Football

Football was invented by an English schoolboy at John Port School, Etwall.

Whilst playing rugby in 1865, Herbert Blackwell dropped the ball and proceeded to kick it with his feet rather than carry it in his hands. Continuing to the try line he kicked the ball between the posts and below the bar scoring the first ever “goal”. He then proceeded to run along the touch line cupping his hand to his ear before pulling his shirt over his head. Unfortunately in those days all sport was played in a thick woollen all-in-one leotard and Herbert later that afternoon also invented soprano singing.

The 1865 England Football team shown here waiting for some other countries to start playing the game

Related non-invention:
Aussie rules football (Non-invented by the Australians): Playing it on a cricket pitch in tank tops doesn’t make it a new sport, Bruce