Sheffield: Birthplace of the 'Beautiful Game'
The game of football as we know it today would not exist without the pioneers from Sheffield.
Key words
- Inter-urban: between two or more cities
Traffic on inter-urban roads is expected to increase still further.
- Credit with: to say that someone is responsible for something good
She is credited with making the business a success.
- Offshoot: something that has developed from something larger that already existed
It's an offshoot of a much larger company based in Sydney.
- Blade: the thin, flat cutting part of a tool or weapon
The blade on this knife isn’t very sharp.
- Cutlery: Knives, forks, and spoons used for eating food.
*Inkerman Silver is Sheffield's last remaining cutlery manufacturer. *
Read the article to find the answers
- What kind of pitches were used before football pitches were purpose-built?
- When did Hallam FC open the world's first purpose-built football ground?
- What did Sheffield Wednesday FC start as an offshoot of?
- Why is Sheffield United FC nicknamed 'the Blades'?
Sheffield
When most people think of Sheffield and football, they probably think of the city's two current biggest clubs, Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday, little do they realise that Sheffield played a pivotal role in the creation of football, an international sport that is now played and loved around the world.
In 1857, the pioneers of football played against each other at their local cricket club and formed Sheffield FC, the world's first football club. They drew up the rules of the game - including allowing the ball to be headed, the introduction of wooden crossbars, free kicks and corners, and the concept of playing under floodlights.
Cricket pitches were used until 1860, when Hallam FC opened the world's first purpose-built football ground, which led to the world's first inter-urban club match being played on Boxing Day that year.
The Sheffield Rules, which merged with the Cambridge Rules in 1878, are widely credited with shaping and establishing the modern game.
Sheffield FC
Founded in October 1857, Sheffield FC is recognised by FIFA as the oldest club still playing football in the world. They've had a number of different stadiums over the years, but now play at The Home of Football Stadium on the outskirts of the city.
Hallam FC
Sheffield FC may have beaten them to the title of oldest club, but Hallam FC still have the oldest football ground in the world, having played at their Sandygate Road home since 1860.
Sheffield Wednesday FC
Founded in 1867 as an offshoot of The Wednesday Cricket Club, Sheffield Wednesday FC was originally known as The Wednesday Football Club until 1929.
Today, Wednesday is one of the oldest football clubs in the world and the second oldest professional association football club in England. The Owls, as they are known, have played at their home ground at Hillsborough since 1899.
Sheffield United FC
Sheffield United FC was founded in 1889 at Bramall Lane, the oldest professional football ground in the world and the first to be floodlit. The club is nicknamed "the Blades" because of Sheffield's cutlery manufacturing history.
Discussion questions
- Do you have any questions about any of the vocabulary or grammar in this article?
- What else do you know about Sheffield?
- Do you support any English football teams?
- What do you know about the history of cricket?
- What's the oldest sport in your country?
- When was football introduced to your country?
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