Different forms of football have existed for centuries. (For more on the development of football sports, see football. ) In Britain, football 🍏 games may have been played as early as the time of Roman occupation in the 1st century bce. During the 14th 🍏 and 15th centuries ce, Shrove Tuesday football matches became annual traditions in local communities, and many of these games continued 🍏 well into the 19th century. These localized versions of folk football (a violent sport distinctive for its large teams and lack 🍏 of rules) gradually found favour within the English public (independent) schools, where they were modified and adapted into one of 🍏 two forms: a dribbling game, played primarily with the feet, that was promoted at Eton and Harrow, and a handling 🍏 game favoured by Rugby, Marlborough, and Cheltenham. |