It is a little known fact that from the start of the 14^th century right through to the middle of the 17^th century, football was banned in many parts of England.  King Edward II was so troubled by the unruliness of football in London that on April 13, 1314 he issued a proclamation banning it:

"Forasmuch as there is great noise in the city caused by hustling over large balls from which many evils may arise which God forbid; we command and forbid, on behalf of the King, on pain of imprisonment, such game to be used in the city in the future."

Football is England’s most popular sport.  In schools up and down the country, in parks and clubs, the sight of 22 men, women or children running around kicking the round object is a common one. 

England has more professional teams than any other country, 92, but many of our Non-League teams are also full time or semi professional at the very least.

A report by Sport England in 2011 stated that over 2 million people were playing football regularly and collectively, approximately 37 million will watch some kind of football match at a stadium during the course of a season.

We all have our own reasons for loving football so a few weeks ago i asked my Twitter followers for some of their reasons.  These are some of the responses i had....

 @johnnysaint29 I love football because of the Bovril and the pie at half time

@lottiehenderson Simple SAFC

@timinenfield 21 years since i missed a home game

@jahed_m how the passion brings people together

@BozTheRam  I love football, great to see your team play, the atmosphere in the stands at Derby is class, non stop singing and bouncing!

@John_Meg Its more cost effective and less frustrating than my girlfriend. And i love a handcrafted pie #arsenal

@IStoleTheSun Being the only customers who pay and don’t complain even if the result isn’t satisfactory

@Nicopoleides Unpredictableness, passion and artistry mixed in one simples game #simples

@Salopian_Alex i love football because of the passion it involves and the ecstatic feeling you share with everyone when your team wins

@Nevsafc the love for SAFC comes from history, rivalry, passion, expectation, and the roller coaster ride that is football

and not forgetting Emma and Becky who couldn’t quite fit their reasons into one tweet

@EmsSafc73 The unpredictable, the passion, the excitement, the highs, the lows, the tension, the feeling when your team wins and buzz...... when your team scores a goal, the despair when you lose, the disappointments, the lift it gives to your life when things are......going well, the tackles that get your heart racing, the pressure when you are on the back foot, the goose bumps when the..... get behind your team, just a few things that make me love football and of course Sunderland AFC!

@Becky_3Lions Cause its a special bond between me and my dad, we know we both have the same passion..... for LFC and standing on the kop belting your heart out is definitely something special and wouldn’t want to share it with anybody else but..... him.  And we know no matter what we have that match on a (normally, fu Sky!) Saturday to see the team we love... Oh and have a scouse pie!

Football is now a worldwide business but to the majority of us, to hear it described as a business makes us cringe.  Football is about all of the above, passion, unpredictability, excitement.  It’s about keeping fit, socialising with mates, supporting your club.

To us, it is not a business, it never will be.  We play football and watch football because it is a big part of our lives.

Can you imagine life without football?  I know I couldn’t!

If you are on Twitter, please find the people above and click the follow button!

Anthony O @WeAreTrueFans