Welcome to Sheffield General Cemetery and the Founding Football audio trail exploring stories of those connected to Sheffield’s rich football heritage.
Sheffield is the historical home of football. The world’s first football club, Sheffield FC, was established in the steel city in 1857. Early matches were played under the oldest rules of the game, the Sheffield Rules. Given the lack of opposition, Sheffield FC initially organised these games in categories such as ‘marrieds vs singles.’ Thankfully, three years later Hallam FC was formed and their Sandygate stadium hosted the first inter-club match. Sandygate remains the oldest stadium in the world still in use. The city’s professional clubs, Sheffield Wednesday (est. 1867) and Sheffield United (est. 1889), were successful early members of the Football League, both winning league titles and FA cups at the turn of the century. A passionate rivalry has ensued ever since, despite the lack of success!
In 2022, Sheffield reaffirmed its special relationship with the people’s game by helping to host the Women’s European Championships, and Sheffielders roared the triumphant Lionesses on in their 4-0 semi-final victory against Sweden at Bramall Lane.
View the IziTravel audio trail here.