-
Start
Last meetings of The Gymnastic Society, the first football club in the world. -
1842
First use of referee. During a match in Rochdale, between the Bodyguards club and the Fearnaught club. -
1846
A time limit on length of play is first introduced and first described in Lancashire -
1848
The Cambridge rules are created being the first attempt to establish formal rules. -
1867
The first ever football tournament, the Youden Cup, is played by twelve Sheffield clubs. -
1907
Professional Footballers' Association formed. -
1919
Leeds City are expelled and dissolved by the football league after financial irregularities including the payment of players during the First World War. In its place a new club is formed, Leeds United. -
1928
Arsenal and Chelsea are the first clubs to play with shirt numbers on 25 August. -
1939
The Football League is abandoned three games into the new season after the outbreak of the Second World War -
1964
Match of the Day makes its debut on BBC2 at 6.30pm on 22 August with highlights of Liverpool's 3–2 home win over Arsenal. Kenneth Wolstenholme is both presenter and commentator to an audience of just 20,000