MovieChat Forums > Rumpole of the Bailey (1980) Discussion > Rumpole and the Old Boy Net

Rumpole and the Old Boy Net

posted 18 years ago by tmwctd
8 replies | jump to latest

I've just been watching the DVD-set and re-reading the stories for comparison. One thing puzzles me: In the story mentioned above (the line is not in the TV-episode), Rumpole muses about the Mad Bull probably having attended a school "where they played soccer with a cannon ball and learning to read was an optional extra."

A very funny line on its own but should it not be "football" instead of "soccer" for someone as deeply English as Rumpole (or John Mortimer) is?

[–] Pedro_H 18 years ago

The term soccer is still used England, only not as often. Usually in situations where which it is not clear which version of the sport you are talking about. For example a rugby commentator might say "he used his soccer skills" when a player kicked a ball that was loose on the floor.

[–] tmwctd 18 years ago

Thanks for the explanation, very interesting. I always though that the term "soccer" was created by Americans.

[–] JayBee-66 11 years ago

The term soccer was invented in England during the early 20th century.

Apparently it is derived from the word Association (Assoc), Association Football being the full name for the sport with the round ball.

I was born in England but don't like the game so I make a point of calling it soccer to annoy the fans.

[–] simon-118 17 years ago

It's probably to get the line to sound punchy. If he said played football with a canon ball the punchline would be weaker than saying played soccer with a canon ball. Make sense?

[–] Roy_Bland 17 years ago

The posher schools in England would definitely use the word "soccer" in this context. "Football" would, of course, more likely be taken to mean rugby.

[–] milnerdm 16 years ago

"Soccer" is short for Association Football which was invented in the 19th century so that certain elite schools in England, which had their own brand of football could play intramural matches. Eton still plays the "field game", but also soccer and rugger.

[–] marktayloruk (2590) a year ago

I still say Rumpole should have got head of Chambers rather than that pompous interloper!

[–] 11 years ago

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