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The man who invented ‘soccer’
It’s something of a myth that Victorians commonly referred to association football as ‘soccer’. The practice was originally confined to Oxford University, where students thought it was terribly amusing Continue reading
Victorian footballers’ wages
How much were Victorian footballers paid? The answer, up until the 1880s, was nothing – officially, at least. Professionalism was banned, and it was illegal to pay players. But many clubs made unofficial payments, Continue reading
The broken limb
In this extract from Goal-Post: Victorian Football Vol 1, pioneering football reporter Henry Leach writes of a terrible injury sustained by Notts County half-back Charlie Bramley. The footballer abroad has many Continue reading
The original Wanderers
One of the most important clubs of football’s formative years, Wanderers was founded in 1859 as Forest FC by a group of public school old boys, led by brothers John and Charles Alcock – just 18 and 16 Continue reading
Goalkeepers were different
Many of the most important Victorian footballers were goalkeepers, including innovative Scottish international Robert Gardner, Ghanaian pioneer Arthur Wharton, and great exhibitionist William ‘Fatty’ Continue reading
The original FA Cup
The original Football Association Challenge Cup trophy was first presented to the man who had commissioned it, Wanderers captain and FA secretary CW Alcock. It was handed to Alcock at a presentation Continue reading
Arthur Pember and the mermaids
Arthur Pember was the first president of the Football Association, and an influential figure in the creation of the Laws of the Game. He was the captain of the Kilburn NN (No Names) Club, and also captained Continue reading
Victorian football in Germany
The first German association football club was Dresden FC, formed in 1874 by Englishmen working in the city. Sometimes referred to as Dresden English FC, the club had around 70 members who Continue reading
Winter tales – snowy Victorian football
This festive extract from The Victorian Football Miscellany looks at three strange matches played in wintry weather. Playing in a layer of snow that made passing impossible, the men of Preston North End and Continue reading
The first great football manager
Often referred to as the first great football manager, Tom Watson was highly influential in the early development of three of England’s biggest clubs. Born in Newcastle in 1859, Watson was involved Continue reading
