The Middle Ages saw a huge rise in popularity of annual Shrovetide
football matches throughout Europe, particularly in England. An early
reference to a ball game played in Britain comes from the 9th
century Historia Brittonum, which describes "a party of boys ... playing at
ball".[29] References to a ball game played in northern France known as La
Soule or Choule, in which the ball was propelled by hands, feet, and sticks,
[30]
date from the 12th century.[31]
An illustration of so-called "mob football"
The early forms of football played in England, sometimes referred to as "mob
football", would be played in towns or between neighbouring villages,
involving an unlimited number of players on opposing teams who would
clash en masse,[32] struggling to move an item, such as inflated animal's
bladder[33] to particular geographical points, such as their opponents' church,
with play taking place in the open space between neighbouring parishes.
[34]
The game was played primarily during significant religious festivals, such
as Shrovetide, Christmas, or Easter,[33] and Shrovetide games have survived
into the modern era in a number of English towns (see below).
The first detailed description of what was almost certainly football in
England was given by William FitzStephen in about 1174–1183. He
described the activities of London youths during the annual festival of Shrove
Tuesday:
After lunch all the youth of the city go out into the fields to take part in a ball
game. The students of each school have their own ball; the workers from
each city craft are also carrying their balls. Older citizens, fathers, and
wealthy citizens come on horseback to watch their juniors competing, and to
relive their own youth vicariously: you can see their inner passions aroused
as they watch the action and get caught up in the fun being had by the
carefree adolescents.[35]
Most of the very early references to the game speak simply of "ball play" or
"playing at ball". This reinforces the idea that the games played at the time
did not necessarily involve a ball being kicked.
An early reference to a ball game that was probably football comes from
1280 at Ulgham, Northumberland, England: "Henry... while playing at ball..
ran against David".[36] Football was played in Ireland in 1308, with a
documented reference to John McCrocan, a spectator at a "football game"
at Newcastle, County Down being charged with accidentally stabbing a
player named William Bernard.[37] Another reference to a football game
comes in 1321 at Shouldham, Norfolk, England: "[d]uring the game at ball as
he kicked the ball, a lay friend of his... ran against him and wounded
himself".[36]
In 1314, Nicholas de Farndone, Lord Mayor of the City of London issued a
decree banning football in the French used by the English upper classes at the
time. A translation reads: "[f]orasmuch as there is great noise in the city
caused by hustling over large foot balls [rageries de grosses pelotes de pee]
[38]
in the fields of the public from which many evils might arise which God
forbid: we command and forbid on behalf of the king, on pain of
imprisonment, such game to be used in the city in the future." This is the
earliest reference to football.
In 1363, King Edward III of England issued a proclamation banning
"...handball, football, or hockey; coursing and cock-fighting, or other such
idle games",[39] showing that "football" – whatever its exact form in this case
– was being differentiated from games involving other parts of the body, such
as handball.
"Football" in France, circa 1750
A game known as "football" was played in Scotland as early as the 15th
century: it was prohibited by the Football Act 1424 and although the law fell
into disuse it was not repealed until 1906. There is evidence for schoolboys
playing a "football" ball game in Aberdeen in 1633 (some references cite
1636) which is notable as an early allusion to what some have considered to
be passing the ball. The word "pass" in the most recent translation is derived
from "huc percute" (strike it here) and later "repercute pilam" (strike the ball
again) in the original Latin. It is not certain that the ball was being struck
between members of the same team. The original word translated as "goal" is
"metum", literally meaning the "pillar at each end of the circus course" in a
Roman chariot race. There is a reference to "get hold of the ball before
[another player] does" (Praeripe illi pilam si possis agere) suggesting that
handling of the ball was allowed. One sentence states in the original 1930
translation "Throw yourself against him" (Age, objice te illi).
