April in Football

What moments in football history have we highlighted in the last month? How do they provide us with historical mirrors to the present?

In this article:

• Exploring Football History in the past and present
• Highlights to cherish
• Pass the ball around
• Photo Gallery

Exploring Football History in the past and present

In April, we posted stories covering numerous areas associated with football history. From teaching about the connection between football and hooliganism to discovering women’s football then and now with a quartet game. Moreover, we posted a story about the rise of female referees in professional men’s football.

Highlights to cherish

In April, we continued our #onthisday social media campaign with 39 entries, playing close attention to stories – large and small – that connects football to social and cultural developments on the continent. With these posts, we always ask a question.

• On April 6th, 1934, Arsenio Erico, the highest scorer of all time in Argentinian football, signed for Independiente. He was scouted while touring the Chaco War’s front line with an itinerant football team. What other players got their big break in unlikely circumstances?
• On April 9th, 1938, England hosted Scotland at Wembley for the first match to live on TV in its entirety. Having a TV was rare; more people in the stadium were watching on TV. How has television influenced football?
• On April 16th, 1984, Socrates spoke at the Direct Elections Now rally in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He told an estimated 1.5 million people that he would turn down offers from Italy if Brazil got direct elections.
• On April 22th, 1987, Lokomotiv Leipzig beat Bordeaux in the semifinals of Europe Cup 2, in front of 100,000 spectators. The most spectators in East Germany and the last highlight of GDR football, before the Fall of the Wall. What values do European matches carry today?
• On April 28th,1923 Henk van Heuckelum passed away. He was a Dutch football player who represented Belgium at the 1900 Summer Olympics. Clubs instead of National Teams participated, and Henk played with a student team! 

These were just some of the highlights! Explore more of our April stories on our social media. Miss something? Why not tell us.

Pass the ball around

Educators almost entirely produce our campaign’s content. Each day we aim to deliver exciting mini-stories from football’s rich history. These will be posted on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. The content aims to support the educational objectives of the Football Makes History project. If you are reading this and have suggestions or ideas for the months ahead, we are most happy to receive those! Join us! Help our team tell the stories that matter.