Leading historian Ged O’brien has responded to Sheffield charity claims the Steel City founded football, with evidence that the sport has deep origins in Scotland.
In an interview with ShefNews, trustee of charity ‘Sheffield:The Home of Football’ Steve Woods, mentioned Ged Obrien’s Scottish origins research, to which he called ‘all nonsense’.
Steve Woods claims the rules of football we know today were born in the Northern City.
Ged Obrien said: “The idea that Sheffield is the creator of Football is flagrant nonsense. There are many questions Steve Woods cannot answer.
“I’ve known about this amusing asset for many many years. Home of football is a very touchy thing. England roles out this phrase quite a lot.
“I would be okay with the idea that Sheffield is the home of Football in England, but I will not be okay with his claim anywhere in England invented it”.
The museum founder stresses the wider social issues as to why Scotland’s role in Football has been ignored for ‘the past 35 years’, arguing the disregard is a result of long lasting cultural imperialism.
“This spreads across every aspect of life in Scotland, and sporting is no different. The idea that Scotland is a colony of England, but we were not a union in every way. Scotland’s invention of football is independent.
In the 90s, Ged was shown a multitude of football photo archives which lead him to question many things , and avoid ‘indoctrination’.
He spent nine years working to have Andrew Watson recognised as the first black international player. Watson was also a key figure in teaching the Scottish ‘passing and running game, as a ‘Scotch Professor,’
He began his mission to change the narrative about the origins of modern football rules, especially since many teams were being taught by, and defeated by, Scottish players in early matches.
Although Ged O’brien does recognise the frustrations of Sheffield and football, tying the lost history to the London centric football game rule followings in history.
“Sheffield has been denied the sun, if they had denied always following the London rules , we may have had a mix of Sheffield and Scottishs rules as today’s game, but we’ll never know.”
He told ShefNews his mission is to have Scotland known as the creator of football, and since has founded Europes first national football museum.
“I will probably die a failure, but maybe around 20 years after my death it’ll be known.”