In December 1863, a bunch of the most Victorian-sounding men imaginable gathered together to hammer out what would become the foundation of the beautiful game: the English Football Association’s rules for football.

But – by jove! – not much of what they agreed makes sense today. Marcus, Jim and Pete take you through it on today’s Guide!

What would you like us to cover on the Guides in 2023? Let us know @FootballRamble on Twitter or email us show@footballramble.com!

Sign up for our Patreon for exclusive live events, ad-free Rambles, full video episodes and loads more: patreon.com/footballramble.

***Please take the time to rate and review us on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your pods. It means a great deal to the show and will make it easier for other potential listeners to find us. Thanks!***

The Football Ramble, the original and best football podcast. Brand new podcasts every single weekday throughout the Premier League season and every day throughout the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Football Ramble’s Guide To… The Original Rules of Football