July 2026:

Has the people’s game stopped being the people’s game?

With attendance depleted by heat and holidays a small group of us enjoyed Coleen’s lead on this topic that encompassed the origins and history of the game since mediaeval times. What started as villagers kicking the head of an executed miscreant or a pig’s bladder around, was subsequently banned after the civil war yet survived in schools.

Under James I football was included in the list of activities permitted on Sundays. At the time it was an upper-class pursuit, considered character-building and played at public schools, although under varying rules; at Eton it was called ‘dribbling’, at Rugby the ball could be handled.

Following the industrial revolution factory owners set up teams for recreation and venting anger. Believing that football engendered ‘muscular Christianity’, churches set up teams, one of which was Aston Villa.

The railway enabled people to go to away games. Rules were standardised and as what had been an amateur game began to become professionalised, in 1901 footballers’ wages were capped. This cap lasted until successfully challenged in 1961.

In the discussion we explored the contrasts between the wealthy clubs and the smaller non-league clubs, how the cost of tickets had increased, the lesser significance attached to the women’s game, and how major clubs treated very young players they signed to their academies.

We concluded that, despite the exploitation of fans by the big clubs with high ticket prices and expensive merchandise, the game remains enjoyed by many people, both players and fans.