Sheffield FC is a club, which prides itself on being the oldest club in the history of the world, starting in 1854 and then in 2004 being recognised by FIFA alongside Real Madrid for their services to football with a Centennial Order of Merit.
The 153-year-old handwritten pamphlet belonging to the club will be auctioned as part of an archive states the rules of the game and it is believed to be one of the earliest instructions on the game.
The archive is expected to fetch up to £1.2m at auction and will be taken to Paris, New York and Doha before the auction takes place.
The pamphlet introduces laws of the game that still exist, such as the indirect free kick, the corner kick and the use of a crossbar.
The chairman of the club Richard Sims has said on the website Chairman of Sheffield Football Club, Richard Tims, commented: “The sale of this remarkable piece of sporting history will allow Sheffield Football Club to develop its facilities and secure its future as the home of grass‐roots football. The club is incredibly proud of its long history, and it is fitting that the club has until now provided a home for the oldest recorded rules of club football. But together with its instrumental role in the evolution of the game we know and love today, the club has always placed a particular focus on developing the game for future generations.”
The club who play in the Evo-Stick first division, south league is situated in the BT Local Business Stadium on Sheffield Road, Dronfield with a capacity of 2089 are selling the pamphlet to secure the future of the club. They have 10 teams in total, which includes 5 ladies teams.
This year, at the end of the season finished mid table, at 11th, winning 15 games out of 42.
Christian Millar, a player at Leek Town FC who play in the same league as Sheffield FC said, ‘It is a great honor to play against a team who shaped the game, I have told many people about the club and how I have played against the oldest football team in the world. I would love to get my hands on the pamphlet but somehow don’t think I’ll get near in the auction room!”
In 2007, the club celebrated their 150th year with ‘a service to football’, which was attended by the President of FIFA himself, Sepp Blatter and other key dignitaries.
The club not only boasts about its age status but also does a lot for the community. In February 2005 the ‘Sheffield Football Club schools and Community coaching scheme’ was creating. They provide high quality football and fitness coaching to local youngsters whatever their age, sex, religion or ability.
Since the scheme was established in February 2005, the World’s First Football Club, Sheffield FC, have developed close associations with many schools in both mainstream and special educational needs schools in the Sheffield area and provided in-school coaching for age groups from age 4 to 16.
The club also offers talk to schools, and community centres to highlight the important role that Sheffield FC took in creating the game of football. James Hammond, age 10 goes to Totley Primary school where the club have delivered a speech said, ‘I really enjoyed hearing about how the club who I support helped create the game, it makes me feel proud.
Along with encouraging people in the community to play football, Sheffield FC also support the Boots for Africa campaign founded by McDonalds. The campaign helps disadvantaged but aspiring children with their fitness and skills by giving them the opportunity to play football. The charity and football club helps collect thousands of cleaned and tied up football boots and deliver to the children of Africa. Richard Tims, the chairman of Sheffield FC posted a quote on the website about the boots for Africa campaign, he said ‘"Football has taken a lot out of Africa with many great players moving out of the continent to play in the world's top leagues. Our Appeal provides a fantastic opportunity for the game to give something back and help improve the lives of many less fortunate children.”
The club finished mid table at the end of the 2010/11 football season winning 15 games out of 42.
By Lauren Davies
By Lauren Davies
No comments:
Post a Comment