History Teacher Notes The Literacy Key

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Victorian Sport

1. Traditional sports had been played for centuries, but in the Victorian times they were given proper rules.

2. The modern games of rugby and football began from a dispute over a rule about the handling of the ball.

3. Clubs and associations sprang up all over the country during Victorian times.

4. Organised sport became more popular and many mills and factories had their own athletics and football teams.

5. Victorians felt the teams gave workers the benefit of exercise, as well as a sense of loyalty.

6. Victorian men played, or went to watch, rugby, football or cricket.

7. Sport drew huge crowds and watching sport became a hobby.

8. Manchester Utd began as a factory team and Aston Villa and Everton were set up by the Church to improve attendance.

9. Matches were played on Saturday afternoons so the workers could work their morning shifts first.

10. The first FA Cup was held in 1871 and the first international between England and Scotland took place in 1872.

11. Cricket, an important part of Victorian village life, developed into an international game.

12. Croquet came to England in 1850 - it was considered suitable for Victorian women as it needed skill rather than strength.

13. Victorian men and women could play croquet together.

14. Little equipment was required for the sport of croquet and no special clothes were needed.

15. Tennis became an increasingly popular sport in Victorian times.

16. It was helped by the invention of a rubber ball that would bounce on grass.

17. Horse racing was popular with all levels of society and people flocked to races such as the famous Derby.

18. Cycling was also popular with the Penny Farthing invented in 1871 and the Safety Cycle in 1885.

19. Many Victorian townsfolk would cycle out into the countryside as it was the cheapest way to travel.

20. Bicycles were quite cheap to buy and allowed more freedom.

21. Special fashions were introduced for Victorian women to wear when cycling.

22. Skating was very popular and several ice rinks were built in cities such as Manchester.

23. The rich enjoyed hunting and shooting on large country estates, where game was specially bred with gamekeepers.