The history of German football began in 1873 with its introduction from the British Isles, though the competitive sport initially faced strong opposition and was labeled "English disease" by traditional gymnastics clubs. Progressive teacher Konrad Koch played a pivotal role, organizing Germany's first known football match in Braunschweig in 1874 and subsequently founding the country's first football club and setting its initial rules by 1875. While rugby was played by the Dresden English Football Club from 1873, modern association football gained traction after 1875, leading to the formation of early clubs like Berlin's BFC Germania 1888 and regional associations in the 1880s and 1890s. This burgeoning popularity culminated in the establishment of the German Football Association (DFB) on January 28, 1900, in Leipzig, finally creating a unified national governing body for the sport.