111. Oneida FC – The Short Life and Long Controversy of America’s First Football Club

This week’s episode talks to Dr Kevin Marston about his research into the short history of America’s first football club, Oneida FC of Boston, which was formed in 1862 in the midst of the American Civil War. What link did it have to American football and soccer and, perhaps even more intriguingly, how has its story been used by supporters of both codes to legitimise their heritage? It’s a dispute that is still being played out, as controversy reigns about the shape of the ball on the monument to the club on Boston Common.

For more on the history of rugby and the other football codes, take a look at www.rugbyreloaded.com (which also has show notes and links for this episode) and follow me on Twitter at @collinstony.