The beautiful game
It has been quite a journey from rough skirmishes over an inflated pig’s bladder to ‘the beautiful game’, and The Football Association (FA) has played a significant role. Celebrating its 160th anniversary this year, it is the world’s oldest football association as well as English football’s governing body.
Medieval ‘folk football’ was rampageous, and later, 18th–19th century private schools each played according to their own laws. It was only after representatives from various clubs formed the FA in 1863 that rules were generally agreed (‘hacking’ an opponent’s leg, despite its supporters, was eventually disallowed). The world-famous FA Cup tournament, launched in 1871, further galvanised the sport.
Women’s football flourished too, until the FA banned matches in 1921, declaring that “football is quite unsuitable for females”. The ban was lifted in
