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The following are events in 1870 which are relevant to the development ofassociation football. Included are events in closely related codes, such as theSheffield Rules.

• 5 March – arepresentative match between teams calledEngland and Scotland is played atKennington Oval and results in a 1–1 draw.^[a]
• 19 November – a second representative match between the two teams results in a 1-0 victory to England.^[a]
• Various dates – match reports from London and Sheffield mentiongoalkeepers and, in tactical terms, the passage from a "dribbling game" to a "passing game".^{[citation needed]}Royal Engineers are noted as early practitioners of the passing game.

• Abingdon Town^[1]
• Rotherham County

• Stranraer – the third-oldest football club in Scotland behindQueen's Park andKilmarnock and one of the 20 oldest in the world.^[2]

• 25 January –Fred Spiksley (d. 1948),England international forward in seven matches, scoring seven goals (1893–1898).
• 13 April –Jock Drummond (d. 1935), Scotland international defender in 14 matches (1892–1903) and captain in four; won fiveScottish Cups and four league titles with Rangers.
• 22 April –Jack Robinson (d. 1931), England international goalkeeper in eleven matches (1897–1901).
• 9 September –Tom Waddell (d. unknown), Scotland international in six matches (1891–1895).
• 12 September –Alf Milward (d. 1941), England international forward in four matches, scoring three goals (1891–1897).
• 3 October –Alex Fotheringham (d. -), Scottish professional footballer^[3]
• 16 October –Sandy McMahon (d. 1916), Scotland international forward in six matches, scoring four goals (1892–1902); won four league titles withCeltic from 1893 to 1898.
• unknown date –James Gillespie (d. unknown), Scotland international forward in one match (1898), scoring ahat-trick; won the English league title with Sunderland in 1893 and 1895.

• 1870 in association football
• Association football by year

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