Football In 1850
An old newspaper article
Football In 1850
While doing some research on the origins of association football, rugby, and American football, I came across this really old article:
Now, aside from the report of violence — which I think was probably sensationalized — there are some interesting things to note:
Football was a long standing tradition.
Local football matches were common on holidays going back to time immemorial.
Local police officers tried to break up football matches.
I’m guessing that this was likely a form of so-called mob football, which, of course, was banned by the Highway Act of 1835.
Alnwick, by the way, is a pretty rural and out-of-the-way place even today:
