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I recently had occasion to visit Cambridge, England and while I was there, I was interested to learn a unique piece of football history. Apparently, the first known instance of codifying (or writing down) the rules of association football (or, what we Yanks call soccer) happened in Cambridge. In 1848, a group of Cambridge University students wrote out a set of 11 rules. They nailed these to the trees surrounding Parker’s Piece, what is today a large grassy park in the heart of central Cambridge.

Today, on the From the Touchline podcast, I take a look at Rule 1, which states:

This club shall be called the University Foot Ball Club.

Why take up a whole rule to name the club? What is in a name? I’ve talked on other episodes and in other places about the power to name something, but today, I reflect on this Cambridge Rule of 1848 and a key moment in scripture when God and man set out to the task of naming things.

From the Touchline is a short-feature (10-15 min) podcast with Rev Brad Kenney, Founder and Executive Director of Soccer Chaplains United and Volunteer Chaplain to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. Rev Brad and occasional guests touch on various issues around the topics of faith, family, and football (soccer).

Also, don’t forget that you can listen in our app, SoccrChapUtd, in the Apple and Google store.