ABSTRACT
By 1870 it was clear that the FA’s desire for a universal football code for all clubs was not feasible. The growth of rugby football had outstripped soccer all over Britain. In response, the FA’s new secretary, C.W. Alcock, initiated an England versus Scotland match and in 1871 began the FA Cup tournament. Clubs were increasingly forced to make a choice between one or another code. When the rugby clubs responded in 1871 by forming the Rugby Football Union (RFU), football was irrevocably split.
