Players at a tournament yesterday revived historic rules of football that haven't been in use for over 100 years.

The Sheffield Rules, which allowed players to catch the ball and push players, were devised in 1858 and out of favour two decades later.

Yesterday four schools from across Sheffield competed under the 1858 rules at Sandygate Road, home to Hallam FC.

However, to meet modern health and safety standards, no 'hacking' or 'charging' was allowed.

Uriah Rennie, former Premier League referee and current president of Hallam FC, refereed wearing a top hat.

He said: "I have refereed around the world but I have always been drawn back to Sheffield where I grew up.

"Football is loved right across the globe but not many people realise the game actually originates from Sheffield.

"It's been a real eye-opener learning the original rules to referee this competition."

The event was the culmination of a community project funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund to investigate the origins of the modern game.