stadium called Craven Cottage.[41] The team enjoyed great success in the following years as it climbed into England's top division in 1907.[42] Fulham is one of the oldest football clubs in London, and plays in England's second division still at Craven Cottage.

Arsenal Football Club

Arsenal football club was founded in 1886 by a group of munition workers in South London.[43] The club would grow over time into a professional club and would be bought by a man named Henry Norris in 1912.[44] Henry Norris could be considered one of the many investors referred to by Taylor that got professional football off the ground in England. Ever since Arsenal have been a dominant football club in London.

West Ham United Football Club (Previously: Thames Ironworks)

West Ham United was originally founded in 1895 under the name "Thames Ironworks" by the "Thames Ironworks and Shipbuilding Co. Ltd".[45] The purpose of the club was to provide leisure activity for the workers in order to maintain a peaceful relationship between management and the workers.[46] Five years later in 1900 West Ham United would be founded as a company by Thames Ironworks owner Arnold Hills.[47] They would play in the "Southern League First Division" until the 1915 season was canceled due to Word War I.[48] Today West Ham United is a popular professional football club in London.

Section 2: Deliverable

In this section, provide your contribution, creative element, assessment, or observation with regard to your background research. This could be a new derivative work based on previous research, or some parallel to other events. In this section, describe the relationship between your background review and your deliverable; make the connection between the two clear.

Video



Conclusion


In this section, provide a summary or recap of your work, as well as potential areas of further inquiry (for yourself, future students, or other researchers).

References

  1. ↑ Cook, T. A. (1908). The fourth Olympiad. London: Brit. Olymp. Assoc.
  2. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 20
  3. ↑ Mason, T. (1981). Association football and English society: 1863-1915. Brighton: The Harvester Press. P.P. 9
  4. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 19
  5. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 20
  6. ↑ Mason, T. (1981). Association football and English society: 1863-1915. Brighton: The Harvester Press. P.P. 9
  7. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 20
  8. ↑ Mason, T. (1981). Association football and English society: 1863-1915. Brighton: The Harvester Press. P.P. 10
  9. ↑ Mason, T. (1981). Association football and English society: 1863-1915. Brighton: The Harvester Press. P.P. 10
  10. ↑ Mason, T. (1981). Association football and English society: 1863-1915. Brighton: The Harvester Press. P.P. 11
  11. ↑ Mason, T. (1981). Association football and English society: 1863-1915. Brighton: The Harvester Press. P.P. 10
  12. ↑ Mason, T. (1981). Association football and English society: 1863-1915. Brighton: The Harvester Press. P.P. 10
  13. ↑ Mason, T. (1981). Association football and English society: 1863-1915. Brighton: The Harvester Press. P.P. 10
  14. ↑ Mason, T. (1981). Association football and English society: 1863-1915. Brighton: The Harvester Press. P.P. 9
  15. ↑ Mason, T. (1981). Association football and English society: 1863-1915. Brighton: The Harvester Press. P.P. 11
  16. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 24
  17. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 24
  18. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 24
  19. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 24
  20. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 29
  21. ↑ Joy, B., & Rollin, J. (n.d.). Football. Retrieved June 13, 2017, from https://www.britannica.com/sports/football-soccer
  22. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 29
  23. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 29
  24. ↑ Mason, T. (1981). Association football and English society: 1863-1915. Brighton: The Harvester Press. P.P. 15
  25. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 29
  26. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 29
  27. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 29
  28. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 29
  29. ↑ Mason, T. (1981). Association football and English society: 1863-1915. Brighton: The Harvester Press. P.P. 15
  30. ↑ Mason, T. (1981). Association football and English society: 1863-1915. Brighton: The Harvester Press. P.P. 15
  31. ↑ Mason, T. (1981). Association football and English society: 1863-1915. Brighton: The Harvester Press. P.P. 15
  32. ↑ Mason, T. (1981). Association football and English society: 1863-1915. Brighton: The Harvester Press. P.P. 15
  33. ↑ Mason, T. (1981). Association football and English society: 1863-1915. Brighton: The Harvester Press. P.P. 16
  34. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 41
  35. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 40-41
  36. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 41
  37. ↑ Association, T. F. (n.d.). FA Cup Finals, 1872-today. Retrieved June 15, 2017, from http://www.thefa.com/competitions/thefacup/more/finals
  38. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 41
  39. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 42
  40. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 35
  41. ↑ History. (n.d.). Retrieved June 19, 2017, from https://www.fulhamfc.com/history
  42. ↑ History. (n.d.). Retrieved June 19, 2017, from https://www.fulhamfc.com/history
  43. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 29
  44. ↑ Group, A. M. (n.d.). Club moves from Woolwich to Highbury. Retrieved June 20, 2017, from http://www.arsenal.com/history/laying-the-foundations/club-moves-from-woolwich-to-highbury
  45. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 29
  46. ↑ Taylor, M. (2008). The Association Game: A History of British Football. Harlow : Pearson Education Limited. P.P. 29
  47. ↑ 1900. (n.d.). Retrieved June 19, 2017, from https://www.whufc.com/club/history/club-history/1900/1900
  48. ↑ 10s. (n.d.). Retrieved June 19, 2017, from https://www.whufc.com/club/history/club-history/1910/10s
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