Fans have been left fascinated by @ProudofusUK’s gone viral videos on the history of football to what it is present day.
The account spoke of pride in Britain’s role in creating “the beautiful game” — from a Sheffield greenhouse to a sport watched by billions, through the art of storytelling video posts.
Their two posts on football have gone on to get over 600,000 views combined as well as over 14,000 likes, and high praise from social media users.
The FA wrote the rules of football in 1863.
The rules you actually play by?
A greenhouse. In Sheffield. 1858.
Two mates from the cricket club went for a walk one autumn afternoon. They wanted something to do when the cricket season ended.
So they started a football club.… pic.twitter.com/jSdaoWsNlc
— Proudofus.uk (@ProudofusUK) February 25, 2026
@ProudofusUK said in one of their videos: “The FA wrote the rules of football in 1863.
“The rules you actually play by?
“A greenhouse. In Sheffield. 1858.
“Two mates from the cricket club went for a walk one autumn afternoon. They wanted something to do when the cricket season ended.
“So they started a football club. The first one on earth.
“Their headquarters was a greenhouse. Their pitch was the field next to it. There was nobody else to play. So they split into married against singles.
“Then they wrote rules. No hacking. No tripping. No holding. Free kicks. Throw-ins.
“Corner kicks. The crossbar. Heading. Eleven players. Ninety minutes. Referees.
“All Sheffield.
“When they played London in 1866 and headed the ball, London laughed at them.
“Nobody’s laughing now.
“In 1867 Sheffield hosted the world’s first football competition. Four years before the FA Cup.
“The trophy went missing for 130 years. A Scottish antiques dealer found it. Worth over £100,000 today.
“When football turned professional, Sheffield refused. They chose the game over the money. And the game left them behind.
“William Prest died at fifty-two. His gravestone was removed from the cemetery.
“Nathaniel Creswick died in October 1917. Exactly sixty years after founding the club.
“In 2004, FIFA gave Sheffield FC the Order of Merit. The only other club to receive it?
“Real Madrid. Eighty thousand seats. One of the greatest clubs on earth.
“Sheffield FC play in the ninth tier of English football. Two thousand seats.
“Every corner kick. Every header. Every ninety minutes.
“Two friends. One autumn walk. A greenhouse.
“Sheffield started it all.
“The beautiful game had humble beginnings. So do we. Your support keeps us on the pitch.
“Be part of us.
“http://proudofus.co.uk/support
“Be Proud Of Us. 🇬🇧”
Every football club on earth exists because of this island. 🇬🇧
Kings banned it. The richest schools in England claimed it. They wrote the rules and locked the gates.
Then the working class stole it back.
In 1850, Parliament passed the Factory Act. Work stopped at two on a… pic.twitter.com/HpSPOpYmCz
— Proudofus.uk (@ProudofusUK) February 24, 2026
Another of their posts read: “Every football club on earth exists because of this island. 🇬🇧
“Kings banned it. The richest schools in England claimed it. They wrote the rules and locked the gates.
“Then the working class stole it back.
“In 1850, Parliament passed the Factory Act. Work stopped at two on a Saturday. Working men had free time. And they chose football.
“Churches formed clubs to keep men out of pubs: Aston Villa, Bolton, Everton.
“Factories formed teams from their own workers: West Ham from the Thames Ironworks, Arsenal from a munitions factory.
“The FA Cup Final. Blackburn Olympic: weavers, spinners, a plumber. They beat the Old Etonians 2-1. No private school team ever reached the final again.
“Then British workers carried it everywhere they went ⚽🌍
“Scottish miners in Spain founded its oldest club. A Nottingham lace trader gave Juventus their black and white stripes.
“A butcher’s son from the same city founded AC Milan. British railway workers in Uruguay named their team after Stephenson’s Rocket.
“Cornish miners founded Mexico’s first football club. A schoolteacher from Kent taught the game to his students in Argentina. His school produced Lionel Messi.
“A boy from Southampton brought two footballs to Brazil. They call him the father of Brazilian football.
Real Madrid are said to wear white because of an English amateur team.
“From Lancashire cotton mills to every continent on earth.
“Three and a half billion people watch football. The most popular sport ever created. And it was created here. By the British people.
“Every Saturday, three o’clock. That kickoff time exists because of the Factory Act of 1850. The moment working men were given an afternoon off.
“They chose football. And the world followed.
“No owners. No sponsors. Just supporters.
“Be part of us. 👉 http://proudofus.co.uk/support 🙏
“Be Proud Of Us. 🇬🇧”
You’re welcome 🫡
— Sheffield Football Club (@sheffieldfc) February 24, 2026
As mentioned, fans are left fascinated by @ProudofusUK’s gone viral videos on the history of football to present day…
@EtihadProbably: For the fans. @FIFAcom @UEFAcom @premierleague not u corrupt organisations who have taken it from us
@BobafettBoston: This is for all you #football fans. ❤️🤍❤️🤍❤️🤍❤️🤍❤️🤍❤️🤍 Did you know why the kick off is at 3 o’clock?? Watch this amazing little educational video. #Brilliant #TheFA #ThePeople #England
@SheffieldGunner: @sheffieldfc @HallamFC1860 brilliant part of our history in Sheffield that should be celebrated more
@Telblades: I will never understand why Sheffield city council doesn’t dine out in this. What a thing to be known for, giving the world football. We should have things in place for people to visit, it would bring tourists from all over the world to see it.
@bhoyglenside: Wit happened Tae 3 o’clock kick offs FFS ,fed and watered by sky every big game dominated by a TV company , was elites wi the old Etonians and Corinthians aye the factory teams evolved and succeeded, and it’s back to elites full circle ,working man’s game no more.
@MrPaulPashley: One of the best football vids I’ve seen. @ProudofusUK this is brilliant. 👇 Sheffield you should be proud and everyone should know. #rt #swfc #sufc @HallamFC1860 @sheffieldfc #rt
@Gracie_Blue89: This is absolutely BRILLIANT from @ProudofusUK 🇬🇧 Every single football club in the world exists because of our Island 🇬🇧 I love love LOVE this!!! ⚽️❤️
@JohnBrook51: Could somebody tell Sheffield Council and perhaps they might start promoting our heritage
@steviethemag: We gave the world the game of football — then Blatter and now Infantino have came along and sold it’s soul to the highest bidder.
@EgbertsStone: What a fantastic post. I love these little snippets of fascinating history. Please keep them coming.
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