My Visit To The Home Of Football: Sheffield FC, England (Formed 1857)

“It’s coming home. It’s coming. Football’s coming home” – The Lightning Seeds.

Sheffield FC are widely regarded as the oldest club in world football that have been continuously playing. They were formed in 1857 and as much as I hate FIFA, they are the governing body of world football and they recognise Sheffield FC as the world’s first football club. That’s staggering that they have been around since 1857. The people’s game, the game we love is almost 170 years old, clubwise. At least here in a leafy, tranquil Sheffield suburb known as Dronfield.

This is more than a trip down memory lane for the football enthusiast, this is where it all began. I reminisced on some of my previous wacaday football trips in my life, here’s a memory jog blog –

• My trip to Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, URUGUAY (where the World Cup all began in 1930).
• My trip to La Bombonera – Maradona’s Lair, Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA.
• Attending George Best’s funeral in Belfast, NORTHERN IRELAND.
• A tour of Glentoran’s The Oval “The Holy Grail” of Football Stadiums, Belfast, NORTHERN IRELAND.
• Doing the Hand of God at Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, MEXICO.
• Visiting the home of the Pelanty/Penalty/McCrum Kick in Milford, NORTHERN IRELAND.
• Visiting the world’s highest national stadium in La Paz, BOLIVIA.
• My Top 100 football moments from my first 100 countries.
• Visiting the famous Dundee brace – closest ever top flight stadiums in SCOTLAND.
• Visiting the famous Bangor brace – closest two stadiums in NORTHERN IRELAND.

Somehow, this one, and this time I was about to eclipse all of those. Surely not? Surely yes. This is the HOME of football.

Also, this was my second trip to Sheffield and my third football stadium in Sheffield, completing a remarkable and unplanned 20 season journey. I first visited Sheffield in March 2004, when, on Saint Patrick’s Night the plucky Cherries smashed a textbook away win against Sheffield Wednesday, at Hillsborough. That was in the Third Division and AFC Bournemouth won 2-0, with goals from Carl Fletcher and Steve Fletcher.

Then, in a staggering lifestyle, I’d start this travel blog (in 2007) and backpack the world before returning back to Sheffield on a really sentimental trip, twenty seasons on and two hundred and twenty countries backpacked later…wild times.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

“It really really really could happen” – Damon Albarn.

On my return, we also won away in Sheffield by two clear goals, this time a 3-1 win! I even had the same flag and posed for the same photo in the away end behind the nets. Ironically in both matches, the first two Cherries goals were both scored in the first half at the opposite end from where we were (the away fans)!

And after securing that wacaday brace, it was time for the treat – we were heading to the home of football.

My Visit To The Home Of Football: Sheffield FC, England (Formed 1857) – Getting There

I was with my best friend Rafał on this trip and we decided to go by train as it is the quickest way. Basically the train leaves from Sheffield Central Station and the next stop is Dronfield. From Dronfield train station to The Home of Football is about a 15 minute walk. There’s also a bus if need be. Sorted.

We were on the 12:06 from Sheffield to Nottingham which would stop first at Dronfield. We would be there by twenty past 12 and then a 15 to 20 minute walk to the Home Of Football Stadium. Then…at 12:28 the train was still not here and the sign went up for INDUSTRIAL ACTION and train strikes.

This was a bummer as we planned a return on the train too. Still, a train arrived just after half past twelve and was apparently a replacement train to Dronfield. We got on.

Then it was also cancelled, so we got off. There was a bus option but it had too many stops on the way and we couldn’t miss this trip on our last day in England on this adventure, so we bit the Uber bullet and within 5 minutes, our driver Mohammed (from Pakistan where I had just backpacked!) arrived and drove us straight there for £12.

Thanks to Mohammed and we are here – at the Home of Football Stadium!

The Car Park at Sheffield FC (Home of Football, 1857)

Actually there are two car parks at Sheffield FC, we arrived at the one by the pub, the Coach And Horses. It was a drizzly wet Monday and nobody else was about. We hadn’t even emailed or called the club Sheffield FC to check if it would be open. We got lucky anyway.

The pub was on the right and glancing down at us there it is – the Home of Football Stadium. 1857. This is Sheffield FC. It’s one of those wow moments in life.

We walk round past the car park into the staff car park and find the entrance. It’s open.

“Can we go inside for a look please?” I shyly ask.

“Of course you can!” the response!

Now I have been very busy travelling, writing, blogging, teaching and editing recently so this is not as long a blog post as mine normally are. It’s more about photos and trying to inspire you to visit and see it all for yourself. We pop into the stands through the players entrance.

The Stands at Sheffield FC (Home of Football, 1857)

Here are some photos from the stands and stadium, we went on the pitch, it gets quite wet this one and the club are planning to move soon, so now is a good time to go!

The Club Shop at Sheffield FC (Home of Football, 1857)

The groundsman kindly opened up the club shop which is as small and typical as you’d expect. I picked up two cards as mementos here but wasn’t quite ready to buy a full kit, but you can buy them! Even the retro one and the goalkeeper top.

The Office/Boardroom at Sheffield FC (Home of Football, 1857)

We chatted to Stuart and Dylan who were working the day we visited. The boardroom is fascinating, and reveals some interesting secrets, I’ll leave you to discover them for yourself. The club played Inter Milan before, as well as Polish club Hutnik Krakow and Northern Irish club Cliftonville. It wasn’t clear whether these were all full level matches, friendlies or where they were held but get ready for a treat with all the signed shirts and pennants in the club office.

The Changing Rooms At Sheffield FC (Home of Football, 1857)

Our last port of call was to check out the changing rooms and player’s entrance which had some facts and plaques around too. All highly curious and well maintained. A proper football club and I’m delighted to have been there and I wish success to all at Sheffield FC. Thanks for a great tour!

Pint, Pie and Chips at Sheffield FC? (Home of Football, 1857)

Unfortunately we weren’t here on matchday and even The Coach and Horses Pub wasn’t open on our visit, but you can get a pint in the club bar in the stadium, there’s a Pie Club and The Coach and Horses, the bar next door is open on every matchday for good ales and banter. One for another day…this is a highly recommended trip!!

Here are the details about The Home Of Football: Sheffield FC, England (Formed 1857):

https://sheffieldfc.com/

https://www.facebook.com/sheffieldfc

https://twitter.com/sheffieldfc 

https://www.youtube.com/user/TheFirstClub

https://www.instagram.com/_sheffieldfc/

[email protected]

Tuffnells Home Of Football Stadium
Sheffield Road
Dronfield
S18 2GD
ENGLAND

Here are some videos of my trip to The Home Of Football: Sheffield FC, England (Formed 1857):