ABSTRACT
The latter part of the nineteenth century saw the emergence of what today are known as national governing bodies of sport. Sport by 1850 had extended beyond the public schools and the universities, teams were springing up around the country, and some central control for rules, laws and competition was needed.
Illustrative of this was the formation of the Football Association in 1863, the Amateur Swimming Association in 1869, the Rugby Football Union in 1871, the Badminton Association of England, the Hockey Association and the All England Women’s Hockey Association in 1895. Competition was well underway; Henley Royal Regatta started in 1839 but the Amateur Rowing Association was not formed until forty-three years later in 1882. The first ‘Wimbledon’ was in 1877, whilst the first ‘varsity athletics meeting took place in 1864, before the formation of the Amateur Athletic Association in 1880. At the other end of the social spectrum church and working men’s clubs provided the focal points for very many sports clubs from some of which famous football clubs developed, for example, Aston Villa Football Club.
