Founded in 1857, Sheffield FC was officially recognized by FIFA as the world's oldest football club. It originated in Steel City, and in recent years, its headquarters have been just outside the city borders in Dronfield. Currently, there are ongoing efforts to create a project that will allow the team to return to the heart of the city.

Facility for the local community

The historic club has joined forces with the rugby league team Sheffield Eagles to build a stadium on the grounds of the Sheffield Transport Sports Club, located near the Meadowhead roundabout. They hope it will become an international tourist attraction for both football and rugby fans. The facility will also include a football museum, a training pitch, a cricket pavilion, and a publicly accessible sports hall. The stadium is planned to have a capacity of 5,000 seats. The club has already submitted a preliminary planning application to the Sheffield City Council, with the full documentation set to be submitted in the first week of February. According to current plans, the stadium should be ready for the 2025/26 season. Sheffield FC President Richard Tims described it as the beginning of a new era for the club and stated that the world-class facility will bring benefits to the entire community. He mentioned that the public's response to these plans has been largely positive, with many people excited about the historic club's delayed return to its hometown. Local residents have expressed concerns about increased traffic in the area, but the president reassured them.

It isn’t Real Madrid

This pitch is in a sorry state, and the facilities currently there are falling apart, so something has to happen, and we believe these new facilities are the best that can happen. Traffic is a necessary evil, but we won't be building a Real Madrid stadium there, said Richard Tims in an interview with The Star. Sheffield FC will also present spatial development plans for the current site in Dronfield, which they hope will contribute to financing the new stadium. For those looking to fund slightly smaller plans than a stadium construction, we recommend online casinos Ontario.

Birthplace of football

If the new stadium receives approval, it will be a significant boost to the campaign aiming for broader recognition of Sheffield as the birthplace of football. A charitable organization called Sheffield Home of Football was recently established for this purpose. Sheffield FC is considered a jewel in the crown of the city's sports heritage by the local community. The move to a larger facility is expected to mark the beginning of a new era, not only for the club but also for the city. Currently, Sheffield F.C plays its matches at the Home of Football Stadium in Dronfield, with a capacity just over 2,000 seats. The stadium has two covered stands: The Weightron Bilanciai Community Stand, which can accommodate up to 250 seated spectators directly behind the dressing room end goal, and a terraced stand along one side of the pitch, providing room for up to 600 standing spectators.

Opportunity for rugby players as well

Mark Aston, Director of Rugby at Sheffield Eagles, said, Sheffield Eagles are very excited about the opportunity to be part of this joint venture with Sheffield FC and be at the heart of this world-class facility, with the centerpiece being a stadium meeting Super League criteria, which helps us in our quest to return to the top tier of competition. Sheffield Eagles has grown tremendously over the past three years through the work of the Eagles Foundation, and the planned facilities will also be home to women's teams, wheelchair users, people with learning difficulties, and physical disabilities. This will also allow for the further development of local talent and provide a foundation for a large social program.