Of all the traditional forms of football played in Europe, it appears to have been one of the toughest and most dangerous, which probably explains why it died out during the early 19th century.
If caught and held or rather in danger of being held, for if caught with the ball in possession he loses a snotch, he throws the ball [he must in no case give it] to some less beleaguered friend more free and more in breath than himself, who if it be not arrested in its course or be jostled away by the eager and watchful adversaries, catches it; and he in like manner hastens homeward, in like manner pursued, annoyed, and aided, winning the notch or snotch if he contrive to carry or throw it within the goals.
A match at Diss Common in the early 19th century reportedly was so brutal that nine men were killed or died of their injuries.
The contest for the ball "never ends without black eyes and bloody noses, broken heads or shins, and some serious mischief," a writer [citation needed] said in 1830, when camping popularity was at its height.
Incidents of violence seem in the end to have turned public opinion against camping, and it was gradually replaced by a gentler kicking game.