Tuesday, June 15, 2004
The Soccer World Cup
Folks like Vodka - and I suspect, a few other US-bashers - hate to hear me say "soccer". "It's football!" they scream, adding "Learn the !@#$ing language". Well I googled around for a bit, and came up with an explanation for the word's origin.
From the website wordorigins.org:
Soccer
Soccer is an abbreviation for Association Football. The Football Association was formed in London in October 1863 when representatives of eleven clubs and schools met in an attempt to standardize the rules of the game. One of the rules prohibited the carrying of the ball, a rule that would lead to the Rugby-oriented clubs leaving the Association several months later. The name Association Football was coined to distinguish it from Rugby.
By 1889, the abbreviation socca' was in use, and the spelling soccer had made its appearance by 1895.
So, Vodka, I can quite honestly say to you, "I do know the language, you Higgins-wannabe!"
From the website wordorigins.org:
Soccer
Soccer is an abbreviation for Association Football. The Football Association was formed in London in October 1863 when representatives of eleven clubs and schools met in an attempt to standardize the rules of the game. One of the rules prohibited the carrying of the ball, a rule that would lead to the Rugby-oriented clubs leaving the Association several months later. The name Association Football was coined to distinguish it from Rugby.
By 1889, the abbreviation socca' was in use, and the spelling soccer had made its appearance by 1895.
So, Vodka, I can quite honestly say to you, "I do know the language, you Higgins-wannabe!"
