Football and hockey are the most popular sports on the planet, so each state seeks to create its own team and take higher places in competitions. This embarrassment was due to very interesting circumstances.

Hockey in Britain

First you need to stop at the hockey team. This sport appeared around the 16th century, but at first the matches were played on the grass using the ball. And in 1875, the game moved to the ice, and the puck appeared as a shell. The main development at that time was a sport in Canada.

For several decades, hockey has rapidly gained popularity and entered the international level. National teams began to appear, but not all countries were able to recruit enough players. England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland failed to make their own teams. An additional obstacle was the high popularity of football, which also was gaining momentum, especially in these countries.

As a result, after futile attempts to assemble a full-fledged team, the countries of Britain decided to join forces and formed a common hockey team in 1908. Since then, the team regularly participates in tournaments and includes players from the UK.

Interesting fact: The UK national hockey team won a gold medal in the very first European Championship, which was held in the 1910th year.

Despite the fact that hockey is not very popular in Britain, its team boasts certain achievements in international tournaments. For example, gold medals at the Olympic Games and World Championships in 1936.

Why doesn't the UK have a football team?

Almost all people who are interested in sports know that modern football was coined in England in 1857. Then the first rules were drawn up, as well as the first football club was founded - “Sheffield Wensday”. The first match between the teams took place in 1872, England and Scotland played at the stadium in Glasgow (long before the advent of FIFA). Since then, this sport has quickly gained popularity and in about 20 years has become the most popular in the world.

Since football was a publicly accessible game that only needed a ball and a field, boys all over the world drove at it. There was a special case in Britain: this sport developed so actively that even most universities in its countries had their own professional teams. Therefore, still Before the foundation of FIFA in 1904 and the appearance of regular international tournaments, the countries of Great Britain already had their own “British Home Championship”, in which their teams have participated since the 1870s.

Therefore, it is not surprising that the UK does not have its own football team. When it came time to participate in European and international tournaments, each state provided its own team. Moreover, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland are the oldest teams, and their committees regulate football rules around the world.

Against this background, combining into one team seems illogical.Each country also has its own football championship with clubs and divisions, therefore, national team coaches have a large selection among players who have regular practice playing for their teams.

Each football association has its own quotas for the participation of football clubs in European competitions, this provides a significant financial support. Moreover, the championships of these countries are competitive. Why should they unite in one and reduce their presence in European tournaments?

Where is the united football team not yet?

Four British states are not the only precedent when, instead of playing jointly at international football tournaments, countries are declared separately. Chinese Taipei has its own team, although in principle it is not considered a country, the same situation with Hong Kong and Macau, which are part of Chinese territory. Turks, Caicos, Cayman, Montserrat and Bermuda are all parts of the UK, which also have their own national teams.

The fact is that to participate in international tournaments, it is enough to register with FIFA and the local football association: UEFA, AFC, OFC, etc. After that, the territory can convene its own team and try its hand at the international tournament and regional championship.

The UK has a hockey team, as its countries were unable to independently recruit teams. Due to the great popularity of football, England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland formed a team without any problems.