The Football History Boys

The Second World War is the darkest chapter in history. In a conflict which killed around 60 million people, life afterwards would be difficult and tumultuous to rebuild. Nations like Germany and USSR would require the most reconstruction as the effects of war were clear to see. However, closer to home, change was on the horizon as healthcare, economics and even sport were brought into the public eye more than ever before. In this piece we are going to examine the role football played in the early shaping of modern Britain.



Following Victory in Europe (VE Day), Britain began to turn its attention to matters closer to home. Despite mass celebrations, the nation had already begun to contemplate the rebuilding of its foundations. The May 1945 elections were expected to be a landslide for Winston Churchill's Tory party. After all, he had just led the country to military victory. Nevertheless, as a result of peace time, views began to sway towards social care and domestic change.

The S…

It's already come to that point of the season where the first international break is upon us. It can be a strange period where many fans are frustrated due to the club football season coming to a halt just as it was starting. Growing up, there was no doubt, I too was also often annoyed, but since 2012 the emergence of my national team, Wales has actually provided excitement and interest. So why this piece? Easy, it is not just the men's game that has brought the Welsh - English rivalry to the masses. Indeed, on Friday the two rivals face off in one of Women's football's most anticipated clashes in years.


In the past, we've written about the history of both the English and Welsh national teams, but this week brings the two together into a true rivalry. Currently, England sit 4th in the world with Wales at an all-time high 29th. It is a testament to the two side's glorious World Cup qualifying campaigns so far. Both unbeaten, with only 1 goal conceded between the…

It's our first piece in over a year, but this summer - The Football History Boys are back! The main reason for this absence is our jobs, both of which lie in education. My current class will often discuss football and the results of the weekend, showing the same engagement with the game as Gareth and I did. There is little doubt that education and football have a closer relationship than we might think. But how close? In this piece we will take a closer look at how the game first grew into the sport of schoolboys and girls across the nation. 


Let's start at the beginning - in 1863, the Football Association was born. Immediately we can see the impact education had on this formation 155 years ago through its founders - 11 public schools and clubs at a pub in London. Indeed, the playing of football had been common before this date only with a variety of rules dependent on which school you were at. This however does not explain how football had already conquered the schools in the …