ITALIAN REVIVAL

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 120, 23 May 1930, Page 9

ITALIAN REVIVAL

FOOTBALL'S ANCESTOR

ORIGIN IN SIEGE

LONDON, 4th May.

The correspondent of "The Times" at Florence states that picturesque ceremonies aro taking place accompanied by a' revival of the historic game^ of calcio, which the Italians claim is the forerunner of modern football. It is believed to have originated in the Graeco-Eoman times and was popular in the Renaissanco period when young Florentines staged a display during the Prince of Orange's siege of the city in 1529, in defiance.of the enemy who bombarded the players with cannon shots, fortunately missing.

.Calcio is a complicated form of Kugger and there are 27 players a side, who are dressed in white and green, representative of the opposite banks of the A'rno.

To-day the ancient: procedure was scrupulously observed, including a procession and attendance at church. Ten thousand people were present when trumpeters announced the opening of the game. The sides changed ends after each had scored a goal. At the end of the game the winners- carried a standard, which was unfurled, while the losers trailed theirs in the dust.