THE BEST FOTBALL PLAYERS OF XIX CENTURY WERE AMATEURS IN ALL THE ENGLAND, SCOTLAND, WALES AND IRELAND.

 

By Carlos Ramirez

 

The history of the first international games started in 1872, all British players were amateurs.  Even when professionalism in football soccer was legalized in 1885 in England, amateurs dominated the national team.

 

For many years until 1914, the English national teams included both amateur and professional players.  Then the professional players were majority in the national teams, although many excellent players remained amateurs all their careers.

 

The two most famous football players of the 19^th century, “Joe” Gilbert Oswald Smith and the excellent John Vivian Woodward, both university graduates stayed amateurs.  Actually during that period in the XIX Century, there was hardly a difference between the quality of the amateur and professional teams – actually most of the time the amateur times amateurs.  Actually during that period in the XIX Century, there was hardly a difference between the quality of the amateur and professional teams – actually most of the time the amateur times formed better.  Actually even though FIFA makes a distinction between the British associations (England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland) the national team in international matches was in the beginning Great Britain.

 

After the Free State of Ireland was created in 1921, the north eastern part of the island is officially called as “Eire” and the free country is to be called “Ireland” and the football association as “Irish”.

 

John Vivian Woodward