In 1815, the famous English School, Eton College, established a set of rules which other schools, colleges and Universities began to use. Later, these were standardised and a version, known as the Cambridge Rules, was adopted by most of England's Universities and Colleges in 1848.

In 1815, the famous English School, Eton College, established a set of rules which other schools, colleges and Universities began to use. Later, these were standardised and a version, known as the Cambridge Rules, was adopted by most of England's Universities and Colleges in 1848.

But now, football was divided into two separate camps. Some colleges and schools preferred to follow rules drawn up by Rugby School - rules which permitted tripping, shin-kicking and carrying the ball - all forbidden by the Cambridge rules.

On 26 October 1863, eleven London clubs and schools sent their representatives to a meeting in the Freemason's Tavern to establish a single set of fundamental rules to govern the matches played amongst them.

This meeting created The Football Association.

The supporters of the Rugby School rules walked out - and on 8 December 1863, Association Football and Rugby Football finally split.In 1869 The Football Association included in their rules a provision which forbade any handling of the ball - so establishing the foundation on which the modern game stands.

In the 1880's, Oxford University students used slang which involved adding an "er" to the end of words they had deliberately shortened.

"Rugger," was slang for Rugby Football.

A student, named Charles Wreford Brown, was asked if he liked to play rugger.

'No soccer!' Was his witty reply.

He had shortened asSOCiation (football) and added "er."

The term was coined!

Wreford Brown went on to play international football, (oops!) soccer, for England!

In 1888, William McGregor - a Scot and director of Aston Villa club persuaded 12 clubs to agree to a regular home and away fixture list - so creating the English Football League.

The 12 founding clubs were:

   Accrington (Old Reds)

   Aston Villa 

  Blackburn 

   Rovers

Bolton 

  Wanderers 

 Burnley
Derby County

Everton

 Notts County

Preston North End

Stoke City

 West Bromwich

 Albion

Wolverhampton Wanderers

The first league match kicked off on 8th,September 1888 , Jack Gordon, playing for Preston North End scored the first ever league goal.From these beginnings world soccer developed

Sir Thomas Lipton organised the Sir Thomas Lipton Trophy tournament in Turin in 1909. The competition is often described as The First World Cup,and featured the most prestigious professional club sides from Italy, Germany and Switzerland. The first tournament was won by West Auckland, an amateur side from north-east England that was invited after the Football Association refused to be associated with the competition. West Auckland returned in 1911 to successfully defend their title, and were given the trophy to keep forever, as per the rules of the competition