history of association football...or soccer

Association football is known by a few different names: football and soccer. Perhaps there are just two names for it. Association football is the world's most popular sport; as of 2000, over 240 million people play association football across over 200 countries.

The origins of football, in terms of kicking a ball around a field, span back as far as 3000 years ago. The Ancient Greeks and the Romans used football for military training. The Chinese, Japanese, Italians, Persians and Vikings also engaged in leisure reminiscent of modern day football.

The game was also played in England, in the British Isles,. Public schools across the country allowed their students to engage in different forms of play; some schools favored a no-hands approach, which would later become association football; other schools allowed their players to run with the ball and even tackle other players, which would be known as rugby football.Both forms of play were referred to as football though, as no officials rules were in place. In 1848, the schools began attempts to reach a consensus on what the official rules of the game would be. In 1863, the two were officially distinguished when the Football Association was formed. The Football Association adopted rules from Cambridge University.

The first timed match of 90 minutes was played in 1866 between London and Sheffield.

The first international match was held in 1872 between England and Scotland. Great Britain began holding matches regularly, even before the appeal of association football could reach the rest of Europe.

Two Scottish players, John Love and Fergus Suter, are believed to have been the first footballers to receive some kind of fiscal recognition for their talent. This occurred sometime around 1885.



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