The History Of Football 23.9.05 One of the earliest examples of a game similar to football existed in ancient China. Documents

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 Thomas Colwill       The History Of Football    23.9.05

One of the earliest examples of a game similar to football existed in ancient China. Documents reveal that around 200 BC a game called tsu chu (meaning "kick ball") was played with two 30ft high bamboo poles for goals. The greeks also played a form of football as early as 4 BC. The game was known as Pheninda and involved kicking the ball, running with it and handling it a mixture of sports which are all different today. The Romans soon followed the Greeks example and called their game hapastum. This was played on a rectangular field, between two teams who defended the lines which marked the end of the field. The objective of this game was to throw the ball from player to player going forward and eventually throw it beyond the opponents goal line. The defending side was allowed to tackle and kick this game could be seen as a close representation to American Football. Some other examples of the games development are documented around the world. In Japan a game called Kemari was developed this game involved 8 players and basically they kicked the ball back and forth to one another ceremoniously across the "pitch". This was just 14 metres square.  In Italy a similar game was developed in the 15th and 16th centuries called Calcio. This involved two sides playing in the town square in Florence on The feast day of St John the Baptist.The evolution of the game in England appears to have its roots in holy days. Written evidence confirms that in the 12th century a game with a ball was played on Shrove Tuesday in Ashbourne. On such occasions the whole town would get involved and the game could last for days. The purpose of the game was to gain posession of the ball and deliver it back to the town or parish. In many other places, Shrovetide football lasted until the late 19th century.

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     In the middle part of the 18th century the game was taken up by public schools who invented their own versions of the game. By 1848 the first serious attempts were being made to form some rules for the game. Fifteen years later the Football Association (F.A) was founded. Historical orthodoxy suggests football has been played in England since the 13th century. Back then football was played just for people to riot, there were no rules and unlimited numbers of people and the ball was chased across fields and bogs until it reached one of the villages again. ...

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