Why do some people get so 'animated' about the use of the word soccer for Association Football? It tends to elicit the eye rolls and tuts usually reserved for some unfortunate American who says trunk instead of boot or faucet for tap. But soccer is a British word, not American! At least it was. I'm pretty sure it came up regularly in football themed comics like Scorcher and Score in the 60s and 70s, although my fading memory is open to correction. Growing up in Ireland (admittedly many moons ago), we used the word soccer all the time. I don't think it was to avoid confusion with Gaelic Football or Rugby because nobody ever refers to either of these as just 'football'. Perhaps it is as much a generational linguistic change as it is transatlantic rivalry.

Anyway, I tend to use the two terms interchangeably - am I just a dinosaur? (Although if so, I'm in good company)...

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