Posted by alan truelove on June 16, 2006 at 18:12:58 from 12.191.193.70 user atruelove.
In Reply to: Football in WH posted by Mark Dudley on June 16, 2006 at 11:56:02:
Would-be elite schools play Rugby only. Soccer was (is) considered an indicator of non-U-ness.
My 'Public' school (City of London) had soccer briefly for the younger boys. This was given the old heave-ho shortly after 1950 when, curiously, the new Headmaster Arthur Barton (a distinguished International/Olympics soccer referee) was appointed.
Rugby is also more cost-effective in using 15 a side (so fewer supervising Masters, pitches are needed)
Another elite sport is Rowing, but not all would-be elite schools are able to support this (a) because of v. high cost, access to river or man-made courses etc (b) Supervising masters simply are not available (as in the case of CLS which dropped Rowing in the 60's after a long distinguished history of providing Oxford-Cambridge boat race crew).
Why do Oxbridge grads (likely rowers)no longer return to their school to teach (and supervise Rowing) for 40 years? Because they (partic. Scientists) now have better things to do.