The world’s first club: Sheffield FC

HISTORY IN

Photo © Sheffield FC

The World’s Oldest Left In The Past

On October 24th 1857, Sheffield FC, the world’s oldest club was formed.

It would be expected to see a club with such as prestigious title to be amongst the greats of the footballing world, however, the Sheffield club find themselves in the depths of non-league football. Sheffield FC currently play in The

Northern Premier League Division One South East, the eighth tier of English football.

Unlike many sides at their level, Sheffield have been given opportunities of a lifetime and have gained attention from some of the greats of football.

In 2007 the club celebrated their 150-year anniversary with legendary and famous figures coming together to celebrate the landmark. Pele, regarded by many as the greatest player ever joined the anniversary dinner in Sheffield, along with other such as,

Sepp Blatter and Sir Bobby

Charlton. European elites, Inter Milan and Ajax sent teams to play against the non-league side for the occasion

Historian for Sheffield FC,

Andy Dixon said: “Pele came across for the game against Inter Milan, it was mostly youth team players at the time and a certain Mario Balotelli was involved and so was Marco Materazzi who had just won the world cup with 8

Italy.”

The game ended 5-2 to the Italian’s at Bramall Lane with Balotelli netting twice on the day, but Sheffield players could hold their heads high as the part-timers scored twice against the European giants.

Now the home of Sheffield United, Bramall Lane, used to host the world’s oldest club.

The Club find themselves in the shadows of noisy neighbours’, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday, who share a rich history between them.

Dixon said: “Being the oldest club gives us a bit of affection amongst all Sheffield football supporters.

“It’s something the city should be really proud of.”

The status also attracts football fanatics from all around the world as they come in to witness where their beloved game all started.

The club’s historian said: “We do certainly turn in reasonable attendances we get ground hoppers from around the world often.

“We’ll have somebody from Belgium or Iceland or wherever, they turn up bringing a pennant from the club they support.

“We’ve launched a membership scheme recently and people sign up from all around the world to be members of the oldest club.”

Sheffield FC find themselves in the lower echelons of English football as the game started to become popular around the nation.

Dixon said: “As professionalism took over it was Sheffield who suggested an Amateur Cup because professional teams were leaving everybody behind in the FA Cup.

“Once professionalism took over it just became a small club battling for survival for many years.”

Professionalism was introduced in July 1885, with the amateurs of Sheffield failing to compete with professional teams, losing heavily in that same year to Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Notts County. The Amateur Cup, suggested by Sheffield FC, was won by the club in 1904 in a 3-1 win against Ealing. This triumph to this day is the world’s oldest club’s greatest achievement in their history.

Despite being submerged in the non-leagues of English football, Sheffield FC will always be in the hearts of every supporter around the world for their great impact on the beautiful game.

Photo © AFP/SCANPIX - Nationalencyklopedin, Public Domain. Pictured: Pele

‘I chose to go and watch them because they’re the oldest club and to say I’ve seen them play’