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Page Last Updated 16 January 2014
 

The dimensions of the field of play shall be—
maximum length, 130 yards ; minimum length, 100 yards ;
maximum breadth, 100 yards ; minimum breadth, 50 yards.
(In International matches, the dimensions of the field of play shall be—maximum length, 110 yards ; maximum breadth 80 yards ; minimum breadth, 70 yards ;)
The field of play shall be marked by boundary lines.
The lines at each end are the goal-lines, and the lines at the sides are the touch-lines.
The touch-lines shall be drawn at right angles with the goal-lines.
A flag with a staff not less than 5 feet high shall be placed at each corner. 
A half-way line shall be marked out across the field of play.
The centre of the field of play shall be indicated by a suitable mark, and a circle with a 10 yards radius shall be made round it.
The goals shall be upright posts fixed on the goal-lines, equi-distant from the corner flag staffs, 8 yards apart, with a bar across them 8 feet from the ground.
The maximum width of the goal-posts and the maximum depth of the cross-bar shall be 5 inches.
Lines shall be marked 6 yards from each goal-post at right angles to the goal-lines for a distance of 6 yards, and these shall be connected with each other by a line parallel to the goal-lines ; the space within these lines shall be the goal area.
Lines shall be marked 18 yards from each goal-post at right angles to the goal-lines for a distance of 18 yards, and these shall be connected with each other by a line parallel to the goal-lines ' the space within these lines shall be the penalty area.
A suitable mark shall be made opposite the centre of each goal, 12 yards from the goal-line ; this shall be the penalty kick mark.

as drawn up by William Pickford (Hampshire FA's treasurer)

from the Derby Daily Telegraph, Friday 15 March 1912:-
TO IMPROVE FOOTBALL
Next season [1912-13] promise to introduce an important change in the F.A. rules which may considerably alter the styles now in vogue. It is proposed that the present 18 yards penalty line shall be extended to the touch-lines, and that outside this area a player cannot be offside. The alteration will probably meet with general approval.... The obvious intention of the authorities is to check the growing tendency to resort to the one-back game, and for that reason the alteration will meet with the whole-hearted support of the spectator who likes to see good football and detests to hear too much whistle.... A boundary mark half-way between the goal and the half-way line would appear more equitable.

CG