Early Origins of Football in Scotland

Football may be older than we think. Evidence uncovered at the National Library of Scotland has suggested that Scots nobles were playing with 'fut ballis' back in the 15th century!

Scottish Football Museum curator Richard McBrearty discovered a manuscript of accounts from King James IV that showed he paid two shillings for a bag of 'fut ballis' as early as 11 April, 1497. The accounts of small football matches taking place in the grounds of castles suggest the game in its current form is much older than officially documented, and may have originated in Scotland! Several diaries at the National Library of Scotland describe the games played for royals, which featured smaller pitches and teams of ten.

Another game we gave the world.  So that makes three(at least):- curling, golf and now football.