Sport and football in England Sports play an important part in the life of the English people. Such national British sports as football, golf, cricket, table tennis, lawn tennis, snooker, steeplechase, racing, darts are popular among the British. They are proud that many sports originated in their country and then spread throughout the world. Football has got a long history. Football was played by the whole village teams in the middle ages in England. It was a very rude game. Since 1863 it has been played with proper rules. Now football is the most popular game in England. It’s a team game. Professional football is a big business. Rugby is a form of football but the ball is oval. It has an interesting and long story. It was started in 1823 and is played for almost 200 years. It has its own rules. The 15 players (Rugby Union) pass each other oval ball, trying to get it as close to a test area. It is believed that the game of golf originated in Scotland and was invented by shepherds, who with the help of staff (the future of clubs) drives the stones into rabbit holes. Tennis is a very popular game in Britain. Every summer, in June, the biggest international tournament takes place at Wimbledon, a suburb of London. Englishmen like all kinds of racing. Horse-racing, motor-car racing, boat-racing, dog-racing, donkey-racing are very popular in England. It is a four -day house- racing event held at Ascot, England each year in June. It is one of the most important racing occasions in Britain and is attended by members of the royal family. Horse- racing , “the sport of Kings” is a very popular sport. Many British people who live near the sea, a lake or a river enjoy sailing. If you are really enthusiastic, and rich enough to buy your own boat, you can take part in one of the annual sailing races or regattas. Cricket is a typically British game. It is a very long summer game. The big international matches go on for 5 days. But in the real English way, the players always stop for tea. The British are sports-lovers. And they support their sportsmen and teams very much Task 1. True or False. 1.Sports play an important part in the life of the English people. 2.Football was played by the only one village teams in the middle ages in England. 3.Tennis is not very popular game in Britain. 4.Englishmen like all kinds of racing. 5.Since 1870 it has been played with proper rules. 6.It is believed that the game of golf originated in England. 7.The British are sports-lovers.