Sheffield rules

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The Sheffield Rules were a code of football devised and played in the English city of Sheffield between 1857 and 1878. They were devised by Nathaniel Creswick and William Prest, for use by the newly founded Sheffield F.C.. The rules were subsequently adopted as the official rules of Sheffield Football Association and spread beyond the city boundaries to other clubs and associations in the north of England.

The Football Association rules created in 1863 were based in part on the Sheffield Rules, but Sheffield clubs continued using their own rules. In 1877, a merger of the FA and Sheffield rules was agreed and the Sheffield clubs adopted the new rules in 1878.

1 Original rules
2 Early Years
3 Years of innovation
4 Sheffield and London
5 Innovations
6 Influence
7 See also
8 References

[edit] Original rules

The kick from the middle must be a place kick.
Kick Out must not be more than 25 yards out of goal.
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.
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.
Pushing with the hands is allowed but no hacking or tripping up is fair under any circumstances whatever.
No player may be held or pulled over.
It is not lawful to take the ball off the ground (except in touch) for any purpose whatever.
The ball may be pushed or hit with the hand, but holding the ball except in the case of a free kick is altogether disallowed.
A goal must be kicked but not from touch nor by a free kick from a catch.
A ball in touch is dead, consequently the side that touches it down must bring it to the edge of the touch and throw it straight out from touch.
Each player must provide himself with a red and dark blue flannel cap, one colour to be worn by each side.

[edit] Early Years

Sheffield F.C. was officially established on 24 October 1857. They had written to several public schools requesting copies of their own rules to base the new rule book on. Initially the code was only played by Sheffield F.C. members. Games such as married Vs singles and professionals Vs the rest were played by the club members. There was not any change in the laws during this time other than wording improvements.

Two major events took place in 1860. On the 31 January a meeting was held where it was resolved that Law 8 should be expunged and replaced with Holding the ball (except in the case of a free kick) or knocking or pushing it on is altogether disallowed^[1]. On the pitch the world’s first inter-club match took place on Boxing Day (26 December) of that year. Sheffield F.C. beat the newly formed Hallam F.C. 2-0. It would be the start of a highly experimental decade.

[edit] Years of innovation

In 1861 Rouges were introduced into the code. The idea was borrowed from Eton and involved a 4 yard goal (as opposed to 8 yards). There were also flags placed an additional 4 yards each side of the goal. If the ball was kicked between the rouge flags and subsequently touched down the team scored a rouge. If the score was tied at the end of the game then rouges could be used to decide the winner.

The first rule book was published in 1862^[2]. A total of 17 laws had been introduced by this stage. The game of the time was still a violent one. There was a report of a match on 29 December between Sheffield and Hallam where Creswick was being held by two players and accidentally punched one of the players (Waterfall). A general riot ensued after which Waterfall was sent to guard the goal as punishment^[3].

By the mid 1860s there were a number of codes of football being played throughout the country^[4]. However there was a consolatory mood being taken by the clubs involved as demonstrated by a letter sent to Notts County stating that Sheffield would adopt the offside rule if they would abandon one of their rules^[5].

Further progress was made in 1867 when the Corner kick was conceived and the world's first football tournament, the Youdan Cup was played under the rules. The Sheffield Football Association was also created to organise the tournament and subsequently took control of the rules of the game. Rouges were abandoned a year later.

[edit] Sheffield and London

Interaction between Sheffield and The Football Association was limited during the 1860s. Only one match was played between Sheffield F.C. and London^[6] and all suggested rule changes went unheeded. This changed in 1871 and the FA became more receptive to these suggestions. Between 1871 and 1876 a total of 16 matches were played between the Sheffield and London associations^[3]. As well as playing under both Sheffield and London rules, additional matches were played using a mixture of both sets. Aspects of the Sheffield game were also incorporated into the FA rules.

By 1877 it was clear that the situation had become impractical. Strong letters from Stuart G. Smith (captain, Manchester Association F.C.) and W. S. Bambridge (Marlborough College) were published in The Field, it was decided to unite the kicking game under one set of laws. After FA rules incorporated some more elements from the Sheffield game it was agreed that these would be used by all clubs in the 1878/79 season.

[edit] Innovations

The Corner kick was first developed under Sheffield Rules.

They also created the first goals with tape crossbars and subsequently solid crossbars^[7]. Corner kicks and awarded free kicks for fouls were also conceived in Sheffield games^[8].

It is unclear exactly when the offside rule was first used. However in a letter to the FA, written in 1863, about its rules the Sheffield secretary stated "We have no printed rule like your No. 6 [the offside] but I have written a rule in the book, which is always played by us"^[3]. In the Sheffield version one man was required between the player and opposition goal to remain onside.

The most enduring rules of the Sheffield game prevented a goal from being scored by free kick or throw in/kick in. This was present in every version of the Sheffield Rules and was later adopted within the FA rules^[9]. It was later refined by the International Football Association Board into the modern day indirect free kick.

[edit] Influence

During the 1860's Sheffield and London were the dominant football cultures in England^[10]. Outside of Sheffield, other clubs including members of the Birmingham FA, Nottingham Forest and Derby clubs also adopted Sheffield Rules^[11]. Many of rules in the Sheffield game are still featured in today’s game.

In 1866 at a match between London and Sheffield it was officially decided that a game should last 90 minutes – and exactly how heavy and big the ball should be^[12]

Despite the loss of their own rules Sheffield remained the centre of the footballing world until the on set of profesionallism^[13]. The innovative streak also remained. In 1879 they played the first ever floodlit match at Bramall Lane.