The Invention of Soccer: A Summary of History
Soccer is one of the world’s most popular sports, with millions of people all over the globe playing the game. But who invented it and when? The invention of soccer dates back to ancient times and its evolution has been long and complex. In this article, we’ll take a look at the history of soccer to answer the question of who invented it.
The Origins of Soccer
Soccer has its roots in various forms of ball games that were played by ancient civilizations around the world. It is believed that the Chinese played a game called ‘tsu chu’, which involved kicking a leather ball filled with feathers and hair through a small hole in a silken net hung between two poles some 2000 years ago. Similarly, the Romans and Greeks also had their ball games. The ancient Mayans had a version of soccer called ‘pitz’, which involved two teams trying to kick a rubber ball through a small stone hoop.
History of Soccer in England
It was in England that soccer evolved into the game we know today. During the 19th century, soccer began to become more organized and codified, with the creation of various rules and regulations. In 1863, the Football Association was founded in England, which standardized the rules and regulations of the sport.
Who Invented the Game of Soccer?
The modern game of soccer was invented in England in the 19th century. Credit for the invention goes to several people, including:
- Charles Wreford-Brown: He is credited with popularising the game of soccer in the English-speaking world. He is also the one who coined the term ‘soccer’ as an abbreviation for ‘association football’.
- John Cameron: He is credited with introducing the ‘Cameronian System’, which is a system used to organize and improve soccer in the UK.
- J.A. Thring: He wrote the ‘Rugby School Rules’, which were the set of rules used to play the game in the late 19th century.
Thus, although there is no single person who can be credited with inventing the game of soccer, these individuals played a huge role in its evolution and popularisation in England.
Conclusion
In conclusion, soccer has its roots in various forms of ball games that were played by ancient civilizations. But it was in England during the 19th century that the game of soccer was invented and codified into what we now know and love. Credit for the invention of the game should go not just to one person, but to several, who worked together to popularize and improve the game.
