Soccer History
Game origin:
No one can pin point exactly where soccer, also known as “football” throughout the world, began. History mentions that, in the ancient time, some form of ball games existed and can be traced as far back as 50 BC; in China they called it Cuju literally “kick ball”. In the Roman empire the game was called Harpastum and in Greece the game was called Phaininda, all related ball games that used to be played at that time. Historians later mention a version of Cuju named Kemari was played in Japan within the Japanese imperial court in the then Japanese capital Kyoto, around 600 AD. And in medieval time, a game referred to as “mob football” was played in England that may have arrived with the Roman occupation.
The game in the Middle Ages:
Modern soccer came in existence in England. Ironically enough, under the rein of King Edward II of England (1307-1327), “Nicholas de Farndone” mayor of the city of London put a ban on soccer game, in 1314, on behalf of the King, due to the violent nature of the game and disturbance of the peace in the great city, the translation read: “Forasmuch as there is great noise in the city caused by hustling over large foot balls in the fields of the public from which many evils may arise which God forbid; we command and forbid, on behalf of the King, on pain of imprisonment, such game to be used in the city in the future”. But it is in England, later on, in the 1800s, where the game of soccer mainly known as “football” has started shaping up, the game became part of the schools activities to keep kids fit.
The game adopted in the English public schools:
The chaotic and ferocious nature of the game was slowly being standardized. Even though the game was adopted in the English public schools, every school had their own set of rules, with the earliest known rule of the game to be adopted at Eton in 1815 followed by Aldenham in 1825. Inter-school games would be divided into two halves, where a set of rules is adopted by the home team in one half, and another set of rules played by the visitors in the other half. But in 1848, school representatives got together at Cambridge University to draft the first set of modern rules to be known as the Cambridge rules adopted by England’s major schools and universities.
First Football Association:
The game has expanded throughout England, with many clubs being assembled. Ebenezer Cobb Morley, the “Barnes Football club” owner, proposed a governing body for the game in order to establish a unifying set of rules. Followed by a meeting among several club representatives, the “Football Association” was created on October 26th, 1863, with Morley elected as the secretary. In November that same year, Morley presented a draft of 23 rules, mainly based on the different set of rules so far adopted by many clubs and schools including the Cambridge rules. And on December 8th, 1863, the FA published the “laws of the game”. Ebenezer Cobb Morley is often referred to as the father of soccer since he is the author of the “game’s constitution”, even though it might have been rectified over and over as the game evolved.
The Modern Era:
The game has extended through the exploration of England and other European countries throughout the world. As time evolves, every country, with their distinct experience with the game and their pseudo soccer history and evolution, has come to appreciate and develop passion for the game. The world of soccer needed more structure, FIFA is created on May 21, 1904 in France, by 1950 (post war era) it had 84 members, today FIFA’s body include 208 members. Modern soccer was adopted in every continent, and became the most popular and the most watched sport in the world.
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No one can pin point exactly where soccer, also known as “football” throughout the world, began. History mentions that, in the ancient time, some form of ball games existed and can be traced as far back as 50 BC; in China they called it Cuju literally “kick ball”. In the Roman empire the game was called Harpastum and in Greece the game was called Phaininda, all related ball games that used to be played at that time. Historians later mention a version of Cuju named Kemari was played in Japan within the Japanese imperial court in the then Japanese capital Kyoto, around 600 AD. And in medieval time, a game referred to as “mob football” was played in England that may have arrived with the Roman occupation.
The game in the Middle Ages:
Modern soccer came in existence in England. Ironically enough, under the rein of King Edward II of England (1307-1327), “Nicholas de Farndone” mayor of the city of London put a ban on soccer game, in 1314, on behalf of the King, due to the violent nature of the game and disturbance of the peace in the great city, the translation read: “Forasmuch as there is great noise in the city caused by hustling over large foot balls in the fields of the public from which many evils may arise which God forbid; we command and forbid, on behalf of the King, on pain of imprisonment, such game to be used in the city in the future”. But it is in England, later on, in the 1800s, where the game of soccer mainly known as “football” has started shaping up, the game became part of the schools activities to keep kids fit.
The game adopted in the English public schools:
The chaotic and ferocious nature of the game was slowly being standardized. Even though the game was adopted in the English public schools, every school had their own set of rules, with the earliest known rule of the game to be adopted at Eton in 1815 followed by Aldenham in 1825. Inter-school games would be divided into two halves, where a set of rules is adopted by the home team in one half, and another set of rules played by the visitors in the other half. But in 1848, school representatives got together at Cambridge University to draft the first set of modern rules to be known as the Cambridge rules adopted by England’s major schools and universities.
First Football Association:
The game has expanded throughout England, with many clubs being assembled. Ebenezer Cobb Morley, the “Barnes Football club” owner, proposed a governing body for the game in order to establish a unifying set of rules. Followed by a meeting among several club representatives, the “Football Association” was created on October 26th, 1863, with Morley elected as the secretary. In November that same year, Morley presented a draft of 23 rules, mainly based on the different set of rules so far adopted by many clubs and schools including the Cambridge rules. And on December 8th, 1863, the FA published the “laws of the game”. Ebenezer Cobb Morley is often referred to as the father of soccer since he is the author of the “game’s constitution”, even though it might have been rectified over and over as the game evolved.
The Modern Era:
The game has extended through the exploration of England and other European countries throughout the world. As time evolves, every country, with their distinct experience with the game and their pseudo soccer history and evolution, has come to appreciate and develop passion for the game. The world of soccer needed more structure, FIFA is created on May 21, 1904 in France, by 1950 (post war era) it had 84 members, today FIFA’s body include 208 members. Modern soccer was adopted in every continent, and became the most popular and the most watched sport in the world.