Volume One: Before Codification

Pre-Columbian Americans, Aboriginal Australians, the Ancient Chinese, the Romans, the Vikings, the Celts and many other cultures played ball games long before modern laws were written for different kinds of football in the 19th century.

In this intriguing new book, Mike Roberts explores them all in detail, and draws on the very latest research while re-examining the original sources to dispel a number of myths before tracing the early development of football and similar games in Western Europe, and presenting plenty of surprises along the way!

Sport and history combine to tell a fascinating story as we discover the truth about the medieval folk games that went on to become the modern codes of soccer, rugby union, rugby league, and Gaelic, Australian, American and Canadian football.

Explore this website for a taster of what each of the chapters will tell you:

1. A WHOLE NEW BALL GAME: What is football?

2. SETTING THE BALL ROLLING: Football in prehistory

3. EASTERN PROMISE: Ball games of the ancient Far East

4. THE HIP PARADE: Ball games in Pre-Colombian Central and Caribbean America

5. LITTLE BROTHERS OF WAR: Ball games in Pre-Colombian North America

6. WAY OFF THE MARK?: Ball games of pre-European Oceania

7. STICKS AROUND: The ancient ball games of Southern Asia and the Middle East

8. FOOTBALL CLASSICS: Ball games in ancient Greece and Rome

9: THE ITALIAN JOB: The medieval ball games of Italy

10. FRANCE FOOTBALL: The medieval ball games of France

11. EUROSPORT: Other early forms of football in Europe