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22nd February 2024 www.looklocal.org.uk
Local News
AN APPEAL FOR SHEFFIELD TO RECLAIM ITS HISTORICAL FOOTBALL CODE A ‘football historian’ who has recently graduated from De Montfort University is proposing a ‘shake-up’ to the modern game of football, with ‘Sheffield’s’ original version of the game to be revived. Lucy Fitch explained “ The game is like a strange mix of Rugby and Association Football, the game existed for 2 decades from 1857-1877 before being discarded for the association game. I wanted to reach out to the people of Sheffield to try to get something off the ground.” The 24 year-old hopes the original game can be revived with a special ‘Test Match’ to take place between two Sheffield Teams. The following is written by Lucy Fitch I have heard it said that Sheffield is the historic home of the beautiful game of Association Football. While there is no doubt that the city of Steel boasts two professional football league clubs, Wednesday and United, who trace back their foundation to 1867 and 1889, respectively, perhaps – given the seasons the two clubs have had so far – it may be time for a change. When asked which association football club is the oldest, it would be right to say that Sheffield holds that distinction, with Sheffield Football Club being founded in October 1857, but the history of both the club and the local footballing culture of Sheffield is certainly a lot more interesting than the disillusioned monolith that is presentday football.
In the 1860s and 1870s, the Sheffield code found its place in history by becoming the first code to have its own Challenge Cup competition, with Thomas Youdan in 1867 providing a trophy which 12 clubs competed for. The next year, Oliver Cromwell provided a trophy in which four clubs competed for. The Cromwell Cup was won by Wednesday. All this history is well and good, but what am I trying to propose? I propose that, alongside its attempt to become a first-rate football club, Sheffield and its residents should reclaim its unique historical code, to make it stand out from the rest of the world. In order to achieve this lofty aim, I propose that the following steps be taken: 1) That a group of interested individuals come together to discuss which version of the Sheffield Rules code should be sought to be adopted. 2) Should enough interest be displayed, that a committee or council should be formed to formally organise the codes rebirth. 3) That copies of the agreed upon rules be distributed to the principle clubs of the Sheffield & Hallamshire FA, both modern and historical, inviting them to play a test-match to try out the rules. 4) That some makeshift equipment (namely posts, rouge flags, and a ball) be acquired for the above-mentioned test match. Anyone interested in forming a committee with the view to organising a ‘Test Match’ please contact Lucy lafitch21@gmail.com
Thomas Youdan (top hat, always centre stage) shortly after his Surrey Street Theatre had burnt down in 1865. Photo: www.playingpasts.co.uk
RECORD BREAKERS On a great spring day for running, five runners represented Stocksbridge Running Club at the Wombwell 5. It is a nice local 5 mile road race starting on a go kart track before taking to the roads with a good hill to test the legs! The rest of the race had a welcome downhill feel to it. Runners of every level were supported by friendly marshals and it finished with a final lap of the track. Thank you to Molly Hayes and Sarah Hayes who were there to cheer us all over the line.
There were some great times with club records broken by Charlotte Carr for overall female in her first race for the club, Jolene Allen for F40, Richard John Hayes for overall male and M40 and David Napier for M50. They are some high targets to beat next year! Also in action was Narni Fulford, running the Bingley Bo**ocks 10km and finishing in impressive 2nd female place with a new PB. However, the biggest news of the day was over in Seville Spain where two runners flew the
flag for the club and for the town. Rachel Vernon and new member Garry Harding ran the Seville Marathon. With Rachel Vernon running the fastest marathon time by anyone in the club since it was formed. Smashing her PB and setting a female and F35 record in 3:39.47. Then Garry Harding set a men’s and M45 record in 3:40.46. If that was not enough for this week, three runners raced at the Barnsley AC winter track series on Wednesday. Victoria Patterson set the club female track mile record, Molly Hayes set the club female 800m track record and Richard John Hayes completed the record setting with the male mile and 800m. The club has regular runs on a Monday and Thursday evening. To find out more and to join the club visit our website stocksbridgerc. co.uk.
