“…Researchers have begun to question some of sport's long established 'truths' and this has led to healthy debate and occasionally unhelpful criticism or even ridicule. 5 Consider the origins of football debate that has been raging on for several years, particularly within the pages of this journal. 6 It was not too long ago that historians and the general public felt they knew how association football was 'born', developed and propagated around the country.…”