Well Americans are right to push back when we take the mick over 'soccer', but they're wrong, I think, to believe we dropped it because it was too informal. Quite the reverse I'd say - it started to get public-school rah rah overtones (try saying it in a plummy voice).
Nor was it some archaic 19th century term, either. For example, before the Big Match in London, we had 'Star Soccer', which was still the title in the Midlands well into the 1980s:
Interesting article. I'm not a great lover of "soccer", but it's not anti-Americanism, it's about wanting our brand of football to be the dominant world sport. The reason I'm not keen on the word "soccer" is that its use frees up the word "football" to describe other sports - in particular sports that are played with a misshapen ball and would really better described as some sort of handball. So it's not anti American, it's anti Rugby/Gridiron/Eggrolling.
Soccer is one of many English words that are now more frequently used in America and are sometimes frowned upon by people who don't realise there background (yes, I realise this goes against my argument above). Others include, gotten, trash, mad (angry), platter, hog, slim (small) and store (an alternative noun for shop).
For the record, the first recorded use of "soccer" was in 1889. It was originally spelled "socca". I believe that took the "a" from the first letter in association. It then went through a long period of being spelled "socker". The first recorded use of the modern spelling is in 1916. It is possible that the spelling was changed to dispel the myth that its etymology was anything to do with socks.
It derived from Associated Football (true) but If you invent & name anything officially, lets say The Football Association....You then can't go an invent something & call it the same!! I think Rugby with crash helmets is a better description!!... But it is D Day & they are allies.. So let them have American (Rugby) Football.... God Save The Queen
It's a bit like The Derby (it's not the English Derby or the Epsom Derby!) - ours is The Derby, then you have Kentucky, French etc... added to it to distinquish. Not sure why they call them Derby anyway - Lord Derby was fecking English!!
Football, as codified by the Football Association, is 'Football'. All other derivitives are/should be preceeded with an identifier, Rugby, American, Aussie Rules etc... The FA came first!
There are a few exceptions, notably Blackheath who are Blackheath Football Club - but then 'Club' were founder members of the FA and the RFU
I don't mind about the yanks use of the word soccer but The World Series (sic) really winds me up. Although I suppose it shouldn't as we have the World Conker Championships. Although that has been won by Johnny Foreigner twice, once a Mexican and once a German (the latter on penalties*).
I don't mind about the yanks use of the word soccer but The World Series (sic) really winds me up. Although I suppose it shouldn't as we have the World Conker Championships. Although that has been won by Johnny Foreigner twice, once a Mexican and once a German (the latter on penalties*).
* I lied about the penalties.
It's called the World Series because the first lot of series were sponsored by a newspaper called 'The World' and the name just stuck, tradition I s'pose. Still can stand the dull game though.
I don't mind about the yanks use of the word soccer but The World Series (sic) really winds me up. Although I suppose it shouldn't as we have the World Conker Championships. Although that has been won by Johnny Foreigner twice, once a Mexican and once a German (the latter on penalties*).
* I lied about the penalties.
It's called the World Series because the first lot of series were sponsored by a newspaper called 'The World' and the name just stuck, tradition I s'pose. Still can stand the dull game though.
Comments
Nor was it some archaic 19th century term, either. For example, before the Big Match in London, we had 'Star Soccer', which was still the title in the Midlands well into the 1980s:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Star_Soccer
So let's lay off our Yankee friends on this one, eh? At least on the 6th June....
Soccer was very much a mainstream word back in my yoof, I'm not sure when it fell from favour in this country?
Soccer is one of many English words that are now more frequently used in America and are sometimes frowned upon by people who don't realise there background (yes, I realise this goes against my argument above). Others include, gotten, trash, mad (angry), platter, hog, slim (small) and store (an alternative noun for shop).
For the record, the first recorded use of "soccer" was in 1889. It was originally spelled "socca". I believe that took the "a" from the first letter in association. It then went through a long period of being spelled "socker". The first recorded use of the modern spelling is in 1916. It is possible that the spelling was changed to dispel the myth that its etymology was anything to do with socks.
And they call the international team the Socceroos!
Football, as codified by the Football Association, is 'Football'. All other derivitives are/should be preceeded with an identifier, Rugby, American, Aussie Rules etc... The FA came first!
There are a few exceptions, notably Blackheath who are Blackheath Football Club - but then 'Club' were founder members of the FA and the RFU
Soccer is, in my opinion, an abomination!
* I lied about the penalties.
It's called the World Series because the first lot of series were sponsored by a newspaper called 'The World' and the name just stuck, tradition I s'pose. Still can stand the dull game though.
http://www.snopes.com/business/names/worldseries.asp