The Football Association has kicked off a nationwide search to find living descendants of the founding fathers of football and calls upon the public to come forward with information on the eight men that established the world’s most popular sport 150 years ago.
Hailing from across the country, surprisingly little is known about these trailblazers who gathered together on 26th October 1863 in the Freemasons’ Tavern, London, to draft the 13 original laws of association football.
From humble beginnings The FA, now in its 150th anniversary year, helps to support seven million people playing the game at grassroots level in this country, right the way through to the elite level of 24 England teams.
The Founding Fathers of football are:
1. * Ebenezer Cobb Morley (1831-1924)
2. * Arthur Pember (1835-1886)
3. * Charles William Alcock (1842-1907)
4. * Francis Maule Campbell (1843-1920)
5. * John Forster Alcock (1841-1910)
6. * Herbert Thomas Steward (1839-1915)
7. * George Twizell Wawn (1840-1914)
8. * James Turner
Living descendants that can be identified and located will be sent an invitation to a special ceremony at Wembley Stadium in October, where their ancestors will be honoured.
Jane Clayton, cultural historian from the International Football Institute, University of Central Lancashire, who is leading the search said, “This is an important historical search. We know so much about people who were pioneers in their chosen fields but surprisingly, little is known about the individuals responsible for gifting us the most popular sport in the world.
“We have initiated the historical search and whilst information is limited, we have a good base upon which to work. We are confident that by October, through genealogical research and the public’s help, we can trace some of the living descendants of the founding fathers of football.”
England manager, Roy Hodgson added, “We should all recognise not only the sporting contribution that these men have made but the impact that football has had in this country and around the world.
“Football is part of the fabric of our society and without the vision of these eight men 150 years ago, it may not have come to exist. It is only right that we honour the founding fathers of this nation’s favourite game.”
Supporting the search and appealing for the public’s help, are current England players led by captain Steven Gerrard – click here to view the video.
In Sussex there is a total of 791 affiliated clubs providing 2,376 teams playing football across the county, and a further 670 small sided teams playing in five-a-side/six-a-side leagues.
There are 113 FA Charter Standard Clubs in Sussex; the Sussex FA currently have 62.5 per cent of youth teams playing in FA Charter Standard Clubs and 74 per cent of all youth teams have a Level 1, or above, coach working with them.
This equates to 39,426 people playing in affiliated club football across the county.
To find out more about the search for living descendants of the founding fathers, please visit The FA | About Football Association and if you have any information that can assist, please e-mail foundingfathers@thefa.com.
Original article
Hailing from across the country, surprisingly little is known about these trailblazers who gathered together on 26th October 1863 in the Freemasons’ Tavern, London, to draft the 13 original laws of association football.
From humble beginnings The FA, now in its 150th anniversary year, helps to support seven million people playing the game at grassroots level in this country, right the way through to the elite level of 24 England teams.
The Founding Fathers of football are:
1. * Ebenezer Cobb Morley (1831-1924)
2. * Arthur Pember (1835-1886)
3. * Charles William Alcock (1842-1907)
4. * Francis Maule Campbell (1843-1920)
5. * John Forster Alcock (1841-1910)
6. * Herbert Thomas Steward (1839-1915)
7. * George Twizell Wawn (1840-1914)
8. * James Turner
Living descendants that can be identified and located will be sent an invitation to a special ceremony at Wembley Stadium in October, where their ancestors will be honoured.
Jane Clayton, cultural historian from the International Football Institute, University of Central Lancashire, who is leading the search said, “This is an important historical search. We know so much about people who were pioneers in their chosen fields but surprisingly, little is known about the individuals responsible for gifting us the most popular sport in the world.
“We have initiated the historical search and whilst information is limited, we have a good base upon which to work. We are confident that by October, through genealogical research and the public’s help, we can trace some of the living descendants of the founding fathers of football.”
England manager, Roy Hodgson added, “We should all recognise not only the sporting contribution that these men have made but the impact that football has had in this country and around the world.
“Football is part of the fabric of our society and without the vision of these eight men 150 years ago, it may not have come to exist. It is only right that we honour the founding fathers of this nation’s favourite game.”
Supporting the search and appealing for the public’s help, are current England players led by captain Steven Gerrard – click here to view the video.
In Sussex there is a total of 791 affiliated clubs providing 2,376 teams playing football across the county, and a further 670 small sided teams playing in five-a-side/six-a-side leagues.
There are 113 FA Charter Standard Clubs in Sussex; the Sussex FA currently have 62.5 per cent of youth teams playing in FA Charter Standard Clubs and 74 per cent of all youth teams have a Level 1, or above, coach working with them.
This equates to 39,426 people playing in affiliated club football across the county.
To find out more about the search for living descendants of the founding fathers, please visit The FA | About Football Association and if you have any information that can assist, please e-mail foundingfathers@thefa.com.
Original article