The Story of Football
People have played games like football for thousands of
years.
- In ancient
China they played a special game for the emperor's
birthday. Soldiers kicked balls made of animal skin into
a net between two posts. These posts were ten metres
high.
- In the Pacific Islands they played games using hands and feet. They used coconuts and oranges as balls.
- In Mexico
& Central America they played on a special pitch
shaped like a capital "I". It was 10 - 15 metres long
with high walls several feet at each end. In the middle
of each wall there was a special stone or a wooden ring.
You scored ‘goals’ by putting a hard rubber ball through
the ring.
- There are many legends about the early history of football in England. One story is that soldiers used the skulls of their enemies as balls.
- Another is that an English village beat a Roman team on the pitch and then in battle in 217 AD.
How much do you know about the early history of football? Try this Quiz
