Original 1863 football rule book to share glory with Magna Carta at British Library

The original football rules book is reportedly set to be displayed at the British Library on Wednesday as one of its Treasures along with the Magna Carta and the works of Shakespeare

According to the Mirror, the Football Association (FA) Minute Book was written in 1863 and has been hailed as one of the most important documents of all time as it helped shape the modern football game.

The report further said that the book, featuring 13 rules, would go on display in the Sir John Ritblat Gallery, which features everything from sacred religious texts to handwritten lyrics by The Beatles, until December 2013 as part of the FA's 150th anniversary celebrations taking place this year.

The report also said that the book, selected as one of the 'Twelve Books That Changed The World', has previously been valued at more than one million pounds, but has been estimated to be worth more than double that amount now.

According to a source, the book is the original rule book of football and thus deserved the honour as a national treasure of literature as it is one of the most important documents in the world given the popularity of football today.

The laws were written by Ebenezer Morley, the first secretary of the FA, and includes the rule- 'No player shall carry the ball', the report added.