History of Football in Timeline

Football is a family of team sports primarily involving kicking a ball to score. The term generally refers to the most popular form in a given region, including association football (soccer), Australian rules, Gaelic, gridiron (American), rugby league, and rugby union. These codes share common origins, tracing back to codified games in 19th-century English public schools derived from medieval football. The British Empire's expansion facilitated the spread of these rules, leading to regional variations like Gaelic football incorporating local traditions. The Football League, founded in England in 1888, marked the beginning of professional football associations. Throughout the 20th century, various football codes have evolved into some of the world's most popular team sports.

1901: Formation of the Northern Rugby League

In 1901, the separate Lancashire and Yorkshire competitions of the NRFU merged, forming the Northern Rugby League, marking the first official use of the name rugby league in England.

1903: Ontario Rugby Football Union adopts Burnside rules

In 1903, the Ontario Rugby Football Union adopted the Burnside rules, implementing the line of scrimmage and down-and-distance system from American football.

May 1904: Foundation of FIFA

In May 1904, the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) was founded in Paris by associations from seven European countries: France, Belgium, Denmark, Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

October 1905: Meeting with President Roosevelt

In October 1905, U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt held a meeting with football representatives from Harvard, Yale, and Princeton, urging them to make drastic changes to the game to reduce injuries.

1905: Calls to ban American football in the U.S.

In 1905, there were calls to ban American football in the U.S. due to its violence, leading to a meeting with President Theodore Roosevelt and subsequent rule changes.

1906: Reduction of rugby league team size

In 1906, rugby league rules diverged significantly from rugby union with the reduction of the team from 15 to 13 players.

1906: Football Act 1424 repealed

In 1906, the Football Act of 1424, which had prohibited football in Scotland, was repealed after having fallen into disuse.

1906: Introduction of the legal forward pass

In 1906, the legal forward pass was introduced to open up the game and reduce injury.

1907: New Zealand professional rugby team tours Australia and Britain

In 1907, a New Zealand professional rugby team toured Australia and Britain, receiving an enthusiastic response, and professional rugby leagues were launched in Australia the following year.