Ex-Public school boys and amateurism

The role nineteenth century schools in promoting and organising sports and games:

Large numbers of upper and middle class school boys attended the elite public boarding schools such as Eton and Harrow

• Had enough money to build specialist facilities
• Could employ specialist staff
• Professional coaches also employed
• Boarding meant that there was lots of free time after lessons so the boys ended up playing for hours each day which raised standards
• Built in vast grounds, allowing pitches to be levelled, squash courts to be built
• House games captain would put up a lost to encourage everyone to be involved
• Headmasters went out of their way to encourage participation
• Gradually, fixtures between schools became more regular 

On leaving school, the young men took their passion for team games to university with them. When…