An early surviving reference of football being played in England [Cumberland] in the form of a manuscript ode composed in 1803, an ode of 26 lines han

An early surviving reference of football being played in England [Cumberland] in the form of a manuscript ode composed in 1803, an ode of 26 lines hand written in pen & ink and signed by two schoolboys Thomas Caddy and John Steel on August 18th 1803, the ode imploring their schoolmaster ''... All holidays and feasts through the year ... likewise a football and a good fat hen against Shirovetide [sic] we claim from you again ...'' Research has uncovered a Thomas Caddy, the son of William Caddy, born in 1786, and a John Steel, born in 1787, both in Cumberland. The history of football played on Shrovetide in Great Britain is well documented, and has an extensive account between pages 68 and 153 of ''Uppies and Downies, The Extraordinary Football Games of Britain'' by Hugh Hornby, published by English Heritage in 2008. The book also illustrates the painting by Alexander Carse of the Shrove Tuesday Match at Jedburgh in 1818. He was one of the first artists to depict football as his subject. A woodcut of ''Football, Kingston-upon-Thames, Shrove Tuesday, Feb 24th 1846'' by Phillipson is in the FIFA Museum Collection. This exciting manuscript discovery throws further light on the popularity of the sport when in its infancy and 60 years before the laws of the game were unified by the formation of the Football Association. The full 26 line ode reads as follows: Honoured, Master Wonder not Why these come to hand, For the naked truth you soon shall understand, To labour always neither man nor Beast, Is able, we require some rest, According to the old custom we Attempt, To bolt the door and take our merement, To day, also tomorrow we demand, For recreation can you this withstand, Ten days before Christ blest Nativity, With all the feasts until Epiphany, Ten days at Shirovetide ten at Easter just, All Saturdays, and ten at Pentecost, All Holidays & Feasts through the year, We may at Church but not at school appear, Likewise a football and a good fat hen, Against Shirovetide we claim from you again, And further more when we have let you in, Look that against us you comit no sin, Until one month be past give no abuse, For if you do you shall find no excuse, Tryumphantly we will turn you out of Doors, With patience submitting to our powers, And also we hope you will consent, To sign the bill and grant us meriment, In recompense whereof we will not fail, To give you and your friend a glass of Ale Signed by me Thos. Caddy, John Steel, Augt. 18th. 1803 the reverse signed William Caddy, Thomas's father