In the nineteenth century football began to be played in English public schools. The public schools were actually very expensive private(私立的) schools attended by the sons of the rich and powerful.
The headmasters (校长) of three schools--Rugby, Eton and Harrow--began to develop new versions of football. The game became less violent (激烈的), less dangerous and easier to control（控制). It became a game for young gentlemen.
Each public school divided its pupils into clubs or "houses". The houses played football matches against each other, with each house wearing a particular(特定的) colour.
The first football clubs were organized(组织) in the same way as the house teams. Later the house competitions were used as a model(模型，模范) for the FA Cup(the Football Association Challenge Cup(英格兰足球杯).
Many of the boys at the public schools went on to the two English universities, Oxford and Cambridge. Football was very popular at Cambridge, but the young men from the different schools played with different rules. In 1848 a set of Cambridge Rules were established(制定) for everyone to play under. Some of these rules now seem a little strange.
