Origin of Football.

Te Aroha News, Volume VI, Issue 287, 4 August 1888, Page 5

Origin of Football.

The oiigin of football is unknown, but the h'i>t mention of the fjame is in the reign of Edward 111. (1349), who issued an edict against it, not from any particular objection to the paine, but because it co-opcratcd with other favourite amusements to impede the progress of archeiy. Tho penalty was one of impiisonmenb at tho King's pleasure. The danger attending the game occasioned King James I. to say from his Court, ' 1 debarre ad rough and violent exercises, as the football meeter for lameing than making able the users thereof.' A Chester antiquary says : 'It had been the custom time out of mind for the shoemakers yearly on the Shrove Tuesday to delivei to tho drapers, in the piescnce of tho Mayor of Chester, at the Crots on the Rodehco, one ball of leather called a tooteball, of the value of 3s 4d, or above, to play at from thence to the Common Hall of the &aid city, which practice was productive of much inconvenience, and therefore this year (1540) by consent of the parties concerned the ball was changed into .six glayves of silver of the like value as a reward to the best runner that day upon the afore&aid Rodehee. This was theoiigin of the Chester Cup now run for.' Football was also played often between the different parishes at the church ales or wakes, the respective churches being the different goals. When played in tho open the goal consisted of two sticks driven into the ground, about two or three feet apart. At a gieat match played in the Ettrick Forost, betwixt the Ettrick men and the men ot Yarrow, the one part backed by the Earl of Homo and the other by Sir Walter Scott, two songs were written, from which tho following stanza is taken :—: — Then strip lads, and to it, though sharp be the wealhor, And if by mischance you shall happen to fall, There arc worse things in life than u tumble on heather, And life is itself but a game at football.