„ … to play you well is my aim …“ Ecstatic football fans sang such lyrical lines around the turn of the century to the tune of the old student song, O alte Burschenherrlichkeit (“O, the Good Old Student Days”). In those days, football did not enjoy the popularity it does now. Imperial Germany eyed the “clumsy kicking games” of the English with scepticism. Not until 1910 did the German military discover football and lend it its distinctive language: attack, defence, flank, cover, parade.
However, it takes time and money to play football, which is why it was played among the middle classes at first. Even their table clocks display the football motif.
Nowadays, the sport is enjoying immense popularity everywhere. For many, the European Championship in France is the event of the year. And everyone is wondering who will be the one to take home the silver trophy weighing 10 kg?
Table clock showing footballers, manufacturer unknown, c. 1910, Inv. 39-3603