Mike Alsford

Mike Alsford's writings delve into the historical evolution of football, demonstrating its origins in ancient ball games played across various cultures. These early forms, often characterized by mass participation and rudimentary rules, laid the groundwork for later developments. The author traces the sport's lineage through medieval European mob football, noting its disruptive nature and repeated attempts at prohibition. Alsford highlights the transition of these games to American soil, where they began to coalesce into more structured forms on college campuses in the 19th century.

Further examination reveals the pivotal role of figures like Walter Camp in codifying American football, introducing key rules that distinguished it from rugby and association football. The growth of college football and the subsequent professionalization, culminating in the formation of the NFL, are also detailed. Alsford's perspective emphasizes the enduring appeal and cultural significance of football, connecting its ancient past to its widespread modern popularity.

The history of football, as explored by Alsford, stretches back to antiquity, with evidence suggesting ball games existed as early as 750 BCE, referenced in texts like the Book of Isaiah and Homer's Odyssey. Ancient Greece and Rome featured games such as Episkyros and Harpastum, which involved handling a ball. Throughout Europe and beyond, diverse national games evolved, including China's Cuju, Japan's Kemari, and Ireland's Caid. Early accounts in Britain, dating to the ninth century, describe youths playing with balls. By the 12th century, games like La Soule in France involved propelling a ball with hands, feet, or sticks, evolving into what is known as mob football. These early forms typically involved large numbers of players from neighboring communities, with the objective of moving an inflated pig's bladder to a designated goal, often using any means short of fatal violence.

Medieval football in England and Europe was characterized by its chaotic and often violent nature, frequently described as 'mob football.' These games saw unlimited players from opposing towns or villages vying to advance a ball, sometimes a pig's bladder, to a goal. Despite their popularity, these activities repeatedly faced bans from royal and local authorities due to their disruptive influence, with over 30 laws enacted in England between 1324 and 1667 attempting to suppress them. An engraving from the early 14th century at Gloucester Cathedral depicts a vigorous ball game, possibly involving hands. William FitzStephen's description from around 1174–1183 provides one of the earliest detailed accounts of London youths playing a ball game during Shrove Tuesday festivities. The 19th century saw the decline of many of these traditional games due to legislation like the Highway Act of 1835, though some, like the Ba game in Orkney and Uppies and Downies in Cumbria, persist.

The presence of ball games in America predates European settlement, with interactions between English explorers and Inuit people in Greenland in 1586 involving a form of football, and later accounts of Native American games like Pahsaheman. However, the direct lineage of modern American football originates from European traditional games. Early unorganized games, similar to English mob football, were played in American colleges during the 19th century, with each institution developing its own rules. Princeton had 'ballown' by 1820, and Harvard's 'Bloody Monday' began in 1827 as a large-scale freshman-sophomore contest. These games were often chaotic and injury-prone. The pivotal shift occurred with rule changes instituted by Walter Camp, considered the 'father of gridiron football,' who introduced the line of scrimmage and down-and-distance rules. This era also saw the development of the forward pass by coaches like Eddie Cochems and Amos Alonzo Stagg, propelling college football's popularity. Professional football emerged in 1892 with the first paid player, and the formation of the American Professional Football Association in 1920, later becoming the NFL, solidified its national status.

“He will turn and toss thee like a ball.”

“Then having bathed and anointed well with oil they took their midday meal upon the river's banks and anon when satisfied with food they played a game of ball.”

“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.”

“Forasmuch as there is great noise in the city caused by hustling over large balls from which many evils may 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.”

“in like wise foote balle, wherin is nothinge but beastly furie and exstreme violence.”