The 1860s in the development of soccer
Year |
Event |
1862 |
The 'rouge' was incorporated into the Sheffield Rules as a tiebreaker to avoid matches ending in draws. The rouge was awarded when a player touched the ball down behind the opponents' goal-line; similar to a 'touchdown' or 'try' in rugby. |
1862 |
Notts County Football Club, recognised as the world's first professional and oldest Football League club, was first formed as a ‘gentleman-only’ club. |
1863 |
The new Cambridge Rules were written, updating the original 1848 Cambridge Rules. |
1863 |
The Football Association (FA) was formed. As the oldest football association in the world, it is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the amateur and professional game in its territory. It adopted many of the new Cambridge Rules to form the Laws of the Game in the same year. |
1867 |
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club was founded as an offshoot of The Wednesday Cricket Club who wanted to play a winter sport to maintain fitness. The club had been so named because it was on on Wednesdays that its founding members had a half-day off work. Nicknamed "The Owls," the football club was known as The Wednesday Football Club until 1929. |
1867 |
The Youdan Cup took place in Sheffield - the world's first organised football tournament. Played under the Sheffield Rules it was won by Hallam, beating Norfolk by two rouges to one. |
1868 |
The Cromwell Cup (named after Oliver Cromwell, manager of the local Alexandra Theatre, who donated the cup) was the second ever Sheffield rules football competition. It was held in Sheffield in February 1868 with the final at Bramall Lane. The Wednesday were its first and only winners. |