Origin and Development of Football
 A
It has been recorded that during the Ts'in and
Han Dynasties (255 BC-220 AD) the Chinese
played 'tsu chu', in which animal-skin balls were
dribbled through gaps in a net stretched between
two poles. Certain ancient Egyptian rites are said
by historians to have similarities with football, and
both the ancient Greeks and Romans also played
a game that entailed carrying and kicking a ball.

Origin and Development of Football
 B
In Mexico and Central America, between 600 and 1600
AD, the Mayans and Aztecs played a game with a hard
rubber ball in a rectangular walled courtyard. As early as
1580 in Italy, Giovanni Bardi published a set of rules for
'calcio'. North American folklore tells of 17th century
native Americans playing pasuckquakkohwog - (which
means, 'they gather to play ball with the foot'). Pacific
islanders played games with inflated pig bladders using
hands and feet; the Eskimo are reputed to have played
Aqsatuk on ice, with balls stuffed with grass, caribou
hair and moss.

Origin and Development of Football
 C
 It was in England, though, that versions of the
game were most widespread: essentially a violent
mob sport with no rules, it was played at least
from Roman times onward. Various monarchs
and authorities suppressed the game, although
Henry VIII is believed to have been a keen player.
Even Royal decrees couldn't stop it - the 'people's
game' had taken a grip.

Origin and Development of Football
 D
The 19th century saw football's decisive evolution. Many
English public schools played the game, which still had free
rules. Some favoured the dribbling game, while others, such
as Rugby School, allowed handling or carrying the ball. On
26 October 1863, prominent clubs and schools
representatives met in the Freemason's Tavern in London to
establish a set of fundamental rules that would be
acceptable to everyone. The meeting led to the formation of
the English Football Association - but no agreement
between the 'footballers' and the 'handlers'. The majority of
the parties involved favoured a game without handling.
There was to be no reconciliation - and the handling game
went its own way to become rugby, while the first set of
established rules for football were issued.

Origin and Development of Football
 E
The football itself had also evolved. At first
a simple pig's bladder, it next gained a
leather covering that echoed the natural
shape of the bladder, but was still inflated
by mouth. Finally, in 1862, with the
invention of India-rubber bladders and
hand-pumps, round footballs were possible.

Origin and Development of Football
 F
By 1870, the Football Association had 39
member clubs. The world's oldest club,
Sheffield FC, had been founded in 1857.
The idea of a national knockout competition
grew in strength, and finally resulted in the
launching of England's FA Cup in 1871.

Origin and Development of Football
 G
The first international match saw England and
Scotland play a goalless draw in Glasgow on 30
November 1872, some still claim the Scot's were
lucky! Subsequent years brought crucial
developments such as the fixing of the size of the
ball, the use of a crossbar to replace tape, and
the introduction of a referee and two linesman to
take charge of the game.

Origin and Development of Football
 H
In 1888, English football set up a competitive
structure. On 17 April, at a meeting of prominent
English clubs, the Football League was formed.
Following England's example, national
associations were formed in Scotland, Wales and
Ireland. British influence abroad led to other
countries forming national football bodies. In
1904, an international umbrella organisation,
FIFA, was born. Football was on its way...

Origin and Development of Football
A. Read the paragraph headings, then skim the paragraphs
and match the headings to the paragraphs. Try to do this
in less than 5 minutes.
1. League structure
2. Various games
3. English evolution
4. Round footballs
5. Cup competition
6. Chinese origins
7. International debut
8. Key moment

Origin and Development of Football
B. Questions
1. Which is the world's oldest club?
2. Who wrote the rules for Calcio?
3. Which Royal liked football's violent predecessor?
4. When were round footballs first possible?
5. What were the first footballs made of?
6. How many clubs were members of the FA by 1870?
7. What game, similar to football, did Eskimos play?
8. What does 'pesuckquakkohwog' mean?
9. What did the 'handling game' become?
10. What was the score of the first international match?