The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1926-01-19

ZA
Soccer football, or association foot
ball. as it is most generally referred
to on the other side of the water.
dates back to the time of the
Romans, and Irish antiquarians as
sert that has been played in Ire.
lsnd for more than 1000 years.
For q long period OF time the
great football festival of the year
IN England was Shrove Tuesday.
though its connection with this par
ticular date is not traceable. Refer
ence is made to football being
played in IT'S, but the game was
apparently OF such q rough nature
that King Edward II forbade 1t in
q decree OF 1915.
Later the game had once more
become so popular that 1t was pro.
hibited by Edward III in 1865 on
account OF the corresponding decay
In archery. Soccer went along
without any semblance OF orangl2a.
ton until 1858, when a group OF
lovers of the game met In London.
England, ana drew UP the principles
of the game and formed the Ehsnsn
Football Association. Very Few
crangea In the rules have taken
Mace since 1880, and from the
eariy part of the 70's. international
Games have been played between
T,neIand. Scotland, Wales ana Ire
IanS these extending later until
vow almost every European coun-
frv engages in similar matches one
against the other.
The alleged payment OF some
AZ fhe contestants developed some
s1Y,af ~ : scandal i'm 1885. and IN
tI.af wear the Iegalized payment
- r,aSvera went into effect. As
~i,a.viT,e the hold the game mas
- fIla ngIblic overseas e - esn-
s,aa4ai1 that England alone mas
ssnra than 1900 amateur cluDs
~ith more than 275, 600 amateur
nIayers affiliated with the Engnsn
Eocta,al Association which also
) has Jurisdiction over more than
600 professional clubs ana
uroxinately $500 professional
players.
The first introduction OF soccer
An this country is hard 10 trace,
but back IN the early SVs group
of men In Newark, ~. j.. got 70
gether and organized the American
Football Association, these men Tor
4he r,,rst part being Britons or
CaIfa who Brought the love OF the
zane with them to this country.
a silver cup was offered in COM
nafition and from 1884 to 1897
humber of clubs drawn mostly from
4ha New England States, New York,
New Jersey and Pennsylvania con.
tested annually for possession OF
the trophy. Interest then lapsed
for a spell and no competition was
run from 1898. to 1904.
The tournament was resumed In
1905 and as the game spread the
territory was gradually increased.
soccer seemingly thrived despite
the fact that it was lacking any
bonafide governing body.
Thirteen clubs entered the COM
petition for the American Cup IN
it's first year, the 0. n. t., or
Newark, n. J., winning the trophy
during the first three years Of 1884,
1885, 1886. Then followed successes
by the Rovers of Fall River, Mass,
the East Ends Of the same city
and teams from Pawtucket, X. 1.
With the immigration Of thou
sands of Britishers throughout New
England States during the past gen.
Grafton more especially in Southern
New England soccer forged ahead
until It was necessary to place 1t
under some sort Of recognized con-
troll.
In 1918 the United States Foot.
ball Association was organized In
New York city with DIR. G.. Ran.
d0lph Manning, New York city,
as the first president and Thomas
w. Cafill, Newark, n. D., as sec
rotary. Mr.. Cahill held the posi-.
ton Of secretary until two years
ago when he was succeeded by
Andrew NJ. Brown, Of Bayonne,
n. j.
John A. Fernley, Pawtucket. R.
l.: Peter J.. Peel, Chicago; George
HeaIey, Detroit, and Morris w.
johnson, Philadelphia, in turn sue
ceeded DR.. Manning. All Of these
executive heads, with the assistant q
OF other indefatigable workers. have
given unstintingly of their time
|, and have accomplished much to-
ward the firm establishment of
the governing body until it now
controls soccer pretty much on the
same lines as the National Base
Dali Commission governs our ma
tiona1 game.
Players are now restricted to ono
ciuo Tor the season, where before
the Y. 3. A. was organized, they
enjoyed sort of a rowing com,
mission. The American Football
AssocIsIion' which up to 1912, was
the only governing body of any size
In the country, is now merely .
component part of the United States