| -- End Ad Box ---> | | | | World. However, despite having some world class |
| English Soccer History — Early Days | | | | soccer players throughout time and despite always |
| It's hard to determine exactly how soccer became | | | | being favorites for the competitions they start in, the |
| so popular in England in the 19th century, but the | | | | English national squad only achieved few important |
| truth is that in the mid 19th century, almost every | | | | milestones throughout the entire soccer history in |
| major town had a semi-professional soccer team. | | | | England. |
| These teams were usually associations of workers | | | | The apogee of English soccer and the most |
| from the same factory or institution or simply | | | | important chapter ever to be written in the entire |
| students at a local University. | | | | history of soccer in England was definitely the |
| Matches between those teams were played | | | | successful World Cup run in 1966, a competition that |
| occasionally, with little to no prize, but only for | | | | was held on English ground, giving them the |
| competition's sake. However, these matches were | | | | advantage to grasp their long-awaited trophy. |
| played without any rules or a referee and as soccer | | | | The 1966 team, captained by legendary Bobby |
| isn't necessarily a sport that's completely clean of | | | | Moore and with other key components such as |
| violence, all it took was a harsh tackle or an | | | | Jackie Charlton or Geoff Hurst playing regularly, |
| argument about a particular rule to start a bloody | | | | remains the best national squad in the entire English |
| fight between the two teams and their supporters. | | | | soccer history, especially since their success has not |
| But the year 1863 marked an extremely important | | | | been equaled ever since. |
| chapter in English soccer history, as several soccer | | | | English Soccer History — Modern Era |
| clubs from all over the country (prominently from | | | | England is still a top team in Europe and throughout |
| London) met up in the English capital and set up a | | | | the World and has some players that are considered |
| sort of "soccer constitution" called the Laws of the | | | | having world class quality, but the national team still |
| Game (a modified version of the original rules are still | | | | has moderate success, despite being star-studded. |
| in effect today and are still called as such). | | | | Recently, the form of English clubs overshadowed |
| That was also the birth certificate of the Football | | | | the poor performance of the national team, as |
| Association, or simply FA that is still ruling over English | | | | Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool or Arsenal |
| soccer nowadays and had a tremendous importance | | | | continue to be heavy contenders for each year's |
| throughout the history of soccer in England and the | | | | European Champion's League, the most prestigious |
| way it evolved. | | | | club competition in the World. |
| English Soccer History — Important Milestones | | | | Despite being happy with the respect English clubs |
| With England being rightfully considered the inventors | | | | impose in Europe, fans are still yearning for that long |
| of modern soccer, one would expect them to be | | | | awaited European or World Cup which could mark a |
| amongst the most successful national squads in the | | | | new important chapter in the English soccer history. |