Football · Interesting Facts
Chapter 1: History & Origins
10 parts · 10 tests · 100 facts · updated 23 October 2026 · markdown
How football became one game: medieval bans and folk football, the Cambridge and Sheffield codes, the FA and its first cups, the home nations, the spread abroad, the early Olympics and football in wartime.
1.11Origins & Codification
How the Football Association was formed, who wrote its first Laws of the Game, the earliest recorded matches and competitions under those laws, and FIFA's own founding four decades later.
Test 1Founding the FA and its first LawsTake a test
The FA was formed on a Monday evening, 26 October 1863, at the Freemasons' Tavern on Great Queen Street, London.
Source: The FA official history, thefa.com/about-football-association/who-we-are/history · recall
The FA's own history records that representatives of a dozen London and suburban clubs attended the founding meeting.
Source: The FA official history, thefa.com/about-football-association/who-we-are/history · recall
Ebenezer Cobb Morley, who had formed Barnes FC in 1862, drafted the FA's original rules.
Source: The FA official history, thefa.com/about-football-association/who-we-are/history · recall
The FA's laws were finally approved at the sixth meeting of the founding clubs, held on 8 December 1863.
Source: The FA official history, thefa.com/about-football-association/who-we-are/history · recall
The approved laws were published by John Lillywhite of Seymour Street in a booklet priced at one shilling and sixpence.
Source: The FA official history, thefa.com/about-football-association/who-we-are/history · recall
On 19 December 1863 Barnes played Richmond at Limes Field in Barnes, and the match finished goalless.
Source: The FA official history, thefa.com/about-football-association/who-we-are/history · recall
FA secretary Charles Alcock proposed the knockout tournament that became the FA Cup on 20 July 1871.
Source: The FA official history, thefa.com/about-football-association/who-we-are/history · recall
Wanderers won the first FA Cup final 1-0 against Royal Engineers before roughly 2,000 spectators at Kennington Oval.
Source: The FA official history, thefa.com/about-football-association/who-we-are/history · recall
Scotland and England drew 0-0 at the West of Scotland Cricket Ground in Partick, Glasgow, on 30 November 1872, recognised as the first official international.
Source: FIFA Museum, fifamuseum.com/en/explore/fifamuseumplus/blog/Scotland-v-England-1 · recall
FIFA was founded on 21 May 1904 at 229 rue Saint-Honore in Paris by seven associations, with Robert Guerin as its first president.
Source: FIFA official history, inside.fifa.com/media-releases/fifa-celebrates-120th-anniversary-of-foundation-in-paris · recall
1.12Growth of the Game & the First World Cup
How the sport professionalised and organised itself between the 1880s and 1930s: legal professionalism, the Football League, the IFAB as guardian of the Laws, the theft and replacement of the FA Cup, and the first FIFA World Cup and its trophy.
Test 1Professionalism, the Football League, IFAB and the first World CupTake a test
The FA legalised professionalism in 1885, restricted to players born or resident within a set distance of their club.
Source: The FA official history, thefa.com/about-football-association/who-we-are/history · recall
William McGregor organised the Football League, formed in 1888 with twelve founding clubs after just two meetings.
Source: The FA official history, thefa.com/about-football-association/who-we-are/history · recall
The FA's own history records that the International FA Board has looked after the Laws since 1886, the year the board came into being.
Source: The FA official history, thefa.com/about-football-association/who-we-are/history · recall
The FA's own history notes that the first World Cup was held in Uruguay in 1930, but the FA did not enter a team.
Source: The FA official history, thefa.com/about-football-association/who-we-are/history · recall
Uruguay both hosted and won the first FIFA World Cup, played in 1930.
Source: Library of Congress World Cup research guide, guides.loc.gov/world-cup/uruguay-1930 · recall
Uruguay beat Argentina 4-2 in the first World Cup final, played on 30 July 1930 at the Estadio Centenario in Montevideo.
Source: Library of Congress World Cup research guide, guides.loc.gov/world-cup/uruguay-1930 · recall
Thirteen nations competed at the first World Cup, held in Uruguay in 1930.
Source: Library of Congress World Cup research guide, guides.loc.gov/world-cup/uruguay-1930 · recall
The original FA Cup was stolen from a shop window in Birmingham in 1895, while on display courtesy of holders Aston Villa, and was never recovered.
Source: ITV News Central / FourFourTwo FA Cup theft coverage · recall
The replacement cup was made by Howard Vaughton, a former Aston Villa and England international who had become a silversmith.
Source: ITV News Central / FourFourTwo FA Cup theft coverage · recall
Originally called 'Victory,' the trophy was renamed in 1946 to mark 25 years of Jules Rimet's FIFA presidency; it was awarded permanently to Brazil in 1970 after their third title, then stolen in 1983 and never recovered.
Source: Olympics.com / Britannica, olympics.com/en/news/fifa-world-cup-trophy-jules-rimet-history · recall
1.13Early Law Changes, Equipment Firsts & the First Women's Match
Closing the chapter: how the penalty kick and goal nets entered the Laws, the invention of the shin pad, the first numbered shirts, the 1925 offside amendment, and the first recorded women's match.
Test 1Early Law changes, equipment firsts and the first women's matchTake a test
Irish goalkeeper William McCrum's idea, put to the Board by Irish FA secretary Jack Reid, was approved as a new Law at the IFAB meeting in Glasgow on 2 June 1891.
Source: Football-history accounts of the IFAB meeting of 2 June 1891, cross-checked against reports of the IFAB minutes · recall
Until 1902 the penalty kick could be taken from any point along a line 12 yards from the goal line, not from today's fixed spot.
Source: Cross-checked histories of the penalty kick law · recall
Liverpool engineer John Alexander Brodie's net, patented in 1890, had its first high-profile outing in a North v South representative match at Nottingham on 10 January 1891; the Football League made nets compulsory during the 1891-92 season.
Source: Cross-checked histories of Brodie's goal net patent · recall
Nottingham Forest's Sam Widdowson invented shin pads in 1874 by cutting down a pair of cricket pads and strapping them outside his stockings.
Source: Cross-checked histories of Widdowson and Nottingham Forest · recall
Arsenal, away to Sheffield Wednesday, and Chelsea, at home to Swansea Town, both wore numbered shirts on 25 August 1928, though the experiment lasted only two matches.
Source: Cross-checked histories of English league shirt numbering · recall
The 1928 numbering experiment lasted only two matches; shirt numbers did not become compulsory in the English league until 1939.
Source: Cross-checked histories of English league shirt numbering · recall
The British Ladies' Football Club played North versus South at Crouch End in London on 23 March 1895; women's games had been recorded since 1881, but FIFA counts this as the first official fixture.
Source: Cross-checked histories of the British Ladies' Football Club (National Football Museum, Hornsey Historical Society) · recall
The North beat the South 7-1 in front of an estimated 10,000 to 11,000 spectators at Crouch End.
Source: Cross-checked histories of the British Ladies' Football Club · recall
Nettie Honeyball placed newspaper advertisements in 1894 that drew about thirty women to form the British Ladies' Football Club, with Lady Florence Dixie as its patron.
Source: Cross-checked histories of the British Ladies' Football Club · recall
The 1925 amendment reduced the offside requirement from three opposing players to two, close to the law still used today, and was followed by a sharp rise in goal-scoring.
Source: Cross-checked histories of the offside law's evolution · recall
1.14Before the Rules
Medieval bans, a 16th-century headmaster's advice, Royal Shrovetide and the school codes that came before 1863.
Test 1Folk football, bans and early codesTake a test
The proclamation, issued in the name of Edward II, threatened anyone who played with prison.
Source: Calendar of Letter-Books of the City of London, Letter-Book D (1314), via British History Online (british-history.ac.uk) · recall
Mayor Nicholas de Farndone forbade the game 'on pain of imprisonment'.
Source: Calendar of Letter-Books of the City of London, Letter-Book D (1314), via British History Online (british-history.ac.uk) · recall
The act, passed under James I, was one of several that tried to push men towards archery practice.
Source: Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707 (rps.ac.uk), acts of 1424 and 1457 · recall
The act ordered that 'the fut bawe and the golf be utterly cryit doune', again to favour archery.
Source: Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707 (rps.ac.uk), acts of 1424 and 1457 · recall
Mulcaster, head of Merchant Taylors' School, praised the game's health benefits in his book 'Positions'.
Source: Richard Mulcaster, 'Positions' (1581), chapter 27, on football · recall
The future Edward VIII 'turned up' the ball in 1928; the then Prince Charles did the same in 2003.
Source: Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football Committee, history of the game; Derbyshire County Council heritage pages · recall
Students from different public schools drew up the Cambridge Rules so they could play one another.
Source: The FA, 'History of the FA' (thefa.com); Shrewsbury School archives on the 1856 Cambridge Rules · recall
1314, 1363, 1424 and 1457.
Source: Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707 (rps.ac.uk), acts of 1424 and 1457 · recall
1848, 1858, 1862 and 1863.
Source: The FA, 'History of the FA' (thefa.com); Shrewsbury School archives on the 1856 Cambridge Rules · recall
The goals stand three miles apart, at the sites of two old mills.
Source: Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football Committee, history of the game; Derbyshire County Council heritage pages · recall
1.15Sheffield's Own Game
Sheffield FC, Hallam, the Youdan Cup and the Sheffield Rules that ran beside the FA's for twenty years.
Test 1Sheffield footballTake a test
Both were young members of a local cricket club; their rules followed in 1858.
Source: Sheffield FC, 'Club history' (sheffieldfc.com) · recall
The Sheffield code banned hacking five years before the London clubs argued about it.
Source: Sheffield FC, 'Club history' (sheffieldfc.com) · recall
The two clubs first met on 26 December 1860, and the 'Rules Derby' is still played.
Source: Hallam FC, 'History' (hallamfc.co.uk); Guinness World Records, 'Oldest football ground' · recall
He put up the silver cup for a knockout among twelve local clubs.
Source: Hallam FC, 'History' (hallamfc.co.uk); Guinness World Records, 'Oldest football ground' · recall
Hallam beat Norfolk in the final at Bramall Lane; the trophy turned up again in 1997 and went back to the club.
Source: Hallam FC, 'History' (hallamfc.co.uk); Guinness World Records, 'Oldest football ground' · recall
Played at Battersea Park under FA rules, it was the first match between two associations.
Source: The FA, 'History of the FA' (thefa.com) · recall
The two codes had already traded ideas; the corner kick and the crossbar came from Sheffield.
Source: The FA, 'History of the FA' (thefa.com) · recall
1857, 1858, 1860 and 1867.
Source: Sheffield FC, 'Club history' (sheffieldfc.com) · recall
1857, 1860, 1862 and 1867; The Wednesday grew out of a cricket club.
Source: Sheffield Wednesday, 'Club history' (swfc.co.uk) · recall
Guinness World Records lists Sandygate as the world's oldest football ground still in use.
Source: Hallam FC, 'History' (hallamfc.co.uk); Guinness World Records, 'Oldest football ground' · recall
1.16Scotland, Wales and Ireland Organise
Queen's Park, the Scottish, Welsh and Irish associations, the Home Championship and Hampden's record crowd.
Test 1The home nationsTake a test
After 152 years as amateurs, the club ended its 'Ludere Causa Ludendi' tradition in November 2019.
Source: Queen's Park FC, 'History' (queensparkfc.co.uk); BBC Sport, 'Queen's Park turn professional' (2019) · recall
Their first goal against came in January 1875.
Source: Queen's Park FC, 'History' (queensparkfc.co.uk); BBC Sport, 'Queen's Park turn professional' (2019) · recall
The finals of 1884 and 1885 were the only ones a Scottish club has played.
Source: Queen's Park FC, 'History' (queensparkfc.co.uk); BBC Sport, 'Queen's Park turn professional' (2019) · recall
Scotland won 4-0 in Glasgow, weeks after the Welsh FA was formed in Wrexham.
Source: Football Association of Wales, 'History' (faw.cymru) · recall
The Irish FA had been founded in Belfast the year before.
Source: Irish Football Association, 'History' (irishfa.com) · recall
The competition had run since 1883-84, when Scotland won the first edition.
Source: Irish Football Association, 'History' (irishfa.com) · recall
1863, 1873, 1876 and 1880.
Source: Scottish FA, 'History' (scottishfa.co.uk) · recall
1867, 1875, 1884 and 2019.
Source: Queen's Park FC, 'History' (queensparkfc.co.uk); BBC Sport, 'Queen's Park turn professional' (2019) · recall
The official figure of 149,415 is a European record for an international match.
Source: Hampden Park, 'Stadium history' (hampdenpark.co.uk); Scottish FA records · recall
1.17The Game Goes Abroad
Teachers, miners and railwaymen who took football to South America, Spain, Italy, Denmark and Germany.
Test 1Football's spreadTake a test
The Scot founded the English High School in Buenos Aires and led the first Argentine league in 1893.
Source: Asociación del Fútbol Argentino, 'Historia' (afa.com.ar) · recall
Genoa beat Internazionale Torino in the final, just weeks after the Italian federation was founded.
Source: Genoa CFC, 'La storia' (genoacfc.it); FIGC, 'Albo d'oro' (figc.it) · recall
British staff of the mining company founded the club in 1889.
Source: Real Club Recreativo de Huelva, 'Historia' (recreativohuelva.es) · recall
KB began as a cricket and football club in Copenhagen.
Source: Kjøbenhavns Boldklub, 'Historie' (kb.dk); Dansk Boldspil-Union, 'DBU's historie' (dbu.dk) · recall
The Dutch FA followed in December the same year.
Source: Kjøbenhavns Boldklub, 'Historie' (kb.dk); Dansk Boldspil-Union, 'DBU's historie' (dbu.dk) · recall
He also wrote the first German rules of the game in 1875.
Source: Martino-Katharineum Braunschweig, 'Konrad Koch'; DFB, 'Geschichte des Fußballs in Deutschland' (dfb.de) · recall
The club took its later name from the Peñarol district where the railway works stood.
Source: Club Atlético Peñarol, 'Historia' (penarol.org) · recall
1867, 1876, 1889 and 1893.
Source: Asociación del Fútbol Argentino, 'Historia' (afa.com.ar) · recall
1889, 1893, 1898 and 1900.
Source: FIGC (figc.it), DFB (dfb.de) and AFA (afa.com.ar) official histories · recall
Miller had learned the game at school in Southampton; he organised São Paulo's first match the next year.
Source: Museu do Futebol, São Paulo, 'Charles Miller' (museudofutebol.org.br) · recall
1.18Football at the Early Olympics
From Upton Park in 1900 to Uruguay in 1924: walk-offs, record scorers and the first lap of honour.
Test 1The early Olympic tournamentsTake a test
They beat a French side 4-0; the medals were assigned later by the IOC.
Source: Olympics.com, official results and stories of the Olympic football tournaments · recall
Great Britain beat Denmark 2-0 in the final at White City.
Source: FIFA, 'Olympic Football Tournaments' history (inside.fifa.com); Olympics.com · recall
Denmark won the semi-final 17-1.
Source: Olympics.com, official results and stories of the Olympic football tournaments · recall
Both records still stand at the Olympic tournament.
Source: Olympics.com, official results and stories of the Olympic football tournaments · recall
Belgium took the gold; Czechoslovakia were disqualified and Spain won a play-off series for silver.
Source: Olympics.com, official results and stories of the Olympic football tournaments · recall
Austria complained about fans on the pitch during extra time; Peru went home rather than play again.
Source: Olympics.com, official results and stories of the Olympic football tournaments · recall
Since 1996 each squad may also add three older players.
Source: FIFA, 'Olympic Football Tournaments' history (inside.fifa.com); Olympics.com · recall
1908, 1920, 1924 and 1952.
Source: Olympics.com, official results and stories of the Olympic football tournaments · recall
1900, 1908, 1912 and 1920.
Source: Olympics.com, official results and stories of the Olympic football tournaments · recall
The lap of honour is said to have begun with the Uruguayans' Olympic win in Colombes.
Source: Olympics.com, official results and stories of the Olympic football tournaments · recall
1.19The FA Cup's First Decades
Wanderers, the Boat Race kick-off, Blackburn Olympic, Preston's Invincibles and the White Horse Final.
Test 1The FA Cup 1872-1923Take a test
They won in 1872, 1873 and 1876-78.
Source: The FA, 'FA Cup history' and 'Past finals' (thefa.com) · recall
The 'challenge round' was used only that once.
Source: The FA, 'FA Cup history' and 'Past finals' (thefa.com) · recall
Wanderers beat Oxford University 2-0 at Lillie Bridge.
Source: The FA, 'FA Cup history' and 'Past finals' (thefa.com) · recall
Their team of weavers and metalworkers beat Old Etonians 2-1 after extra time.
Source: The FA, 'FA Cup history' and 'Past finals' (thefa.com) · recall
He won five of them, with Wanderers and Old Etonians.
Source: The FA, 'FA Cup history' and 'Past finals' (thefa.com) · recall
They also went through the first Football League season unbeaten.
Source: The FA, 'FA Cup history' and 'Past finals' (thefa.com) · recall
No other club from outside the Football League has won it since the League began.
Source: The FA, 'FA Cup history' and 'Past finals' (thefa.com) · recall
1872, 1875, 1883 and 1889.
Source: The FA, 'FA Cup history' and 'Past finals' (thefa.com) · recall
1872, 1895, 1920 and 1923.
Source: The FA, 'FA Cup history' and 'Past finals' (thefa.com) · recall
PC George Scorey and his horse Billie edged a huge crowd back so Bolton and West Ham could play.
Source: Wembley Stadium, 'History' (wembleystadium.com); National Football Museum · recall
1.20Football in Wartime
The Khaki Cup Final, a fixed match, a footballer's Victoria Cross, footballs on the Somme and Dynamo Moscow's tour.
Test 1Football in the two World WarsTake a test
Sheffield United beat Chelsea 3-0 at Old Trafford; the competition then stopped until 1920.
Source: The FA, '1915: the Khaki Cup Final' (thefa.com); Sheffield United heritage (sufc.co.uk) · recall
It was the last full league season until 1919-20.
Source: EFL, 'History of the Football League' and wartime seasons (efl.com) · recall
United won the Good Friday match 2-0; most of the bans were lifted after the war.
Source: EFL, 'History of the Football League' and wartime seasons (efl.com) · recall
He was killed on the Somme in July 1916, days after the action that won the award.
Source: Imperial War Museums, 'Donald Bell VC' (iwm.org.uk); Victoria Cross register, The National Archives · recall
War was declared on 3 September 1939 and the results were wiped from the records.
Source: EFL, 'History of the Football League' and wartime seasons (efl.com) · recall
Stars such as Stanley Matthews played for several clubs while in uniform.
Source: EFL, 'History of the Football League' and wartime seasons (efl.com) · recall
Many in the crowd at White Hart Lane could barely see the pitch.
Source: Chelsea FC (chelseafc.com) and Arsenal FC (arsenal.com) heritage pages on the 1945 Dynamo tour · recall
1915, 1916, 1939 and 1945.
Source: Imperial War Museums, 'Football at the Somme' (iwm.org.uk); Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment Museum · recall
A 3-3 draw, a 10-1 win, a 4-3 win and a 2-2 draw, all in November 1945.
Source: Chelsea FC (chelseafc.com) and Arsenal FC (arsenal.com) heritage pages on the 1945 Dynamo tour · recall
Nevill of the East Surrey Regiment offered a prize to the platoon that reached the German trench first; he was killed that morning.
Source: Imperial War Museums, 'Football at the Somme' (iwm.org.uk); Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment Museum · recall
Sources
Primary/official sources only, no Wikipedia citations: The FA official history (thefa.com), FIFA Museum (fifamuseum.com) and FIFA's own media releases (inside.fifa.com). Paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored.
- The FA official history, thefa.com/about-football-association/who-we-are/history12
- The FA, 'FA Cup history' and 'Past finals' (thefa.com)9
- Olympics.com, official results and stories of the Olympic football tournaments8
- Hallam FC, 'History' (hallamfc.co.uk); Guinness World Records, 'Oldest football ground'4
- Queen's Park FC, 'History' (queensparkfc.co.uk); BBC Sport, 'Queen's Park turn professional' (2019)4
- EFL, 'History of the Football League' and wartime seasons (efl.com)4
- Library of Congress World Cup research guide, guides.loc.gov/world-cup/uruguay-19303
- Records of the Parliaments of Scotland to 1707 (rps.ac.uk), acts of 1424 and 14573
- Sheffield FC, 'Club history' (sheffieldfc.com)3
- ITV News Central / FourFourTwo FA Cup theft coverage2
- Cross-checked histories of English league shirt numbering2
- Cross-checked histories of the British Ladies' Football Club2
- Calendar of Letter-Books of the City of London, Letter-Book D (1314), via British History Online (british-history.ac.uk)2
- Ashbourne Royal Shrovetide Football Committee, history of the game; Derbyshire County Council heritage pages2
- The FA, 'History of the FA' (thefa.com); Shrewsbury School archives on the 1856 Cambridge Rules2
- The FA, 'History of the FA' (thefa.com)2
- Irish Football Association, 'History' (irishfa.com)2
- Asociación del Fútbol Argentino, 'Historia' (afa.com.ar)2
- Kjøbenhavns Boldklub, 'Historie' (kb.dk); Dansk Boldspil-Union, 'DBU's historie' (dbu.dk)2
- FIFA, 'Olympic Football Tournaments' history (inside.fifa.com); Olympics.com2
- Chelsea FC (chelseafc.com) and Arsenal FC (arsenal.com) heritage pages on the 1945 Dynamo tour2
- Imperial War Museums, 'Football at the Somme' (iwm.org.uk); Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment Museum2
- FIFA Museum, fifamuseum.com/en/explore/fifamuseumplus/blog/Scotland-v-England-11
- FIFA official history, inside.fifa.com/media-releases/fifa-celebrates-120th-anniversary-of-foundation-in-paris1
- Olympics.com / Britannica, olympics.com/en/news/fifa-world-cup-trophy-jules-rimet-history1
- Football-history accounts of the IFAB meeting of 2 June 1891, cross-checked against reports of the IFAB minutes1
- Cross-checked histories of the penalty kick law1
- Cross-checked histories of Brodie's goal net patent1
- Cross-checked histories of Widdowson and Nottingham Forest1
- Cross-checked histories of the British Ladies' Football Club (National Football Museum, Hornsey Historical Society)1
- Cross-checked histories of the offside law's evolution1
- Richard Mulcaster, 'Positions' (1581), chapter 27, on football1
- Sheffield Wednesday, 'Club history' (swfc.co.uk)1
- SPFL, 'History of the Scottish League' (spfl.co.uk)1
- Football Association of Wales, 'History' (faw.cymru)1
- Scottish FA, 'History' (scottishfa.co.uk)1
- Hampden Park, 'Stadium history' (hampdenpark.co.uk); Scottish FA records1
- Genoa CFC, 'La storia' (genoacfc.it); FIGC, 'Albo d'oro' (figc.it)1
- Real Club Recreativo de Huelva, 'Historia' (recreativohuelva.es)1
- Martino-Katharineum Braunschweig, 'Konrad Koch'; DFB, 'Geschichte des Fußballs in Deutschland' (dfb.de)1
- Club Atlético Peñarol, 'Historia' (penarol.org)1
- FIGC (figc.it), DFB (dfb.de) and AFA (afa.com.ar) official histories1
- Museu do Futebol, São Paulo, 'Charles Miller' (museudofutebol.org.br)1
- Wembley Stadium, 'History' (wembleystadium.com); National Football Museum1
- The FA, '1915: the Khaki Cup Final' (thefa.com); Sheffield United heritage (sufc.co.uk)1
- Imperial War Museums, 'Donald Bell VC' (iwm.org.uk); Victoria Cross register, The National Archives1