Page:Football, The Association Game.djvu/20

 running with the ball in the case of a fair catch or on the first bound was allowed, and even the worst features of the Rugby game, hacking and tripping when running with the ball, were duly provided for.

Looking back by the light of subsequent experience, it seems a pity that the spirit of mutual concession which marked the first stage of the negotiations between the fathers of the Association and Rugby games should not have been maintained until the conferences were brought to a satisfactory issue. It is difficult, though, at the same time, I am bound to confess, to see what compromise could have been effected which would have ensured an amalgamation of rules so utterly dissimilar in their main principles, with one difference at least which seemed likely to prove an obstacle to anything like a permanent settlement.

In the mean time, while the leaders of the two great sects into which football players were practically divided, were seeking, and earnestly, a basis for mutual agreement, representatives of the principal schools had met at Cambridge with a similar object, to arrange rules which should unite them all under one common head. Of the committee appointed to draw up these rules, the Rev. R. Burn, of Shrewsbury School, was the chairman, Eton was represented by Messrs. R. H. Blake-Humfrey and W. F. Trench; Rugby, by Messrs. W. R. Collyer and M. F. Martin; Harrow, by Messrs. J. F. Prior and H. R. Williams; Marlborough, by Mr. W, P. Crawley; and Westminster, by Mr. W. S. Wright In these rules a player touching the ball down behind the opposite line was allowed a free kick twenty-five yards straight out from the goal-line. There was no mention, though, of running with the ball; and, though there was a stipulation allowing charging, holding, pushing with the hands, tripping up, and running were