The Beautiful Game

Did you know that the 1915 FA Cup Final was known as the Khaki Cup Final? This was during World War I and there were thousands of uniformed soldiers in attendance. Sheffield United beat Chelsea 3-0.

Did you know that Cristiano Ronaldo was named after Ronald Reagan? Cristiano’s father, Jose Dinis Aveiro, chose the second name of Ronaldo after the then president Ronald Reagan because he was his favorite actor! Cristiano’s full name is Cristiano Ronaldo dos Santos Aveiro.

Did you know that the first soccer league was formed in 1888? William McGregor gathered a number of teams and suggested forming a league. The first soccer league was born. It included Accrington, Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton, Burnley, Derby County, Everton, Notts County, Preston North End, Stoke City, West Bromwich Albion, and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Did you know that the first attempt to agree on a set of rules for soccer was done in 1848? Representatives from the major public schools that played met at Cambridge University. They agreed that the ball could be handled as long as it was immediately placed on the ground and kicked. They also agreed that kicking an opponent was illegal and an offside rule was drafted. Known as the Cambridge Rules, these rules became the basis of what we know today!

Did you know that a derby match is a match between two local rival teams usually within the same region? For example, Manchester City vs Manchester United is a huge local derby. The atmosphere is intense both for the players and the fans since they are big rivals!

Did you know that Sheffield FC is the oldest soccer club in the world? The Sheffield Football Club team was first founded in 1855.

Did you know that Mia Hamm is the youngest player to have played for the United States? She was only 15 years old when she started. In 2004, Mia retired from soccer, but left a legacy behind her. With 158 goals, she is the top scorer in Women’s soccer.