First UK footie rulebook to be auctioned for 1.2 m pounds

London, July 12 (ANI): The first football rulebook is set to fetch ?1.2million at auction this week - and it reveals a funny old game.

According to The Sun, the world's oldest club, Sheffield FC, which is now selling the 1858 laws to raise cash, laid down the rules. hey bear little similarity to the modern game.

Matches then lasted for two hours. There 20 players a side. Handballs were allowed. It was also OK to catch the ball provided it had not touched the ground. And charging was considered fair.

The 11 laws - known as the Sheffield Rules - were an attempt to regulate a game that was still halfway between football and rugby.

They formed the basis for the FA's Laws of the Game in 1863 - the blueprint for modern football.

Goal kicks arrived in 1869 and corners in 1871. Refs got whistles in 1878 and penalties followed in 1891.

Stoppage time was also introduced in 1891 after a bizarre match between Stoke and Aston Villa.

Stoke got a last-minute penalty only for the Villa goalie to boot the ball out of the ground. By the time it was returned, the match was over.

The rulebook is part of a huge footie archive being put up for sale by Sheffield FC at London's Sotheby's on Thursday. (ANI)