Is this the earliest record of Football being played in our immediate area by the Rules of the Rugby Code?

Dated to October 25^th 1873, Castle Eden Athletic Club ordered 50 copies of the Football Rules that they wished to play, to be ready for the next Saturday, 1^st November, which at this time was the start of "winter" for Footballers.

The Rules are similar to those agreed at the foundation of the Rugby Football Union in England just a few years beforehand, which had been formed to agree one code of Laws for the game played under the Rugby (School) Code, but of course, no such thing as a Referee in those times, that was a decade away.   Athletics had been a winter sport but had moved to summer time hence the need for a winter pastime such as Football, which reflected the Muscular Christianity values of Teamwork, Courage, Loyalty and Self-Discipline, which underpin the core values to the game today.

At this time Football Clubs playing under the Rugby Code were formed in the wider area, Durham School as early as 1850 and based on their town cricket Clubs both Darlington 1865 and Sunderland 1870 were playing regularly. In addition Grammar Schools such as Houghton Kepier, Darlington, King James, Bishop Auckland and Richmond would also turn sides out sides at this period.

 Here in Hartlepool the first formal club Harlepool Foot Ball Club came into being in 1875 however Arthur Hill speaking at the 1890 Rovers AGM recalled playing football "17 years ago" i.e. 1873 when it was 30 - a -side.

Date (of image) : 25/10/1873

Donor : Hartlepool Museum Service

Creator : J. Procter

Part of the "Robert Wood Collection" collection