[Ads-l] Antedating of "Association Football"

[Shapiro, Fred]

The term "association football" is the etymological parent of the term "soccer."  The OED's first citation for "association football" is dated 1873.  I am handicappped in antedating this because I do not currently have a full subscription to British Newspaper Archive.  However, BNA seems to include the following citation:

1855 Luton Times and Advertiser 6 Mar. 5   The object of the Association is the improvement and extension of Association Football in the above named counties.

BNA appears to have other citations for "association football" beginning in 1870.  Newspapers.com has an 1871 citation.

Fred Shapiro

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