Sheffield, England

The modern game
started here.

A Sheffield charity dedicated to recording, recognising and teaching the story of the city that gave the world the modern game, through walks, plaques, exhibits, education, and a future museum.

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01, Firsts 02, Exhibits 03, Plaques 04, Give

Registered Charity · 1204425

Company CE033304

Sheffield, South Yorkshire

Recording · Recognising · Teaching

Chapter 01 · Sheffield's Firsts

The modern game started here.

Some of the many reasons Sheffield is known as the Home of Football: the oldest existing club, the oldest rules, the oldest cup, the oldest ground, the first floodlights, the first professional footballer.

Club

Sheffield FC

The FIFA-recognised oldest existing independent football club in the world.

Rules · 1858

The Sheffield Rules

The world's oldest rules written by an association football club.

Ground

Sandygate

The oldest existing ground in the world still to be hosting association football.

Trophy

Youdan Cup

The oldest knockout cup in the world.

Association · 1867

Sheffield FA

The oldest county football association in England. Instigated the corner kick, a fixed crossbar, umpires and the free kick.

Floodlights

Bramall Lane

The oldest stadium in the world still hosting professional association football, and the world's first to use floodlights.

Professional · 1876

James J. Lang

Wednesday FC were the first English club to import and compensate a Scotsman for footballing reasons, the world's first officially recognised professional footballer.

Broadcast · 1927

BBC Radio

The first ever BBC radio commentary on a professional football match, Arsenal vs Sheffield United, January 1927.

And many more, Hallam FC, the Cromwell Cup, the Sheffield Challenge Cup, the Wharncliffe Cup, the Clegg Shield, Sir Charles Clegg, and the first FA Cup (made in Sheffield).

Read all the firsts

Our purpose

To advance education in the history of football in the city of Sheffield, through lectures, workshops, conferences, exhibitions, plaques, walks, and the collection and safeguarding of historical items.

From the charity's charitable purpose

Chapter 02 · The Virtual Museum

Until the doors open, step inside online.

Ongoing digital exhibits from our curators and guest historians. Explore the objects, people, and moments that tell Sheffield's football story.

Exhibit New

Chapter 03a · Heritage Walking App

The city as an open-air museum.

Our free walking app guides you through Sheffield's most important football sites, from the cricket pitch where Sheffield FC was born to the pubs, schools and cemeteries that tell the rest of the story.

Get the free app on Google Play

1,200+ downloads · free forever

A self-guided tour of the sites where the modern game was written, part of the charity's heritage and education work. Free to download on iOS and Android.

Chapter 03b · Blue Plaques

Stories you can stand in front of.

Our blue plaques mark the streets, stands and front doors where football history happened. More are being installed every year.

Installed plaques

Sheffield

A series of plaques across the city · the programme continues to grow

View programme

Chapter 04 · What's On & Highlights

The work, in public.

Festivals, talks, schools matches played by the original rules, commemorations. Come along, or follow what we're building.

Highlight Sheffield Central Library

Football Treasures Day

Opened by the BBC's Dan Walker and curated by historian Martin Westby. Attended by 2,000 people at Sheffield Central Library.

Attendance

2,000

Commemoration

John Shaw Centenary

Celebrated at Sandygate, the world's oldest football ground, home of Hallam FC.

Conference

Int'l Football History Conference

Sheffield's heritage credentials presented to delegates.

What's on

Lectures, workshops, conferences, exhibitions, heritage walks and schools programmes, held across Sheffield through the year.

See the full calendar

Chapter 05 · Support the Charity

Help us record, recognise and teach Sheffield's football story.

Your support funds walking tours, blue plaques, school visits, lectures, research, and the artefact collection, the long-term foundation for the city's future Football Heritage Museum.