Schools’ football in England had its beginnings in the latter part of the 1900’s. With the great idea of education for all brought about by the social reformers of the 20th century, the realisation that exercise was good for health soon followed. There was no provision for games in the 1870 Education Act so any physical activities were introduced voluntarily by teachers outside of school hours.

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Football was being played in schools from the early 1880’s with the first cup competitions starting around 1885. There were a number of competitions starting about this time in Liverpool, Birmingham, Brierley Hill, Preston, Shadwell and South London. With the teachers in South London and Aston organising themselves into Schools’ FAs, schools’ football was beginning to get organised.

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