As the close relative of a football journalist, I spent my early life surrounded by historical books, journals, fanzines and programmes from around 1900 to the 2000s. Strikingly, pre-1970s, soccer and football were wholly interchangeable in every social grouping, every purpose, every outlet. Dockers down the pub would talk about footy, football, or soccer as if it meant the same thing. It is only with the xenophobia of the 70s that it became an “American” word and a naughty thing to say in certain company.
Found a PDF of a 2014 study by Stefan Szymanski at the University of Michigan. Compares Soccer/Football use in The Times, NY Times, British football bibliography, Guardian, Independent and Time Magazine.
As the close relative of a football journalist, I spent my early life surrounded by historical books, journals, fanzines and programmes from around 1900 to the 2000s. Strikingly, pre-1970s, soccer and football were wholly interchangeable in every social grouping, every purpose, every outlet. Dockers down the pub would talk about footy, football, or soccer as if it meant the same thing. It is only with the xenophobia of the 70s that it became an “American” word and a naughty thing to say in certain company.
Would be lovely if you have some source or something to read about.
Consider my interest piqued. I gave the Wikipedia page a skim and it seems like a good starting point
Found a PDF of a 2014 study by Stefan Szymanski at the University of Michigan. Compares Soccer/Football use in The Times, NY Times, British football bibliography, Guardian, Independent and Time Magazine.