Piazza S. Croce, on 16th, 24th, 30th of June

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Origin and history of the costume football game.

The Florentine football game, or football in "livery", draws its ancient origins from the ballplay in use with the Greek and later on Roman peoples.
In Florence the footballplay was played since the most remote times, and there is no doubt that it dates back to the "Arpasto", played by legionaries of the Roman "Florentia", becouse it reminds in its arrangement and movements, the battleorder of the Roman army.

Frequently the matches were played on the "Prato" (between Porta Prato and Ognissanti), a place very appropriate to be chosen as parade-ground for shows and drills of the Florentine army.
But other places too, as for instance Piazza S. Spirito, Piazza S. Maria Novella, Piazza S. Croce, knew the sumptuous cortege and the rabidness of the match.
Young people of noble families and special physical strenght were bound to dedicate themselves to this rude play, in order to show, during the play, not only the styliness and sumptuousness of the uniform but also their own streght, and combativeness, rising always the admiration of the attending gentle ladies.

The matches were played, not only in Carnival time, but also on various recurrences and particular events.
The most memorable footballmatch in livery, to which the present is recalling, was played on the 17th of February 1530 in Piazza S. Croce, between "whites" and "greens", when Florence was still besieged by the imperial troops.
The game was played also in this particular circumstance, not only in order to continue the ancient usage to play ball during Carnival time but most of all to put in affront on the basieger troops which believed Florence to be already exhausted and yielding.

The matches in livery were played nearly without interruption until the end of the 18th century, when this tradition fell in disuse. Only in May 1930, fourth centenary of the siege of Florence and of Francesco Ferrucci's death, the historical manifestation took up again and with new vigour its regular recurrence.

Three matches are played in June in Florence, on the recurrence of the patron -saint, and always their intent is to be connected ideally with the famous play of 1530, in the desire to revive again and to record a memorable page of the glorious history of the city.