logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2020
28m 52s

The History of Football (Radio Edit)

Bbc Radio 4
About this episode

Where did football come from? Was it really invented in China or is the truth a little closer to home? And what’s the truth behind the history of the women’s game? Greg Jenner is joined by comedian Tom Parry and historian Prof Jean Williams to learn the history of the beautiful game.

Produced by Dan Morelle Scripted by Greg Jenner Researched by Emma Nagouse, assisted by Eszter Szabo and Evie Randall Radio edit by Cornelius Mendez

A Muddy Knees Media production for BBC Radio 4.

Up next
Aug 21
Akhenaten and Nefertiti: religious revolution in ancient Egypt
Greg Jenner is joined in ancient Egypt by historian and curator Dr Campbell Price and comedian Sikisa to learn all about Tutankhamun’s parents, Nefertiti and Akhenaten. As well as their famous son, this ancient Egyptian power couple are best known in the modern age for two reason ... Show More
58m 1s
Aug 14
Anne Bonny and Mary Read: real-life pirates of the Caribbean
Greg Jenner is joined in the eighteenth-century Caribbean by historian and curator Hannah Cusworth and comedian Kemah Bob to learn about the swashbuckling lives of pirates Anne Bonny and Mary Read. These women and their adventures on the high seas have become the stuff of legend, ... Show More
1 h
Aug 7
Medieval Saints: miracles, relics and pilgrimage
Greg Jenner is joined in medieval Europe by historian Dr Simon Yarrow and comedian Rachel Parris to learn all about the cult of saints and their relics. The veneration of saints still plays an important role in the lives of Catholics all over the world, but what did the cult of s ... Show More
56m 11s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2025
592. Mad Victorian Sport
How and when was football invented, and what are the origins of football clubs? What is the connection between public hangings, highwaymen, and early sporting events? Which is the most historically important sporting ground in the world? When was the first cricket test match play ... Show More
56m 35s
Mar 2021
33. The Beautiful Game
It has been described as the most universal cultural mode there has ever been, but is football a worthwhile object of study for historians? Sports journalist and author Jonathan Wilson joins Dominic Sandbrook and Tom Holland to look at the history of the game and how it became Br ... Show More
51m 1s
Nov 2024
Sport's strangest tales
Humans have been infatuated with sport for thousands of years. But what drove this obsession in the first place? And how did ancient pursuits evolve into the games we know and love today? Jon Bauckham speaks to QI researchers and hosts of the podcast No Such Thing as a Fish James ... Show More
44m 32s
Nov 2022
267: Wales: The Roar of the Red Dragon
What are the origins of Wales? And how do the Welsh define themselves against Englishness? As England play Wales in the World Cup today, Tom and Dominic are joined by Martin Johnes, Professor of History at the University of Swansea, to explore the age old rivalry between the two ... Show More
1h 1m
Aug 2023
Women’s Football
Football is the most popular sport in the world, and is played anywhere from pitches marked out in desert dust, to warzones with helmets for goalposts. But it’s still predominantly a male sport. So what about the roots of women’s football in the UK? How did social change in the F ... Show More
50m 31s
May 2024
Mailbag: What are the biggest myths in football?
Are penalties really a lottery? Is it harder to play against 10 men? Should a goalkeeper never be beaten at their near post? Today, Marcus, Jim and Vish are on hand to debunk some of the biggest myths in football.Elsewhere, they debate whether one-club men are a thing of the past ... Show More
30m 42s
Mar 2014
No Such Thing As The Middle Ages
Episode 3: This week QI Elves Dan Schreiber (@schreiberland) and James Harkin (@eggshaped) are joined by Horrible Histories consultant Greg Jenner (@gregjenner) and comedian Alex Edelman (@alexedelman) to discuss the first recorded smile, the most important animal in America and ... Show More
27m 34s
Jul 2023
Soccer | Football
Learn about the history of soccer, also known as football, from its start as "folk ball" to its worldwide popularity, celebrity players, and the World Cup.Get $10 off StoryButton!https://storybutton.com/bedtimehistory📖  Full Text @ BedtimeHistoryStories.com📺 YouTube👍 Facebook ... Show More
12m 21s