Medieval football

Quick Facts: Who was Medieval football?

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Medieval football

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A historical term for chaotic, localized folk football played across European towns in the Middle Ages.

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Medieval football is a modern term used for a wide variety of the localised informal football games that were invented and played in Europe during the Middle Ages. Alternative names include folk football, mob football and Shrovetide football. These games may be regarded as the ancestors of modern codes of football, and by comparison with later forms of football, the medieval matches had few rules and were chaotic. The Middle Ages saw a rise in popularity of games played annually at Shrovetide (before Lent) throughout England, particularly in London. The games played in England at this time may have arrived with the Romans but there is little evidence to indicate this.

Career & Major Achievements

Certainly the Romans played ball games, in particular harpastum. There is also one reference to ball games being played in southern Britain prior to the Norman Conquest. In the ninth century Nennius's Historia Brittonum tells that a group of boys were playing at ball (pilae ludus). The origin of this account is either Southern England or Wales. 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, date from the 12th century.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

These archaic forms of football, typically classified as mob football, would be played in towns and villages, involving an unlimited number of players on opposing teams, who would clash in a heaving mass of people struggling to drag an inflated pig's bladder by any means possible to markers at each end of a town. By some accounts, in some such events any means could be used to move the ball towards the goal, as long as it did not lead to manslaughter or murder. These antiquated games went into sharp decline in the 19th century when the Highway Act 1835 was passed banning the playing of football on public highways. In spite of this, games continued to be played in some parts of the United Kingdom and still survive in a number of towns, notably the Ba game played at Christmas and New Year at Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands of Scotland, Uppies and Downies over Easter at Workington in Cumbria, the Royal Shrovetide Football Match on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday at Ashbourne in Derbyshire, England, and the Atherstone Ball Game played on Shrove Tuesday since 1199 in Atherstone, Warwickshire Few images of medieval football survive. One wooden misericord carving (see image) from the early fourteenth century at Gloucester Cathedral, England, clearly shows two young men running vigorously towards each other with a ball in mid-air between them.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1199: 1199 Milestone — In spite of this, games continued to be played in some parts of the United Kingdom and still survive in a number of towns, notably the Ba game played at Christmas and New Year at Kirkwall in the Orkney Islands of Scotland, Uppies and Downies over Easter at Workington in Cumbria, the Royal Shrovetide Football Match on Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday at Ashbourne in Derbyshire, England, and the Atherstone Ball Game played on Shrove Tuesday since 1199 in Atherstone, Warwickshire Few images of medieval football survive.
2. 1835: 1835 Milestone — These antiquated games went into sharp decline in the 19th century when the Highway Act 1835 was passed banning the playing of football on public highways.

Notable Quotes by Medieval football

“After lunch, all the youth of the city go out into the fields to take part in a ball game.”

“Four and twenty bonny boys, were playing at the ball.. he kicked the ball with his right foot.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Medieval football

True or False: “The Highway Act of 1835 immediately ended all forms of organized football play across England.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): While the act banned playing on public highways, some localized games continued to be played in specific towns and regions.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Adah Isaacs Menken — Historical peer (Born in 1835) (1835): American actress, painter, and poet known for sensational stage performances.
• Adolf von Baeyer — Historical peer (Born in 1835) (1835): Pioneering German chemist known for indigo synthesis and IUPAC nomenclature.
• Jalal al-Din Mangburni — Historical peer (Born in 1199) (1199): Last Khwarazmshah of the Anushtegin dynasty, ruling during the Mongol invasions.
• Minamoto no Yoritomo — Historical peer (Died in 1199) (1199): Founder of the Kamakura Shogunate and first great military ruler of Japan.

Frequently Asked Questions about Medieval football