Release of the Oldest Film of Football Footage in Existence

January 15, 2015 1:49 AM

Recently released into the public domain - the oldest known football footage in existence. The 45 second film is of a First Division match between Blackburn Rovers and West Bromwich Albion at Ewood Park, which took place on the 24th September 1898.

Article on the match and on the films background. Blackburn won the game 4-1.

posted by Start with Dessert (26 comments total)

does that goaltender have a couch?
posted by mannequito at 2:00 AM on January 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

I thought that as well initially but I'm pretty sure it's the steps that lead up into the stand. The guy sitting on them stands up and moves to one side behind the goalkeeper.

I was slightly disappointed that there were no streakers, no pitch invasion, no flares, no dives, no overpaid internationals killing time between World Cups and no police horses charging through the crowd. It's barely football.
posted by nfalkner at 2:10 AM on January 15, 2015 [4 favorites]

That was weird, I was only 10 seconds into it and Ray Winstone's giant head materialised before me in grainy black-and-white, urging me to "Bet in Play". "Have a bang on that!", screamed the giant time-travelling cockney head of Mr Winstone. Reader, I banged on it.
posted by the quidnunc kid at 2:42 AM on January 15, 2015 [14 favorites]

Association Football - Mr Cholmondley-Warner
posted by fearfulsymmetry at 2:43 AM on January 15, 2015 [3 favorites]

Invert that pyramid, fellows!
posted by robocop is bleeding at 3:42 AM on January 15, 2015 [5 favorites]

Thanks for posting!
posted by josher71 at 4:52 AM on January 15, 2015

I hadn't known you could play footie in a top hat and spats.

Huh.
posted by clvrmnky at 4:53 AM on January 15, 2015

does that goaltender have a couch?

That's Sid Chesterfield. Finest full-back West Brom ever had.
posted by sobarel at 5:26 AM on January 15, 2015 [5 favorites]

Oh, soccer you mean.
posted by sfts2 at 5:34 AM on January 15, 2015 [3 favorites]

Oh, soccer you mean.

I am glad I am not the only one. I was hoping to see what sort of protective gear they had (if any). The goal posts looked a little odd, but I know those changed in the mid 20th century. Then I noticed there seemed to be a lot of kicking going on.

Yes, Ignorant Amurrican checking in.
posted by Badgermann at 5:40 AM on January 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

Does it also include footage of the first dive ever filmed?
posted by TedW at 6:01 AM on January 15, 2015 [3 favorites]

The missing audio.
posted by sixpack at 6:19 AM on January 15, 2015

Oh, soccer you mean.

The japes! Oh, really it is too much! Well done, old boy!
posted by josher71 at 6:51 AM on January 15, 2015

I was surprised to see the sideline ads for Vodafone.
posted by The 10th Regiment of Foot at 7:12 AM on January 15, 2015 [6 favorites]

I bet the first people who saw that footage said, "Amazing! It feels like I'm actually there!"

As I understand it, "soccer" was originally British slang, parallel in construction to "rugger". ("Association football" -> [as]soc[c]er, "Rugby football" -> rugger.)
posted by clawsoon at 7:37 AM on January 15, 2015

Makes perfect sense that Americans would latch onto outmoded British slang while the rest of the world settles on a different name. Granted, the existence of an American Football was critical to Soccer's staying power.
posted by Mr.Encyclopedia at 8:20 AM on January 15, 2015

Amazing, thanks for posting it! And that article is great; I loved this:

On a less impressive (but more hilarious) note, Bassett was the first ever West Bromwich Albion player to be sent off. In a friendly against Millwall, on April the 28th 1894, he was dismissed for using ‘unparliamentary language’ – an offence that nowadays would hardly be out of the ordinary.

posted by languagehat at 8:44 AM on January 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

I was hoping to see what sort of protective gear they had (if any).

Football helmets weren't common until Teddy Roosevelt encouraged their use - too many players were dying on the field. He lobbied for the legalization of the forward pass for the same reason.

Here's the Princeton V. Yale game from 1903 (skip to the 2:00 minute mark), where a few helmets are in evidence, but most opt to do without. There are likewise soft pads on some players, but no hard pads at all.
posted by Slap*Happy at 8:47 AM on January 15, 2015

I think I recognized Roy Hodgson on the pitch.
posted by zakur at 8:54 AM on January 15, 2015 [2 favorites]

does that goaltender have a couch?

Damn. Before I watched the clip, I thought this was a taunt I could adopt irl.
posted by book 'em dano at 9:12 AM on January 15, 2015

Came here to make sure some Americans got mad about it being SOCCER - oh the horror.

Wasn't disappointed....also, Rovers vs Albion is about as exciting then as it is now.
posted by GreyboxHero at 9:18 AM on January 15, 2015

Rovers vs Albion is about as exciting then as it is now.

Excitement is in the eye of the beholder.
posted by josher71 at 9:37 AM on January 15, 2015

he was dismissed for using ‘unparliamentary language’

Oh, I am bloody ruddy sure I'll be using this phrase from here on out.
posted by grubi at 9:46 AM on January 15, 2015 [3 favorites]

My laptop's fan is running a little rough these days, and when I was watching I started to wonder how and why they had included the sound of an old-timey projector in the video.
posted by benito.strauss at 11:54 AM on January 15, 2015 [1 favorite]

I love this stuff. Thanks for posting this.
posted by chicobangs at 7:41 AM on January 16, 2015

Nice that they projected it very near the proper speed. Now will someone please stabilize it for me?
posted by bonobothegreat at 4:29 PM on January 16, 2015