The Football History Boys

Here at The Football History Boys we have often explored various eras which the beautiful game has affected. Whether it be pre-1900 with football's first professionals Preston North End or discovering the role footballers played during the World Wars, we have tried to leave no stone unturned. However, there is one part of the sport which we have failed to address and that is it in its earliest form - pre-codification. Yes, we wrote about Tudor Football very early on in our existence but in no real depth, it is here that I will attempt to unearth just what the game was really like, who played it and what people really thought about it. 

When discussing pre-codified football it is first important to find a period of time easily accessible and open to interpretation. In this piece I am going to look at the sport from the Georgian era (1715-1837) and beyond to the origins of the Football Association. Football in its earliest form was one of mob rules - working class, unorganised and v…

Part III: Sunderland, Swansea, Spurs, WBA and West Ham

SUNDERLAND AFC

Club Nickname:The Black Cats Founded:1879, as ‘Sunderland and District Teachers’ Ground: Stadium of Light Manager: Gustavo Poyet Captain: John O’Shea Last Season: 14th
It was a topsy-turvy season for Sunderland last year, to say the least. They started the season with unorthodox Italian, Paolo DiCanio, at the helm, having opted to stick with the former Swindon boss after he successfully kept them in the Premier League the previous season, a 0-3 win over rivals, Newcastle, the highlight. However, come October, DiCanio was gone and former Brighton manager and Chelsea hero, Gustavo Poyet took charge. Summer signings weren’t proving particularly successful, Altidore and Giaccherini struggling to make an impact and, while performances improved under Poyet, Sunderland were still bottom at Christmas.  Post-New Year, however, as with the performances, results improved. Liverpool loanee, Fabio Borini, hit form and Vito Mannone drasti…

PART 3: Manchester United, Newcastle United, QPR, Southampton, Stoke,

Manchester United

Club Nickname:The Red Devils Founded: 1878 Ground: Old Trafford Manager: Louis van Gaal Captain: Wayne Rooney Last Season:7th
Can anyone really tell you conclusively how you go from 1st to 7th? To put this into context, the last time United missed out on European football was 1990, a year before I was born and that was only due to the ban that expelled English clubs from Europe for half a decade due to the dreadful Heysel disaster. In any case there isn't just one answer to that question; there are several and that means even King Louis has his work cut out for him. Despite all the talk of challenging for the title that will be a step too far for United and van Gaal would do well to secure a top four finish. 1st to 7th is one thing but the reverse is almost unfathomable, and don't let any Liverpool fan tell you otherwise.  United's pre season couldn't have gone much better winning all but …