9. World Cup Special: The History of Soccer

Full Episode description

From the World Cup player who wouldn’t head the ball because of his hair style to submarines on football pitches, we’ve got you covered for all you need to know about the history of soccer! All in time for kick off at Russia 2018!

For after you’ve listened, here’s the whole True (T) or False (F) quiz – with answers! 

1. The earliest evidence regarding football is that dinosaurs used to kick small animals around in small-sided games (F)

2. Centuries ago in England, soccer was played by kicking an animal’s bladder across the countryside (T)

3. The Romans, Greeks and Ancient Chinese all used to play a type of soccer about 2,000 years or more ago (T)

4. Soldiers used to celebrate their victories by using their enemies skulls as footballs (T)

5. In medieval England, soccer was banned by some kings because it distracted men from doing their archery practice (T)

6. King Henry VIII was so good at soccer that he even played for Chelsea once in a friendly against Arsenal (F)

7. After the English Civil War in England 350 years ago, people were sent to prison for playing or even watching football on Sundays (T)

8. In the nineteenth century – the 1800s – some British schools, including Rugby School, decided to allow soccer players to run while holding the ball (T)

9. During the nineteenth century one man, Chester U. Knighted, was executed for playing football on Queen Victoria’s birthday! (F)

10. The first World Cup was played in Athens in the third century BC (F)

11. Uruguay have won the World Cup more times than England (T)

12. The greatest soccer club in the world is Portsmouth FC (T!)

13. The greatest player in World Cup history is called Edson (T – it’s Pele’s real name)

14. During World War I Germany and Britain had a ceasefire and played a football match on Christmas Day (T)

15. The World Cup trophy spent World War II hidden from the Nazis, under a bed in Italy (T)

16. Everton F C started as a Sunday School team (T)

17. Arsenal F C started as a team of prisoners (F – Arsenal was originally formed in 1886 by a group of workers at the Woolwich armaments factory in south London)

18. The Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway Company football club became Manchester United F C (T)

19. Sunderland F C started as a team of teachers (T)

20. In 1966 the trophy was stolen but then found in a bin by a hamster called Pickled (F – found under a hedge by a dog called Pickles)

21. Soccer is known as ‘The Painful Game’ (F – The Beautiful Game)

22. When Germany won the World Cup for the third time in 1970 they were allowed to keep the trophy (T)

23. More people watch the World Cup on TV than any other sporting event, including the Olympics (T)

24. About 200 countries tried to qualify for this year’s World Cup (T)

25. LA Galaxy is called that because of the ‘galaxy’ of star celebrities for which Los Angeles is famous (T)
 

James got 18/25 – but he is a Professor of Football! How did you do? Tell us on: 

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See you in two weeks!

Podcast cover art by Molly Austin

Instrumental music by Kevin MacLeod

Sound effects used under RemArc Licence include the crowd at the 1966 World Cup Final and the spectator reaction to Portsmouth scoring a goal against Carlisle in 1985. Copyright 2018 © BBC.