Football is a game that many enjoy playing as well as supporting and watching. Both men and women around the world get hooked on their team’s performance during competitions and some diehard fans even have their clubs logo tattooed on their body. But where did this sport that we love today actually come from and where did it all start?
Hillsborough, home of one of Sheffield’s modern day clubs,Wednesday
You may not know this, but it actually originated in Sheffield in 1857. Sheffield FC was the first official football club in the world and this has been acknowledged by both Fifa and the Football Association. A year later, in 1858 rules for the game were devised which included allowing players to push each other, catch the ball and score goals outside of the goalpost area – a far cry from the ever changing and sometimes complex rules we see today.
To mark the history of the game, four schools took part in a football game on Wednesday which was funded by the Heritage Lottery fund under the retro rules – with a few minor changes to comply with health and safety. The game took place in the oldest football ground in the world, Hallam FC’s Sandygate Road, which again is located in Sheffield.
Players wore traditional Victorian style kits and the game was played with a leather ball to add to the vintage feel of the day. The referee, Uriah Rennie, who is president of Hallam FC also wore a top hat to referee the game.
Speaking of the place that football has in the city, he said: “Football is loved right across the globe but not many people realise the game actually originates from Sheffield.
“The city has a unique football heritage influencing the modern game that cannot be found anywhere else in the world.”
Did you know that football originally started in Sheffield? Would you like to see some of the 19th century rules brought back into the sport or do you think today’s rules are much more appropriate?
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