Description of the Rules of Football as played at Cheltenham College (1863)

The Cheltenham ground is 120 yards long by 80 yards broad, and the game played there is, like that of Marlborough, closely allied to the Rugby system. There are some variations in the rules, but they are not very important, and the college may be said to play as the school plays.

With regard to hacking, it is declared unlawful to hold and hack at the same time. The rule making this provision also says :-- "No hacking with the heel above the knee is fair."

The 22nd and last rule in their set is a good one, designed to prevent that most cowardly description of play -- sneaking. It says: "When anyone is found sneaking in his opponents' goal, he must either not touch the ball, or, if he touches it, go out of the game."