query: Australia is a country.

pos: Australia Australia ( -LSB- əˈstreɪliə -RSB- , -LSB- ɒ - -RSB- , -LSB- - ljə -RSB- ) , officially the Commonwealth of Australia , is a country comprising the mainland of the Australian continent , the island of Tasmania and numerous smaller islands . It is the world 's sixth-largest country by total area . The neighbouring countries are Papua New Guinea , Indonesia and East Timor to the north ; the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to the north-east ; and New Zealand to the south-east . Australia 's capital is Canberra , and its largest urban area is Sydney .   For about 50,000 years before the first British settlement in the late 18th century , Australia was inhabited by indigenous Australians ,  who spoke languages classifiable into roughly 250 groups . After the European discovery of the continent by Dutch explorers in 1606 , Australia 's eastern half was claimed by Great Britain in 1770 and initially settled through penal transportation to the colony of New South Wales from 26 January 1788 . The population grew steadily in subsequent decades , and by the 1850s most of the continent had been explored and an additional five self-governing crown colonies established . On 1 January 1901 , the six colonies federated , forming the Commonwealth of Australia . Australia has since maintained a stable liberal democratic political system that functions as a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy comprising six states and several territories . The population of 24 million is highly urbanised and heavily concentrated on the eastern seaboard .   Australia has the world 's 13th-largest economy and ninth-highest per capita income ( IMF ) . With the second-highest human development index globally , the country ranks highly in quality of life , health , education , economic freedom , and civil liberties and political rights . Australia is a member of the United Nations , G20 , Commonwealth of Nations , ANZUS , Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development ( OECD ) , World Trade Organization , Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation , and the Pacific Islands Forum .

neg: Federalism in Australia Federalism in Australia was formally adopted on 1 January 1901 when the six self-governing Australian colonies federated as the Commonwealth of Australia . To this day Australia remains a federation of those six `` original States '' under the Commonwealth Constitution . Australia is the seventh oldest federation in the world after the United States ( 1789 ) , Mexico ( 1824 ) , Switzerland ( 1848 ) , Canada ( 1867 ) , the German Empire ( 1871 ) and Brazil ( 1891 ) and the only one of those to have remained entirely unchanged in its composition . In formal constitutional terms , little has been altered since Australians made that decision over a century ago ; in practice , however , the way Australian federalism functions has changed enormously over the intervening years . The most significant respect in which it has changed is in the degree to which the Commonwealth government has assumed a position of dominance .

neg: Australian Capital Territory The Australian Capital Territory ( ACT ; formerly , `` The Territory for the Seat of Government '' and , later , the `` Federal Capital Territory '' ) is the federal district in the south east of Australia , enclaved within New South Wales . Its only city is Canberra , the capital city of Australia .   Geographically , the territory is bounded by the Goulburn-Cooma railway line in the east , the watershed of Naas Creek in the south , the watershed of the Cotter River in the west , and the watershed of the Molonglo River in the north-east . The ACT also has a small strip of territory around the southern end of the Beecroft Peninsula , which is the northern headland of Jervis Bay .   The need for a national territory was flagged by colonial delegates during the Federation conventions of the late 19th century . Section 125 of the Australian Constitution provided that , following Federation in 1901 , land would be ceded freely to the new Federal Government . The territory was transferred to the Commonwealth by the state of New South Wales in 1911 , two years prior to the naming of Canberra as the national capital in 1913 . The floral emblem of the ACT is the royal bluebell and the bird emblem is the gang-gang cockatoo .   The economic activity of the Australian Capital Territory is heavily concentrated around Canberra . A stable housing market , steady employment and rapid population growth in the 21st century have led to economic prosperity and in 2011 CommSec ranked the ACT as the second best performing economic region in the country . This trend continued into 2016 , when the territory was ranked the third best performing out of all of Australia 's states and territories . There is a higher proportion of young adults in the region compared with other Australian states or territories . Approximately one-fifth of ACT residents were born outside of Australia , mainly in the United Kingdom . Almost one-fifth speak a language other than English at home , the most common being Chinese .

neg: Australian Olympic Committee The Australian Olympic Committee ( AOC ) is the National Olympic Committee responsible for developing , promoting and protecting the Olympic Movement in Australia . The AOC has the exclusive responsibility for the representation of Australia at the Olympic Games ( Summer and Winter ) , the Youth Olympic Games and at Regional Games patronised by the International Olympic Committee ( IOC ) . All National Olympic Committees ( currently 205 worldwide ) are constituents of the International Olympic Committee .

neg: Prime Minister of Australia The Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of Australia is the head of government of Australia . The individual who holds the office is the most senior Minister of the Crown , the leader of the Cabinet and the chairperson of the National Security Committee . The Prime Minister also has the responsibility of administering the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet . The office is not mentioned in the Constitution of Australia and exists only through longstanding political convention and tradition . Despite this , in practice it is the most powerful parliamentary position in Australia . The individual who holds the office is commissioned by the Governor-General of Australia .   Almost always and according to convention , the Prime Minister is the leader of the majority party or largest party in a coalition of parties in the House of Representatives . However , there is no constitutional requirement that the Prime Minister sit in the House of Representatives , though by convention this is always the case . The only case where a member of the Senate was appointed Prime Minister was John Gorton , who subsequently resigned his Senate position and was elected as a member of the House of Representatives ( Senator George Pearce was acting Prime Minister for seven months in 1916 while Billy Hughes was overseas ) .   Malcolm Turnbull has held the office of Prime Minister since 15 September 2015 . He received his commission after replacing Tony Abbott as the leader of the Liberal Party , the dominant party in the Coalition government , following the outcome of the September 2015 Liberal leadership ballot .

neg: Middle Australia The term `` Middle Australian '' is a socio-political term which generally refers to middle class or lower-middle class Australian people who hold traditional or right-wing views . As such , it does not refer to the geographical middle of the country , by rather to the socio-economic middle ( as is also the primary meaning of the monikers `` Middle America '' or `` Middle England '' ) .

neg: European Australians European Australians , or White Australians , are citizens or residents of Australia whose ancestry originates from the peoples of Europe and the Caucasus .   Since the early 19th century , people of European descent have formed the vast majority of the population in Australia . The majority of European Australians are of British Isles -- English , Irish , Scottish , Welsh or Cornish ( Anglo-Celtic ) -- ancestral origin . In 2010 , it was estimated that around 74 % of the Australian population were Anglo-Celtic Australians .   Other significant ancestries include Italian , German , Greek , Dutch , New Zealanders ( European New Zealanders ) , Polish , Maltese and Croatian . Today , Australians of British and other European ancestries are the dominant majority in Australia , estimated at 92 % of the total population .   Historically , European immigrants had great influence over Australian history and society , which resulted in the perception of Australia as a European country .

neg: Australia–Canada relations Australia -- Canada relations are the relations between the two commonwealth realms of Australia and Canada , both former Dominions of the British Empire , with Elizabeth II as monarch .   According to a 2013 BBC World Service Poll , 79 % of Australians view Canada positively , with only 7 % expressing a negative view .

neg: Attorney-General for Australia The Attorney-General for AustraliaThe title is officially `` Attorney-General '' . For the purposes of distinguishing the office from other Attorneys-General , and in accordance with usual practice in the United Kingdom and other common law jurisdictions , the Australian Attorney-General currently refers to themselves as the `` Attorney-General for Australia '' or the `` Commonwealth Attorney-General '' : see Attorney-General website . Historically , `` Attorney-General of Australia '' was also used . is the first law officer of the Crown in right of the Commonwealth of Australia , chief law officer of the Commonwealth of Australia and a minister of the Crown . The Attorney-General is usually a member of the Federal Cabinet , but need not be . Under the Constitution they are appointed by the Governor-General on the advice of the Prime Minister , and serves at the Governor-General 's pleasure . In practice the Attorney-General is a party politician and their tenure is determined by political factors . By convention , but not constitutional requirement , the Attorney-General is a lawyer by training , either a barrister or solicitor .   Since 18 September 2013 , the Attorney-General for Australia has been Senator the Hon George Brandis , a Liberal Party of Australia member of the Australian Senate for the state of Queensland .

neg: Colony of New South Wales The colony of New South Wales was a colony of the British Empire from 1788 to 1901 , when it became a State in the federal Commonwealth of Australia on 1 January 1901 . At its greatest extent , the colony of New South Wales included the present-day Australian states of New South Wales , Queensland , Victoria , Tasmania , and South Australia , as well as New Zealand . The first `` responsible '' self-government of New South Wales was formed on 6 June 1856 with Sir Stuart Alexander Donaldson appointed by Governor Sir William Denison as its first Colonial Secretary which in those days accounted also as the Premier .

neg: ISO 3166-2:AU ISO 3166-2 : AU is the entry for Australia in ISO 3166-2 , part of the ISO 3166 standard published by the International Organization for Standardization ( ISO ) , which defines codes for the names of the principal subdivisions ( e.g. , provinces or states ) of all countries coded in ISO 3166-1 .   Currently for Australia , ISO 3166-2 codes are defined for 6 states and 2 territories . Lesser territories that are under the administration of the federal government , such as the Jervis Bay Territory , the Ashmore and Cartier Islands , and the Coral Sea Islands , are not listed .   Each code consists of two parts , separated by a hyphen . The first part is , the ISO 3166-1 alpha-2 code of Australia . The second part is two or three letters , which is the conventional abbreviation of the state or territory ( defined in Australian Standard AS 4212-1994 ) .

neg: Tertiary education in Australia Tertiary education in Australia consists of both government and private institutions . A higher education provider is a body that is established or recognised by or under the law of the Australian Government , a state , or the Department of Education , Employment and Workplace Relations .   There are 43 universities in Australia : 40 public universities , two international universities , and one private specialty university .   The flagship Australian universities are Go8 universities . Australian universities are modeled from the British system , so learning is comparatively challenging , but there are other intermediate options to take as preparatory steps and very research-oriented starts early from the similar American freshman year ( there is no liberal arts requirement in the first year , so many of them only have three years to graduate ) , and generally sets international research-ready standards throughout the entire learning experience to evaluate students ' academic performances . Australia ranked 4th ( with Germany ) by OECD in international PhD students destination after US , UK and France .

neg: Australia–Italy relations Australia -- Italy relations are foreign relations between the Commonwealth of Australia and the Italian Republic . Australia has an embassy in Rome and a general consulate in Milan . Italy has an embassy in Canberra , 2 general consulates ( in Melbourne and Sydney ) and 3 consulates ( in Adelaide , Brisbane and Perth ) . Italy and Australia have for long years , sustained a sturdy and positively friendly relationship in the categories of immigration , political strategism , and commercial trade .   As of 2011 there were around 916,000 people of Italian descent living in Australia .

neg: Australian permanent resident Australian permanent residents are residents of Australia who hold a permanent residency visa but are not citizens of Australia . A holder of a permanent residency visa may remain in Australia indefinitely . A 5-year initial visa , which corresponds to the underlying migration program , is granted alongside the permanent residency . Until the initial visa expires , the visa holder may leave and re-enter Australia freely . A notable feature of the permanent residency visa is that , even after the initial visa expires , the holder is entitled to stay in Australia indefinitely without breaching immigration regulations .   Permanent residency may be revoked at the discretion of the responsible Minister , for example in cases of criminal misconduct .   Permanent residents enjoy many of the rights and privileges of citizens , including access to free or subsidised legal and health services . They do not have the right to vote in federal or state/territory elections , unless they were registered to vote prior to 1984 , but may vote in some local government elections . Permanent residents are not entitled to an Australian passport .   Most permanent residents are eligible to become citizens after a waiting period . When the waiting period is complete , the process of sitting the citizenship test and attending the ceremony will add an additional three to twelve months .

neg: Monarchy of Australia The monarchy of Australia is a form of government in which a hereditary king or queen serves as the nation 's sovereign . Australia is governed under a form of constitutional monarchy , largely modelled on the Westminster system of parliamentary government , while incorporating features unique to the Constitution of Australia .   The present monarch is Elizabeth II , styled Queen of Australia , who has reigned since 6 February 1952 . She is represented in Australia by the Governor-General , in accordance with the Australian Constitution and letters patent from the Queen . In each of the states , the monarch is represented by a governor , appointed directly by the Queen on the advice of each of her respective state governments .   The Australian monarch , besides reigning in Australia , separately serves as monarch for each of 15 other Commonwealth nations known as realms . This developed from the former colonial relationship between these countries and the United Kingdom , but they are now independent of each other and are legally distinct .

neg: Australian Plate The Australian Plate is a major tectonic plate in the eastern and , largely , in the southern hemispheres . Originally a part of the ancient continent of Gondwana , Australia remained connected to India and Antarctica until approximately when India broke away and began moving north . Australia and Antarctica began rifting and completely separated roughly The Australian plate later fused with the adjacent Indian Plate beneath the Indian Ocean to form a single Indo-Australian Plate . However , recent studies suggest that the two plates have once again split apart and have been separate plates for at least 3 million years and likely longer . The Australian plate includes the continent of Australia , including Tasmania , as well portions of New Guinea , New Zealand , and the Indian Ocean basin .

neg: Pilbara The Pilbara ( -LSB- ˈpɪlbərʌ -RSB- or -LSB- ˈpɪlbrʌ -RSB- ) is a large , dry , thinly populated region in the north of Western Australia . It is known for its Aboriginal peoples ; its ancient landscapes ; the red earth ; its vast mineral deposits , in particular iron ore ; and as a global biodiversity hotspot for subterranean fauna . It is one of nine regions of the Regional Development Commissions Act 1993 , and is also a bioregion under the Interim Biogeographic Regionalisation for Australia ( IBRA ) .   The region has an estimated population of 48,610 . The Pilbara covers an area of 502,000 km2 , which includes some of Earth 's oldest rock formations . It includes landscapes of coastal plains and mountain ranges with cliffs and gorges . The major settlements of the region are Port Hedland , Karratha and Newman . The three main ports in this region are Port Hedland , Dampier and Port Walcott .   The area is known for its petroleum , natural gas and iron ore deposits , which contribute significantly to Australia 's economy . Other than mining , pastoral activities as well as fishing and tourism are the main industries .

neg: Banking in Australia The banking sector in Australia consists of a number of banks licensed to carry on banking business under the Banking Act 1959 , foreign banks licensed to operate through a branch in Australia , and Australian-incorporated foreign bank subsidiaries . There are also a large number of financial institutions , such as credit unions , building societies and mutual banks , which provide limited banking-type services .   The banking system is liquid , competitive and well developed . For the 10 years ended mid-2013 , the Commonwealth Bank was ranked first in Bloomberg Riskless Return Ranking a risk-adjusted 18 % . Westpac Bank was in fourth place with 11 % and ANZ Bank was in seventh place with 8.7 % .

neg: Australia–Paraguay relations Australia -- Paraguay relations refers to bilateral relations between Australia and Paraguay . Diplomatic relations were established in 1974 . Paraguay has an embassy in Canberra whilst Australia has a non resident ambassador in Buenos Aires . Both countries are members of the Cairns Group .

neg: Australia–Bangladesh relations Australia -- Bangladesh relations refer to bilateral relations between Australia and Bangladesh .

neg: Australian English vocabulary Australian English is a major variety of the English language spoken throughout Australia . Most of the vocabulary of Australian English is shared with British English , though there are notable differences . The vocabulary of Australia is drawn from many sources , including various dialects of British English as well as Gaelic languages , some Indigenous Australian languages , and Polynesian languages .   One of the first dictionaries of Australian slang was Karl Lentzner 's Dictionary of the Slang-English of Australia and of Some Mixed Languages in 1892 . The first dictionary based on historical principles that covered Australian English was E. E. Morris 's Austral English : A Dictionary of Australasian Words , Phrases and Usages ( 1898 ) . In 1981 , the more comprehensive Macquarie Dictionary of Australian English was published . Oxford University Press published their own Australian Oxford Dictionary in 1999 , as a joint effort with the Australian National University . Oxford University Press also published The Australian National Dictionary .


query: David Beckham played football.

pos: Manchester United F.C. Manchester United Football Club is a professional football club based in Old Trafford , Greater Manchester , England , that competes in the Premier League , the top flight of English football . Nicknamed `` the Red Devils '' , the club was founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878 , changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to its current stadium , Old Trafford , in 1910 .   Manchester United are the most successful club in England , having won a record 20 League Titles , 12 FA Cups , 5 League Cups and a record 21 FA Community Shields . The club has also won three UEFA Champions League , one UEFA Europa League , one UEFA Cup Winners ' Cup , one UEFA Super Cup , one Intercontinental Cup and one FIFA Club World Cup . In 1998 -- 99 , the club became the first in the history of English football to achieve the treble of the Premier League , the FA Cup and the UEFA Champions League . In 2016 -- 17 , they also , by winning the UEFA Europa League , became one of five clubs to have won all three main UEFA club competitions . In winning all three top domestic trophies ( as well as both iterations of the English championship ) , all three major European trophies , both the domestic and European super cups , and both international titles ( the now-defunct Intercontinental Cup in 1999 and its successor , the FIFA World Club Cup in 2008 ) , the club has achieved a clean sweep of all top honours available to it ; the first and thus far only English club to do so .   The 1958 Munich air disaster claimed the lives of eight players . In 1968 , under the management of Matt Busby , Manchester United became the first English football club to win the European Cup . Alex Ferguson won 38 trophies as manager , including 13 Premier League titles , 5 FA Cups and 2 UEFA Champions Leagues , between 1986 and 2013 , when he announced his retirement . José Mourinho is the club 's current manager , having been appointed on 27 May 2016 .   Manchester United was the highest-earning football club in the world for 2015 -- 16 , with an annual revenue of $ 689 million , and the world 's third most valuable football club in 2015 , valued at # 1.98 billion . As of June 2015 , it is the world 's most valuable football brand , estimated to be worth $ 1.2 billion . After being floated on the London Stock Exchange in 1991 , the club was purchased by Malcolm Glazer in May 2005 in a deal valuing the club at almost # 800 million , after which the company was taken private again , before going public once more in August 2012 , when they made an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange . Manchester United is one of the most widely supported football clubs in the world , and holds several rivalries with other clubs , most notably with Liverpool , Manchester City and Leeds United , and more recently with Arsenal .

pos: David Beckham David Robert Joseph Beckham , ( -LSB- ˈbɛkəm -RSB- born 2 May 1975 ) is an English former professional footballer . He played for Manchester United , Preston North End , Real Madrid , Milan , LA Galaxy , Paris Saint-Germain , and the England national team for which he held the appearance record for an outfield player until 2016 when Wayne Rooney surpassed his total . He is the first English player to win league titles in four countries : England , Spain , the United States and France . He announced his retirement in May 2013 after a 20-year career , during which he won 19 major trophies .   Known for his range of passing , crossing ability and bending free-kicks as a right winger , Beckham was runner up in the Ballon d'Or , twice runner-up for FIFA World Player of the Year and in 2004 he was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world 's greatest living players . He was inducted into the English Football Hall of Fame in 2008 . A global ambassador for the sport , Beckham is regarded as a British cultural icon .   Beckham 's professional club career began with Manchester United , where he made his first-team debut in 1992 aged 17 . With United , he won the Premier League title six times , the FA Cup twice , and the UEFA Champions League in 1999 . He then played four seasons with Real Madrid , winning the La Liga championship in his final season with the club . In July 2007 Beckham signed a five-year contract with Major League Soccer club LA Galaxy . While a Galaxy player , he spent two loan spells in Italy with Milan in 2009 and 2010 . He was the first British footballer to play 100 UEFA Champions League games .   In international football , Beckham made his England debut on 1 September 1996 at the age of 21 . He was captain for six years , earning 58 caps during his tenure . He made 115 career appearances in total , appearing at three FIFA World Cup tournaments , in 1998 , 2002 and 2006 , and two UEFA European Championship tournaments , in 2000 and 2004 .   Beckham has consistently ranked among the highest earners in football , and in 2013 he was listed as the highest-paid player in the world , earning over $ 50 million in the previous 12 months . He has been married to Victoria Beckham since 1999 and they have four children . He has been a UNICEF UK ambassador since 2005 , and in 2015 he launched 7 : The David Beckham UNICEF Fund . In 2014 , MLS announced Beckham and a group of investors would own an expansion team in Miami , which would begin in 2016 or 2017 .

pos: England national football team The England national football team represents England in international football and is controlled by The Football Association , the governing body for football in England .   England are one of the two oldest national teams in football ; alongside Scotland , whom they played in the world 's first international football match in 1872 . England 's home ground is Wembley Stadium , London , and the current manager is Gareth Southgate . Although part of the United Kingdom , England has always had a representative side that plays in major professional tournaments , though not in the Olympic Games , as the IOC has always recognised United Kingdom representative sides .   England contest the FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship , which alternate biennially . In contesting for the World Cup seventeen times over the past sixty four years , England won the 1966 World Cup , when they hosted the finals , and achieved a semi final appearance in 1990 . England have never won the UEFA European Football Championship -- after fifteen attempts over fifty-six years -- their best performances were semi final appearances at the 1968 and 1996 Championships , the latter of which they hosted .

pos: LA Galaxy The LA Galaxy , also known as the Los Angeles Galaxy , is an American professional soccer franchise based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson , California , that competes in Major League Soccer ( MLS ) , as a member of the Western Conference of the league . The club began play in 1996 as a charter team in the league .   The Galaxy was founded in 1994 and is owned by Anschutz Entertainment Group . In their early years , the club played their home games at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena , California . Since 2003 , they have played at the StubHub Center in Carson , California . The team holds a fierce rivalry with the San Jose Earthquakes in the California Clásico , and used to play the SuperClasico against city rivals Chivas USA before they folded in 2014 .   In Major League Soccer , the franchise is one of the league 's most-decorated clubs , having won the MLS Cup on five occasions -- more than any other club -- the Supporters ' Shield four times , the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup twice , and the old CONCACAF Champions ' Cup in 2000 , being one of just two American clubs , along with D.C. United , to win the regional tournament .   In 2007 , the club made international headlines with the signing of English player David Beckham from Real Madrid , the most high-profile transaction in Major League Soccer to that point . The club has fielded other international players including Robbie Keane , Luis Hernández , Giovani dos Santos , Jorge Campos , Steven Gerrard , Ashley Cole and American Landon Donovan who is the all-time leading scorer for both the club and the league .

pos: A.C. Milan Associazione Calcio Milan ( -LSB- assotʃatˈtsjone ˈkaltʃo ˈmiːlan -RSB- ) , commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional football club in Milan , Italy , founded in 1899 . The club has spent its entire history , with the exception of the 1980 -- 81 and 1982 -- 83 seasons , in the top flight of Italian football , known as Serie A since 1929 -- 30 .   With 18 officially recognised UEFA and FIFA titles , they are the fourth most successful club in the world and the most successful Italian club at international level . Milan has won a joint record three Intercontinental Cups and one FIFA Club World Cup , seven European Cup/Champions League titles ( Italian record ) , the UEFA Super Cup a joint record five times and the Cup Winners ' Cup twice . With 18 league titles , Milan is the joint-second most successful club in Serie A , along with local rivals Internazionale . They have also won the Coppa Italia five times , and the Supercoppa Italiana seven .   Milan 's home games are played at San Siro , also known as the Stadio Giuseppe Meazza . The stadium , which is shared with city rivals Internazionale , is the largest in Italian football , with a total capacity of 80,018 . Inter are considered their biggest rivals , and matches between the two teams are called Derby della Madonnina , which is one of the most followed derbies in football .   The former owner of the club was former Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi , which owned the club for 31 years . The club is one of the wealthiest in Italian and world football . It was a founding member of the now-defunct G-14 group of Europe 's leading football clubs as well as its replacement , the European Club Association .

neg: 1999–2000 FA Cup The 1999 -- 2000 FA Cup was the 119th staging of the world 's oldest cup competition , the Football Association Cup or FA Cup . Both the semi-finals and final of the competition were played at Wembley Stadium for the last time before reconstruction work began . The competition culminated with the FA Cup Final between Chelsea and Aston Villa . The game was won by a goal from Chelsea 's Roberto Di Matteo , giving them a 1-0 victory .   The previous season 's winners , Manchester United , withdrew from the 1999 -- 2000 competition due to their participation in the 2000 FIFA Club World Championship in South America , to take place in early 2000 , thus becoming the first FA Cup winners not to defend their title . Despite this being at the request of the Football Association ( FA ) , they received criticism from journalists and television pundits . To keep the competition running smoothly , the FA chose to draw one team from among those lower-division teams defeated in the second round to progress as `` lucky losers '' to the third . Darlington were the team drawn .   The main competition started in November 1999 for clubs from the Football League and Premiership . For details on the preliminary and qualifying rounds of the FA Cup see FA Cup Archives .

neg: Glossary of football terms Football is a word used to describe a number of different sports . Some codes of football also share other common names , such as gridiron and rugby . The widely understood meaning of these words can vary , depending on the location and/or context in which they are used . In some places , unqualified use of one or more of these words is considered ambiguous . For more information on their usage , see football ( word ) .   Glossary of football terms may refer to :   Glossary of American football  Glossary of association football terms  Glossary of Australian rules football  Glossary of Canadian football  Glossary of Gaelic games terms  Glossary of rugby league terms  Glossary of rugby union terms

neg: Football in Malta Football in Malta is run by the Malta Football Association and was introduced to the Maltese Islands during British rule in the mid-19th century . The sport at the time was new to England , and was used as a means of entertainment for the soldiers stationed in Malta at the various barracks around Malta at the time . In 1863 a football association was formed which governed rules and regulations for this quickly changing sport , which was still in amateur competition stage and played in an un-scheduled format until 1909 when a league format was introduced .   The association runs the national football team , as well as administering the Maltese Football League and the Maltese Cup for club sides .

neg: Association football culture Association football culture refers to the cultural aspects surrounding the game of association football . In many countries , football has ingrained itself into the national culture , and parts of life may revolve around it . Many countries have daily football newspapers , as well as football magazines . Football players , especially in the top levels of the game , have become role models for people . The FIFA World Cup held every four years is the quintessential football event , combining the greatest players in the world and the passion of the fans . Football has a long and glorious history , with which a vast and diverse culture has emerged . The culture of football can be easily divided into how the players , fans and clubs see the sport .

neg: Bend It Like Beckham Bend It Like Beckham is a 2002 British comedy-drama sports film produced , written , and directed by Gurinder Chadha , and starring Parminder Nagra , Keira Knightley , Jonathan Rhys Meyers , Anupam Kher , Shaznay Lewis , and Archie Panjabi .   The film 's title refers to the football player David Beckham , and his skill at scoring from free kicks by curling the ball past a wall of defenders . It follows the 18-year-old daughter of Punjabi Sikhs in London . She is infatuated with football but her parents have forbidden her to play because she is a girl . She joins a local women 's team , which makes its way to the top of the league .   Bend It Like Beckham was released theatrically on 12 April 2002 by Redbus Film Distribution , and on DVD and VHS on 18 November 2002 by Warner Home Video . The film surprised critics and was met with mostly positive reviews and it earned over $ 76 million on a $ 6 million budget . A stage musical version opened at London 's Phoenix Theatre on 24 June 2015 .

neg: Beach soccer Beach soccer , also known as beach football or beasal , is a variant of association football played on a beach or some form of sand .   The game emphasises skill , agility and shooting at goal .   Whilst football has been played informally on beaches for many years , the introduction of beach soccer was an attempt to codify rules for the game . This was done in 1992 by the founders of Beach Soccer Worldwide , a company set up to develop the sport and is responsible for the majority of its tournaments to this day . This was a major foundation for what is now known as beach soccer and what has led to the sport rapidly growing in popularity .   The irregularity of the soft-sand playing surface leads to a totally different style of play than is used in football , with a greater degree of improvisation . The compact field , much smaller than a normal football field , allows players to score from anywhere on the sand , leading to an average of sixty attempts at goal in a single game . With an average of scoring rate of one goal every three or four minutes , around eleven goals are scored in total during an average game .

neg: History of American football The history of American football can be traced to early versions of rugby football and association football . Both games have their origin in varieties of football played in Britain in the mid-19th century , in which a football is kicked at a goal or kicked over a line , which in turn were based on the varieties of English public school football games .   American football resulted from several major divergences from association football and rugby football , most notably the rule changes instituted by Walter Camp , a Yale University and Hopkins School graduate who is considered to be the `` Father of American Football '' . Among these important changes were the introduction of the line of scrimmage , of down-and-distance rules and of the legalization of interference . In the late 19th and early 20th centuries , gameplay developments by college coaches such as Eddie Cochems , Amos Alonzo Stagg , Parke H. Davis , Knute Rockne , and Glenn `` Pop '' Warner helped take advantage of the newly introduced forward pass . The popularity of college football grew as it became the dominant version of the sport in the United States for the first half of the 20th century . Bowl games , a college football tradition , attracted a national audience for college teams . Boosted by fierce rivalries and colorful traditions , college football still holds widespread appeal in the United States .   The origin of professional football can be traced back to 1892 , with William `` Pudge '' Heffelfinger 's $ 500 contract to play in a game for the Allegheny Athletic Association against the Pittsburgh Athletic Club . In 1920 the American Professional Football Association was formed . This league changed its name to the National Football League ( NFL ) two years later , and eventually became the major league of American football . Primarily a sport of Midwestern industrial towns in the United States , professional football eventually became a national phenomenon .   The modern era of American football can be considered to have begun after the 1932 NFL Playoff game , which was the first American football game to feature hash marks , the legalization of the forward pass anywhere behind the line of scrimmage , the first indoor game since 1902 , and the movement of the goal posts back to goal line . Other innovations to occur immediately after 1932 , were the introduction of the AP Poll in 1934 , the tapering of the ends of the football in 1934 , the awarding of the first Heisman Trophy in 1935 , the first NFL draft in 1936 and the first televised game in 1939 . Another important event was the American football game at the 1932 Summer Olympics , which combined with a similar demonstration game at 1933 World 's Fair , led to the first College All-Star Game in 1934 , which in turn was an important factor in the growth of professional football in the United States . American football 's explosion in popularity during the second half of the 20th century can be traced to the 1958 NFL Championship Game , a contest that has been dubbed the `` Greatest Game Ever Played '' . A rival league to the NFL , the American Football League ( AFL ) , began play in 1960 ; the pressure it put on the senior league led to a merger between the two leagues and the creation of the Super Bowl , which has become the most watched television event in the United States on an annual basis .

neg: History of FIFA FIFA ( Fédération Internationale de Football Association ) is the international governing body of association football . It is one of the world 's oldest and largest NGOs , being founded on 21 May 1904 . It has since expanded to include 209 member associations .

neg: 2004–05 FA Cup The FA Cup 2004 -- 05 was the 124th season of the world 's oldest football competition , the Football Association Challenge Cup , or FA Cup .   The competition began on 28 August 2004 , with the lowest-ranked of the entrants competing in the Extra Preliminary Round . For England 's top 44 clubs , from the Premier League and Football League Championship , the FA Cup began at the Third Round in January .   Ties were all single-legged and took place at the stadium of the club drawn first . If scores were level at the end of a match , the match was replayed at the away club 's stadium , usually in the middle of the following week . If the scores are still level , extra-time and penalties ( if necessary ) are used to determine a winner . From the semi-finals onwards , the ties take place at a neutral stadium , and there are no replays . That is to say , extra-time and penalties are played if necessary to determine a winner in a single match .   The new Wembley Stadium was still at least a year away from being ready for use , so the final was staged at the Millennium Stadium , Cardiff on 21 May 2005 . The FA Cup Final was won by Arsenal on penalties after a goalless draw with Manchester United , the first time that the FA Cup Final had been decided on penalties .

neg: Darlington F.C. Darlington Football Club is an English football club based in Darlington , County Durham . They are members of the and play at Blackwell Meadows .   The club was founded in 1883 , and played its matches at Feethams . The club originally played in regionally organised leagues , and were one of the founding members of the Northern League in 1889 . They were first admitted to the Football League when the Third Division North was formed in 1921 . They won the Third Division North title in 1925 , and their 15th place in the Second Division in 1926 remains their highest ever league finish . After their admission to the League , they spent most of their history in the bottom tier . They won the Third Division North Cup in 1934 , their first victory in nationally organised cup competition . They reached the last 16 of the FA Cup twice , and the quarter-final of the Football League Cup once , in 1968 . In the early 1990s they won successive titles , in the Conference National in 1990 and the Fourth Division in 1991 . In 2011 they won the FA Trophy , defeating Mansfield Town 1 -- 0 at Wembley Stadium .   Darlington moved to the all-seater , 25,000-capacity Darlington Arena in 2003 . The cost of the stadium was a major factor in driving the club into administration . In May 2012 , the club was bought out of a period of administration without entering into a Creditors Voluntary Agreement ( CVA ) . The Football Association ruled that it should be treated as a new club , which required a change of playing name . The name chosen was Darlington 1883 , and that team was placed in the Northern League Division One , the ninth tier of English football , for the 2012 -- 13 season . They won three promotions in four seasons before the FA approved their request to revert to their traditional name .   The club 's main rivals are Hartlepool United . The club 's traditional colours are black and white shirts , black shorts and black and white socks . The club 's crest depicts Locomotion No 1 , referring to the town 's railway history ; as well as a stylised Quaker hat , referring to the religious movement that had a historic influence on the town , and which was the source of the team 's nickname , the Quakers .

neg: 1966–67 FA Cup The 1966 -- 67 FA Cup was the 86th season of the world 's oldest football cup competition , the Football Association Challenge Cup , commonly known as the FA Cup . Tottenham Hotspur won the competition for the fifth time , beating Chelsea 2 -- 1 in the first all-London final . The game was played at Wembley .   Matches were scheduled to be played at the stadium of the team named first on the date specified for each round , which was always a Saturday . Some matches , however , might be rescheduled for other days if there were clashes with games for other competitions or the weather was inclement . If scores were level after 90 minutes had been played , a replay would take place at the stadium of the second-named team later the same week . If the replayed match was drawn further replays would be held until a winner was determined . If scores were level after 90 minutes had been played in a replay , a 30-minute period of extra time would be played .

neg: John Beck (footballer) John Alexander Beck ( born 25 May 1954 ) is an English former footballer and manager . As a player , he made nearly 500 Football League appearances for five clubs between 1972 and 1989 .   As a manager , he had a highly successful spell in charge of Cambridge United in the early 1990s , when he guided the club to two successive promotions and two successive quarter-final appearances in the FA Cup . Beck took the club from the Fourth Division to the Second and very nearly to the new Premier League at the end of the 1991 -- 92 season , where they ended their campaign fifth in the Second Division , their highest ever league finish . .   In 2010 , he was appointed manager of Conference National club Histon , but resigned two games into the 2010 -- 11 season .

neg: Victory International The term Victory International or Victory Internationals refers to two series of international football matches played by the national football teams of England , Scotland , Ireland and Wales at end of both the First and Second World Wars . The matches were organised to celebrate the Victory of the Allied Powers in both wars . The term specifically refers to those matches played after the conflicts were over , making them distinct from the wartime internationals which were played during the course of the wars .   Among the games regarded as Victory Internationals were those played as part of the 1945 -- 46 British Victory Home Championship . The 1945 -- 46 season also saw England play Victory internationals against France , Switzerland and Belgium . Scotland also played the latter two national teams . The status of these internationals is open to debate . England , Ireland and Wales do not recognize any of these games as full internationals . Scotland , however , does list the games against Belgium and Switzerland as full internationals . Similarly Belgium , Switzerland and France all regard their Victory Internationals as full internationals .

neg: List of sports rivalries A sports rivalry is intense competition between athletic teams or athletes . This pressure of competition is felt by players , coaches , and management , but is perhaps felt strongest by the fans . The intensity of the rivalry varies from a friendly competition on one end to serious violence on the other that , in one case ( the Football War ) , was suggested to have led to military conflicts . Owners typically encourage rivalries as they tend to improve game attendance and television ratings for rivalry matches , but a rivalry that gets out of control can lead to fighting , hooliganism , rioting and some , with career-ending or even fatal consequences .   Rivalries stem from various sources . Simple geographic proximity as well as frequent meetings in important games can lead to rivalries . Games between two rivals of close geographical proximity are usually called a local derby , or simply just derby ( UK : -LSB- 'd ɑrbi -RSB- or US : -LSB- ˈdɜrbi -RSB- ) ; a sporting fixture between two teams from the same town , city or region , particularly in association football . The phrase most likely originated from The Derby , a horse race in England , founded by the 12th Earl of Derby in 1780 , since at least as early as 1840 ` derby ' has been used as a noun in English to denote any kind of sporting contest . In the United States , the term crosstown rivalry is more commonly encountered for this type of rivalry .   The town of Derby was renowned as the site of a chaotic and exuberant game that involved the whole town and often resulted in fatalities . The goals were at Nuns Mill in the north and the Gallows Balk in the south of the town , and much of the action took place in the River Derwent or the Markeaton Brook . Nominally the players came from All Saints ' and St Peter 's parishes , but in practice the game was a free-for-all with as many as 1,000 players . A Frenchman who observed the match in 1829 wrote in horror , ` if Englishmen call this play , it would be impossible to say what they call fighting ' . The traditional Shrovetide football match is commonplace in the town of Ashbourne , Derbyshire . ''

neg: History of Stoke City F.C. Stoke City Football Club was formed in 1863 as Stoke Ramblers Football Club by former pupils of the Charterhouse School whilst they were apprentices at the North Staffordshire Railway . The club dropped the Ramblers from their name in 1878 , and in 1888 they were founding members of the Football League . In 1925 , the club 's name was changed for the final time to Stoke City Football Club when Stoke-on-Trent was granted city status .   The club moved in 1997 to the Britannia Stadium , a 28,383 all-seater stadium ; having spent 119 years at the Victoria Ground . In the 2007 -- 08 season , Stoke won promotion from the Football League Championship , the second tier of English football , and as of 2008 -- 09 are playing in the top flight ( currently Premier League ) for the first time since the 1984 -- 85 season , when they were relegated with a total of 17 points , a record low unsurpassed for 21 years . Stoke 's only major trophy was the 1972 Football League Cup , won when they beat Chelsea 2 -- 1 in the final at Wembley Stadium before a crowd of 97,852 . The club have also won the Football League Trophy twice , in 1992 and 2000 . In terms of league achievement the closest Stoke have come to winning the title was in the 1946 -- 47 season where a final day defeat cost Stoke top spot .

neg: Football in Bangladesh Throughout history , football has been the most popular sport in Bangladesh and is governed by the Bangladesh Football Federation ( BFF ) .   Compared to the past , the standard of Bangladeshi football has degraded due to mismanagement , lack of support and poor investment . An interest in cricket resulting from the nation 's success in Test Cricket and participation in the Cricket World Cup overshadowed the past fame in the nation 's football . But however this did not affect football 's popularity . More football tournaments are organized in and outside Dhaka than of any other sports and football fever grips the nation during every FIFA World Cup . Federation officials and experts are still hopeful about the development of football in the country in the next ten years despite financial obstacles and lack of professionalism .

neg: 1983–84 Manchester United F.C. season The 1983 -- 84 season was Manchester United 's 82nd season in the Football League , and their 9th consecutive season in the top division of English football . As FA Cup holders they suffered a shock exit at the hands of Third Division underdogs Bournemouth in the third round , but did reach the semi-finals of the European Cup Winners ' Cup and were narrowly defeated by Juventus . They frequently led the league during the season but eventually finish fourth , having been held to a draw in 14 out of 42 games despite losing just eight times . Perhaps the most memorable game of the season was the European Cup Winners ' Cup quarter-final clash with Barcelona of Spain , a side featuring Diego Maradona . After going 2 -- 0 down in the first leg , United achieved a remarkable 3 -- 0 win in the return leg at Old Trafford .   It was the breakthrough season at the club for young striker Mark Hughes , who scored four times late in the season , and the final season at the club for midfielder Ray Wilkins who exited Old Trafford at the end of the campaign to sign for Milan . Captain Bryan Robson stayed at the club despite an attempt to sign him by Italian side Juventus .   The close season saw the arrival of wingers Gordon Strachan and Jesper Olsen .

neg: 1957–58 Manchester United F.C. season The 1957 -- 58 season was Manchester United 's 56th season in the Football League , and their 13th consecutive season in the top division of English football .   The season marked the biggest tragedy in the club 's history as eight players , three club officials and ten other passengers died as a result of their injuries in the Munich air disaster on 6 February 1958 on their way back from a European Cup quarter-final away to Red Star Belgrade . Centre-half Mark Jones , captain Roger Byrne , full-back Geoff Bent , winger David Pegg , right-half Eddie Colman , inside-right Bill Whelan and centre-forward Tommy Taylor were all killed instantly . Left-half Duncan Edwards was in hospital for two weeks before he too died on 21 February .   Winger Johnny Berry and centre-half Jackie Blanchflower were both injured to such an extent that they never played again , while several of the surviving players were unavailable for a considerable amount of time as they recovered from their injuries .   Manager Matt Busby was badly injured , and his assistant Jimmy Murphy ( who was not on that fateful flight ) took charge of the first team until the end of the season as Busby recovered from his injuries . Club secretary Walter Crickmer and coaches Tom Curry and Bert Whalley were all killed in the crash , which claimed a total of 23 lives .   Despite the decimation of their squad , a makeshift United side still managed to reach the FA Cup final that season , where they lost to Bolton Wanderers . They also reached the semi-finals of the European Cup . However , their league form suffered after the crash and their title challenge faded as they finished ninth in the final table .   With the United squad decimated by death and injuries in the aftermath of the Munich tragedy , a number of younger players broke through into the first team . These included winger Shay Brennan and forward Mark Pearson . Another notable new member of the side was goalkeeper Harry Gregg , signed in December 1957 a few weeks before the Munich crash , and who was hailed a hero for his rescue efforts in the crash .   United 's top scorer for the season was Dennis Viollet , who found the net 23 times in all competitions and 16 times in the league despite being out of action for some two months as he recovered from injuries sustained in the Munich crash .

neg: Designated Player Rule The Designated Player Rule , nicknamed the Beckham Rule , was adopted as part of the salary cap regulations of Major League Soccer for the 2007 season . The rule allows each MLS franchise to sign players that would be considered outside of the team 's salary cap ( either by offering the player higher wages or by paying a transfer fee for the player ) , allowing MLS teams to compete for star players in the international soccer market . Clubs have the option to use allocation money against a player 's contract , so to avoid a player with a Designated Player level salary using one of the club 's Designated Player slots . As of December 2015 , there have been 114 designated players in the MLS .   The rule is informally named after David Beckham , in anticipation of MLS teams signing lucrative deals with internationally recognized players of Beckham 's caliber . Beckham was the first player signed under this rule , signing a five-year contract with the Los Angeles Galaxy with guaranteed annual salary of $ 6.5 million .

neg: 1981–82 British Home Championship The 1981-82 British Home Championship between the British Home Nations was won by a dominant England football team which won all three of its matches as the tournament returned after being abandoned in 1981 due to civil disturbances in Northern Ireland . The championship was eagerly awaited because for the first time since 1958 , three of the Home Nations were featuring in a World Cup ; the 1982 FIFA World Cup in Spain and this was a chance to see them in competitive action before the World Cup began . The end-of-season format that had been used throughout the 1970s was dropped as it was felt three games in eight days was too intense at the end of a season and prior to a World Cup . The English began impressively with a heavy victory over Northern Ireland at home , followed by victory away in Wales . The Scots could only manage a draw with the disappointing Irish by contrast although they did beat Wales . The Welsh managed to salvage a result in their third game with a 3 -- 0 defeat of Northern Ireland to claim third place . In the final deciding match in Glasgow , England edged victory through a Paul Mariner goal and thus claimed the championship . In the World Cup , Scotland were eliminated in the first round whilst England went out in the second round without losing a game . The unfancied Irish however provided a shock by beating hosts Spain and eliminating Yugoslavia in the first round before falling victim to the inspired French in round two .


query: Wōdan is the Old Saxon version of Odin.

pos: Odin In Germanic mythology , Odin ( from Old Norse Óðinn ) is a widely revered god . In Norse mythology , from which stems most of the information about the god , Odin is associated with healing , death , royalty , the gallows , knowledge , battle , sorcery , poetry , frenzy , and the runic alphabet , and is the husband of the goddess Frigg . In wider Germanic mythology and paganism , Odin was known in Old English as Wōden , in Old Saxon as Wōdan , and in Old High German as Wuotan or Wōtan , all stemming from the reconstructed Proto-Germanic theonym wōđanaz .   Odin is a prominently mentioned god throughout the recorded history of the Germanic peoples , from the Roman occupation of regions of Germania through the tribal expansions of the Migration Period and the Viking Age . In the modern period , Odin continued to be acknowledged in the rural folklore of Germanic Europe . References to Odin appear in place names throughout regions historically inhabited by the ancient Germanic peoples , and the day of the week Wednesday bears his name in many Germanic languages , including English .   In Anglo-Saxon England , Odin held a particular place as a euhemerized ancestral figure among royalty , and he is frequently referred to as a founding figure among various other Germanic peoples , including the Langobards . Forms of his name appear frequently throughout the Germanic record , though narratives regarding Odin are mainly found in Old Norse works recorded in Iceland , primarily around the 13th century . These texts make up the bulk of modern understanding of Norse mythology .   In Old Norse texts , Odin is depicted as one-eyed and long-bearded , frequently wielding a spear named Gungnir , and wearing a cloak and a broad hat . He is often accompanied by his animal companions -- the wolves Geri and Freki and the ravens Huginn and Muninn , who bring him information from all over Midgard -- and rides the flying , eight-legged steed Sleipnir across the sky and into the underworld . Odin is attested as having many sons , most famously the gods Thor ( with Jörð ) and Baldr ( with Frigg ) , and is known by hundreds of names . In these texts , he frequently seeks greater knowledge , at times in disguise ( most famously by obtaining the Mead of Poetry ) , makes wagers with his wife Frigg over the outcome of exploits , and takes part in both the creation of the world by way of slaying the primordial being Ymir and the gift of life to the first two humans Ask and Embla . Odin has a particular association with Yule , and mankind 's knowledge of both the runes and poetry is also attributed to him .   In Old Norse texts , Odin is given primacy over female beings associated with the battlefield -- the valkyries -- and oversees Valhalla , where he receives half of those who die in battle , the einherjar . The other half are chosen by the goddess Freyja for her afterlife location , Fólkvangr . Odin consults the disembodied , herb-embalmed head of the wise being Mímir for advice , and during the foretold events of Ragnarök , Odin is told to lead the einherjar into battle before being consumed by the monstrous wolf Fenrir . In later folklore , Odin appears as a leader of the Wild Hunt , a ghostly procession of the dead through the winter sky . He has also been associated with charms and other forms of magic , particularly in Old English and Old Norse texts .   Odin has been a frequent subject of study in Germanic studies , and numerous theories have been put forward regarding his development . Some of these focus on Odin 's particular relation to other figures ; for example , the fact that Freyja 's husband Óðr appears to be something of an etymological doublet of the god , whereas Odin 's wife Frigg is in many ways similar to Freyja , and that Odin has a particular relation to the figure of Loki . Other approaches focus on Odin 's place in the historical record , a frequent question being whether the figure of Odin derives from Proto-Indo-European religion , or whether he developed later in Germanic society . In the modern period , Odin has inspired numerous works of poetry , music , and other forms of media . He is venerated in most forms of the new religious movement Heathenry , together with other gods venerated by the ancient Germanic peoples ; some branches focus particularly on him .

neg: Helga Helga ( derived from Old Norse heilagr - `` holy '' , `` blessed '' ) is a female name , used mainly in Scandinavia , Iceland , Germany , Austria , Hungary , Belgium , Switzerland , the Netherlands , and South Africa . ( Hege , Helle , Helge , Helga , Helka or Oili ) . The name was in use in England before the Norman Conquest , but appears to have died out afterwards . It was re-introduced to English-speaking nations in the 20th century from Germany and the Nordic countries . Eastern Slavic name Olga is derived from it . Scandinavian male equivalent is Helge , or Helgi .   Name days : Estonia - May 31 , Hungary - October 3 , Latvia - October 9 , Sweden - November 21 , Finland - May 31 , Greece - 11 July

neg: Siward, Earl of Northumbria Siward or Sigurd ( -LSB- ˈsuːwərd -RSB- or more recently -LSB- ˈsiːwərd -RSB- Old English : Sigeweard ) was an important earl of 11th-century northern England . The Old Norse nickname Digri and its Latin translation Grossus ( `` the stout '' ) are given to him by near-contemporary texts . Siward was probably of Scandinavian origin , perhaps a relative of Earl Ulf , and emerged as a powerful regional strongman in England during the reign of Cnut ( `` Canute the Great '' , 1016 -- 1035 ) . Cnut was a Scandinavian ruler who conquered England in the 1010s , and Siward was one of the many Scandinavians who came to England in the aftermath of that conquest . Siward subsequently rose to become sub-ruler of most of northern England . From 1033 at the latest Siward was in control of southern Northumbria , that is , present-day Yorkshire , governing as earl on Cnut 's behalf .   He entrenched his position in northern England by marrying Ælfflæd , the daughter of Ealdred , Earl of Bamburgh . After killing Ealdred 's successor Eadulf in 1041 , Siward gained control of all Northumbria . He exerted his power in support of Cnut 's successors , kings Harthacnut and Edward , assisting them with vital military aid and counsel . He probably gained control of the middle shires of Northampton and Huntingdon by the 1050s , and there is some evidence that he spread Northumbrian control into Cumberland . In the early 1050s Earl Siward turned against the Scottish ruler Mac Bethad mac Findlaích ( `` Macbeth '' ) . Despite the death of his son Osbjorn , Siward defeated Mac Bethad in battle in 1054 . More than half a millennium later the Scotland adventure earned him a place in William Shakespeare 's Macbeth . Siward died in 1055 , leaving one son , Waltheof , who would eventually succeed to Northumbria . St Olave 's church in York and nearby Heslington Hill are associated with Siward .

neg: Æthelhelm (disambiguation) Æthelhelm , also Aethelhelm or Ethelhelm , is an Old English personal name . It may refer to :   Æthelhelm , son of King Æthelred of Wessex  Æthelhelm , d. 897 , ealdorman of Wiltshire and possibly father of Ælfflaed , second wife of Edward the Elder  Æthelhelm , a nobleman in whose household Oda , the future Archbishop of Canterbury ( died 958 ) ; had been active before becoming bishop of Ramsbury  Athelm ( died 926 ) or Æthelhelm , first bishop of Wells and later Archbishop of Canterbury

neg: Thor In Norse mythology , Thor ( -LSB- θɔr -RSB- from Old Norse Þórr ) is a hammer-wielding god associated with thunder , lightning , storms , oak trees , strength , the protection of mankind , and also hallowing and fertility . The cognate deity in wider Germanic mythology and paganism was known in Old English as Þunor and in Old High German as Donar ( runic þonar ) , stemming from a Common Germanic * Þunraz ( meaning `` thunder '' ) .   Ultimately stemming from Proto-Indo-European religion , Thor is a prominently mentioned god throughout the recorded history of the Germanic peoples , from the Roman occupation of regions of Germania , to the tribal expansions of the Migration Period , to his high popularity during the Viking Age , when , in the face of the process of the Christianization of Scandinavia , emblems of his hammer , Mjölnir , were worn and Norse pagan personal names containing the name of the god bear witness to his popularity .   Into the modern period , Thor continued to be acknowledged in rural folklore throughout Germanic regions . Thor is frequently referred to in place names , the day of the week Thursday ( `` Thor 's day '' from Old English Thunresdæg , ` Thunor 's day ' ) bears his name , and names stemming from the pagan period containing his own continue to be used today .   In Norse mythology , largely recorded in Iceland from traditional material stemming from Scandinavia , numerous tales and information about Thor are provided . In these sources , Thor bears at least fourteen names , is the husband of the golden-haired goddess Sif , is the lover of the jötunn Járnsaxa , and is generally described as fierce eyed , red haired and red bearded . With Sif , Thor fathered the goddess ( and possible valkyrie ) Þrúðr ; with Járnsaxa , he fathered Magni ; with a mother whose name is not recorded , he fathered Móði , and he is the stepfather of the god Ullr . The same sources list Thor as the son of the god Odin and the personified earth , Jörð , and by way of Odin , Thor has numerous brothers . Thor has two servants , Þjálfi and Röskva , rides in a cart or chariot pulled by two goats , Tanngrisnir and Tanngnjóstr ( that he eats and resurrects ) , and is ascribed three dwellings ( Bilskirnir , Þrúðheimr , and Þrúðvangr ) . Thor wields the mountain-crushing hammer , Mjölnir , wears the belt Megingjörð and the iron gloves Járngreipr , and owns the staff Gríðarvölr . Thor 's exploits , including his relentless slaughter of his foes and fierce battles with the monstrous serpent Jörmungandr -- and their foretold mutual deaths during the events of Ragnarök -- are recorded throughout sources for Norse mythology .   Thor has inspired numerous works of art and references to Thor appear in modern popular culture . Like other Germanic deities , veneration of Thor is revived in the modern period in Heathenry .

neg: Old English literature Old English literature or Anglo-Saxon literature , encompasses literature written in Old English , in Anglo-Saxon England from the 7th century to the decades after the Norman Conquest of 1066 . `` Cædmon 's Hymn '' , composed in the 7th century , according to Bede , is often considered the oldest extant poem in English , whereas the later poem , The Grave is one of the final poems written in Old English , and presents a transitional text between Old and Middle English . The Peterborough Chronicle can also be considered a late-period text , continuing into the 12th century .   The poem Beowulf , which often begins the traditional canon of English literature , is the most famous work of Old English literature . The Anglo-Saxon Chronicle has also proven significant for historical study , preserving a chronology of early English history .   In descending order of quantity , Old English literature consists of : sermons and saints ' lives ; biblical translations ; translated Latin works of the early Church Fathers ; Anglo-Saxon chronicles and narrative history works ; laws , wills and other legal works ; practical works on grammar , medicine , geography ; and poetry . In all there are over 400 surviving manuscripts from the period , of which about 189 are considered `` major '' .   Besides Old English literature , Anglo-Saxons wrote a number of Anglo-Latin works .

neg: Wayland the Smith In Norse mythology , Wayland the Smith ( Wēland ; Wiolant Wēlandaz variously Galan and Galand in French ; from * Wēla-nandaz , lit . `` battle-brave '' ) is a legendary master blacksmith , described by Jessie Weston as `` the weird and malicious craftsman , Weyland '' . In Old Norse sources , Völundr appears in Völundarkviða , a poem in the Poetic Edda , and in Þiðrekssaga , and his legend is also depicted on Ardre image stone VIII . In Old English sources , he appears in Deor , Waldere and in Beowulf and the legend is depicted on the Franks Casket . He is mentioned in the German poems about Theoderic the Great as the Father of Witige .

neg: Ivar Ivar ( Old Norse Ívarr ) is a Scandinavian masculine given name . Another variant of the name is Iver , which is more common in Norway .  The Old Norse name has several possible etymologies . In North Germanic phonology , several of the elements common to Germanic names became homophonous . The first element Ívarr may contain yr `` yew '' and - arr ( from hari , `` warrior '' ) ,  but it may have become partly conflated with Ingvar , and possibly Joar ( element jó `` horse '' ) . The second element - arr may alternatively also be from geir `` spear '' or it may be var `` protector '' .  The name was adopted into English as Ivor , into Gaelic as Iomhar , and into Latvian as Ivars .

neg: Urðr Urðr ( Old Norse `` fate '' ) is one of the Norns in Norse mythology . Along with Verðandi ( possibly `` happening '' or `` present '' ) and Skuld ( possibly `` debt '' or `` future '' ) , Urðr makes up a trio of Norns that are described as deciding the fates of people . Urðr is attested in stanza 20 of the Poetic Edda poem Völuspá and the Prose Edda book Gylfaginning .   Urðr is together with the Norns located at the well Urðarbrunnr beneath the world ash tree Yggdrasil of Asgard . They spin threads of life , cut marks in the pole figures and measure people 's destinies , which shows the fate of all human beings and gods . Norns are always present when a child is born and decide its fate . The three Norns represent the past ( Urðr ) , future ( Skuld ) and present ( Verðandi ) .   Urðr is commonly written as Urd or Urth . In some English translations , her name is glossed with the Old English form of urðr ; Wyrd .

neg: Mögþrasir In Norse mythology , Mögþrasir ( Old Norse , possibly meaning `` the one who is striving for sons '' ) is a jötunn who is solely attested in stanza 49 of the poem Vafþrúðnismál from the Poetic Edda .

neg: Ásatrú holidays In Asatru ( Germanic neopaganism ) , various publications identify a number of holidays , to some extent based on medieval references to sacrifices observed in historical Norse paganism or reconstructions of an early Germanic calendar , but frequently also inspired by the `` Wheel of the Year '' popular in Wicca , and sometimes also based on ad hoc innovation , e.g. the various `` Days of Remembrance '' introduced by The Troth .   As a minimal consensus , the three great seasonal blots mentioned in Ynglingasaga are recognized by practically all adherents . These are : Winter Nights ( in October , in some Icelandic sagas identified with Dísablót ) , Midwinter ( some time in December or January , often identified with Yule ) and Sigrblot ( some time in summer ) . Beyond this , the modern Icelandic festival of Þorrablót is sometimes considered a `` pagan holiday '' .   Suggestions for rituals suited for these various holidays were published by e.g. Edred Thorsson , A Book of Troth ( 1989 ) and by Kveldulf Gundarsson , Teutonic Religion ( 1993 ) .  James Chisholm ( 1989 ) published a suggestion for Ostara   The following are examples of seasonal festivals as listed by notable adherents of American Asatru .

neg: Seiðr In Old Norse , seiðr ( sometimes anglicized as seidhr , seidh , seidr , seithr , seith , or seid ) was a type of sorcery which was practiced in Norse society during the Late Scandinavian Iron Age . Connected with Norse religion , its origins are largely unknown , although it gradually eroded following the Christianization of Scandinavia . Accounts of seiðr later made it into sagas and other literary sources , while further evidence has been unearthed by archaeologists . Various scholars have debated the nature of seiðr , some arguing that it was shamanic in context , involving visionary journeys by its practitioners .   Seiðr practitioners were of both sexes , although females are more widely attested , with such sorceresses being variously known as vǫlur , seiðkonur and vísendakona . There were also accounts of male practitioners , known as seiðmenn , but in practising magic they brought a social taboo , known as ergi , on to themselves , and were sometimes persecuted as a result . In many cases these magical practitioners would have had assistants to aid them in their rituals .   In pre-Christian Norse mythology , seiðr was associated with both the god Oðinn , a deity who was simultaneously responsible for war , poetry and sorcery , and the goddess Freyja , a member of the Vanir who was believed to have taught the practice to the Æsir .   In the 20th century , adherents of various modern pagan new religious movements adopted forms of magico-religious practice that include seiðr . The practices of these contemporary seiðr-workers have since been investigated by various academic researchers operating in the field of pagan studies .

neg: Hild Hild or Hildr may refer to :   Hildr , a common noun meaning `` battle '' in the Old Norse language .  Hildr or Hild is one of the Valkyries in Norse mythology , a personification of battle  Hild or Hilda of Whitby is a Christian saint who was a British abbess and nun in the Middle Ages  Hild ( Oh My Goddess ! ) , the ultimate Demon in Hell known as the Daimakaichō in the Oh My Goddess ! series  Hild ( novel ) , a 2013 novel about Hilda of Whitby by Nicola Griffith

neg: Halfdan Long-Leg Halfdan Long-Leg ( Old Norse : Hálfdan háleggur , Norwegian : Halvdan Hålegg ) was a Viking-Age warrior who lived in the latter half of the 9th century . He was the son of King Harald Fairhair and a Sami woman named Snofrid Svasadottir .   Snorri Sturluson in Heimskringla states that Halfdan was one of Harald 's many sons who were involved in a power struggle with one another . Halfdan and his brother Gudrød Ljome were responsible for murdering Rognvald Eysteinsson and 60 of his men by burning them inside of a structure . Upon learning of this event , Harald flew into a rage and sent out a great force against Gudrød who was then banished . Rognvald 's son Torf-Einarr performed the Blood eagle ritual on Halfdan in retaliation after a battle . Harald made Rognvald 's son Thorirm Earl of Møre and gave his daughter Alof to him in marriage .

neg: Anglo-Saxon law Anglo-Saxon law ( Old English ǣ , later lagu `` law '' ; dōm `` decree , judgement '' ) is a body of written rules and customs that were in place during the Anglo-Saxon period in England , before the Norman conquest . This body of law , along with early Scandinavian law and Germanic law , descended from a family of ancient Germanic custom and legal thought . However , Anglo-Saxon law codes are distinct from other early Germanic legal statements - known as the leges barbarorum - in part because they were written in Anglo-Saxon , instead of in Latin . The laws of the Anglo-Saxons were the second in medieval Western Europe after those of the Irish to be expressed in a language other than Latin .

neg: Wealhþeow Wealhþēow ( -LSB- ˈwæɑ̯lxθeːo̯w -RSB- ; also rendered Wealhtheow or Wealthow ) is a queen of the Danes in the Old English poem , Beowulf , first introduced in line 612 .

neg: Olloudius Olloudius is a widely venerated Celtic god , known from locations as far apart as Custom Shrubs in Gloucestershire and Ollioules in southern Gaul . The only existing image was found at the Cotswold site . The male figure is rendered in native style , with a small head and a large , elongated body , carrying a patera or offering plate and a double cornucopia and is dedicated to '' Mars Olloudius '' . The god carries no military attributes , however , and he wears a cap and cloak rather than armour . Hence , Mars Olloudius belongs to important group of Celtic deities who adopted the name of Mars but were peaceful protectors , healers , and fertility spirits . The double horn of plenty stresses the prosperity function of the god among the Dobunni of Gloucestershire . Another image was found at the same site , quite clearly the work of the same craftsman : on this second depiction Mars is represented with shield , spear , and sword , but again the cornucopia is present , this time indicating the hybrid nature of the god : in this peaceful region , the warrior is not combative in the true sense of the word , but instead plays the role of guardian against disease , barrenness , and other evils .

neg: Beowulf Beowulf ( -LSB- ˈbeɪoʊ-wʊlf , _ ˈbiːoʊ -- -RSB- -LSB- ˈbeːo̯ˌwulf -RSB- ) is an Old English epic poem consisting of 3,182 alliterative lines . It may be the oldest surviving long poem in Old English and is commonly cited as one of the most important works of Old English literature . A date of composition is a matter of contention among scholars ; the only certain dating pertains to the manuscript , which was produced between 975 and 1025 . The author was an anonymous Anglo-Saxon poet , referred to by scholars as the `` Beowulf poet '' .   The poem is set in Scandinavia . Beowulf , a hero of the Geats , comes to the aid of Hrothgar , the king of the Danes , whose mead hall in Heorot has been under attack by a monster known as Grendel . After Beowulf slays him , Grendel 's mother attacks the hall and is then also defeated . Victorious , Beowulf goes home to Geatland ( Götaland in modern Sweden ) and later becomes king of the Geats . After a period of fifty years has passed , Beowulf defeats a dragon , but is fatally wounded in the battle . After his death , his attendants cremate his body and erect a tower on a headland in his memory .   The full poem survives in the manuscript known as the Nowell Codex . It has no title in the original manuscript , but has become known by the name of the story 's protagonist . In 1731 , the manuscript was badly damaged by a fire that swept through Ashburnham House in London that had a collection of medieval manuscripts assembled by Sir Robert Bruce Cotton . The Nowell Codex is currently housed in the British Library .

neg: Bałwan Bałwan pl , balvan / балван sr ( literally wood block ) or balvan ky -- today , literally indistinguishable from everyday word for snowman , is an ancient word common to all Slavic languages , describing a statuesque or monolithic depiction or a pillar or a plinth depicting or erected in honor of a deity . This object was worshipped , or constituted a tangible representation of a cult image . The Western Slavs transcribed and pronounced the word as bałwan ( in American English pronounced : BOW as in the phrase bow-wow and von as in Stratford-Upon-Avon , with the accent on the penultimate ( in this case , the first ) syllable , as is the typical stress ) , which is its contemporary and old Polish lexical manifestation , whereas the Southern Slavs and the Eastern Slavs used the just slightly differently-voweled bołwan ( English pronunciation : BOH-van ) .   The word itself has Sanskrit origins , where it figures as bala ( the force ) appended witth the suffix - van signifying possession of an attribute , thus etymologically bałwan means strong , powerful , mighty . In the Kyrgyz language of Central Asia , geographically remote from the territories Slavs are today identified with in Europe , balvan is a `` strongman '' or a hero , whereas in Persian , pahlevān denotes a militant or a veteran , as well as the plinth or boundary marker erected in his or her honor , or even a cairn , and , by extension , a fool . That latter meaning , at first secondary , became primary after Christianity was imposed on the Slavs , making bałwan acquire a distinctly pejorative primary meaning .   Some suggest that the Slavs share throughout their idioms such as they have evolved apart this single entity -- a common term for all cult objects in the form of a statue or cairn -- might suggest that idolatry spread early among the Slavic peoples , perhaps when they came in contact with Turkic peoples or Iranian . A word with similar etymology is the Slavic word for God ( when capitalized ) or deity , bóg , a cognate of Sanskrit `` bhaga '' / Iranian or Persian bag . In India the concept of a deity or god is often relayed with the word bhagvan , variously transcribed as bhagwan .   A derived term from bałwan is the Slavic word for idolatry : bałwochwalstwo '' .

neg: Finnish mythology Finnish mythology is a commonly applied description of the folklore of Finnish paganism , of which a modern revival is practiced by a small percentage of the Finnish people . It has many features shared with fellow Finnic Estonian mythology and its non-Finnic neighbours , the Balts and the Scandinavians . Some of their myths are also distantly related to the myths of other Finno-Ugric speakers like the Samis .   Finnish mythology survived within an oral tradition of mythical poem-singing and folklore well into the 19th century .   Although the gradual influence of surrounding cultures raised the significance of the sky-god in a monolatristic manner , the father god `` Ukko '' ( Old Man ) was originally just a nature spirit like all the others . Of the animals , the most sacred was the bear , whose real name was never uttered out loud , lest his kind be unfavorable to the hunting . The bear ( `` karhu '' in Finnish ) was seen as the embodiment of the forefathers , and for this reason it was called by many circumlocutions : mesikämmen ( `` mead-paw '' ) , otso ( `` browed one '' ) , kontio ( `` dweller of the land '' ) , metsän kultaomena ( `` the golden apple of the forest '' ) but not a god .