The Early Years of the Football Association

Over the past two decades, academic, sociological/historical writing on football has flourished, mainly on the back of the debate over the game's early development led by Eric Dunning, Graham Curry, Tony Collins, and Adrian Harvey. This book adds to that debate, providing more information on the early meetings of the Football Association.

The initial two chapters constitute the centrepiece of the work, presenting detailed analysis of the first six meetings of the association when, eventually, arguments raged over the merits and demerits of what, increasingly, had become two very differing forms of football - kicking and dribbling, which was to become soccer, and handling carrying and hacking, which became rugby. The adherents of the former may have conspired to engage additional supporters to the all-important gathering, when significant votes were taken which decided the future of the game.

Despite their triumph in these divisions, the association did not initially thrive. However, mainly due to the growing involvement of Charles Alcock, the body became resurgent in the early 1870s, with the introduction of the FA Cup and international competition. A decade later during the debate over professionalism, the association avoided a split in the sport and, although the game was entering an era of over-seriousness and commercialisation, they maintained their hold over its administration and, precariously, its value system.

Ultimately, the Football Association succeeded in establishing itself as the governing body of the sport in England, thereby cementing its place in the history of the game.