The History of Football in Sheffield

Rules

1869 Rules London FA Meeting

possible changes at FA Meeting

1. Do away with all handling except goalkeeper defending goal (designated goal keeper.

1870 Rules Sheffield Club v. Sheffield United Gymnasium Club

played old rules

catching had been recently recinded by the SFA but this wasn't an Association match.

At East Bank
Sheffield's first match against local opposition since 1866.
Gym club included J Marsh(c), Cleggs, JP Donovan & several others

Sheffield had initially stopped playing local teams because they were always playing the same players.

1871 Rules FA Kick In Rule - changed to Sheffield Rules
1. Kick in from corner flag by opposite team.
2. Penalty for foul is a free kick ???

1873 Rules FA Rules Meeting
to be discussed Thursday Feb 26 1874
1. Reduce max pitch size from 200by100 to 150 by 75
2. Change ends only once at half time
3. Free kick for offside
4. Replace 3 man offside with 1 man (Sheffield)
5. Clearer definition of goalie handling
(anywhere in London Rules)
6y Notts
10y Engineers

1874 Rules FA Meeting/Rules

at Freemason's Tavern
Representatives
Wanderers, Harrow Chequers, Royal Engineers, Maidenhead,Barnes, Old Etonians, Civil Service, Gitanos, Upton Park, Swifts, Storks, Ramblers, Southall, gresham, Kings Schools, Rochester, reading, Great Warlow, Windsor

praise for Sheffield Club and Shropshire Wanderers
propose two committee members should be Scottish(fail)
2/3 majority needed for rules change
minimum ground 100 by 50
change ends at half time only
rule 5 - Kick In proposed by Sheffield FA, Royal Engineers
some wanted kick in at right angles only
main motion failed
it was hoped this rule and offside would go someway to assimilation of Sheffield & London rules.

R.E. redefined definition of the role of the umpire

Q.Park - all free kicks indirect (including corner kicks)

1874 Rules Sheffield FA Meeting

at Adelphi Hotel - president JC Shaw
60 present

1. Rule 2 - all members should be of 2 years standing
2. Lowered height of bar from 9 ft to 8ft
ends changed at half time only
3 man offside turned down
WH Stacey said there was always bickering about whether someone was offside or not
5.goalkeeper allowed to handle in own half (rather than 3 yards - proposed by JC Clegg
6. Rul banning nails and iron plates from boots
7. Duties of the Umpire
proposed by JC Clegg
to carry a flag (or conspicuous item)
to decided foul without appeal
to decided if handball was on purpose

1874 Rules Letter about proposed rules change

from CW Alcock - 12th Feb

claims there was no vote for the kick in
saying there is no prejudice against Sheffield

1875 Rules Sheffield AGM
at Adelphi

law 6 - change to 3 man offside (as London) failed
law 5 - goalkeeper to be changed at anytime but only one goalkeeper at a time
goalkeeper may not carry the ball
trial matches to be reinstituted
letter of thanks from Glasgow

in associated comment - Sheffield FA teams called "blades"

1876 Rules RULES - letter from JF Hall(treasurer of SFA)

at meeting adopted scotch throw in in any direction (assimilating SFA kick in in any direction and London's throw in straight) and 3 man off-side (London)

but depended on London passing the rule - but it failed

he is worried about a split in football

1876 Rules Rules - SFA Meeting
at Mr Shapers Imperial Hotel

see letter of JF Hall re offside & throw in

suggestion Sheffield should look for patronage of local nobles (cf Earl of Wharncliffe)
mentions Marquis of Lorne - president of Scottish F.A.

AGM October

1876 Rules SFA AGM

at the Adelphi
too many people so JC Shaw suggests new venue (Imperial or Maunche)

balance around Ł70
names of clubs who had not paid was read out +clubs who had not paid cup fee

president JC Shaw
V-P RW Dickenson, FW Skinner
JF Hall(hon sec) to retire - suggest WP Dix take over
JF Hall elected treasurer.

Birmingham FA adopt Sheffield Rules
Quilter of Birmingham told of the development of the game in Birmingham.
Mr Dignam of Football Players Accident Society suggested SFA play exhibitions in Rugby playing towns.

New teams in SFA
Birmingham
Woodhouse Mill
Sharrow Rangers
Derby Clubs

1876 Rules GM to discuss attempted merger of rules of Scots FA and
London FA with SFA

two main points - throw in and off side

1. Change to throw in instead of kick in
2. Change to 3 man offside instead of one

SFA want London to agree to throw n before SFA agree to new offside

SFA want to solicit a nobleman in the way the Scots have
the Marquis of Lorne

Sheffield eventually got Earl of Wharncliffe

1879 Rules SFA AGM
met at the Imperial Hotel Castle Street
Walter Skinner presided
1. Change of rules - all public clubs of 2 years standing, playing rules of the association, shall be eligible for membership - dropped the 2 year rule

2. New rule - if a player fouls the ball within 2 yards of his own goal and in the umpires opinion a goal would have been obtained but for such a foul, a goal shall be given against the defending side

(PENALTY GOAL)

1880 Rules FA Meeting- March 1881

refereementioned in rules as arbiter of disputes between umpires.

They are to be time keepers, record keepers - be able to caution players for ungentlemanly behaviour and send players off for violent behaviour.

1880 rules Conference of Association Secretaries at Manchester.

Discussion over assimilation of Scottish and English rules.
The scots retain the throw in at right angles while the English have a throw in in any direction.
The scots strongly oppose this - some tried it out and were very upset (ayrshire and edinburgh)
A possible compromise was suggested that the team whose throw in it is get to advance up to 20 yards before throwing in at right angles.

The scots say the English throw in does not allow for skillful combined play.

The Scots were going to try it out

1881 Rules GM at Imperial Hotel of SFA

Rule 15 - Awarding a penalty goal (wait to see what London did)

Albion (in a snit) proposed the Cup be got rid of) - failed
Staveley wanted to add a rule about neutral refs - but lost
Heeley seemed obsessed with eligibility of players
Teams needed to pay 10s for an objection

1882 Rules FA Meeting Rules 8/1/83

represented :- Birmingham FA, Cambridge Uni, Old Etonians, Wanderers, Old Harrovians, Maidenhead, dreadnaught, Mosquitoes, Clapham Rovers, Pilgrims, Marlobro', Hotsput, Blackburn Rovers, Civil Service, Swifts, Sheffield Club, Old Westminster, Chesham

AGM in Feb

discussion about penalty goal for hand ball and charging in the back

1882 Rules Feb '83
SFA meeting to discuss rules

Heeley propose "That no player shall be allowed to receive any money or remuneration whatever beyond his actual travelling or hotel expenses>"

FA Rules accepted by SFA
except WE Clegg objected to law 11 which forbad shin guards

Cup Rules
first draw has choice of ground
divide gate money
only clubs within 20m radius of Sheffield allowed

no player to play for more than one club in any cups

1886 rules Whistle & Referee at Park Grange v. Walkley

1869	Rules	London FA Meeting possible changes at FA Meeting 1. Do away with all handling except goalkeeper defending goal (designated goal keeper.
1870	Rules	Sheffield Club v. Sheffield United Gymnasium Club played old rules catching had been recently recinded by the SFA but this wasn't an Association match. At East Bank Sheffield's first match against local opposition since 1866. Gym club included J Marsh(c), Cleggs, JP Donovan & several others Sheffield had initially stopped playing local teams because they were always playing the same players.
1871	Rules	FA Kick In Rule - changed to Sheffield Rules 1. Kick in from corner flag by opposite team. 2. Penalty for foul is a free kick ???
1873	Rules	FA Rules Meeting to be discussed Thursday Feb 26 1874 1. Reduce max pitch size from 200by100 to 150 by 75 2. Change ends only once at half time 3. Free kick for offside 4. Replace 3 man offside with 1 man (Sheffield) 5. Clearer definition of goalie handling (anywhere in London Rules) 6y Notts 10y Engineers
1874	Rules	FA Meeting/Rules at Freemason's Tavern Representatives Wanderers, Harrow Chequers, Royal Engineers, Maidenhead,Barnes, Old Etonians, Civil Service, Gitanos, Upton Park, Swifts, Storks, Ramblers, Southall, gresham, Kings Schools, Rochester, reading, Great Warlow, Windsor praise for Sheffield Club and Shropshire Wanderers propose two committee members should be Scottish(fail) 2/3 majority needed for rules change minimum ground 100 by 50 change ends at half time only rule 5 - Kick In proposed by Sheffield FA, Royal Engineers some wanted kick in at right angles only main motion failed it was hoped this rule and offside would go someway to assimilation of Sheffield & London rules. R.E. redefined definition of the role of the umpire Q.Park - all free kicks indirect (including corner kicks)
1874	Rules	Sheffield FA Meeting at Adelphi Hotel - president JC Shaw 60 present 1. Rule 2 - all members should be of 2 years standing 2. Lowered height of bar from 9 ft to 8ft ends changed at half time only 3 man offside turned down WH Stacey said there was always bickering about whether someone was offside or not 5.goalkeeper allowed to handle in own half (rather than 3 yards - proposed by JC Clegg 6. Rul banning nails and iron plates from boots 7. Duties of the Umpire proposed by JC Clegg to carry a flag (or conspicuous item) to decided foul without appeal to decided if handball was on purpose
1874	Rules	Letter about proposed rules change from CW Alcock - 12th Feb claims there was no vote for the kick in saying there is no prejudice against Sheffield
1875	Rules	Sheffield AGM at Adelphi law 6 - change to 3 man offside (as London) failed law 5 - goalkeeper to be changed at anytime but only one goalkeeper at a time goalkeeper may not carry the ball trial matches to be reinstituted letter of thanks from Glasgow in associated comment - Sheffield FA teams called "blades"
1876	Rules	RULES - letter from JF Hall(treasurer of SFA) at meeting adopted scotch throw in in any direction (assimilating SFA kick in in any direction and London's throw in straight) and 3 man off-side (London) but depended on London passing the rule - but it failed he is worried about a split in football
1876	Rules	Rules - SFA Meeting at Mr Shapers Imperial Hotel see letter of JF Hall re offside & throw in suggestion Sheffield should look for patronage of local nobles (cf Earl of Wharncliffe) mentions Marquis of Lorne - president of Scottish F.A. AGM October
1876	Rules	SFA AGM at the Adelphi too many people so JC Shaw suggests new venue (Imperial or Maunche) balance around Ł70 names of clubs who had not paid was read out +clubs who had not paid cup fee president JC Shaw V-P RW Dickenson, FW Skinner JF Hall(hon sec) to retire - suggest WP Dix take over JF Hall elected treasurer. Birmingham FA adopt Sheffield Rules Quilter of Birmingham told of the development of the game in Birmingham. Mr Dignam of Football Players Accident Society suggested SFA play exhibitions in Rugby playing towns. New teams in SFA Birmingham Woodhouse Mill Sharrow Rangers Derby Clubs
1876	Rules	GM to discuss attempted merger of rules of Scots FA and London FA with SFA two main points - throw in and off side 1. Change to throw in instead of kick in 2. Change to 3 man offside instead of one SFA want London to agree to throw n before SFA agree to new offside SFA want to solicit a nobleman in the way the Scots have the Marquis of Lorne Sheffield eventually got Earl of Wharncliffe
1879	Rules	SFA AGM met at the Imperial Hotel Castle Street Walter Skinner presided 1. Change of rules - all public clubs of 2 years standing, playing rules of the association, shall be eligible for membership - dropped the 2 year rule 2. New rule - if a player fouls the ball within 2 yards of his own goal and in the umpires opinion a goal would have been obtained but for such a foul, a goal shall be given against the defending side (PENALTY GOAL)
1880	Rules	FA Meeting- March 1881 refereementioned in rules as arbiter of disputes between umpires. They are to be time keepers, record keepers - be able to caution players for ungentlemanly behaviour and send players off for violent behaviour.
1880	rules	Conference of Association Secretaries at Manchester. Discussion over assimilation of Scottish and English rules. The scots retain the throw in at right angles while the English have a throw in in any direction. The scots strongly oppose this - some tried it out and were very upset (ayrshire and edinburgh) A possible compromise was suggested that the team whose throw in it is get to advance up to 20 yards before throwing in at right angles. The scots say the English throw in does not allow for skillful combined play. The Scots were going to try it out
1881	Rules	GM at Imperial Hotel of SFA Rule 15 - Awarding a penalty goal (wait to see what London did) Albion (in a snit) proposed the Cup be got rid of) - failed Staveley wanted to add a rule about neutral refs - but lost Heeley seemed obsessed with eligibility of players Teams needed to pay 10s for an objection
1882	Rules	FA Meeting Rules 8/1/83 represented :- Birmingham FA, Cambridge Uni, Old Etonians, Wanderers, Old Harrovians, Maidenhead, dreadnaught, Mosquitoes, Clapham Rovers, Pilgrims, Marlobro', Hotsput, Blackburn Rovers, Civil Service, Swifts, Sheffield Club, Old Westminster, Chesham AGM in Feb discussion about penalty goal for hand ball and charging in the back
1882	Rules	Feb '83 SFA meeting to discuss rules Heeley propose "That no player shall be allowed to receive any money or remuneration whatever beyond his actual travelling or hotel expenses>" FA Rules accepted by SFA except WE Clegg objected to law 11 which forbad shin guards Cup Rules first draw has choice of ground divide gate money only clubs within 20m radius of Sheffield allowed no player to play for more than one club in any cups
1886	rules	Whistle & Referee at Park Grange v. Walkley