Why the word "soccer"?
We have to thank the students of the 1880s for the word "soccer". It seems it was the practice
amonst the well bred students of Oxford to abbreviate words whilst adding "er" to the end; "brekkers"
for breakfast for example.
On asked if he wanted to play "rugger" (i.e. the "rugby rules") a student replied "no, soccer",
an abbreviation of "association", or the "association rules", i.e. the rules of the Football Association in London.
The word "Footer" was also used, but could have referred to either code.
David Pickering's "Soccer Companion" (Cassell, 1994) names the student as Charles Wreford Brown, later an England internationaland F.A. vice-president.
CASSELL SOCCER COMPANION : HISTORY, FACTS, ANECTODES
The above article was written by Tony Brown and reprinted with his permission. Please See SoccerData.com for more articles by Mr. Brown.
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