“The air coming up to the boil; rubbing up against walls and lamp-posts trying to get rid of it.
Old women clack their tongues in the shade of crumbling concrete bus shelters” – Jarvis Cocker (Pulp – Sheffield: Sex City).
Sheffield FC are widely regarded as the oldest club in world football that have been continuously playing. They were formed in 1857. That’s staggering. The people’s game, the game we love is almost 170 years old, clubwise. Yet in all of my backpacking travels, football geekery and global tourism, I still haven’t been to Sheffield FC. I wrote about 100 football experiences from 100 countries but Sheffield didn’t make it. However, I have of course been to Sheffield, and that is the reason for this post. I was in Sheffield once, during the 2003-2004 football season. I was there on Saint Patrick’s Day, 17th March 2004. It was a Wednesday night. I went to Hillsborough stadium 🏟 to support my club, AFC Bournemouth 🍒 against Sheffield Wednesday 🦉 away.
Sheffield Wednesday Away with The Cherries
On the night, we won 2-0. I was there with Austin and the famous Millwall Neil. It was a brilliant night and trip to Sheffield. It was also my first ever AFC Bournemouth away match!
Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 AFC Bournemouth (17th March 2004) at Hillsborough
Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 AFC Bournemouth (17th March 2004) at Hillsborough
Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 AFC Bournemouth (17th March 2004) at Hillsborough
Fast forward twenty seasons and here in 2023-2024 I am returning to Sheffield!! And for the same reason. Football! This time I am going to Sheffield United v AFC Bournemouth in the Premier League (Division One/Top Tier). I will be returning to Sheffield. This time to visit Brammal Lane with a side trip to Sheffield FC.
Worlds Oldest Club Sheffield FC
In days gone by, I used to play football too. Although this trip is for watching and supporting only.If you are playing regularly, of course you will need a full kit, some football cleat insoles and shinpads as well as decent boots. These days, it’s more than just kicking ball down the park with all the added fitness expectations, levels and rules. However, back in 1998, I was actually a national football champion in my home country of Northern Ireland when we won the National BB Cup and we won that at Loughgall’s Lakeview Park stadium!
Well I couldn’t play football for a Bangor team any more
So very soon, I cannot wait for my return to Sheffield. As well as backpacking the sights of the city, I might check out The Crucible Snooker Theatre and some places related to the 1990s Britpop band Pulp. Pulp were fronted by Jarvis Cocker, they hail from Sheffield mostly. Though interestingly, their keyboard player Candida Doyle is actually from Northern Ireland!
These are exciting times as I prepare to backpack a few more countries by the end of the year and I have finally completed my Backpacking Centurion series, with The Black Volume being released on 7th November 2023.
Safe travels one and all!