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.