Nobody can actually say an exact date for the beginning of football. The game has its origins from 200 years BC, when there had been a form of the game, played in China. There had been many peoples, who had had their own versions of the ancient football. For example, Romans and Greeks had also played such a game.

To continue with, football in Britain had started to be played in the early Middle Ages, when the Anglo-Saxons had repelled an attack by the Danes. It had been a kind of a celebration for the people. But, it had been way too different than nowadays’ football. All the villages had taken part in the game, which had been a massive one.

During the years, many monarchs had tried to ban the newly invented game, but people had been so passionate about football, that nobody could stop them playing it!

The first real attempt for changing football to the game we are familiar with now, had been the draw up of the rules in 1848 at Cambridge University (Cambridge Rules – the basis of the FA rules). A few years later (1855) Sheffield FC had become the first football club in the world. It had been formed by the members of the local cricket club.

After those crucial events, there had been formed lots of new clubs in The UK. I am only going to mention a few of the oldest football clubs. As we said Sheffield FC is the oldest club (1855), the next to appear as a football club had been Notts County of Nottingham in 1862; Sheffield Wednesday in 1867; Aston Villa in 1874; Domingo FC (Everton) and Newton Heat (Manchester United) – 1878; Stanley FC (Newcastle United) – 1881; Arsenal – 1886 and so on.

Here are other important events, which had changed the game a lot: it had been determined that a team should consist of 11 players (1870); Wanderers had won the first edition of the FA Cup (1872); England 0-0 Scotland had been the first English international match (1872); introduction of the crossbar (1875); two-handed throw-ins (1883); the football professionalism had been legalized (1885); Preston North End had become the first champions of England (1889); the goal net had been introduced and the introduction of the penalty kick (1891) and many, many other events had transformed football to the game we all know!

So, that’s the first chapter of the football game. Later, we will take a closer look to other historical events, connected with the English football.

Sam Allardyce has been involved in a huge scandal. The new English national team manager has been investigated by “Telegraph” journalists about giving advices how to sidestep the FA regulations for the football transfers. The manager has received £400,000 for his advices!

Even before he held his first practice as an English national coach, Allardyce has negotiated the deal with people who are representing the company in the Far East, which is hoping to win a lot of money from the transfer market in the UK. As a result, The FA has immediately launched an investigation of the case.

The ‘Big’ Sam has agreed to travel to Singapore and Hong Kong as an ambassador of football and has explained to the business people how to circumvent the rules of the Football Association, which prohibits “third party” companies to possess the rights of a player.

To continue with, Sam Allardyce hasn’t understood that the businessmen were actually undercover journalists. They have secretly filmed him.

The two meetings between Allardyce and the “businessmen” have lasted four hours. The manager explained to them that there is no problem to circumvent the rules laid down by his own employers – FA. Allardyce has even said that he knows of agents who do this “all the time” and has added: “Here are the big money!” The ‘Big’ Sam has also criticized his predecessor Roy Hodgson, calling him a “Woy”.

“There is a psychological barrier for the English players. That’s why they underperform… The players, who don’t play regularly for their clubs mustn’t be called up… The FA decision for Wembley was silly…” Sam Allardyce has said to the undercover journalists.

The FA have banned the “third party” participation in the footballers’ rights (called modern slavery) in 2008.

On the other hand, Sam Allardyce’s salary is big enough. The manager has signed a contract for £3 m. per season. But, obviously, he doesn’t reject any “bonuses”. However, the manager’s actions are a possible conflict of interest, because he can take benefits from selecting a concrete football player in the squad.

“Telegraph” has tried to ask Allardyce a few questions before publishing the article, but the manager has refused to talk about it. The FA has also started an investigation and has requested all the details.

Asier Garitano has shown he is a great football coach. The 46-year-old Spaniard has been in charge of Leganes since 2013. Garitano led Leganes to a historical first participation in La Liga, as the team won promotion last season, after becoming second in the Segunda Division.

But what is special about the coach? He and his footballers are not afraid of the big names in the league! They recorded an impressive victory in the first round of La Liga away against Celta Vigo 1-0! Then, they won a point against one of the favourites in the division – Atletico Madrid (0-0). And after 4 rounds, the newly promoted team has collected 4 points, which is an impressive performance for a team, which has never played in the first tier of the football leagues in the country.

If you only see the numbers of the last match of the team against Barcelona (1-5) you can think that Leganes are weak, but this is not true! The newly promoted team was the better team during the first half of the game, pressing deeply the Catalans, being not afraid of playing football against one of the best teams in the world. However, Leganes were unlucky to concede a goal in the 15th minute of the match. Yes, Luis Enrique looked scared before his team’s first goal! Then, the masterclass of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar decided the game.

Moreover, Asier Garitano uses different tactics against the different teams in the division, which is a very important thing for a team, which main target is avoiding relegation! The coach knows what he has in the squad and uses all his players’ strengths, in order to win points. And be sure that Leganes are going to take more points and confuse some of the biggest Spanish teams. In my opinion, the team will eventually avoid relegation!

Benfica made a terrible mistake! Not on the pitch, but with one of their transfers. The Portuguese club loaned out the Brazilian forward Talisca to Besiktas for 1+1 years. The Turkish team only paid €2 m. and the salary of the player. But, believe me, it’s worth!

The forward very rapidly proved he is a very good player. He scored against his former team in the 3rd minute of the added time, to win a priceless point for his current team! And he did it after a brilliant free-kick.

It was obvious that Talisca is a classy forward. With the very few chances he had to play for Benfica, the Brazilian managed to score against Bayern Munich and Zenit in the Champions League last season. The 22-year-old forward also 12 goals in 2 seasons for Benfica in the Portuguese league, but he was mostly used as a substitute.

But, it is not only about his goals. Talisca has a great technique and can keep the ball for his team. He is also a very fast player. The forward has already been a part of the Brazilian national team, which goes to show that I am not the only man, who thinks the forward is a great talent.

To continue with, in such a situation for the Brazilian national team, I won’t be surprised if Tite calls Talisca for international duty again. Yes, Brazil has lots of good players, but they are not from the range of Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho, except Neymar. So, I think Talisca will soon become a regular first team player for Brazil.

At both ends, Besiktas can be very happy that Talisca is in their squad. The Turkish club has made a really good selection and no wonders if they retain their title in Turkey and proceed to the knockout stage of The Champions League!

The biggest Brazilian talent – Neymar, has received an extraordinary offer from one of the richest clubs in the world – Paris Saint-Germain. Just before, he decided to stay at Barcelona, the Brazilian has been offered with a €40 m. annual salary, which was €15 m. more than Neymar’s salary at Barcelona. The French club has just needed the agreement of the forward, before activating the €190 m. buyout clause.

However, money is not everything for the 24-year-old forward, and he made his decision to stay at Barcelona. Furthermore, Neymar signed a new contract with his current team.

“Even though he is going to receive less at Barcelona, Neymar has decided to stay at the club,” Wagner Ribeiro, the Neymar’s agent said in an interview.

The new contract of the 24-year-old Brazil international player will expire in 2021, and the releasing clause is considered to be €200 m. in the beginning of the contract and €250 m. at the end of it. However, money is not a problem for clubs like Paris Saint-Germain, but it’s not everything for players like Neymar.

The Brazilian has become even more successive after the past two seasons, as he won La Liga (twice), Copa Del Rey (twice), the Spanish Supercup, The Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup. He also won the Olympic football tournament with Brazil a month ago. So, the only thing he is interested in now, is winning more trophies!

At both ends, if you receive €25 m. per year, will you be interested in increasing it. I think it’s a good enough salary. Yes, you are going to say – the bigger, the better, which is true. But, Neymar is not playing anymore for money – he is enjoying his partnership with Lionel Messi and Luis Suarez and he wants to win more trophies, which is very likely to happen while he is at Barcelona. So, I think he has made the right decision!

We rarely see something like this in the international qualifying games for the World Cup. In a breathtaking match, Bulgaria beat Luxembourg 4-3 at home.

To begin with, there are no players like Hristo Stoichkov, Krasimir Balakov and Yordan Lechkov, who were part from the golden generation of the Bulgarian football (4th place at the World Cup 1994). That’s why the Bulgarians have such problems now against teams like Luxembourg. They just don’t have enough classy players.

But, we mustn’t underestimate Luxembourg, who scored 3 away goals for the first time in their history! They looked really good on the pitch and showed a great discipline against the favourites in the game.

The first half started with an early goal, scored by Dimitar Rangelov, after a shot from a long distance. And nobody then expected something like this to happen. Nothing interesting until the end of the first half – 1-0. A few minutes after the break, Joachim equalized after a big error in the Bulgarian defence. Just a couple of minutes later, Joachim shocked the home team again – 1-2!

The joy of the Luxembourg team lasted only 3 minutes, when Marcelinho found the net for Bulgaria after a corner kick. It looked like the home team couldn’t win the three points until the 80th minute, when Ivelin Popov of Spartak Moscow converted a free-kick into a goal – 3-2!

And it can’t be even more dramatic – in the first minute of the added time, the 18-year-old Florian Bohnert equalized, scoring his first ever international goal in his second appearance! The teenager took advantage of his speed and scored with a great volley – 3-3!

And when it looked like it will be a draw, the substitute player Aleksandar Tonev scored after a great long-distance shot, just a few seconds after the equalizing goal. So, Bulgaria took the 3 points in their first qualifying game and the situation in the group is really interesting, as Belarus and France finished with a 0-0 draw, while Sweden and Netherlands also recorded a draw (1-1).

As you all know the biggest amount of football transfers happen in the last day, which is called the “Deadline day”. Now, the transfer window slams shut and everything is clear – who will play where! Here is the list with all the last-minute transfers with the Premier League clubs involved.

• 23:13 David Luiz [Paris St-Germain – Chelsea] £34m

That was absolutely the most interesting transfer – 2 years ago Luiz was sold to PSG for about £50 m. Now, the most expensive defender in the world returned to his former club Chelsea and will try to regain the fans’ love.

• 23:02 Moussa Sissoko [Newcastle United – Tottenham] £30m.

The participant in the Euro 2016 was just too good for the Championship side Newcastle and logically he made a move to a Premier League club. However, he was close to sign for Everton, but Tottenham’s contract offer was better than Toffees’.

• 21:14 Islam Slimani [Sporting Lisbon – Leicester City] Reported £29m

The Algerian goal-scoring machine became the last Ranieri’s signing this summer. The forward will be very helpful to The Foxes, as he is expected to build a great partnership with the English striker Jamie Vardy.

• 20:52 Alvaro Arbeloa [Real Madrid – West Ham] Free

A really good signing for Slaven Bilic! Alvaro Arbeloa has proven he is a world class defender and he can only boost the Hammers’ performance in defence. And as we can see there is no transfer amount for the Spaniard, so that was a really good move by the Croatian manager!

• Jack Wilshere [Arsenal – Bournemouth] Loan
• 20:38 Mario Balotelli [Liverpool – Nice] Free

The Italian international forward saw himself needless at Anfield. His future was really unclear until the very last second of the transfer window. Now, the striker will try to bring back his best form in Nice.

• 18:23 Georges-Kevin Nkoudou [Marseille – Tottenham] £9m
• 17:02 Eliaquim Mangala [Manchester City – Valencia] Loan

With the signing of John Stones, Eliaquim Mangala had no more place in the team of Manchester City. So, Pep Guardiola sent the defender on loan, which solved the problem.

• 16:54 Marcos Alonso [Fiorentina – Chelsea] Reported £23m

Alonso was part of Real Madrid’s academy. He even recorded one match for Los Blancos. Then, the left fullback played for Bolton Wanderers, Fiorentina and Sunderland (on loan). This, for sure, is the biggest step in his senior career!

• 16:01 Jeff Hendrick [Derby – Burnley] £10.5m
• 15:36 Didier Ndong [Lorient – Sunderland] £13.6m

This is a transfer record for Sunderland. Moyes knows well that he needs lots of quality players to secure the team’s place in The Premier League for at least one more season. That’s why the Scottish manager didn’t think about the prices when spending!

• 14:14 Samir Nasri [Manchester City – Sevilla] Loan

The agony of Samir Nasri at Manchester City will finally come to an end. The Frenchman has lost his place in the starting eleven long time ago and has been used mostly when someone had been injured. However, we will see whether his spell at Sevilla will be successful, as this is only a loan transfer.

• 13:00 Wilfried Bony [Manchester City – Stoke] Loan
• 12:01 Joe Hart [Manchester City – Torino] Loan
• 00:04 Markus Henriksen [AZ Alkmaar – Hull City] Loan
• 23:16 Hal Robson-Kanu [Reading – West Brom] Free
• 22:56 Enner Valencia [West Ham – Everton] Loan
• 22:55 Rickie Lambert [West Brom – Cardiff City] Undisclosed
• 22:55 Andre Wright [West Brom – Coventry] Loan
• 22:50 Ikechi Anya [Watford – Derby] Undisclosed
• 22:45 Dieumerci Mbokani [Dynamo Kiev – Hull City] Loan

Hull City desperately needed fresh players! Mbokani has enough experience in The Premier League, as he was a part from Norwich City last season. He showed he is a good striker, scoring 7 goals in 29 matches.

• 22:40 Marvin Emnes [Swansea – Blackburn] Loan
• 22:30 Christian Atsu [Chelsea – Newcastle] Loan
• 22:00 Keshi Anderson [Crystal Palace – Bolton] Loan
• 22:00 Lucas Piazon [Chelsea – Fulham] Loan
• 22:00 Jason Denayer [Manchester City – Sunderland] Loan
• 21:34 Aiden McGeady [Everton – Preston] Loan

The failure of the determined as one of the most talented Irish football players ever continues. McGeady will now play for the Championship side Preston North End.

• 21:30 Dael Fry [Middlesbrough – Rotherham] Loan
• 21:00 Adam Reach [Middlesbrough – Sheffield Wednesday] Undisclosed
• 21:00 Baily Cargill [Bournemouth – Gillingham] Loan
• 21:00 James Weir [Man Utd – Hull City] Undisclosed
• 20:30 Glen Kamara [Arsenal – Colchester] Loan
• 20:15 Allan Nyom [Watford – West Brom] Undisclosed
• 20:00 Alex Baptiste [Middlesbrough – Preston] Loan
• 20:00 Marnick Vermijl [Sheffield Wednesday – Preston] Undisclosed
• 19:45 Ryan Inniss [Crystal Palace – Southend] Loan
• 19:45 Alex Jakubiak [Watford – Fleetwood] Loan
• 19:30 Pau Lopez [Espanyol – Tottenham] Loan
• 19:15 Eunan O’Kane [Bournemouth – Leeds] Undisclosed
• 19:00 Nathan Oduwa [Tottenham – Peterborough] Loan
• 19:00 Luke McGee [Tottenham – Peterborough] Loan
• 19:00 Jake Clarke-Salter [Chelsea – Bristol Rovers] Loan
• 19:00 Charlie Colkett [Chelsea – Bristol Rovers] Loan
• 18:30 Kean Bryan [Manchester City – Bury] Loan
• 18:23 Clinton Njie [Tottenham – Marseille] Loan
• 18:00 Andre Wisdom [Liverpool – Red Bull Salzburg] Loan
• 17:49 Sean Murray [Watford – Swindon] Free
• 17:46 Juan Cuadrado [Chelsea – Juventus] Loan

The loan costed Juventus £4.2 m. And if they want to keep the Colombian international after the end of the season, they will have to pay another £16.8 m.

• 17:22 Cameron McJannett [Luton – Stoke] Undisclosed
• 17:15 Dean Henderson [Manchester United – Grimsby] Loan
• 17:05 Philipp Wollscheid [Stoke – Wolfsburg] Loan
• 17:03 Sullay Kaikai [Crystal Palace – Brentford] Loan
• 17:00 Hiram Boateng [Crystal Palace – Bristol Rovers] Loan
• 16:35 Luis Alberto [Liverpool – Lazio] £4.3m
• 16:20 Albert Adomah [Middlesbrough – Aston Villa] Undisclosed
• 16:03 Adama Traore [Aston Villa – Middlesbrough] Undisclosed
• 16:00 Shay Facey [Manchester City – Heerenveen] Loan
• 15:45 Jonny Williams [Crystal Palace – Ipswich] Loan
• 14:47 Serge Gnabry [Arsenal – Werder Bremen] Undisclosed

I think this is another transfer mistake by Arsene Wenger! Serge Gnabry is a very talented player. He was a part of the Germany U23 team at the Olympics. Gnabry even became the top goal-scorer of the competition with 6 goals in 6 matches.

• 13:35 Cristian Cuevas [Chelsea – Sint-Truidense] Loan
• 13:30 Rhoys Wiggins [Bournemouth – Birmingham] Loan
• 13:00 Mustapha Carayol [Middlesbrough – Nottingham Forest] Free
• 11:16 Lee Grant [Derby – Stoke] Loan
• 10:59 Luke Croll [Crystal Palace – Exeter] Loan
• 10:53 Kenneth Omeruo [Chelsea – Alanyaspor] Loan