Football Articles - Stadiums and Clubs Stats, Facts and Trivia
Football is a funny old game full of clichés, bizzare terminologies and with some down right silly rules. This is the page where you can find answers to all of those questions that might arise in a chat down the pub. We've got key facts and trivia on things like stadiums firsts (first stand, floodlights, artificial pitch, etc), biggest grounds, most expensive stadia, pitch sizes, football mascots and all sorts of other records and stats.
We also cover club milestorenes from signing records to most successful clubs, and much more. At Football-Stadiums.co.uk our footy boffins will also tell you about all kinds of interesting features, from why you can't broadcast at 3pm kick off to transfer rules, match fixing and even the origins of football itself. Have a browse of our articles, at the very least they will probably help you answer some quiz questions.
Football Records, Achievements and Milestones
England's Most Successful Football Clubs
Never have an argument again about who are the most successful teams in England. Man United have won the most Leagues but Liverpool still have more major trophies, the top two are not going to be caught any time soon either.
Top 10 One Club Football Players
There is little sentiment in the modern game and players are now expected to move several times in their careers. There are however some spectacular players that have only played for one club through their footballing lives.
Top 10 Youngest Ever Premier League Players
From James Vaughan at number ten making his début for Everton ages 16 and 297 days to Matthew Briggs, the current record holder, aged 16 years and 65 days old when he made his début for Fulham in May 2007.
Top 10 Oldest Ever Premier League Players
It's mainly the goalies that make up the top ten oldest, they have it easy standing between the stick all day don't they? Although Teddy Sheringham does make it in there too. From Edwin van der Sar to John Burridge see our top ten oldest list.
Football Club Record Goalscorers
See a comprehensive list of all the record goalscorers in from England as well as a top 10 run down of the the greatest goal scorers from England's top division. We also look at goalscorers then vs now as well as other records and trivia.
Football Club Player Record Appearances
Find the record appearance player at all English clubs as well as top teams form around the world. Former England goalkeeper Peter Shilton will take some beating for years to come with 1005 league appearances across 32 seasons.
Biggest, Largest and Iconic Stadiums
Top 10 Largest Football Stadiums in the World
Surprisingly you probably won't have heard of many of the ten biggest football grounds in the world. North Korea claim to have the largest with stadiums from Malaysia, Indonesia and Iran also making the list.
Top 10 Biggest Footy Stadiums in the UK
Footy grounds in the UK hit a low in the 1980's but since the investment brought by the FA and the Premier League we can now boast some of the biggest and most well equipt stadiums in the world, from Wembley to the Olympic Stadium.
Top 10 Biggest FootbAll Grounds in Europe
Europe is the richest continent on earth and football the main sport. As you would expect it is the footballing giants Germany, England and Spain that domiante the list of the largest football stadiums in Europe.
Football's Most Iconic Stadiums
We all have our own list of the best and most iconic stadiums in the world although we think you will agree with the grounds in our list on the whole. Read about the stadiums that we think are that little bit extra special in world football.
BEST FOOTBALL STADIUMS TO VISIT
What constitutes the 'best' stadium is highly subjective, you wouldn't find an Everton fan recommending you visit Anfield, for example. Still, there are some stadiums that are worth a visit no matter what you think about the clubs that play in them. Here we cover the best stadiums to visit around Europe and the world.
MOST REMOTE FOOTBALL STADIUMS In The World
Most football grounds are designed to be as easy as possible to access as the whole point is to draw in crowds. Some stadiums around the world are simply in inaccessible locations, find out about the most remote and hardest to get to stadiums in the world.
MOST REMOTE FOOTBALL GROUNDS IN THE UK
Above we looked at the most remote stadiums in the world and here we are looking at grounds in the most remote locations in the United Kingdom. Of course, naturally, a few of these are in Scotland given the layout of the nation but there are famous grounds in big cities that are still remote for fans.
HARDEST STADIUMS TO GET TO
Here we are not looking at stadiums in remote locations rather those stadiums that are overly hard to get to. Many of these are based in big cities yet the transport links and other factors make them a nightmare to actually travel to. Useful information for any away fan.
WORLDS HIGHEST ALTITUDE STADIUMS
Naturally, as you might expect, the highest stadiums in the world are in the South American Andes region in Peru and Bolivia. Still, the height of these stadiums is impressive, over 4000 meters above sea level where oxygen levels are so low most unacclimatised footballers would collapse in minutes.
WEMBLEY: WORLD'S MOST EXPENSIVE STADIUM
Wembley remains to date the most expensive stadium built solely for or primarily for football. Wembley stadium would cost around £1.2 billion to build today, a staggering amount, but why is that the case? Is it just the best stadium ever or a case of spiraling construction costs?
TOP 10 BEST STADIUMS FOR AWAY FANS
There is no definitive list of the best away grounds as everyone has different experiences and criteria of what makes a good stadium and day out, we have compiled what we think are ten of the best overall grounds to visit as an away supporter.
MOST FAMOUS FOOTBALL STANDS
What is the best stand in a football stadium is a subjective question and will vary based on who you support, although there are some stands that are unarguably famous for their atmosphere and presence. We look at the most famous stands in British football.
FOOTBALL STADIUMS FOLLIES
Maybe this doesn't strictly fit into this section but we think it is also fair to look at those football stadiums that were designed to be amazing that went on to be massive mistakes. On this page we look at the biggest football stadium follies and ask why these stadiums were even built in the first place.
GREATEST STADIUMS LOST TO HISTORY
Change is sometimes necessary, stadiums grow old, times move on and it makes business sense to up sticks and move to something more modern. For fans though those old stadiums were more than just places to watch their team, they were part of peoples souls. Here we look at some of the greatest grounds lost to History in England.
LOUDEST AND BEST ATMOSPHERE FOOTBALL STADIUMS
There are few quiet football stadiums, well perhaps Old Trafford, but there are some stadiums that produce so much noise and such a good atmosphere that you can't hear yourself think. Here is our run through of what we think the best atmosphere stadiums are in Europe and around the world.
SMALLEST FOOTBALL STADIUMS & GROUNDS IN THE UK
This section talks mostly about the biggest stadiums but all grounds have to start off from somewhere so here we look at some of the smallest stadiums. Not necessarily the absolute smallest but small for the level of football that is played there. We also look at what a stadium actually is and how small grounds develop and the challenges they face.
FAMOUS FOOTBALL STADIUM TUNNELS
For many clubs the tunnel is simply a walkway from the dressing room to the pitch but for some clubs the tunnel is actually used as part of the home advantage for the team. Intimidating tunnels can have a big effect on the opposition, either because of the way they look, because they are cramped or because of the cacophony of noise outside.
THE MOST ARTISTIC AND UNUSUAL FOOTBALL STADIUMS
Football in the past has been, and still is, very macho and this means most football stadiums reflect that. Ultimately it is function before design but in more recent times architects have been able to let loose with more interesting designs, partly because stadiums are now built to be multi-purpose venues. Here we look at some of the more beautiful and interesting looking stadiums in the world.
Football Stadiums Facts and Trivia
Multi Club Cities
A guide to the most famous multi-club cities in England, Scotland and the rest of Europe. Although London tops the charts for the most professional teams there are places with closer teams, more clubs per head, more honours and much bigger rivalries.
Attendances In Football
The majority of football stadiums saw higher attendances in the past but is it fair to compare these with the stadiums we have now? We discuss past, present and future attendance, what has affected crowd levels, records, averages and more.
WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF A STADIUM?
We all know what a football ground is, basically any enclosed space you can play on, but what actually constitutes a football stadium? We look at the definition of what a stadium is, what makes a great stadium and the rules that define the various categories of footy ground.
WHERE IS THE BEST PLACE TO SIT AT A FOOTBALL GROUND
Firstly this is entirely subjective depending on what you want to get out of a game. For those that want the best view sitting on the side in the centre at medium elevation is best. For atmosphere sitting in an end stand is often better (and cheaper). We look at the best places to sit in football stadiums.
Stadium Sponsorship and Naming Rights
It can feel like a personal assault when your much loved club decides to name a new or existing stadium after an airline, bank or brand of insurance. Unfortunately this is the way in the financially driven game of modern football. Find out where sponsorship came from and where it might end up.
Football Ground and Stadium Shares
The idea of top flight clubs sharing grounds in Britain has never really caught on, abroad however, and especially in Italy, there are lots of high profile clubs and stadiums that share grounds. See a list of stadium sharing football clubs along with famous examples from the past and present.
EMPTY STADIUMS
The whole point of having a stadium is to fill it with paying fans who not only give a club revenue but aid the home advantage. Things happen however from time to time that mean games have to be staged behind closed doors, here we look at notable examples and the effect of no supporters on the games.
Football Pitch Grass Types
Long gone are the muddy bald pitches of the the 1970's, these days wherever you go from the Premier League to the League Two clubs play on immaculate surfaces. We tell you all about the history of football pitches and all about the new grass types available.
Sprinker Systems In Football
It's hard to maintain world class football pitches if you rely on the weather alone. We've all seen the sprinklers turned on before the match and at half time but is down to the ground staff or the manger? Are sprinklers used as part of the tactics of modern football?
Playing Behind Closed Doors
Why do many football clubs play games behind closed doors? Most of the time this has nothing to do with disciplinary action but instead these games are used as a means for clubs to play matches away from prying eyes and the media, behind closed doors friendlies are very common.
Stadiums That Have Hosted The Most Clubs
Although we tend to associate one stadium with one club there are a multitude of examples where grounds have hosted numerous teams. We look at the top ten stadiums that have hosted the most football teams in their history. From England and around the world.
Food and Drink at Football Grounds
Having a pie and bovril at the match used to be an important part of the day. How have refreshments at football stadiums changed over the years and how do they vary around the world? How much does it cost these days for a pie and a cup of tea at your club?
How Do Football Stadiums Make Money
Long gone are the days that big stadiums made most of their money from match day ticket sales. These days stadiums are more diverse than ever with naming rights, concerts, tours, museums and hospitality that can generate millions in revenue.
Where Is The Best Place To Sit In A Football Stadium?
From a purely visual point of view the best pace to sit is in a side stand, not too high and as close to the half-way line as possible. Many of course would disagree, speak to anyone who sits on Liverpool's Kop for example. We look at the where to sit in stadiums and why to sit there.
The Future Of Football Stadiums
Football stadiums are changing and are now built as multi-purpose technological venues with bespoke architecture and quirky features. The future of football stadiums isn't so certain however with the gap increasingly widening between top and bottom clubs.
GROUND HOPPERS AND STADIUM WANDERS
There is a sense of achievement to completing any collection and it may surprise you how many fans collect stadium visits. It is seen as a badge of honour to visit all the grounds in your league, and especially all 92 professional teams. It's called ground hopping.
THE DUGOUT AND TECHNICAL AREA
You couldn't call a stadium a stadium if it didn't have an entire side of the pitch devoted to the huge entourage of staff and players that are now needed at the match. But where did these glorified bus shelters come from, who invented the dugout and how did it develop into a technical area?
STADIUM STEWARDS
We take it for granted that every time we attend a major football match that there will be hundreds of stewards but that wasn't always the case, for a long time football stadiums crowds were left to self-regulate. Find out about the history of stewarding in football stadiums and why they were needed.
FOOTBALL STADIUM STAFF
In the old days there were teams, managers, a groundsman and some referees and that was about it. Today a top level football match can employ hundreds even thousands of people directly and indirectly. We look at the major staffing roles at modern elite football grounds.
PARKING AT THE MATCH
Many more people drive to football games today than in the past and at the same time stadiums have got bigger and parking restrictions around them have become tighter. How do people actually park at the match? You can pay for official parking but it is expensive so most still opt to park unofficially.
FOOTBALL STADIUM DRESSING ROOMS
A dressing room is just a dressing room right, just a place to get changed? In reality dressing rooms are important in football, big clubs show off how rich they are and intimidate teams with their giant dressing rooms and facilities. It is even known that some clubs provide far more facilities and space for the home team than the away team to provide a psychological edge.
Football Teams Facts and Trivia
Oldest Football Teams In The World
Have you ever wondered where 1860 Munich got their name from? Well they were founded in 1860 making them one of the oldest clubs in the world still playing today. See a full list of the oldest football clubs from the UK and abroad.
Newest Football Clubs in England
Although we tend to focus on the founder members and the oldest football teams, what about the youngest. We've got the top ten newest English professional teams along with some of the most high profile protest clubs formed as a result of various disagreements.
Top 10 Football Derby Games
Most modern football fixtures in Europe are rather serene affairs with largely friendly chants and little segregation. There are however some games that make the blood boil more than ever and there is no better place to look than a derby game to find the worst culprits.
VALUE OF FRONT-OF-SHIRT GAMBLING SPONSORS IN FOOTBALL
Football has a long and mixed relationship with gambling. Here we look at the actual value of front-of-shirt and other betting sponsorships in football and how the Premier League shirt ban will affect future revenues. We compare sponsorships vs non-gambling sponsors and with other leagues. We also look at fan perspectives and other important aspects.
Football Training Grounds and Facilities
We often don't think much about where clubs train but as this is where teams spend most of their working lives it can have a major impact on the football a team produces. Read about training complexes and facilities used by professional football clubs around the world.
FOOTBALL TEAM NAME SUFFIXES
British football has a rich history and that is reflected in the names of the clubs that take part. There are no less than 22 actively used suffixes in use for teams right now and here we explore the origins and history around those names, from Albion all the way to Wednesday.
FOOTBALL TEAM BACKROOM STAFF
Only the most die hard fans would know their names but we all know football teams are not just run by the manager, there is a whole host of roles that go to make a backroom staff at big football clubs. What are the most important jobs and what is involved in doing them?
Football Team Owners
The ownership of football clubs in England often grabs the headlines. The way some newspapers report it you would think football teams were 100% foreign owned. This is not the case, read our article to find out who owns your favourite teams and how much of English football is foreign owned.
Foreign Ownership of Football Clubs
The Premier League is the richest football league in the world and this means it attracts a lot of foreign investment, but is this a good thing. We look at foreign ownership in English football and compare this to other major European leagues to see what the actual story is.
Who are the Highest Paid Players?
Long gone are the days of measly pay and wage caps in top level football. Today the worlds best players can take home in excess of £15,000,000 a year in salary, that's a long way compared to the £20 a week wage cap in place in the late 1950's.
What Do Footballers Do After They Retire?
Finishing your career in your mid-30's is not a problem most of us have but for footballers what do you do with the next 40 years or so? We've taken a look at the most popular jobs post retirement for top footballers from punditry to coaching.
Player Transfers Explained
Player transfers in top level football has reached simply crazy levels in recent decades. Discover the origins of the modern transfer markets, find out what a Bosman ruling is and where it came from and how transfer windows work.
Football's Biggest Rivalries
From Manchester United and Liverpool, Celtic and Rangers to Palmeiras and Corinthians and Brazil and Argentina, football is full of great rivalries. Read about the biggest rivals as well as the teams that everyone seem to love and those everyone seem to hate.
Football Team Mascots
Have you ever wondered where this weird modern trend for big cuddly and sometimes outrageous mascots comes from. Well before the Muppets and Sesame Street most clubs didn't have official mascots and many that did used real animals, usually dogs. How things have changed.
WHY DO FOOTBALL TEAMS HAVE 11 PLAYERS?
It's another one of those things that is taken for granted but why do football teams have 11 players, who decided that was the right number and why? Before modern football teams had no fixed number and could be massive, it seems likely we have cricket to thank for the 11 players.
Teams That Have Played At The Most Grounds
Today when a team moves stadium it is big news. Moves these days need to be heavily financed and published in advance. Way back when however clubs would move around for fun with teams like QPR having called no less than fourteen different grounds home over the years.
Biggest League Points Comebacks
Remember in 1998 when Betfred paid out on Manchester United to win the league and they only went and lost it to Arsenal? We look at the biggest points comebacks in football history in England and abroad. It's never over until the fat lady sings so they say.
Football Club Nicknames
What are the nicknames for your football team? Where do all the weird and wonderful football team nicknames come from and how do they stick with supporters. What is the reason Sunderland are called the Black Cats or Bolton Wanderers are called the Trotters?
Football Team Kit Colours
Find out what the home and away kit colours are for all the football teams we list on this site. On our football kit page you can also discover the history of modern football kit colours including famous examples and major reasons why kit different colours are needed.
How Do Football Clubs Make Money?
The modern game is so different to what it used to be and most top clubs no longer rely on gate receipts and match day revenue as their major money earner. Fins out about the major revenue streams in football today at all levels.
Football Anthems and Why Fans Sing Them
Football anthems have been very much part British football for decades, with many clubs adopting songs in the music revolution of the 1950's and 60's. What are the most famous football club anthems and ultimately why do fans sing them at all?
INJURIES, THE TREATMENT TABLE AND RECOVERY
The world has moved on a lot in how we now deal with player injuries, partly this is because of how much players are paid meaning they are far from dispensable. What happens to modern footballers when they need to visit the physios on the treatment table?
HOW TO GET LIVERPOOL TICKETS
We received so many requests from people asking if we can help them in getting Liverpool FC tickets that we created a guide to help. It isn't that easy, being honest, but if you become a member and follow some steps you can get tickets to matches.
General Football Facts and Trivia
FOOTBALL CHILD MASCOTS, HOW TO BECOME ONE & HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
The cost of football is often a lottery that depends on the club you support. Many parents and children dream of walking out onto the pitch with their favourite team and players, but is it fair that some clubs give free places to child mascots whereas others charge hundreds for the privilege?
The History, Size And Shape Of The Football
It is the one thing the game could never do without, the ball. Often overlooked this key piece of kit wasn't always a sleek engineered design, find out the history of the football, how the design has changed and how we settled on a standard size and shape.
THE HISTORY OF THE GOAL, GOALPOST, CROSSBAR & NET
There are so many things about football you take for granted, think of the goal itslef and you can't imagine a time before it existed in the game. The goal, its size, shape, the use of the cross bar, post and a net were however all developed over time in the early days of the game.
FOOTBALL GOAL SIZE AND SHAPE
We've covered the history of why a goal is shaped the way it is above but what are the actual dimensions of a football goal in top level football and what are the rules around it? We look at what size a goal has to be at various levels of the football pyramid and what safety measures are in place.
The Use of Corner Flags
You would think talking about a corner flags would be a boring as watching paint dry, surprisingly that is not the case. It turns out the history of the corner flag, the shape of it and other celebrations and controversies using it, are far more interesting than you may have imagined.
THROW-INS
The humble throw-in is often overlooked in football, but why do we throw the ball back into play over our heads using a system that is actually quite restrictive? With dedicated throw-in coaches in modern day football teams the throw-in is more complicated than you might imagine.
PENALTY KICKS AND PENALTY SHOOT OUTS
It took a while before penalties were introduced formally as a punishment for infringement inside the box, in the early days players were relied on to be honourable, I'm not sure you could say that today. Find out everything you need to know about penalties in our dedicated article.
Substitutions in Football
Today we take it for granted that most games will see substitutes used, even if just to waste time. Of course for most of footballing history substitutes were not used or very limited. Find out how rules on substitutes in football have changed and what changes we may expect in the future.
INJURY TIME AND STOPPAGE TIME
It is amazing really in the technological age we live in that we cannot add an accurate amount of time for stoppages and injuries in football matches. Find out what determines added time, why it is not always reflective of the actual stoppage time and where time is wasted the most during matches.
Football Pitch Markings
Could you imagine a football pitch without an 18 yard box or a half-way line? The modern football pitch layout we see today wasn't always the same, find out how markings on football pitches came about, how they have evolved and who sets the rules when it comes to sizes and dimensions.
FOOTBALL PITCH MEASUREMENTS
Have you ever wondered why the 6 yard box is 6 yards, why the penalty spot is 12 yards, why 18 yards for the area, why is the semi-circle the size it is, etc.? Well a lot of these measurements originate from cricket and from tudor measuring systems, find out more.
THE ORIGINS OF THE BACK-PASS
Although part of the normal game now the back-pass rule didn't in fact come in until 1992, and in the early days it caused no end of confusion. Learn about why the rule was introduced and what happened before we had the back-pass rule in football.
THE WALL: ORIGINS, RULES AND HISTORY
A football game doesn't go by without a wall being set up at some point, usually when a direct free kick is close enough to goal. The question is where did the practice come from and what are the rules that surround creating a wall of players on the pitch?
HISTORY AND FUTURE OF FOOTBALL REPLAYS
With so much demands placed on modern teams replays are becoming a thing of the past as scheduling extra fixtures now proves very difficult. Still, we do have replays and in the past somewhat farcical situations arose, especially in the FA Cup, with some games seeing 5 or 6 replays.
FOOTBALL TIMINGS EXPLAINED
Why is a football match 90 minutes long? Why is it split into two 45 minute halves with a 15 minute break? Why is extra time 30 minutes long with two 15-minute halves? Read our guide on the origins of timings in football for reasons why as well as what the future may hold.
Why Do American's Call Football Soccer?
Despite common belief the word soccer actually arose in England as a way to discriminate Rugby Football from Association Football, soccer is a slang form of the word 'association'. In modern times the word has become an Americanism, find out why.
Where You Can Watch Football For Free?
We are not talking about those illegal dodgy internet streams more about where can you actually go and see live football for free. We know you can go down the park and watch the local Sunday League team but are there any ways of watching top level footy for nothing
How Do Football Players Make Money?
Modern top level football players can earn money from numerous sources in addition to their already astronomical salaries. What are the most common ways that players get their wage, from writing autobiographies and sponsorship to TV punditry and savvy investments.
DIRECT FREE KICKS
The humble free kick has become something of an art form in modern football, some are taken quickly and others laboured with intricate routines, but where did the free kick come from, when is a free kick given and how are they different to indirect free kicks?
INDIRECT FREE KICKS
We take the indirect free kick in football for granted as part of the game but do you really know what they are awarded for and where the rule came from? Did you know for example that free kicks for back-passes, offside and dissent are all indirect?
HISTORY OF FOULS IN FOOTBALL
Many would argue the game today is too soft and that fouls are given for the slightest touch on a player. Obviously, discipline is needed in football though and there was a time in the early days when there were little rules around what you should or shouldn't do on a football pitch.
EXTRA-TIME
We take it for granted that in most knockout competitions the game will go to extra-time if it is a draw after 90 minutes, but where did extra-time originate and who decided it should be 30 minutes split into two 15 minute halves? We look at variations on ET and its future.
THE BOUNCE-UP / DROP-BALL
A drop ball happens when there is a stoppage of play but there is no free kick the ball does not go out of play, often because a player is injured. The thing is there are no set rules around how to contest a bounce-up or whether possession should be returned, it is all really based on sportsmanship and tradition. In modern times it has become a tool for time wasting.
Football Rules and Regulations
Are Football Pitches the Same Size?
You might have noticed that not all football pitches have the same dimensions. In fact the rules that govern pitch size allow for quite a large range of sizes so long as the aspect ratio is maintained. Even kids pitches comes with size rules.
Why are Saturday 3pm Games Not Broadcast on TV?
The football blackout was brought in to protect match attendances and to prevent fans choosing to watch top level football over going to a lower league game. In the modern day this has become rather arbitrary but is still enforced.
Referees and Match Officials
Have you ever thought when the first football matches were refereed? The job, rules and qualifications required have changed hugely over the years to what is now a high profile, high pressure job. Now we've got assistants (not linesmen), fourth officials and more to contend with.
Video Assistant Referees (VAR) in Football
Football is always last to adopt new sports technologies. Hawk eye had been in use in Tennis for nearly 15 years before the technology was first used in football. The use of VAR however is not all rosy and many see the video referee in football as damaging to the basic ethos of the game.
Are You Allowed to Sell Your Match Ticket?
We are all used to seeing the words "non-transferable" on our tickets, but what does this really mean? Anyone who goes the match regularly will have sold a ticket on before but where do you actually stand legally? Find out about legalised touts and third party sellers.
What Is The Offside Rule and How Has it changed?
Can you imagine a time before offside? Well it took while to get the rule nailed down and many would even argue it's not quite right even today. There is more history than you might think behind offside, maybe people have a point that is is too complicated?
Why Are Football Matches Abandoned?
Professional football games are rarely called off during the match these days but it does still happen. Whether it's the weather, safety or having too many players sent off find out what the rules are and what happens next.
Why Are Football Games Postponed?
Similarly matches are rarely postponed for things like the weather any more but with modern clubs trying to cram more fixtures than ever into a season it does still happen quite a lot. On a couple of occasions postponements have had a big impact on the end of the season.
Why Do Footballers Get Banned?
In the old days you needed to take someones head off to get a ban in football. Modern football is very different however with many sanctions now in place both on field and off field. Read about common bans and famous examples of some of the more bizarre bans.
Why Do Football Clubs Get Banned?
Bans for whole football clubs are fairy rare but they do happen. In our article we look at what bans mean for teams, why clubs get banned and some high profile examples of match fixing and safety issues in the past that have led to bans for clubs around the world.
OLD ABANDONED FOOTBALL RULES
Football is lauded as simple game, and it it, the problem is there are too many people in institutions, like FIFA constantly, trying to fix something that isn't broken. Over the years we've seen many ideas come and go from silver goals to kick-ins and American penalties.
YELLOW AND RED CARDS
It would surprise many fans today when they realise that cards were not used to issue discipline in football in England until the mid-1970's. Despite now being an icon of the game red and yellow cards are a relatively recent introduction for cautioning on the pitch.
THE HANDBALL RULE
It is easy to think football never existed without a handball rule, however, when you consider its origins from Rugby it actually took a long time for the handball rule to evolve into its modern form. For example, until 1912 a goalkeeper could handle the ball anywhere in their own half.
ARE YOU ALLOWED TO FLY OVER A FOOTBALL STADIUM?
People have been flying planes and banners over football stadiums for donkeys years but the issue has come to the fore in recent times with personal flying devices such as drones now widely available. What are the rules about flying over a stadium, or anywhere for that matter?
Football History
The History of Football
A comprehensive look at the origins of football from the Chinese military game called Tsu' Chu to what we know today as the modern game. We look at the development and changes of rules, the formation of the football league and we show you at a timeline of football over time.
Founder Members of the English Football League
In the mid to late 1800's football was highly unstructured with many competing leagues and rule variations. In 1888 Aston Villa director, William McGregor, began the process of organising the first professional football league with 12 founder members, English football never looked back.
The Origins of the Football Association
When you look at the modern game it would surprise many to learn how just how chaotic the origins of the FA was. The FA formed in 1863 but prior to this several competing organisations threatened to fracture the game in England before it had barely begun.
HOW FOOTBALL FORMATIONS HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME
In the early days football formations looked a lot like rugby line-ups with up to 8 forwards that ran the ball more like a scrum. As the game turned more professional, the passing became attractive and the offside rule came in formations moved to having more defenders.
The Home Championship
The older folks among us will remember the Home Championship, an annaul international competition between England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales. First played in 1883 it lasted for nearly 100 years and was once the biggest national competition many years before the World Cup arrived.
MEDIEVAL FOLK FOOTBALL
We all know football existed long before the formal rules were laid down in the 1860's but few of us know exactly what medieval folk football was like. We discuss the origins of folk footy, how it worked and how it developed into the modern game we know and love today.
Closed Stadiums
When your beloved club moves stadium for many fans it can be a deeply emotional time, the feeling of loss is somewhat like losing a pet or even a family member. If your looking for some nostalgia visit this page where we keep all the guides from our closed stadiums.
History of Standing in Football
Go back 100 years or so and you'd be lucky to find a seat in a British football stadium, only the richest could afford to sit down, the rest of the fans stood in often packed terraces. A series of disasters and safety issues led to all seater stadiums, although standing may be coming back.
HISTORY OF TV CAMERAS AND FOOTBALL
These days every match is broadcast somewhere or other but 100 years ago that was not the case. We look at how televised football started in the 1930's and how it developed into what it is today. We look at major developments and moments along the journey to the sport today that is dominated by TV.
The History Of Floodlights in Football
Floodlights are a necessity in the modern sport and this means these days we can watch all sorts of games and events at any time of day. This of course wasn't always the case and in fact to begin there was battle over their use in football.
How Have Football Pitches Changes Through History?
In the early days it really was jumpers for goalposts, early football pitches could be formed on the local park, the farm, anywhere with a bit of green basically. Now we have under-soil heating, artificial turf and even professional teams of staff to look after the grass.
History of Undersoil Heating In Football
Anyone who watches top class football would be disgusted if the game was called off these days for a frozen pitch. This wasn't always the case, prior to 1960 it was a common occurrence to have a game called off during the winter months, find out about the history of undersoil heating.
BURY FC EXPULSION FROM THE FOOTBALL LEAGUE
In August 2019 Bury football club became the first team since Maidstone in 1992 to be expelled from the football league. In a sad day for the town and the club, that existed since 1885, they became the only club to have have won the FA Cup (twice) to go out of existence.
THE FOOTBALL POOLS
The football pools was a great British institution and is actually party responsible for Britain's love of betting even today. Here we look at the rich history of the football pools from its origins and also take a look at what the Pools has become today, as it still exists and you can play online.
Football Controversies
Corruption in Football
Wherever there is money there is corruption and with football being the richest and most wide spread sport on the planet it has seen its fair share of dodgy people and organisations. We cover everything from historical abuses to the recent FIFA scandal.
Match Fixing in Football
Football is a hard game to fix, especially with just one player or official. This doesn't mean people haven't tried many times, in this article we look at the history of fixing, high profile incidents as well as the future.
Betting and Gambling And The Relationship With Football
It may be controversial for some but whether you like it or not the gambling industry and football are tightly linked in the UK. It wasn't always this way however, the rise of online betting and sponsorship has seen bookmakers and casinos dominate, is this a good thing or not?
Football Club and Stadium Firsts
Oldest Football Stadiums Still In USe
There is little debate about the oldest footy ground still open today, it is Bramall Lane home of Sheffield United. The stadium didn't start out hosting the beautiful game but it did play an integral role in bringing the rival football associations of the time together.
First Football Stadium in the UK
With cricket and early rugby being the national game back in the late 1800's it was logical the first ever football matches were played on rugby and cricket pitches. By the end of the century however football took over with dedicated stadiums.
First Ever English Football Match & Goal Scored
There is a lot of debate around the origins of the game of football and in particular when the first recognised professional matches was played. Find out about the long running debates around who scored the first goal and more.
First Ever Football Team
The question of which was the first ever football team is kind of dependent on when and where you think football began. We look at the first ever football teams under Cambridge Rules, Sheffield Rules and the Football Association Rules.
First Football Stadium Stands
In the early days football was the poor relation playing matches on pitches of other sports such as Rugby and Cricket. The formation of the football league changed all that with clubs like Everton rapidly building stands to capitalise on the new working class craze.
The History of Football Transfers and the First Player Signings
Players weren't always bought and sold for more money that the cost of a small yacht. Find out the history of player signings, who were the first players signed for money and who was the first £100 and million pound player.
First Foreign Players in the English Game
For a very long time it was very difficult for foreign players to play for British football clubs, rules meant that players had to be resident for over two years before they could play. New EU rules in the 1970's changed the game forever by removing these rules.
Football Stadium Disasters
Footballs Biggest Stadium Disasters & Major Causes
Stadiums these days are safer than they've ever been before but unfortunately it took us far too long to learn from history with many disasters repeating themselves with similar narratives across the world. Find out the biggest disaster and their major causes.
The Hillsborough Disaster 1989
The Hillsborough disaster was not the biggest in terms of death toll or damage but it is certainly the biggest stadium disaster in the hearts and minds of the British public. Read about the harrowing events that happened in the FA Cup semi final between Liverpool and Notts Forrest.
Valley Parade Stadium Disaster 1985
The fire at Bradford's Valley Parade stadium in 1985 remains as the worst ever fire disaster in English football history. On that day 56 innocent supporters lost their lives in a horrific way when all they had tried to do is watch a football game.
Burnden Park Crush 1946
Following nearly seven years of virtually no football during the second world war it is understandable why more supporters than expected turned up at a FA Cup 6th round replay between Bolton Wanders and Stoke at Burden Stadium in 1946.
Heysel Stadium Disaster 1985
There could not be a more high profile game than a European Cup final to have a stadium disaster. Heysel, then the Belgium national team stadium, was chosen to host the final between Liverpool and Juventus where the collapse of a wall resulted in 39 deaths.
Estadio Nacional Disaster 1964
What should have been a very straight forward qualifying game for the Olympic Games between Peru and Argentina turned into the worst stadium disaster in football. Following a disallowed goal fans clashed with police resulting in a crush that killed 328 people.
Ibrox Stadium Disasters 1902 and 1971
Since Ibrox opened in 1899 it has seen several tragic disasters. In 1902 during a Scotland v England match attended by 68,000 people the back of a new stand collapses resulting in the death of 25. Then in 1971 a crush at an Old Firm derby killed two innocent fans.