Chapter 51 – The Offside Rule

I take out another commission letter and contemplate its contents. I seal in its gilt-edged envelope, which sparkles in the sunshine. I will post it tomorrow.

A horde of children are playing football in the Recreation Ground, with goalposts built with old clothes and boundary lines marked by onlooking children. Nearly four years have passed since we stumbled across the Young Mens Christian Association in that very spot.

Robert and William’s report from the Football Association AGM was debated vigorously within the club. As a member we will adopt all the Association Rules, including Rule 6. 

“When a player has kicked the ball, any one of the same side who is nearer to the opponents’ goal-line is out of play, and may not touch the ball himself nor in any way whatever prevent any other player from doing so until the ball has been played, unless there are at least three of his opponents between him and their own goal; but no player is out of play when the ball is kicked from behind the goal-line.”

Work has already begun on how we best use this rule to our advantage.

Swissy and I head for home, where Arabella and the children await. There is excitement in our household, as we celebrate Adair’s fourth birthday. How time flies?

———————————- © Graeme Brown 2019 ————————————-