User:Grover cleveland/History of the laws of the game/Sheffield

Rules of 1858
1 Kick off from Middle must be a place kick.

2 Kick out must not be from more than twenty five yards out of goal.

3: Fair catch is a Catch from any player provided the Ball has not touched the ground and has not been thrown from touch. Entitles a free kick.

4 Charging is fair in case of a place kick (with the exception of a kick off) as soon as the player offers to kick, but may always draw back unless he has actually touched the Ball with his foot.

5: Pushing with the hands is allowed but no Hacking (or tripping up) is fair under any circumstances whatsoever.

6 Holding the Ball, excepting the case of a free kick is altogether disallowed.

7 No player may be held or pulled over.

8 It is not lawful to take the Ball off the ground (except in touch) for any purpose whatsoever.

9 The ball may be pushed or hit.

10  A goal must be kicked but not from touch nor by a free kick from a catch.

11 A ball in touch is dead -- consequently the side that touches it down, must bring it to the edge of the touch, & throw it straight out at least five yards from touch.

12. Each player must provide himself with a red and dark blue flannel cap, one colour to be worn by each side.

1859
Some unknown rule changes (but Harvey states evidence of rouges being used).

1860
???

1861
No evidence of any rule change

1862
Harvey states new rules (selectively)

11 A rouge is obtained by the player who first touches the ball after it has been kicked between the rouge flags, and when a rouge has been obtained one of the defending side must stand post two yards from the front of the centre of the goal sticks.

12 No rouge is obtained when the player who first touches the ball is on the defending side. In that case it is a kick out as specified in law 2.

14 A goal outweighs any number of rouges. Should no goals be scored or an equal number be obtained, the match is decided by rouges.

16 In setting out the ground, the goal sticks must be placed 12 feet apart, and the cross bar 9 feet from the ground. The rouge flags must be placed one on each side and in line with the goal, and 12 feet distance from the goal.124

Wikisource has a complete selection of rules from 1862 but no source:

1. The kick from the middle must be a place kick.

2. Kick Out must not be more than 10 yards out of goal. [ note -- change from 25 ]

3. A Fair Catch is a catch from any player provided the ball has not touched the ground or has not been thrown from touch and is entitled to a free-kick.

4. Charging is fair in case of a place kick (with the exception of a kick off as soon as a player offers to kick) but he may always draw back unless he has actually touched the ball with his foot.

5. Pushing with the hands is allowed but no hacking or tripping up is fair under any circumstances whatsoever.

6. No player may be held or pulled over. [renumbered from 7] 7. It is not lawful to take the ball off the ground (except in touch) for any purpose whatever. [renumbered from 8]

8. Holding the ball (except in the case of a free kick) or knocking or pushing it on with the hand or arm is altogether disallowed. [renumbered from 6; add "or knocking or pushing it on with the hand or arm"]

9. A goal cannot be obtained by free kick or catch [renumbered from 10; old was " A goal must be kicked but not from touch nor by a free kick from a catch."]

10. When the ball is in touch, the side that first touches it must bring it to the edge of the touch at the place where it went in, and throw it straight out at least six yards, and it must touch the ground before it reaches any player. [renumbered from 11; rewritten from "A ball in touch is dead -- consequently the side that touches it down, must bring it to the edge of the touch, & throw it straight out at least five yards from touch."]

11. A rouge is obtained by the player who first touches the ball after it has been kicked between the rouge flags, and when a rouge has been obtained one of the defending side must stand post two yards in front of the goal sticks. [from Harvey]

12. No rouge is obtained when a player who first touches the ball is on the defending side. In that case it is a kick out as specified in law 2. [from Harvey]

13. No player who is behind the line of the goal sticks when the ball is kicked behind, may touch is in any way, either to prevent or obtain a rouge. [new -- identical to Eton field game 1847 law 12]

14. A goal outweighs any number of rouges. Should no goals or an equal number be obtained, the match is decided by rouges. [from Harvey]

15. If, in playing a match, half the specified time shall expire without a goal being obtained, the sides shall change goals; the kick off being from the middle, as at the commencement of the game. In practice matches one hour shall be the limit. [new]

16 In setting out the ground, the goal sticks must be placed 12 feet apart, and the cross bar 9 feet from the ground. The rouge flags must be placed one on each side and in line with the goal, and 12 feet distance from the goal. [from Harvey]

17. Each player must provide himself with a red and dark blue flannel cap, one colour to be worn by each side during play. [renumbered from 12]

N.B. These laws are not intended to define all the Rules of the Game, but only such as are peculiar to the club. There are certain fundamental rules which are observed in all foot-ball games. [new]

[old law 7 deleted]

[old law 8 deleted]

1863
No evidence of rule change.

1864
No evidence of rule change.

1865
No evidence of rule change.

Here is a copy of rules of "Sheffield United Mechanics Cricket and Athletics Club" for 1865-66:

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000321/19350222/061/0014 (Nottingham Evening Post 1935-02-22):

Rules In 1866. FROM a copy of the rules and laws for the football season of 1865-66 issued by the old Sheffield United Mechanics Cricket and Athletic Club, we quote only a few of the Laws of the Game drawn up "for the guidance of playing members." Here they are: 1. — Kick-off from middle must be a place kick. 2. — Kick out must not be more than ten yards out of goal. 3. — Fair catch is a catch from any player, provided the ball has not touched the ground or been thrown direct from touch, and entitles to a free-kick. 4. — Charging is fair in case of a place kick (with the exception of a kick-off) soon as the player offers to kick; but he may always draw back, unless he has actually touched the ball with his foot. 5. -- Pushing with the hands is allowed, but no hacking or tripping up is fair under any circumstances whatsoever. 6. —No player may be held or pulled over. 7. -- It is not lawful to take the ball off the ground (except in touch) for any purpose. 8. — Holding the ball (except in the case of a free-kick) or knocking, or pushing it on with hand or arm is altogether disallowed. The side breaking this rule forfeits a free kick to the opposing side. 9. -- A goal cannot be obtained by a free kick from a catch. 10.—When the ball is in touch, the side that first touches it must bring it the edge of touch at the place where it went in, and throw it straight out at least six yards, and it must touch the ground before coming in contact with any player, except it be kicked out at the goal-sides, then it must be taken to the corner-flag and thrown in. Then follow rules concerning rouges. A goal outweighted any number of rouges, but in the event of no goals being scored, matches were decided by rouges. A rouge was obtained by the player who first touched the ball after it had been kicked between the rouge flags, and when a rouge had been obtained, one of the defending side had to "stand two yards in front of the centre of the goal sticks." A curious rule was that if no goals were scored in the first half of a match the sides should change goals, but there was no mention of what should be done if a goal was scored. A footnote stated that the above laws were not intended to define all the Rules of the Game, but only such as were peculiar to the club. It concluded: "There are certain fundamental rules which are observed in all Football Games." The little book is a most interesting link with the past. Even 69 years ago charging was considered fair, and there was a ban on pushing and tripping as to-day.

1866
No evidence of rule change

1867
Sheffield FA formed.

Rules of March 1867 and October 1867 in Wikisource, based on FA rules of same year.

October 1867:

I. The maximum length of ground shall be 200 yards; the maximum breadth shall be 100 yards; the length and breadth shall be marked off with rouge flags; and the goals shall be upright posts, four yards apart, with a bar across them nine feet from the ground, and two flags to be called the rouge flags shall placed one on each side, and in a line with the goal, and four yards distant from it, with bar across them nine feet from the ground.

II. The winners of the toss shall have the choice of goals. The game shall be commenced by a place kick from the centre of the ground by the side losing the toss; the other side shall not approach within ten yards of the ball until it is kicked off.

III. After a goal is won the losing side shall kick off, and goals shall be changed, but if, in playing a match, half the specified time shall expire without a goal being obtained, the sides shall change goals, the kick off being from the middle, in the same direction as at the commencement of the game.

IV. A goal shall be won when the ball passes between the goal-posts under the tape, not being thrown, knocked on, or carried.

V. When the ball is in touch, a player of the opposite side to that which has kicked it out shall throw it from the point on the boundary line where it left the ground, in a direction at right angles with the boundary line, and it shall not be in play until it has touched the ground, and the player throwing it in shall not play it until it has been played by another player.

VI. Any player between an opponent’s goal and goal-keeper (unless he has followed the ball there) is off-side and out of play. The goal-keeper is that player on the defending side who for time being is nearest to his own goal.

VII. When the ball is kicked over the bars of the goal or rouge flags, it must be kicked off by the side behind whose goal it went, within six yards from the limit of their goal. The side who thus kick the ball are entitled to a fair kick off in whatever way they please, the opposite side not being allowed to approach within six yards of the ball. In case the ball is kicked between the rouge flags under the bar, the side kicking it shall be entitled to score one rouge, and the ball shall be kicked off by the defending side as before mentioned. When the ball is kicked behind the goal line, the opposite side to that which kicked it out shall throw it in from where it went out at least ten yards towards the other goal.

VIII. A goal outweighs any number of rouges. Should no goals or an equal number be obtained, the match is decided by rouges.

IX. No player shall hold or carry the ball, or knock or push it on with the hand or arm. The side breaking this role forfeits a free kick to the opposite side, and the offending side shall not approach within three yards of the kicker, but nothing in this rule shall extend to drive them to stand behind their goal line.

X. No goal or rouge shall be obtained by a free kick from a penalty.

XI. Neither tripping nor hacking shall be allowed, and no player shall use his hands to hold or push his adversary.

XII. A player shall not throw the ball or pass it to another.

XIII. No player shall take the ball from the ground with his hands while it is in play under any pretence whatever.

XIV. No player shall wear spikes, projecting nails, or iron plates on the soles or heels of his boots.

1868
Rules changed: "Rule 1 was amended from four yards goal and four yards rouges to eight yards goal, thus doing away with tho rouges. Rules 5, 7, and 11 were also amended. Rule 13 was altered to allow fair catch."

1869
After a protracted discussion Rule 7 was amended, and also Laws No. 8,12, and 14 were altered.

Umpire rule is included and is the last rule (but number not specified).

"No player shall stop the ball with his arm etc." is specified (but no number).

Fair catch rewarded with free kick (possibly erroneous).

1870
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000653/19500408/086/0004?browse=true

Confirms that the rules printed in The Book of the rules of the game of foot-ball are those of 1870.

Are they also those of 1869?

Harry Chambers
Should add article on Harry Waters Chambers

Solicitor by trade. Son of John
 * Admitted Feb 1864: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000250/18640202/005/0005


 * mentions in Curry / Dunning
 * Attended 1863 FA meeting (apparently -- but maybe this is an error?)
 * Played in the test match in Battersea Park (1864)
 * Played in "a practice match in Nottingham to usher in the 1866–7 season for the Notts. Club – later Notts. County – at Bramcote, near Nottingham (Brown, 1996: 9)"
 * Played for Wanderers against Queen's Park in 1875 (??) (p 105)
 * Reminiscence: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000250/19071223/305/0012
 * Google Books says he stayed as sec of Sheffield FC for 2 decades, + was first sec of Sheffield FA.
 * played keeper in some FA games.
 * Obituary: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000250/19071223/212/0008
 * Died 1907-12-21 at age of 65 (so DOB from 1841-12-22 to 1842-12-21)

NOTE: Chambers was still Secretary as of July 1876: see https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000181/18760703/002/0001

Served as first President of the Sheffield FA from its foundation in 1867 until 1869 (replaced by Shaw).


 * https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/a/ab/Sheffield_Football_Association_%28Sportsman%29_1867-03-14.png
 * https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sheffield_Football_Association_(Sheffield_Daily_Telegraph)_1868-10-14.png
 * https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sheffield_Football_Association_(Sheffield_Daily_Telegraph)_1869-10-14.png

Last (??) mention of Chambers as Sec of Sheffield FC in June 1876 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000250/18760627/064/0001

By Feb 1877, W. R. Wake was Hon. Sec. : https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000250/18770223/002/0001

Local politics around 1900 (see Sheffield DT)