The History of Football (Soccer)

The history of football has a long history. FIFA said that the Chinese competitive game of cuju (meaning kick ball) was the earliest form of football in recorded history. Cuju players could use any part of their body apart from hands. The intent of the game was kicking a ball through an opening into a net. It was similar to modern football with similarities to rugby. During the Han Dynasty (206 B.C. - 200 A.D.), cuju games were standardized and rules were formed. Phaininda and episkyros were ancient Greek ball games. There is a low relief on a vase of an episkyros player. This vase is found at the National Archaeological Museum of Athens. It appears on the UEFA European Championship Cup. Athenaeus wrote in 228 A.D. about the Roman ball game of harpastum. Phaininda, episkyros, and harpastrum were played involving bands and violence. They all appear to have resembled rugby football, wrestling, and volleyball more than what is recognizable as modern football.These games dealt with handling the ball instead of kicking. These three games are similar to mob football and the antecedent of all modern football codes. Association football didn't have a classical history. FIFA has recognized no historical connection with any game played in antiquity outside of Europe. The modern rules of association football came from the mid-19th century. It was then when people wanted to standardize the different forms of football played in the public schools of England. The history of football in England came from at least the eighth century A.D. The Cmabridge Rules was created at Cambridge University in 1848. They were influential in form later coes including association football. Trinity College at Cambridge was where the Cambridge Rules were written. Many attended a meeting where the systme was established. The meeting was attended by representatives from Eton, Harrow, Rugby, Winchester, and Shrewsbury schools. They weren't universally adopted. By the 1850's, many club unconnected to schools or universities were created in the English speaking world to play many forms of football. Some created their own rules like the Sheffield Football Club, formed by the former publi school pupils in 1857. This led into the forming of Sheffield FA in 1867. By 1862, John Charles Thring of Uppingham School also devised an influential set of rules.

By Timothy