Sheffield F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | Sheffield Football Club | |||
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| Nickname(s) | The Club | |||
| Founded | 24 October 1857 | |||
| Ground | Home of Football Ground, Dronfield, Derbyshire | |||
| Capacity | 2,089 (250 seats) | |||
| Manager | Vill Powell | |||
| League | Northern Premier League Division One South East | |||
| 2018–19 | Northern Premier League Division One East, 4th of 20 | |||
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Sheffield Football Club is an English football club based in Dronfield, Derbyshire. They play in the Northern Premier League Division One South East, which is the ninth level of the English football pyramid. Founded in October 1857, the club is recognized by FIFA as the oldest independent football club still playing in the world.
Sheffield F.C. first played games among its own members using special rules called the Sheffield Rules. They did not officially start using the new FA rules until 1878.
The club has a special rivalry with nearby club Hallam, known as the Rules derby. In 2004, Sheffield F.C. received the FIFA Order of Merit, an important award given to only one other club, Real Madrid. In 2007, to celebrate their 150th anniversary, they were added to the English Football Hall of Fame.
The club's biggest success on the field was in 1904 when they won the FA Amateur Cup. This competition was actually suggested by Sheffield F.C. They also finished as runners up in the FA Vase in 1977.
Contents
Club History
How the Club Started
In 1855, some members of a Sheffield cricket club started playing informal football games without any official rules. Two of these members, Nathaniel Creswick and William Prest, decided to form the Sheffield Football Club.
The club's first meeting was on October 24, 1857, at Parkfield House in Highfield. Their first headquarters was a greenhouse, and the field next to it was their first playing ground. At first, Sheffield F.C. games were played only among club members, like "Married vs. Singles" or "Professionals vs. the Rest."
The Sheffield Rules
Creswick and Prest created the club's own rules for playing football. These rules were agreed upon in October 1858 and published the next year. They were called the Sheffield Rules and were the first detailed football rules published by a club. Back then, many different football rules existed, especially from various public schools. The Sheffield Rules were later used by the Sheffield and Hallamshire Football Association when it was formed in 1867.
Sheffield's close neighbor, Hallam, was formed in 1860. That same year, the two clubs played their first "local derby" game, which is still played today. By 1862, there were 15 football clubs in the Sheffield area.
Joining the FA and Professionalism
Sheffield F.C. became a member of The Football Association (FA) on November 30, 1863. However, they continued to use their own rules for a while. In 1865, they played their first game outside Sheffield against Notts County (then called Nottingham Football Club). Sheffield won that game.
The club decided to play only against teams from outside Sheffield to find tougher challenges. In 1866, Sheffield played a "London" team using FA rules. London won the game. Sheffield clubs finally adopted the FA rules in 1878.
In 1873, the club entered the FA Cup for the first time. Their first game in the competition was decided by a coin toss after a replay, which is the only time this has happened in FA Cup history. They reached the 4th round of the FA Cup in 1877–78 and 1879–80.
The club's success began to decline when professionalism was introduced in football in 1885. Sheffield F.C. remained an amateur club, meaning their players were not paid. They struggled against professional teams like Aston Villa and Nottingham Forest. Because of this, Sheffield suggested creating a special cup just for amateur clubs. This led to the FA Amateur Cup starting in 1893, which Sheffield F.C. won in 1904.
Later Years and Milestones
After 1900, Sheffield F.C. mostly played in local leagues. They rejoined the Yorkshire Football League in 1949 and were promoted to Division One three years later.
In 1957, the club celebrated its 100th anniversary. This included special games against the England B team and Queen's Park F.C.
In 1977, Sheffield F.C. won the Yorkshire League Division Two championship and reached the final of the new FA Vase competition. They played at Wembley Stadium but lost in a replay.
When the Yorkshire League merged with the Midland League in 1981, Sheffield F.C. joined the new Northern Counties East League (NCEL). They won the Division One title in 1989 and again in 1991. In 1994, they won the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup for the first time.
2007 was a very important year for Sheffield F.C. as they celebrated their 150th anniversary. They were promoted to the Northern Premier League (NPL) for the first time. In October 2007, FIFA president Sepp Blatter attended their anniversary dinner. The next month, the club played special anniversary matches against famous teams like Internazionale and Ajax at Bramall Lane. Football legend Pelé was a special guest at the game against Inter.
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Sheffield F.C. has reached the play-offs of the NPL Division One South several times but has not yet won promotion from there. In 2015, the club received a donation of £100,000 from Qatar.
In 2025, Sheffield F.C. played Hallam F.C. in the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup, which was the first competitive "Rules Derby" in over ten years. Sheffield F.C. lost that game. The club was also relegated from the Northern Premier League in 2025.
Notable Former Players
Some famous players from the club's early days include the founders, Nathaniel Creswick and William Prest. Four Sheffield players have also played for the England national team: Charles Clegg, John Owen, Thomas Sorby, and Jack Hudson.
Club Grounds
Sheffield F.C. has played at many different grounds over the years. In the beginning, they played at places like Strawberry Hall Lane Park, but they did not own these grounds.
For important matches, they sometimes used Bramall Lane. However, their relationship with the owners of Bramall Lane was difficult, and in 1875, the club decided never to play there again.
In 1921, Sheffield F.C. moved to the Abbeydale Park ground. They later moved to Hillsborough Park in 1988, then to Owlerton Stadium and Don Valley Stadium. In 1999, Richard Tims became involved with the club and helped them get their own ground.
In 2001, the club bought the Coach & Horses ground in Dronfield. This was the first time Sheffield F.C. owned its own home ground. The stadium can hold just over 2,000 people, with 250 seats.
There are plans for Sheffield F.C. to move back to Sheffield. In March 2021, plans were revealed for a new stadium in the Meadowhead area of Sheffield. This proposed stadium would hold 4,000 people and include a special center to celebrate the city's role in football history. The new stadium is expected to be ready in 2025.
Club Honours
League Achievements
- Northern Counties East League Premier Division
- Promoted: 2006–07
- Northern Counties East League Division One
- Champions: 1988–89, 1990–91
- Yorkshire League Division Two
- Champions: 1976–77
- Central Midlands Division One North (Reserves)
- Champions: 2023–24
Cup Achievements
- FA Amateur Cup
- Winners: 1903–04
- FA Vase
- Runners-up: 1976–77
- Yorkshire League Cup
- Winners: 1977–78
- Northern Counties East League Cup
- Winners: 2000–01, 2004–05
- Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup
- Winners: 1993–94, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2009–10
Club Records
- Best FA Cup performance: 4th round, 1877–78, 1879–80
- Best FA Amateur Cup performance: Winners, 1903–04
- Best FA Vase performance: Runners-up, 1976–77
- Record attendance: 2,000 vs. Barton Rovers, FA Vase Semi-Final, 1976–77
Images for kids
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Owlerton Stadium, one of Sheffield's former homes.
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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 nearby.
See also
In Spanish: Sheffield Football Club para niños
- Club of Pioneers
