Why was football limited to the upper class in the 1800s?

In the 1800s, football was primarily limited to the upper class due to several factors, including access to leisure time, resources, and facilities. The sport required a certain level of social status and financial means to participate in organized games, which were often played on private grounds. Additionally, the upper class had the social networks necessary to establish and formalize the rules of the game, further entrenching football as a pastime of the elite. It wasn't until the late 19th century that the sport began to become more accessible to the working class.