Hrvatski zbor sportskih novinara - “All Time Football” – historical exhibition in Budapest celebrating the eternal values of the game during Euro 2024

Details: Published: 26 June 2024

Three separate entities, united by their love of football, decided to organise a unique football exhibition in the Hungarian capital, Budapest: “All Time Football”, celebrating the eternal values of the game. The Buda Castle District, N.S. Média Kft - the publisher of the Hungarian Sport daily newspaper, Nemzeti Sport, and the National Széchényi Library joined forces to create this special event in a beautiful historical setting in honour of Euro 2024.

There are several anecdotes about the appearance of “footy” or “soccer” in Hungary, so it is difficult to decide on its origin.

WHO BROUGHT FOOTBALL TO HUNGARY? According to some theories, it was the sports-loving Count Miksa Eszterházy who brought the first ball to Hungary, at the time when the Hungarian Athletics Club (MAC) was founded, which provided the nobility with a physical exercise opportunity and from 1898 also had a football section. Some people link the import of the first ball to the team’s English athletics coach, Harry Perry.

Others claim that the first was László Kosztovics, who, while visiting England, saw that football was part of the school curriculum and brought a ball with him in 1879, with the idea of teaching it in his own country. Manó Szaffka, a teacher at a grammar school in Buda, also wanted to introduce his pupils to the game he had brought from England, but he mistranslated the rules, so in the first game the goalkeeper was the only one allowed to touch the ball with his feet, the others only with their hands. The students did not take to the game with great enthusiasm, but when the incorrect translation was discovered, the game became easier. Whoever came first, football finally conquered Hungary.

CONQUERING HUNGARY Football quickly became extremely popular thanks mainly to the simple rules and minimal equipment required to play the game. In addition, the social changes brought about by the First World War helped to institutionalise the game, making football a cheap form of entertainment for the masses. The supporters of the first football teams were also organised according to social groups, and weekend matches became a major event in the lives of football fans. Today, belonging to a team is still an important means of expressing one’s identity.

PART OF CULTURE In the second part of the exhibition, the curator of the exhibition, Sulics Fruzsina explored the period when football became popular. You can learn more about the past and present of Hungarian football in the open-air exhibition at the Gloriette of Buda Castle Garden Bazaar. György Szöllősi, the Editor in-Chief of Nemzeti Sport told AIPS: “Sport and football are part of our culture, a truly shared source of joy for fans beyond the celebration of winners. Hungary was spoiled by the players of the brilliant Puskas team during the golden era, but it is also interesting to look at how politics elevated or pushed out the favourites, depending on what served their interests. The collected posters, film clips and memorabilia show interesting parallels with the moves of some of today's players. It would be hard to find a more worthy setting for the Euro 2024 fan zone, where our sports daily, Nemzeti Sport, offers a shared match-watching experience accompanied by expert discussions."

A PLACE TO BE In the Ceremonial Hall of the National Széchényi Library, you can discover the stories that unfold at the intersection of football and film. And the tournaments of the European Championship can be enjoyed in the fan zone set up in the Foundry Courtyard.