page_title: Christianity and association football
hierarchical_section_title: Christianity and association football
caption_attribution_description: English: Southwest tower and spire of St Mary's parish church, St Mary's Street, Southampton, Hampshire
context_page_description: There has been a long history of the involvement of Christianity and association football. In 16th-century England, Puritan Christians opposed the contemporary forms of football, due to its violence and its practice on Sunday, the Sabbath day of rest. However from the 19th century, Christians espousing the movement of "Muscular Christianity" encouraged the game for its physical and social benefits. Several of England's leading clubs, including Everton, Manchester City and Southampton, were founded by churches, as was Celtic in Scotland. There have also been leagues set up specifically for Christian clubs outside of the normal national league pyramid.
  Several footballers have pledged themselves to become Christian monks, preachers and clergymen in their retirement.
context_section_description: There has been a long history of the involvement of Christianity and association football. In 16th-century England, Puritan Christians opposed the contemporary forms of football, due to its violence and its practice on Sunday, the Sabbath day of rest. However from the 19th century, Christians espousing the movement of "Muscular Christianity" encouraged the game for its physical and social benefits. Several of England's leading clubs, including Everton, Manchester City and Southampton, were founded by churches, as was Celtic in Scotland. There have also been leagues set up specifically for Christian clubs outside of the normal national league pyramid.
  Several footballers have pledged themselves to become Christian monks, preachers and clergymen in their retirement.
caption: St. Mary's Church, Southampton established Southampton F.C. in 1885. The team, still known as "The Saints", play at St. Mary's Stadium.
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