User:Grover cleveland/History of the laws of the game/Sheffield/1875


 * 1874
 * 1876

Interesting letter
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000181/18750217/043/0004 (SI Sheffield Independent - Wednesday 17 February 1875)

FOOTBALL PROPOSED CHANGES IS LONDON ASSOCIA- TION RULES. To the Editor.— ln answering Mr. C. W. .Hook's letter, published in ycur impression of Monday last, in connection with the above subject, allow me to explain that Clapham Rovers were inadvertently associated with an addition to the "kick in" role instead of Harrow Chequers. The context, however, clear.y showed who was meant. The hon. sec. of the Football Association appears to imply that in criticising some of their proposed changes, more particularly with respect to the influence they will bear on Sheffield play, I am increasing rath ir than lessening the difficulty of a conciliation. I yield to nobody in my desire for a universal coile of rules for the noble game ; but as I have yet to learn that the meeting on the 2 1th inst. ia for the purpose of a ootu- binatidn, I consider I had a perfect right to " draw comparisons " and make " estimates of advantages in a local paper, with respect to their bearing on loc*l football, without in the slightest degree widening the breach in the rules of the two associations. The addi- tion to the proposition of the Harrow Chequers excited considerable feeling here, and would have prevented anything liae unity of action, if persevered in. It is moat creditable to tae association that they have expunged it. If the two associations were in earnest in their endeavours to institute a permanent set of rules, they would meet and amicably settle the matter. Thia mode of pro- cedure would doubtless induce mutual concessions, and with one permanent code, the game would be aolidifi :d in a remarkable degree. Then would be the time to abstain from " comparisona " and " eßtimafces." The Sheffield Association have power to send two delegates to the London meeting, a fact which iustifiea tie " prophecy " of the rejection of the proposition by Sheffield, as to the London and Sheffield off side rules. I repeat there will be many at the meeting practical >j unacquainted with Sheffield rules, and those who ha/c heard the almost contemptuous manner in which tho " Bneak " ia spoken of, will expect some to be present who may be a little prejudiced. However, let us hope something may be done at the two meetinga — Sheffield being fixed for Thursday the 2oth — to bring about a more satisfactory state of affairs ; and should the wel- fare of the winter game be forwarded, nobody will be more gratified than Yours faithfully, YOUR FOOTBALL EXPORTER

FA meeting rejects Sheffield's proposed kick-ins (1872-02-24)
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001055/18750225/037/0004

Rule changes (1875-02-25)
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001055/18750227/101/0006 (The Sportsman)

SHEFFIELD FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. A v*rv large meeting of players was held at Sheffield on flioraday night last, to conekler the alterations proposed in rule*. The following proposals were carried : Rule 8. —To erane Rule 2, and substitute the foMowing: * Hut all public ol two ysars’standing be eligible tor mbjrsbip. Jsaw I.—To eraee the words "nine feet” and “sight feet.” Law R—To add the following: Nor shall any player ol her Bide pass the centre of the ground iu the dirvetiun his opponent's goal until after the ball kicked.” Law A—To erase Law 3, and substitute lire following" shall only changed half-time. After a goal is won the losing fide ehall kick off. bat after the change of euds liatf Uuß* the boll shall kicked off by the opposite side (rum which originally did so, and always provided in U v 2." Caw A—To erase tire word " tape," and substitute ** Ortr.’’ Law B.—To erase Law 8, and substitute the following“ Chat no player allowed handle the ball under a.iy pretext whatever." Law It.—To aild the following" Any player olfetidlng ■hall be oousidcred out of piay eo long as the infringement ooutinuea, and no other player shall take his " Law 12.—T0 add the (oil swing:— ** And supplied with mull flag or other conspicuous article with which may dra v attention, the ball always being considered in play until be has given bts decision. ** The Lordon rule of off-side was propose 1, but uerttivod, strong point being made of the absence of conciliation shown by the Londoners on the previous evening with regard to kick in rule of bheffield. Unquestionably unwise policy A the majority at the London meeting prevented the in.ueliate amalgamation of the two codes.

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000250/18750220/150/0001 (Sheffield DT)

SHEFFIELD FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. The ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING for the Alteration of the Rules and Laws the Game will be held at the ADELPHI HOTEL, on THURSDAY. February 25th, at Eight o'Clock in the Evening, when the following proposed Alterations will be considered :— RULE 2 —To erase Rule 2, and substitute the following :-"That all Public Clubs of two years' standing be eligible for Membership." Law 1.—To erase the words "nine feet," and substitute "eight feet." Law 2 —To add the following :—" Nor shall any Player on either side pass the centre of the ground the direction of hia opponent'sgoal until after the ball is kicked " Law 3.—To erase Law 3, and substitute the following :—" After a goal is won, ends shall be changed, and the losing side shall kick off. In the event, however, of no goal having fallen to either side at the lapse of half the allotted time, ends shall then be changed. After the change of ends at half-time ends shall not again be changed, and the same side as originally kicked off shall kick off as provided in the second part of Law 2 "Law 3.—To erase Law 3 and substitute the following : " Ends shall only be changed at half-time. After a goal is won the losing side shall kick off, but after the change of ends at half-time the ball shall be kicked off by the opposite side from that which originally did so, and always as provided in Law 2." Law 4.—To erase the word "tape" and substitute "bar." Law 6—To erase Law 6 and substitute the following : "When a player kicks the ball any one of the same side who, at such moment kicking, is nearer to the opponents' goal-line is out of play, and may not touch the ball himself, nor in any way whatever prevent any other player from doing so until the ball has been played, unless there are at least three of his opponents nearer their own goal-line; but no player is out of play when the ball is kicked from the goal-line." Law 8 -To erase Law 8 and substitute the following: -- "That no player be allowed to handle the ball under any pretext whatever." Law 8.—To erase the latter part of Law 8 and substitute the following:—" The goal-keeper shall be exempt from this Rule, and shall be allowed to use his hands in defence of his goal, but shall not carry the ball. The goal-keeper may changed during the game, but not more than one player shall act as goal-keeper at the same time, and no second player shall step in and act during any period in which the regular goal-keeper may have vacated his position." Law 11.—To add the following:—"Any player so offending shall considered out of play so long as the infringement continues, and no other player shall take his place." Definitions.—To erase the definition of handling and substitute the following :—"Handling" is understood to be playing the ball intentionally with the hand or arm. But it shall not be understood to include those cases in which the ball accidentally comes into contact with the hands or arms of a player, unless the umpire shall be of an opinion that the side to which the player so offending belongs has secured any advantage therefrom. Law 12—To add the following:-- And to be supplied with a small flag or other conspicuous article with which he may draw attention, the ball always being considered in play until he has given his decision. J. F. HALL, Hon. Sec.

Sheffield DT report: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000250/18750226/054/0003

SHEFFIELD FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. The annual general meeting the Sheffield Footbs.ll Association was held last evening, for tha alteration rules and laws of the game, at Mr. Adelphi Hotel, Arundel-street. Mr. J. C. Shaw, the president, was in the chair. There were about members present Mr. Hall, the honorary secretary, mad* the firsfVrjposition with respect to rule No. 2, viz, " That all pubm clubs of two years' standing be eligible for membership." After long discussion to the definition the word pubiic as applied to club«, it was carried, with the understanding that the word public should read, club open to tbe public, not confined to works or schools. Mr. Hall then proposed that the height the cross of goal should be eight feet from the ground instead of nine, which was carriod. was unanimously carried that ends should only be changed at time and not as each goal was scored. The London off side rule was then proposed, but after some discussion wss negatived. We doubt not ii the Londoners had shown more conciliatory spirit, the off-side rule would have been accepted. An amendment by Mr. J. C. does away with the three yards limit respecting the keeper, and he (the player for the time being nearest goal) is allowed to use his hands in defence of his goal t» any distance. Any player having projecting nails on the soles or heels of his boots can be objected to, and is out of play long as the infringement continues. Handling the ball is left the -discretion of umpires to whether it is intentional not on the part of the player. vote thanks to the chairman excluded the meeting.

BETTER REPORT: SPORTSMAN: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0001055/18750227/101/0006

SHEFFIELD FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION. A v*rv large meeting of players was held at Sheffield on flioraday night last, to conekler the alterations proposed in rule*. The following proposals were carried : Rule 8. âTo erane Rule 2, and substitute the foMowing: * Hut all public ol two ysarsâstanding be eligible tor mbjrsbip. Jsaw I.âTo eraee the words "nine feetâ and âsight feet.â Law RâTo add the following: Nor shall any player ol her Bide pass the centre of the ground iu the dirvetiun his opponent's goal until after the ball kicked.â Law AâTo erase Law 3, and substitute lire following" shall only changed half-time. After a goal is won the losing fide ehall kick off. bat after the change of euds liatf UuÃ* the boll shall kicked off by the opposite side (rum which originally did so, and always provided in U v 2." Caw AâTo erase tire word " tape," and substitute ** Ortr.ââ Law B.âTo erase Law 8, and substitute the followingâ Chat no player allowed handle the ball under a.iy pretext whatever." Law 11.âTo add the following:-- "Any player so offending shall be considered out of play so long as the infringement continues, and no other player shall take his place." Law 12.âT0 add the (oil swing:â ** And supplied with mull flag or other conspicuous article with which may dra v attention, the ball always being considered in play until be has given bts decision. ** The Lordon rule of off-side was propose 1, but uerttivod, strong point being made of the absence of conciliation shown by the Londoners on the previous evening with regard to kick in rule of bheffield. Unquestionably unwise policy A the majority at the London meeting prevented the in.ueliate amalgamation of the two codes.

SHEFFIELD INDEPENDENT: https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000181/18750226/043/0004

AGM October 1875
No rule changes

https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000250/18751016/069/0010

Complaint of "absurd rivalry" between Sheffield FA and FA
https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000156/18750302/046/0008 (Bury and Norwich Post - Tuesday 02 March 1875)

The Club played under the great disadvantage of having their best Association men playing against them instead of for them. For the first half-hour they were all abroad, and after playing Rugby Union rules they could not observe the stringent rules of the Association, and frequent handling was the result. For the last hour, however, they played much better, and though there was no brilliant individual flay, a lot of hard work was done by tbe whole team, 'his match showed how useless it is to attempt to play without an umpire, and it would have been much more satisfactory if some definite opinion could have been given on both the pieces of play which so nearly obtained goals for the Club. While the present absurd rule of off- side is in force, it is nearly impossible for a " player " to give a decided opinion on any point, as a man who is playing hard and keeping his eye well fixed on the ball is scarcely able to watch the position of others, and say at a given moment whether there are three adversaries between a certaiu player aud the opposite goal or not. The sooner the London and Sheffield Associations drop their absurd jealousies and revise the rule on this point, the better it will be for the followers of the game, which is now so erroneously called a " dribbling " game.

RECONSTRUCTED RULES OF 1875
1. The maximum length of the ground shall be 200 yards, and the maximum breadth 100 yards. The length and breadth shall be marked of by flags, and the goals shall be upright posts, eight yards apart with a bar across them, eight feet from the ground.

2. 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 opposite side shall not approch within 10 yards of the ball until it is kicked off, nor shall any player on either side past the centre of the ground in the direction of his opponents' goal until the ball is kicked.

3. Ends shall only be changed at half time. After a goal is won, the losing side shall kick-off, but after the change of ends at half-time the ball shall be kicked off by the opposite side from that which originally did so, and always provided in law 2.

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

5. When a ball is in touch, a player of the opposite side of that which kicked it out, shall kick it from where it went out, and no player be allowed within six yards of the ball, until kicked. The player who thus kicks the ball, shall not kick it again until it has been kicked by another player.

6. Any player between the opponent's goal and goalkeeper (unless he has followed the ball there), is off-side and out of play. The Goalkeeper is the player on the defending side, for the time being, is nearest his own goal.

7. When the ball is kicked over the bar of the goal, 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. When the ball is kicked out behind the goal line, a player of the opposite side to that which kicked it out, shall kick it in from the nearest corner flag. No player to be allowed within six yards of te ball until kicked.

8. No player, except the goalkeeper, shall stop the ball with his hand or arm extended from the body. The side breaking this rule forfeits a free kick to the opposite side, and the offending side shall not approach within six yards of the kicker; but nothing in this rule shall extend to drive them to stand behind their goal line. The defending side shall be exempt from this rule, within three yards of the goal.

9. No goal shall be obtained by a free kick.

10. Neither tripping nor hacking shall be allowed, and no player shall use his hands to hold or push his adversary, nor charge him from behind. Any player so offending, shall forfeit a free kick to the opposite side.

11. No player shall wear spikes, projecting nails, or iron plates on the soles or heels of his boots. Any player so offending shall be considered out of play so long as the infringement continues, and no other player shall take his place.

12. An umpire shall be appointed by each side, at the commencement of the game, to enforce the preceding rules, whose decision on all points during the game shall be final. And they shall be the sole judges of fair and unfair play, and have power to give a pnalty for foul play of any kind. Each umpire to be referee in that half of the field nearest the goal defended by the party nominating him. Each umpire to be referee in that half of the field nearest the goal defended by the party nominating him, and to be supplied with a small flag, or other conspicuous article, with which he can draw attention, the ball always being considered in play until he has given his decision.