Rules Of Association Football, 1863

Product Description

The Rule Book of The FA from 1863 is one of the most important books ever published
- according to the writer & broadcaster Melvyn Bragg. Drawing on his recently published work, he explains in the Introduction why this book is one of the Twelve Books that Changed the World (Hodder & Stoughton, April 2006). Published to coincide with the World Cup in June 2006, this unassuming little book sets out the thirteen original rules as first written down by a group of frustrated former public school men at the Freemason`s Tavern in Lincoln`s Inn Fields. Every rule is accompanied by images from the h&-written manuscript preserved at The FA which records the first time that anyone put pen to paper & wrote down the fundamental tenets of football, such as the definition of a free kick or the length of a regulation football pitch. When these rules were originally published, it became possible for everyone, everywhere to play the same game, & it was this that enabled the `beautiful game` to become the worldwide force it is today. As Sir Bobby Charlton explains in the foreword, the fourteen original rules embody the essence of the game, & instil admiration for the honesty, courage, & skill of its players. These rules have not simply made it possible to play football; they embody its spirit & heritage. The book is officially endorsed by The FA & supported by a publicity initiative backed by The FA.