REPLAYING HISTORY

Celebrate New Westminster’s Soccer History as Part of the city’s 150^th Anniversary!

Re-enactment of the First Soccer Game in BC

Sapperton Rovers vs. Royal City Club coaches

1:30 pm, May 18, 2009

Queens Park Stadium

Free Admission

The first recorded soccer game in BC was played 147 years ago in New Westminster on Victoria Day, May 24, 1862, in the Woodlands/Victoria Hill area. The old Royal Columbian newspaper reported that the Victoria Day celebration included several sporting and cultural events, including a “football” (soccer) match between the Royal Engineers and the townsfolk. Since a record of the actual outcome no longer exists both teams are able to claim they won in a hard fought match.

The Royal Engineers came to New Westminster in 1858, with a Detachment of around 200 men under the command of Colonel Richard Moody. They set up camp in the current Sapperton neighbourhood of New Westminster. They surveyed the town site of New Westminster, laid out Stanley Park, built public offices and churches and also built the first road linking New Westminster to the interior of British Columbia. They were very busy helping build New Westminster, the capital of British Columbia, but with their limited free time they were able to try their hand at soccer and cricket.

By 1862, the Royal Engineers had a high level soccer team in England who a few years later were competing for the English Football Association championship. Soccer rules were different in 1862, as were the uniforms. The Royal Engineers soccer uniform consisted of black knickerbockers and red and blue striped wool jerseys and socks.

The Royal Engineers in New Westminster played soccer regularly and took their first soccer trip in 1865 when they travelled to Victoria to play a game. When the Royal Engineers detachment in New Westminster disbanded several years later, their direct involvement in soccer ended but they created a tradition which has lived until this day, with New Westminster teams having a history of success on the soccer field.

A trophy was purchased in 1920 to recognize British Columbia’s champions and that trophy is still use today by the British Columbia Soccer Association. In the first 5 years, teams from Vancouver Island won the trophy, but that changed when New Westminster won it for the first time in 1926. That soccer team, the New Westminster Royals, went on to become the most successful soccer team in Canadian history, winning more national titles than any other team!

The first game from 1862 will be re-enacted using the Cambridge Soccer rules of 1862, which were used for competitive soccer in England. These are the rules by which this special re-enactment game will be played by:

THE CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY RULES

Rule 1 The length of the ground shall be not more than 150 yards. The ground shall be marked out by posts, and two posts shall be placed on each side line, at a distance of 25 yards from each goal line.

Rule 2 The goals shall consist of two upright poles at a distance of 15 feet from each other.

Rule 3 The choice of goals and kick off shall be determined by tossing, and the ball shall be kicked off from the middle of the ground.

Rule 4 In a match when half the time agreed upon has elapsed, the sides shall change goals, when the ball is next out of play. After a change or a goal obtained, the kick off shall be from the middle of the ground in the same direction as before. The time during which the match shall last, and the numbers on each side are to be settled by the heads of the sides.

Rule 5 When a player has kicked the ball, any one of the same side who is nearer to the opponent's goal line is out of play, and may not touch the ball himself, nor in anyway whatsoever prevent any other player from doing so.

Rule 6 When the ball goes out of the ground by crossing the sidelines, it is out of play, and shall be kicked straight into the ground again from the point it is first stopped.

Rule 7 When a player has kicked the ball beyond the opponent's goal line; whoever first touches the ball (touchdown) when it is on the ground with his hands may have a free kick, bringing the ball 25 yards straight out from the goal line.

Rule 8 No player may touch the ball behind his opponent's goal line, who is behind it when the ball is kicked there.

Rule 9 If the ball is touched down behind the goal line and beyond the line of the side posts, the free kick shall be from the 25 yards post.

Rule 10 When a player has a free kick, no-one of his own side may be between him and his opponent's goal line, and no-one of the opposite side may stand within 10 yards of him.

Rule 11 A free kick may be taken in any manner the player chooses.

Rule 12 A goal is obtained when the ball goes out of the ground by passing between the posts had they been of sufficient height.

Rule 13 The ball when in play may be stopped by any part of the body, but may not be held or hit by the hands, arms, or shoulders.

Rule 14 All charging is fair; but holding, pushing with the hands, tripping up and shinning are forbidden.

Differences with the Modern Game

In addition to the simplicity of the Cambridge Rules, there are several other important differences with the game of football we know today. Although there were usually 11 players, there was no rule to stipulate this, or even that the two sides should have equal numbers. In fact, it was not uncommon for games to be played with unequal numbers.

The goals consisted of two uprights with no crossbar. A goal could be scored if the ball passed between them at whatever height in the same way as a conversion kick in rugby.

The offside rule was the same as in rugby. This is, if a player was in front of the ball, he was off side, so no forward passes to team mates were possible. This meant that members of the same side formed up behind and on either side the player with the ball a tactic called 'backing up'.

In the modern game, possession of the ball would be turned over to the opposition if a defending player were to play the ball in any way with their hand (Handball) and in instances where the ball was played in the penalty area, a free-kick would be awarded. Under the Cambridge rules, players could not catch the ball, but could stop it with their hands.

There were no throw-ins: the ball was kicked back in from where it was first stopped.

When the ball was kicked over the goal line whichever team touched it down first got a free kick 25 yards in from where it was touched down. If the attacking team achieved such a 'touch down', it represented an excellent opportunity to score a goal.

All shoulder barging was fair and it was therefore possible to barge a player who was in possession of the ball, rather than going for the ball itself. Likewise, on 50/50 balls, players would shoulder barge in a much more aggressive way than would occur in today's game.

Although the position of goalkeeper seemed to have existed, the player concerned played by the same rules as his team mates, all of whom may have kept goal if the need arose, probably similar to the 'rush goalie' principle.

Rule Modifications for 2009 Re-enactment Game

In the early years, player substitutions were not allowed, even in the case of injuries. The Cambridge Rules do not mention substitutions; therefore the rule modification is to allow substitutions at half time.

The Cambridge rules do not mention punishment for fouls. The rule modification is to adopt current yellow and red card rules for fouls.

Strategy and Tactics

Success in the 1860’s game requires skill in dribbling (since forward passes are not allowed), long distance shots on net and strategic placement of players on the field. A useful tactic is to kick the ball long into one of the opposing teams corners of the field and try to keep the ball in that area.