You most likely WILL hear that question in England once you get talking to someone.
Just out of interest, what's the answer?
It was named during a period where such names were in fashion. Cuban heels, Panama hats, sanitariums, fisticuffs, handlebar mustaches, monocles, unicycles, shoehorns, sun decks, expositions and contraptions... football fits right in with those names, as you can see.
Anyway, I'm probably not going to go to Europe afterall. I mean, I will go, but next year instead. I'll still remember all this, so don't feel your time has been wasted.