Sheffield F.C.
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| Full name | Sheffield Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | The Club | ||
| Founded | 24 October 1857 | ||
| Ground | Coach and Horses Ground, (Dronfield, Derbyshire) | ||
| Capacity | 1,456 (250 seats)[1] | ||
| Chairman | Richard Tims | ||
| League | Northern Premier League Division One South | ||
| 2014–15 | Northern Premier League Division One South, 15th | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
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Sheffield F.C. is an English football club from Sheffield, South Yorkshire. They play in the Northern Premier League Division One South, at level 8 of the English football league system.
Founded in 1857, the club is the oldest club now playing association football.[2] Sheffield F.C. initially played games under the Sheffield rules and did not officially adopt the FA rules until 1878.
The club competes in the Rules derby with near neighbours Hallam. In 2004 they were given the FIFA Order of Merit an award given to only one other club – Real Madrid,[3] and in 2007 they were inducted into the English football hall of fame, to commemorate their 150th anniversary.
On the pitch, the club's finest hour came in 1904 when they won the FA Amateur Cup, a competition conceived after a suggestion by Sheffield. They also finished as runners up of the FA Vase in 1977.
History
In 1855, members of a Sheffield cricket club organised informal kick-abouts without any official rules.[4] – subsequently two members, Nathaniel Creswick and William Prest, formed the Sheffield Football Club.
The inaugural meeting of the club took place on 24 October 1857 at Parkfield House in the suburb of Highfield.[5] The original headquarters was a greenhouse on East Bank Road lent by Thomas Asline Ward, father of the first club president Frederick Ward, and the adjacent field was used as their first playing ground.[6] Initially, Sheffield FC games were played among club members themselves and took the format of "Married v Singles" or "Professionals v the Rest".
Creswick and Prest were responsible for drawing up the club's rules of play, which were decided upon at the club's AGM on 21 October 1858.[7] They were referred to as the Sheffield Rules, and were the first official set of rules and laws for the game of football. At the time, before the formation of the Football Association (FA), many different kinds of football were popular in England. For example, each of the various public schools played football according to their own individual rules, and these varied widely.[8] The Sheffield Rules were later adopted by the Sheffield Football Association when it was formed in 1867.
Sheffield's near neighbour, Hallam, was formed in 1860 and in the same year the two clubs first met each other in a local derby which is still contested today. By 1862 there were 15 clubs in the Sheffield area.
They became members of The Football Association in 30 November 1863 but continued to use their own set of rules.[4] On 2 January 1865, the club played its first fixture outside Sheffield against Nottingham, playing eighteen aside under Nottingham Rules.
By this time the club had decided only to play teams outside Sheffield in order to seek a bigger challenge. On 31 March 1866, there was a match between a team representing the city of Sheffield and one representing London, at Battersea Park. Rules that differed only slightly from the FA rules were used. The game, played as an eleven aside, was won by London by 2 goals and four touchdowns to nil. However the matter of rules remained a problem with Sheffield clubs continuing to play by their own rules. A number of rule proposals by the club were rejected by the FA in February 1867 and the London Committee were reluctant to commit to further fixtures over Sheffield's refusal to play strictly to FA rules. Sheffield clubs finally adopted the FA rules in 1878.
In 1873 the club entered the FA Cup for the first time, their first ever tie in the competition, against Shropshire Wanderers, being decided after a replay by a coin toss; the only time in the history of the competition that a tie has been decided in this way.[9] They would reach the 4th Round of the competition in 1877–78 and 1879–80.[10]
Their reluctance to play against local clubs led to the formation of Thursday Wanderers in 1876, a team of players registered to Sheffield who wished to play in the Sheffield Challenge Cup. The Wanderers operated from 1876 to 1879, winning the cup in their final year.[11]
Sheffield's decline from the top echelon of football began with the introduction of professionalism in July 1885, with the amateurs of Sheffield failing to compete with professional teams, losing heavily that year to Aston Villa, Nottingham Forest and Notts County. After the legalisation of professionalism, the staunchly amateur Sheffield suggested to the FA the creation of a cup exclusively for amateur clubs. The FA Amateur Cup was inaugurated in 1893 and Sheffield themselves won the competition in 1904.
They joined their first league competition in 1889 when entering the Midland League, but left after just one season when they finished bottom of the table.[12] They were also founder members of the original Yorkshire League in 1898, but again they spent just a single season in the competition.
After the turn of the century, Sheffield competed mainly in local leagues. By 1925–26 they were competing in the Sheffield Association League.
Fifty years after leaving the competition, Club rejoined the Yorkshire League, in 1949. Three years later they won promotion to Division One, but were relegated back to Division Two in 1954. They returned to the top flight at the first time of asking before entering their centenary year in 1957. Celebrations included games against the England B team at Hillsborough[13] and fellow amateur side Queen's Park at Bramall Lane.[14]
In 1961, Sheffield were relegated to Division Two again, only returning to the top flight again in 1967, and then only for one more season before another relegation. Three years later, in 1970, they were relegated again, to the newly formed Division Three.[12] Club would spend six seasons in the Yorkshire League's basement division, finishing as low as 10th in 1974. They finally started to turn their fortunes around in 1976 by returning to Division Two, and a year later they were crowned as Division Two champions to return to Division One. In the same season, Sheffield reached the final of the newly formed FA Vase. At Wembley stadium, they drew 1–1 with Billericay Town, before being beaten 1–2 in the replay at the City Ground in Nottingham.
When the Yorkshire League merged with the Midland League to form the Northern Counties East League (NCEL) in 1981, Sheffield were placed in Division One South of the new competition. They stayed in this division for three seasons before the league was restructured, with the club being reassigned to the newly formed Division One. In 1989 they won the Division One title, but they were relegated back again a year later because of their lack of floodlights.
At the first time of asking Sheffield again won the Division One title, this time remaining in the NCEL Premier Division for 15 years. In 1994 the club won the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup for the first time, beating Worksop Town on penalties at Hillsborough. They would later win the trophy on a further four occasions throughout the 2010s.
2007 was a momentous year for the club as they entered their 150th year. They finished as runners-up in the league to secure promotion to the Northern Premier League (NPL) for the first time, and later in the year played anniversary celebration matches against Internazionale and Ajax[15] at Bramall Lane. Football legend Pelé was guest of honour at the first game and was introduced to the teams and the fans before the game.[16] The match ended 5–2 to Inter, with 18,741 supporters attending the match. Inter's side included World Cup winner Marco Materazzi and a young Mario Balotelli.
Sheffield have reached the play-offs of the NPL Division One South on three occasions, but have so far failed to win promotion. In their first Division One South campaign in 2008 they reached the final, losing on penalties to Nantwich Town, before being knocked out in the semi-finals in 2010 and 2012. The club first played in the FA Trophy in 2007 after winning promotion to the NPL, but have so far failed to advance past the qualifying rounds.
Managers
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Notable former players
Famous players from the club's early days included Nathaniel Creswick and William Prest, who founded the club. Four Sheffield players have appeared for England – Charles Clegg, who played in the first international game against Scotland in 1872,[20] John Owen, in 1874,[21] Thomas Sorby, in 1879, and Jack Hudson, in 1883.[22]
In addition to the above, the following have played in the Football League either before or after playing for Sheffield –
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League and cup history
| Sheffield FC League and Cup history[10][12][23] | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Division | Level | Position | FA Cup | FA Amateur Cup | FA Trophy | FA Vase |
| 1873–74 | | | | | | | |
| 1874–75 | | | | | | | |
| 1875–76 | | | | | | | |
| 1876–77 | | | | | | | |
| 1877–78 | | | | | | | |
| 1878–79 | | | | | | | |
| 1879–80 | | | | | | | |
| 1880–81 | | | | | | | |
| 1881–82 | | | | | | | |
| 1882–83 | | | | | | | |
| 1883–84 | | | | | | | |
| 1884–85 | | | | | | | |
| 1885–86 | | | | | | | |
| 1886–87 | | | | | | | |
| 1887–88 | | | | | | | |
| 1888–89 | | | | | | | |
| 1889–90 | | | | | | | |
| 1890–91 | | | | | | | |
| 1891–92 | | | | | | | |
| 1892–93 | | | | | | | |
| 1893–94 | Sheffield & District League | | 5th/5 | | | | |
| 1894–95 | | | | | | | |
| 1895–96 | | | | | | | |
| 1896–97 | | | | | | | |
| 1897–98 | | | | | | | |
| 1898–99 | | | | | | | |
| 1899–00 | Wharncliffe Charity Cup League | | | | | | |
| 1900–01 | | | | | | | |
| 1901–02 | Wharncliffe Charity Cup League | | 7th/7 | | | | |
| 1902–03 | Wharncliffe Charity Cup League | | 7th/8 | | | | |
| 1903–04 | Wharncliffe Charity Cup League | | 6th/7 | | | | |
| 1904–05 | | | | | | | |
| 1905–06 | | | | | | | |
| 1906–07 | | | | | | ||
| 1907–08 | | | | | | ||
| 1908–09 | | | | | | ||
| 1909–10 | | | | | | ||
| 1910–11 | | | | | | ||
| 1911–12 | | | | | | ||
| 1912–13 | | | | | | ||
| 1913–14 | | | | | | ||
| 1914–15 | | | | | | ||
| 1919–20 | | | | | | ||
| 1920–21 | | | | | | ||
| 1921–22 | | | | | | ||
| 1922–23 | | | | | | ||
| 1923–24 | | | | | | ||
| 1924–25 | | | | | | ||
| 1925–26 | | | | | | | |
| 1926–27 | | | | | | ||
| 1927–28 | | | | | | ||
| 1928–29 | | | | | | ||
| 1929–30 | | | | | | ||
| 1930–31 | | | | | | ||
| 1931–32 | | | | | | ||
| 1932–33 | | | | | | ||
| 1933–34 | | | | | | | |
| 1934–35 | | | | | | | |
| 1935–36 | | | | | | | |
| 1936–37 | | | | | | | |
| 1937–38 | | | | | | | |
| 1938–39 | | | | | | | |
| 1946–47 | | | | | | | |
| 1947–48 | | | | | | | |
| 1948–49 | | | | | | | |
| 1949–50 | | | | | | | |
| 1950–51 | | | | | | | |
| 1951–52 | | | | | | | |
| 1952–53 | | | | | | | |
| 1953–54 | | | | | | | |
| 1954–55 | | | | | | | |
| 1955–56 | | | | | | | |
| 1956–57 | | | | | | | |
| 1957–58 | | | | | | | |
| 1958–59 | | | | | | | |
| 1959–60 | | | | | | | |
| 1960–61 | | | | | | | |
| 1961–62 | | | | | | | |
| 1962–63 | | | | | | | |
| 1963–64 | | | | | | | |
| 1964–65 | | | | | | | |
| 1965–66 | | | | | | | |
| 1966–67 | | | | | | | |
| 1967–68 | | | | | | | |
| 1968–69 | | | | | | | |
| 1969–70 | | | | | | | |
| 1970–71 | | | | | | | |
| 1971–72 | | | | | | | |
| 1972–73 | | | | | | | |
| 1973–74 | | | | | | | |
| 1974–75 | | | | | | | |
| 1975–76 | | | | | | | |
| 1976–77 | | | | | | | |
| 1977–78 | | | | | | | |
| 1978–79 | | | | | | | |
| 1979–80 | | | | | | | |
| 1980–81 | | | | | | | |
| 1981–82 | | | | | | | |
| 1982–83 | | | | | | | |
| 1983–84 | | | | | | | |
| 1984–85 | | | | | | | |
| 1985–86 | | | | | | | |
| 1986–87 | | | | | | | |
| 1987–88 | | | | | | | |
| 1988–89 | | | | | | | |
| 1989–90 | | | | | | | |
| 1990–91 | | | | | | | |
| 1991–92 | | | | | | | |
| 1992–93 | | | | | | | |
| 1993–94 | | | | | | | |
| 1994–95 | | | | | | | |
| 1995–96 | | | | | | | |
| 1996–97 | | | | | | | |
| 1997–98 | | | | | | | |
| 1998–99 | | | | | | | |
| 1999–00 | | | | | | | |
| 2000–01 | | | | | | | |
| 2001–02 | | | | | | | |
| 2002–03 | | | | | | | |
| 2003–04 | | | | | | | |
| 2004–05 | | | | | | | |
| 2005–06 | | | | | | | |
| 2006–07 | | | | | | | |
| 2007–08 | | | | | | | |
| 2008–09 | | | | | | | |
| 2009–10 | | | | | | | |
| 2010–11 | | | | | | | |
| 2011–12 | | | | | | | |
| 2012–13 | | | | | | | |
| 2013–14 | | | | | | | |
| 2014–15 | | | | | | | |
* League play-off finalists
** League play-off semi-finalists
Grounds
Sheffield have played at a number of grounds around Sheffield. Initially they played at Strawberry Hall Lane Park.[7] However, like all of the early grounds they played at, it was not owned by the club. In the following years they would play at Newhall Athletic ground, Old Forge ground and a ground near Hunters Bar on Ecclesall Road.[24]
There was much reluctance from the owners of Bramall Lane to see the pitch be used for football. They did not relent until a charity match between Sheffield and Hallam was suggested in late 1862. The ground was used by Sheffield for its more important fixtures but relations with the owners remained strained. They collapsed altogether in 1875 when the club vowed never to play at the ground again.
In 1921, Sheffield settled at the new Abbeydale Park ground. They moved to Hillsborough Park in 1988,[25] then to Owlerton Stadium and Don Valley Stadium.
The club bought the Coach & Horses ground in Dronfield in 2001, which was previously the home of Norton Woodseats F.C., a notable football team who reached the semi-finals of the FA Amateur Cup in 1939. It was the first time the club had owned its own ground.[26] The ground has a capacity of just under 1,500 with 250 seats in the stand behind the southern goal.
Gallery
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Owlerton Stadium, Sheffield's home for a period during the 1980s and 1990s.
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Don Valley Stadium, another of Sheffield's former homes.
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The south end of the Coach & Horses Ground.
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The east end of the Coach & Horses Ground, with the Coach & Horses pub to the left.
Current squad
As of 25 August 2014
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Honours
League
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Cup
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Records
- Best FA Cup performance: 4th Round, 1877–78, 1879–80
- Best FA Amateur Cup performance: Winners, 1903–04
- Best FA Trophy performance: 3rd Qualifying Round, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2013–14
- Best FA Vase performance: Runners-up, 1976–77
- Record attendance: 2,000 vs. Barton Rovers, FA Vase Semi-Final, 1976–77 [1]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.7 1.8 Sheffield Non-League Club Directory
- ↑ Sheffield FC: Over 150 years of history FIFA
- ↑ FIFA marks Sheffield FC's anniversary FIFA
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Young, Percy (1964). Football in Sheffield. S. Paul.
- ↑ Farnsworth, Keith (1995). Sheffield Football:A History – Volume 1 1857–1961. The Hallamshire Press. pp. 21–22.
- ↑ Hutton, Steven; Curry, Graham; Goodman, Peter (2007). Sheffield Football Club: 150 years of Football. At Heart Limited. p. 50. ISBN 978-1-84547-174-3.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Murphy, Brendan (2007). From Sheffield with Love. SportsBooks Limited. ISBN 978-1-899807-56-7.
- ↑ Harvey, Adrian (2005). Football, the First Hundred Years. Routledge. p. 98. ISBN 0-415-35019-0.
- ↑ Collett, Mike (2003). The Complete Record of The FA Cup. p. 537. ISBN 1-899807-19-5.
- ↑ 10.0 10.1 Sheffield WildStat
- ↑ Drake, A. "Thursday Wanderers". Archived from the original on 30 June 2012. Retrieved 2007-06-27.
- ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Sheffield Football Club History Database
- ↑ The B Team England Football Online
- ↑ Sheffield Football Club Centenary Fixture 1957 FootySphere
- ↑ Ajax Sheffield FC
- ↑ BBC – In Pictures – Sheffield FC 2–5 Inter Milan
- ↑ 17.0 17.1 Sheffield FC Ex-players Sheffield FC
- ↑ Meet The New Gaffer Sheffield FC
- ↑ Former Huddersfield Town manager Mick Wadsworth takes charge of Sheffield FC The Huddersfield Daily Examiner
- ↑ Sir John Charles Clegg englandstats.com
- ↑ John Owen England Football Online
- ↑ John Hudson englandstats.com
- ↑ Hawthorn, Fred (2009). The FA Amateur Cup : Complete Results. soccerdata.
- ↑ Walters, Fred (1957). The History of Sheffield Football Club.
- ↑ Sheffield F.C.: celebrating 150 years of the world's first football club, pp.52–53
- ↑ "Club buy first ground in 150 years". Sheffield F.C.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Sheffield F.C.. |
- Official site
- Official site of the Sheffield FC Foundation
- Official site of the Sheffield FC History
- "Behind the Flag", a large fan site
- The original football club
- Website of Sheffield FC Foundation project "1857 Football"/"Club of Pioneers"
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