In 1863 the first set of rules for association football were established. Those rules were the influence for the Laws of the Game. Football is a National sport in England. England has more than 40,000 football clubs and millions and million of spectators at those games every season. England has close to 100 professional football clubs, the Football League, which is the oldest national league, the Football Association, which is the oldest governing body, and the most popular league in all of the worlds leagues the Premier League which is known as “the World’s greatest show”

From back in medieval times football has been played in England. The first world football club was a team known as the Gymnastic Society of London which was developed in the eighteenth century. In the year 1848 the first rules were drawn up at Cambridge University and they were called the Cambridge rules. Many codes were developed with these rules which included association football.

England’s top football clubs decided to break away from the Football League, which formed the Premier League in 1992. The Premier League sits at the top of the English football pyramid with promotion to and from it with the Championship. Currently the league consists of 20 teams, each facing each other twice a season (home and away matches) The top four placed teams at the end of the season earn qualification to the UEFA (Europe) Champions League, a competition with significant financial benefits, the next highest placed team qualify to the less glamorous Europa League. The three teams that finish at the bottom end of the League over the course of a season face relegation to the football championship league.

Reserve leagues were created in 1999. They are called The Premier Reserve League. The Premier League is divided into two leagues, Premier Reserve League South and Premier Reserve League North which is designed to decrease the travel demands on players. Support at reserve team games tends to be minimal

In 1915 the Football Combination was formed and it has thirty teams. This division is splint into Wales, Cast, and Central. These teams are primarily reserve teams. There are also professional teams in this league. Some of the teams can enter the race for the Combination Challenge Cup.

England does have football that is not a part of a league. Those are the teams that play in the organized league competitions but are not actually a part of a league. However these are none too common and are the teams are not officially recognised and are not members of the Football Association of England. Within English football there are also many amateur leagues and youth leagues. The amateur leagues make football one of the biggest participation sports in England. The youth leagues provide an opportunity for the next generation of football fans to develop a love for the game but are also the breeding ground for the next generation of star players as professional clubs employ many youth scouts to visit youth teams looking for talented youngsters.

Author Bio: Adrian Bryan writes for The Football Merchandise Store the web’s finest collection of Football Souvenirs and Football Merchandise

Category: Sports
Keywords: Football Merchandise, Football Souvenirs, Football, Premier League, Premier League Football