User:Grover cleveland/History of the laws of the game/Sheffield/1871

Adjourned General Meeting (1871-01-23)
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000181/18710124/006/0003 (Sheffield Ind)

SHEFFIELD FOOTBALL CLUBS ASSOCIATION. The above association is composed of an amalga- mation of clubs in and around Sheffield for the pur- pose of framing laws which shaU be conformed to by such clubs for the protection of themselves against defaulters snd for the furtherance of the game gene- raUy. An adjourned general meeting was held at the Adelphi Hotel, last night, for the discussion of the preeent rules. It was numerously attended, many well known players being present. In the absence of the Preeident, Mr. J. C. Shaw, the Vice-President, Mr. Dickenson, occupied the chair, and after a few prelimininary remarks from him, Mr. Pashley pro- posed, and Mr. H. Ash seconded :— " That the clubs forming the association prohibit catching or handling the baU (except in the latter sense by the defending side three yards from the goal), for the rest of the season, with a view to its future abolishment. In the case of foreign matches, however, the old rules may be played. This caused an animated discussion, after whioh Mr. Donovan proposed, and Mr. Little-tales seoonded, as an amendment, " That the rule remains as before." In the course of his remarks, Mr. Donovan strongly objected to the continual chopping ahd changing entailed by the proposition, the " catching" having beeu abandoned on a previous occasion. . . The seconder, Mr. LitUehales, urged that Mr. Pashley was out of order, no notice having been given, He would agree to the proposition as a suggestion, bnt not to make it compulsory. . Mr. Pashley'e proposition was ultimately carried by a xn. jority ol four,, .After » question from Mr. Pickersgill, it waa proposed by Mr. Littlehales. •ud seconded by Mr. Lee, " That in the event of any clubs joining the association not conforming to th. playing rules, notice be given to euch olubs, and on their refusal, they be struck off the association liat." This was carried unanimously. A vote of thanks to the chairman concluded the business.

Sheffield joins the FA (but keeps its own rules) 1871-03-03
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000181/18710304/055/0011

Sheffield Football Clubs' Association. — A epecial meetiag of the oommittee of the Sheffield Foot- ball Clubs' Asßociatioa was held oa Moaday Bight at Mr. Armfield'B, Adelphi Hotel, to take into consideration tbe desirability of joining the London Association, which was accordingly done, with the understanding that Sheffield adheres to their own oode of rules. The meeting wob held in eoasequence of the hon. sec. of the Bheffield Association receiving an invitation to join from Mr. Alcock, hon. sec. of the London body, witb a view to strengthen the adoption of one universal oode. It was also agreed that the challenge thrown out by the London Wanderers Club to the world should be accepted by the association, to be played this season if oonvenient to them, and from the good play exhibited by our Sheffield players this season, a closely contested match may be anticipated.

AGM
1871-10-11 https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000181/18711012/019/0003 (Sheffield Ind.)

SHEFFIELD FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING. This, one of the most important meetings that ever took place in connection with football in the North of England, was held on Tuesday evening, at Mr. R. Armfield's, the Adelphi Hotel, Arundel street. The chair was taken by Mr. J. C. Shaw, the president. The room was crowded, including a great number of well-known football players. The Chairman, in opening the business, called on the hon. sec, Mr. W. Skinner, to read the report, in which he stated that the accounts were in a satisfactory condition, the treasurer having a balance in hand of £13. 14s. 9d. They were passed as read. The election of officers was then proceeded with, and resulted as follows: — President, Mr. J. C.Shaw; vice-president, Mr. R. W. Dickenson ; treasurer, Mr. J. Tomlinson ; and hen. sec, Mr. W. Skinner ; all of whom were re-elected. The following names of delegates were then given in to represent the various clubs for the ensuing season : — Sheffield Club, Mr. H. W. Chambers ; Hallam, J. C. Hand ; Norfolk, J. Pashley ; Mackenzie, T. Rycroft ; Broomhall, C. Mills; Norton, W. Jackson; Mechanics'. H. Heathcote; Fir Vale, D. Davy ; Wednesday, W. Littlehales ; Exchange, G. Johnson ; Oxford, H. Almond ; Parkwood Springs, R. Moate. Heeley, Wellington, and Dronfield did not give in the names of their representatives. Application was then made by the Christ Church, Perseverance, and Surrey clubs for admission into the association, and on being carried, they sent as delegates Messrs. W. Jackson,  E. S. Drake, and M. Ellison. . . . In returning thanks for his re-election, Mr. J. C. Shaw said that this association had obtained a position in the football world equal, if not superior, to anything in the country, and suggested the desirabity of playing some first class foreign out and home match, instancing Scotland — some county, or London   ... Messrs. Bryans and Deans were then re-elected auditors... The Chairman now introduced Mr. C. W. Houseman, hon. sec. of the "South Derbyshire Football Association," to the meeting. In a telling and fluent speech, he — Mr. Houseman — informed his hearers of the interest taken in football in Derby, and the determination of the body of which he was the hon. sec. to join the Sheffield Association, should that body decide to abolish catching. They had been solicited to join the Metropolitan Association, but on trial of the respective rules, had decided almost to a man in favour of Sheffield. He said they numbered 11 clubs, and concluded by asking them to well consider the question at issue, as not only the Derbyshire Society, but the Nottingham Forest Club, he believed, would join and swell their ranks... Mr. J. Pashley then proposed and Mr. T. J. Anderson seconded that catching be abolished. An amendment in direct opposition to this was then made by Messrs. W. Littlehales and T. Rycroft. An animated discussion ensued, the supporters of catching urging that the grounds in Sheffield and neighbourhood were unfit for the non-catching rule, on account of their hilly nature. To this the other side responded that this was not a purely local subject, as was seen by the remarks of Mr. Houseman, and that in time a universal code might be adopted. On being put to the meeting, the non-catching rule was carried by 44 to 36. The rules are now so near the London Association, that that body, if they have the interest of football at heart, will concede a point, as the northerners have done in this instance. The off side rule is the only material point of difference, and this is one which can never be played in Sheffield, being characterised by the meeting as ridiculous. It was then passed that the advertising in the local papers should be continued. The names of defaulting members were then ordered to be recorded as heretofore, It was then proposed and carried, that the Dronfield Clnb be struck off the association list, for the breach of an important pecuniary rule. Some correspondence was then read between the hon. sec. and Mr. Alcock, the hon. sec. to the London Association, from which it appeared that last year the "London Wanderers" issued a challenge to play any team in the world. This was accepted by the Sheffield Association, but no answer was vouchsafed until early this season. It was to the effect that the match must be played through the London Association, who were then immediately challenged to play home and home matches, and home and home rules, the latter of which they declined to do on moral grounds. They arrogate to themselves the position of law-makers, evidently assuming themselves to be infallible. Mr. Alcock, however, said he could bring a team down of his own choosing, which was accordingly accepted... Votes of thanks to the retiring officers and Chairman, concluded business of the meeting.

SLIGHTLY different test from BLIL (OCR terrible): https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000355/18711014/029/0005

From Sporting Life: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000893/18711018/058/0004