A British
Export
In the Nineteenth Century
Britain was the most powerful nation in the world. She
exported her steel, her coal and her railways. Her armies
were on every continent.
British workers, soldiers and sailors travelled the world,
bringing with them their favourite game. 
In Argentina the local people laughed when they saw English
railway workers playing football. They had never seen a
game where men showed their knees. Soon, though, young
Argentines began football for themselves. Southampton F.C tour Argentina
1904
British businessmen founded Italy’s oldest club, Genoa,
while the word ‘Athletic’ in Athletic Bilbao is not Spanish
but English. Even in India, there were reports of matches
between the British Army and local teams from the 1870s.
Why was football so popular? One important reason was that
it was very simple to play. Unlike cricket, you did not
need special equipment or particular weather. All you
needed was a ball and some open ground.
The British introduced football to the world and the game
created new business opportunities for them. British
factories began producing footballs, football boots,
football shirts and football socks.