«For much of the century the only law relating to football is the one banning it. In 1314 the mayor of London forbids the game being played anywhere near the city. Edward III bans it throughout the kingdom in 1331, and again in 1363. It creates a lot of noise. It distracts people from practising their archery. It results in damage to property and crops; many people are injured and some are killed»
«The foremost popular sport is archery. When Edward III prohibits football, it is very much with the idea that men should spend their time shooting longbows. From 1337 archery becomes almost the only legal sport for commoners. There is a rather extreme proclamation in that year that the penalty for playing any other game is death.30»
The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England
Ian Mortimer
«The foremost popular sport is archery. When Edward III prohibits football, it is very much with the idea that men should spend their time shooting longbows. From 1337 archery becomes almost the only legal sport for commoners. There is a rather extreme proclamation in that year that the penalty for playing any other game is death.30»
The Time Traveller's Guide to Medieval England
Ian Mortimer