During the early convict period in Van Diemens Land, some work gangs played a form of ‘Football’ on almost a daily basis. For example, Samuel Snow, an American prisoner transported after the Canadian Rebellion of 1839, played a game of ‘Ball’ with British convicts on his road gang, during the 1840s and 1850s. Football was often among the activities included in public holiday sports meetings. Generally, scratch teams played these games and rules were likely to have been minimal (H. T. Courier 23rd Dec. 1848 – Colonial Times 20th Dec. 1850).