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Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 132, 5 June 1937, Page 23

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CRADLE OF THE CAME

Association football will in future rank again as an official sport at Eton College.

An announcement was made recently, signed by G. A. C. Doughty, chairman of the Eton Athletic Committee,

that a colour would be awarded for Soccer. It is to consist of Eton blueand fawn quarters, and cap and scarf are to be allowed. Association football was first played at Eton in 1894, and an attempt to introduce Rugby football was unsuccessfully made soon afterwards, says a London paper. Later, Rugby football took strong hold, and Association declined. Old Etonians, who still compete in amateur football competitions, have had a big part in the history of the game. They won the F.A. Cup in the seasons 1878-79 and 1881-82, and were twice beaten in the final. For the past six years there has been a big effort to re-establish the game at the college, and in future seasons it is expected that inter-school matches will be arranged. This season two regular teams are organised, and nearly 100 boys are playing. DECISION WELCOMED, Association football authorities will welcome the new decision, for they have viewed with, anxiety the steady movement of pubiic schools towards Rugby football. Harrow, formerly one of the strongholds of Soccer, went over to Rugby eight years ago1 when Mr. I. M. B. Stuart, the Irish Rugby international, became a master. The chief schools still playing Soccer ■are Westminster, Malvern, Repton, Shrewsbury, Charterhouse, Hurstpierpoint, Bradfield, ■ and Highgate. Of these schools, Westminster and Cftarterhouse practically made modern Association football. Tlse game as played today dates from 1867, when these two schools induced the Association to adopt their rule of "offside."