We might think King Henry VIII liked nothing more feasting and getting married, but evidence suggests that he also enjoyed having a kickabout with his mates.

I absolutely LOATHE being ignored. I require the full attention of the court while I make a speech or enter a room. I prefer a wife that will obey me and not be insolent. Did He or Didn’t He?!? Henry VIII Songbook. An extraordinary collection of his music is today kept at the British Library in London; the so-called Henry VIII’s Songbook. This book contains over 100 secular compositions by contemporary Tudor composers, 33 of which were written by the King himself.


About King Henry Viii

KingDr Maria Hayward, an expert at Southampton University, has discovered that Henry VIII - the Tudor King who had six wives - owned a pair of football boots. David Beckham and Suarez might have specially-made football boots which cost a fortune, but they weren't the first - by a long way.
  1. Tudor football Henry VIII's boots needed to be strong because football during the 16th century, when he was King, was a very tough game. 'Football in Tudor times was a very vicious game, with no teams and no rules, so it was not a game for gentlemen,' said Dr Hayward.
  2. Updated 1 year ago Author has 2.8K answers and 113M answer views Well, we know for certain he liked jousting, since that is the way King Henry VIII became wounded in his leg that never healed and eventually grew in size and festered and pained him until he died.

Henry's boots, costing four shillings (nearly £100 in today's money), were made by his personal shoemaker, Cornelius Johnson, in 1525. Dr Hayward found them in an inventory (a list) of the king's clothes made when he died in 1547.
We don't know what the football boots looked like, but it's unlikely they were anything like the boots worn today. They were probably heavier than the normal shoes of the time and made of especially strong leather.
© Photo: © Design Museum.
These are some modern football boots, and they cost more than Henry VIII's special custom-made boots.

What Did Henry Viii Do

Tudor football
Henry VIII's boots needed to be strong because football during the 16th century, when he was King, was a very tough game. 'Football in Tudor times was a very vicious game, with no teams and no rules, so it was not a game for gentlemen,' said Dr Hayward.

According to a Tudor writer called Sir Thomas Elyot, it was a game of 'beastly fury and extreme violence'. It is known that it was especially popular on Shrove Tuesday (Pancake Day) and Henry VIII even tried to ban the game because it so often led to riots and violence.
Looking at pictures of Henry VIII, you might imagine that if anything, rugby or wrestling were his favourite sports. In fact, the king was a keen sportsman who enjoyed tennis, riding and jousting.
If you're interested in Henry VIII and want to find out more about his life and times, the Royal Palace at Hampton Court is a good place to go; and you can see his massive suit of armour at the Royal Armouries at HM Tower of London.

What Sports Did King Henry Viii Played


King Henry Viii Life

If Henry was alive today, he'd enjoy a visit to The National Football Museum where you can also find out about the history of football.

What Sports Did King Henry Viii Playing