Hallam F.C.
Encyclopedia
Hallam Football Club are a football
club in Sheffield
, South Yorkshire
, England
, who currently play in the Northern Counties East League
Division One. Founded in 1860, they are the second oldest football club in the world with Sheffield also being the home of the oldest club in the world, Sheffield
who were founded in 1857.
Hallam still play on their original ground, Sandygate Road
, which is officially recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as "The Oldest Ground in the World". Sandygate is in western Sheffield. In 1860 Hallam first played Sheffield
in a local derby
which is still contested today. This 'Rules derby
' is considered the oldest still-contested derby of any football code in the world, and is probably one of the oldest organised team-sport derbies in the world, besides those found in cricket.
In 1867 the club made football history when they won the Youdan Cup
, the world's first ever organised football tournament when they beat fellow Sheffield club Norfolk in the final played at Bramall Lane
. They still possess this historic trophy.
stands the Plough Inn
alongside the road called Sandygate. In 1804 the landlord of the inn
agreed to use one of his fields for cricket
matches and so the Hallam
cricket club was formed. The club was so successful that by the 1850s
it had some 300 members, many being familiar with team football as
played by Sheffield club, which was formed in 1857. The desire for
another, less exclusive football club led the cricketers to the formation of
the Hallam Football club in 1860 and the first challenge match against Sheffield took place at Sandygate on Boxing Day
of that year.
The Hallam Football clubs founder and captain, John Charles Shaw, soon
became President of the Sheffield Football Association which organised
matches to the locally preferred rules for its growing number of member
clubs. John Shaw was directly instrumental, with Charles Alcock of the
Football Association in London, in the formation of nationally accepted
rules of playing the game. In fact both gentlemen were the respective captains of the first all Sheffield match with London in 1871, in which the preferred rules were experimented.
In 1867, Hallam won what is believed to be the first football cup competition which was the Youdan Cup
, named after a local footballing
enthusiast and theatre owner Thomas Youdan. By 1878, Hallam had the
regular services of an English international player in Billy Mosforth,
who was a member of both Hallam football and cricket clubs.
With the advent of more successful clubs and the growth of professionalism, Hallam could not hope to compete, being content to
maintain its place in amateur football, with occasional success in local
league and cup competitions. In 1925, over 2,000 spectators at Sandygate
saw Hallam defeat the famous Bishop Auckland
in an FA Amateur Cup
tie.
By rapid promotion, Hallam soon reached the most senior local league
and had regular encounters with more famous clubs in the FA Amateur
cup competition. Local enthusiasm for the clubs progress was that one
such tie against Dulwich Hamlet in 1953 had to be played at Sheffield Wednesday’s
Hillsborough
ground and attracted a crowd of over 13,000.
Hallam have won the Sheffield Senior Cup four times during the 1950s and 1960s, the last time in 1967–68.
The 1982–83 season saw the demise of the old Yorkshire League
with the introduction of the FA's pyramid system of non league football in which promotion was determined as much by ground grading as team performance. With only seven years of its ground lease remaining the club could not commit to expensive ground improvements. Protracted negotiations with the landlord eventually led to a 99 years extension being granted but a large premium was demanded within one year.
Hallam’s profile was highlighted during the 1980s when the complete history of the club was researched and published by member John Steele. This was soon followed by much national publicity of the club’s plight.
A massive fund raising effort secured the new lease and continued for the provision of floodlights-first used in 1992. Next, the league required a 250 seat stand and a shelter for 100 spectators. More fund raising was boosted when the club received a large bequest from a late supporters will. The two new stands were ready for the 1999–2000 season and work continued by building new changing rooms behind the main stand. This left the original changing rooms redundant, so it was gutted internally and refitted as a licensed clubhouse.
At some point in the past, the Youdan Cup
, won outright by the club in 1871 had been lost. In 1997, the club bought it back when it turned up at a Scottish antique dealers shop. This allowed the club to obtain acceptance from the Guinness Book of World Records that it has both the oldest football ground and the oldest football cup.
Following 36 years without winning any silverware, Hallam won the NCEL cup in 2003–04 when they beat Mickleover Sports 1–0 in the final played at Buxton
. So with it home at Sandygate secure until 2088. The future looks bright for Hallam Football club particularly as they look forward to celebrating the clubs 150th anniversary in 2010.
In September 2010 Uriah Rennie
(ex FA Premier League Referee) was unveiled as club president at Hallam FCs 150th anniversary dinner.
At the end of the same season Hallam were relegated after finishing second from bottom.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club in Sheffield
Sheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
, South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire
South Yorkshire is a metropolitan county in the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England. It has a population of 1.29 million. It consists of four metropolitan boroughs: Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham, and City of Sheffield...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, who currently play in the Northern Counties East League
Northern Counties East Football League
The Northern Counties East Football League is an English football league that was founded in 1982 by the merger of the former Yorkshire League and Midland League. The league has two divisions at present; The Premier Division and Division One which stand at the ninth and tenth levels of the football...
Division One. Founded in 1860, they are the second oldest football club in the world with Sheffield also being the home of the oldest club in the world, Sheffield
Sheffield F.C.
Sheffield Football Club is an English football club from Sheffield, South Yorkshire. The club is most noted for the fact that they are the world's oldest club now playing Association football, founded in 1857...
who were founded in 1857.
Hallam still play on their original ground, Sandygate Road
Sandygate Road
Sandygate Road is a football and cricket stadium in the Sheffield suburb of Crosspool, South Yorkshire, England. It is home to Hallam F.C. and Hallam C.C....
, which is officially recognised by the Guinness Book of Records as "The Oldest Ground in the World". Sandygate is in western Sheffield. In 1860 Hallam first played Sheffield
Sheffield F.C.
Sheffield Football Club is an English football club from Sheffield, South Yorkshire. The club is most noted for the fact that they are the world's oldest club now playing Association football, founded in 1857...
in a local derby
Local derby
In many countries the term local derby, or simply just derby means a sporting fixture between two, generally local, rivals, particularly in association football...
which is still contested today. This 'Rules derby
Rules derby
Rules derby is a football derby played in Sheffield, England between Sheffield F.C. and Hallam F.C.. It was first played on 26 December 1860 and is the oldest football fixture in the world...
' is considered the oldest still-contested derby of any football code in the world, and is probably one of the oldest organised team-sport derbies in the world, besides those found in cricket.
In 1867 the club made football history when they won the Youdan Cup
Youdan Cup
The Youdan Cup was an association football competition played in Sheffield, England. A local theatre owner Thomas Youdan sponsored the competition and provided the trophy...
, the world's first ever organised football tournament when they beat fellow Sheffield club Norfolk in the final played at Bramall Lane
Bramall Lane
-Cricket at the Lane:Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual rent of £70. The site was then away from the town's industrial area, and relatively free from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket...
. They still possess this historic trophy.
Club history
In the Pennine Hills to the west of SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
stands the Plough Inn
alongside the road called Sandygate. In 1804 the landlord of the inn
agreed to use one of his fields for cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
matches and so the Hallam
cricket club was formed. The club was so successful that by the 1850s
it had some 300 members, many being familiar with team football as
played by Sheffield club, which was formed in 1857. The desire for
another, less exclusive football club led the cricketers to the formation of
the Hallam Football club in 1860 and the first challenge match against Sheffield took place at Sandygate on Boxing Day
Boxing Day
Boxing Day is a bank or public holiday that occurs on 26 December, or the first or second weekday after Christmas Day, depending on national or regional laws. It is observed in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and some other Commonwealth nations. In Ireland, it is recognized as...
of that year.
The Hallam Football clubs founder and captain, John Charles Shaw, soon
became President of the Sheffield Football Association which organised
matches to the locally preferred rules for its growing number of member
clubs. John Shaw was directly instrumental, with Charles Alcock of the
Football Association in London, in the formation of nationally accepted
rules of playing the game. In fact both gentlemen were the respective captains of the first all Sheffield match with London in 1871, in which the preferred rules were experimented.
In 1867, Hallam won what is believed to be the first football cup competition which was the Youdan Cup
Youdan Cup
The Youdan Cup was an association football competition played in Sheffield, England. A local theatre owner Thomas Youdan sponsored the competition and provided the trophy...
, named after a local footballing
enthusiast and theatre owner Thomas Youdan. By 1878, Hallam had the
regular services of an English international player in Billy Mosforth,
who was a member of both Hallam football and cricket clubs.
With the advent of more successful clubs and the growth of professionalism, Hallam could not hope to compete, being content to
maintain its place in amateur football, with occasional success in local
league and cup competitions. In 1925, over 2,000 spectators at Sandygate
saw Hallam defeat the famous Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland
Bishop Auckland is a market town and civil parish in County Durham in north east England. It is located about northwest of Darlington and southwest of Durham at the confluence of the River Wear with its tributary the River Gaunless...
in an FA Amateur Cup
FA Amateur Cup
The FA Amateur Cup was an English football competition for amateur clubs. It commenced in 1893 and ended in 1974 when The Football Association abolished official amateur status.-History:...
tie.
By rapid promotion, Hallam soon reached the most senior local league
and had regular encounters with more famous clubs in the FA Amateur
cup competition. Local enthusiasm for the clubs progress was that one
such tie against Dulwich Hamlet in 1953 had to be played at Sheffield Wednesday’s
Sheffield Wednesday F.C.
Sheffield Wednesday Football Club are a football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England, who are currently competing in the Football League One in the 2011-12 season, in England. Sheffield Wednesday are one of the oldest professional clubs in the world and the fourth oldest in the...
Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday football club, Sheffield, England. Football has been played at the ground since it was opened on 2 September 1899, when Wednesday moved from their original ground at Olive Grove. Today it is a 39,812 capacity all-seater stadium, making it the...
ground and attracted a crowd of over 13,000.
Hallam have won the Sheffield Senior Cup four times during the 1950s and 1960s, the last time in 1967–68.
The 1982–83 season saw the demise of the old Yorkshire League
Yorkshire Football League
The Yorkshire Football League was a football competition founded in 1920 which existed until 1982 when it merged with the Midland League to become the Northern Counties East League.-Original League:...
with the introduction of the FA's pyramid system of non league football in which promotion was determined as much by ground grading as team performance. With only seven years of its ground lease remaining the club could not commit to expensive ground improvements. Protracted negotiations with the landlord eventually led to a 99 years extension being granted but a large premium was demanded within one year.
Hallam’s profile was highlighted during the 1980s when the complete history of the club was researched and published by member John Steele. This was soon followed by much national publicity of the club’s plight.
A massive fund raising effort secured the new lease and continued for the provision of floodlights-first used in 1992. Next, the league required a 250 seat stand and a shelter for 100 spectators. More fund raising was boosted when the club received a large bequest from a late supporters will. The two new stands were ready for the 1999–2000 season and work continued by building new changing rooms behind the main stand. This left the original changing rooms redundant, so it was gutted internally and refitted as a licensed clubhouse.
At some point in the past, the Youdan Cup
Youdan Cup
The Youdan Cup was an association football competition played in Sheffield, England. A local theatre owner Thomas Youdan sponsored the competition and provided the trophy...
, won outright by the club in 1871 had been lost. In 1997, the club bought it back when it turned up at a Scottish antique dealers shop. This allowed the club to obtain acceptance from the Guinness Book of World Records that it has both the oldest football ground and the oldest football cup.
Following 36 years without winning any silverware, Hallam won the NCEL cup in 2003–04 when they beat Mickleover Sports 1–0 in the final played at Buxton
Buxton
Buxton is a spa town in Derbyshire, England. It has the highest elevation of any market town in England. Located close to the county boundary with Cheshire to the west and Staffordshire to the south, Buxton is described as "the gateway to the Peak District National Park"...
. So with it home at Sandygate secure until 2088. The future looks bright for Hallam Football club particularly as they look forward to celebrating the clubs 150th anniversary in 2010.
In September 2010 Uriah Rennie
Uriah Rennie
Uriah D. Rennie is a retired English football referee.-Career:He began refereeing in 1979 in local leagues, then operated in the Northern Premier League until 1994, at which time he was appointed to the Football League List of referees.He was given his first Premiership appointment on 23 August...
(ex FA Premier League Referee) was unveiled as club president at Hallam FCs 150th anniversary dinner.
At the end of the same season Hallam were relegated after finishing second from bottom.
Famous ex players
- Michael BouldingMichael BouldingMichael Thomas Boulding is an English professional footballer. He can play as a forward or as a winger, and had previously been a promising young tennis player, ranking among the top 20 players in Britain...
: Ex-Aston Villa, Grimsby, Mansfield and Bradford City striker. - Sean ConnellySean ConnellySean Connelly is an English former professional footballer, currently working as a physio at Cardiff City.-Career:...
: Stockport County legend, now a physio at Cardiff City. - Howard WilkinsonHoward WilkinsonHoward Wilkinson is a former English football player and manager, and has recently stepped down as a Non-Executive Director at Sheffield Wednesday after formerly relinquishing the chairman role to Milan Mandaric...
: Title winning manager at Leeds who played for Hallam between spells with Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday. - Harold BrookHarold BrookHarold Brook was a footballer who played as an inside forward for Sheffield United and Leeds United in the 1940s and 1950s.-References:...
: Inside forward who later played for Sheffield United and Leeds. - Harry DeaconHarry DeaconHenry "Harry" Deacon was an English professional footballer who made 479 appearances in the Football League playing for Birmingham, Swansea Town, Crewe Alexandra, Southport, Accrington Stanley and Rotherham United...
: Played for a number of football league clubs, most notably Swansea City where he scored 86 goals in 319 appearances. - Sean DunphySean Dunphy (footballer)Sean Dunphy is a former English footballer. He played as a centre-back and made 70 appearances in the Football League, principally for Lincoln City.-League career:...
: Former Lincoln City defender - Fred FurnissFred FurnissFrederick Furniss is an English former footballer who played in the position of full-back for Sheffield United.-Playing career:...
: Former Sheffield United full back who never missed a penalty in his United career and is included on the Blades' 'Wall of Fame'. - George HandleyGeorge Handley (footballer)George Albert Handley was an English professional footballer who played most of his career as a winger with Bradford City.-Playing career:...
: Started is career at Hallam before moving to Bradford City. Later coached in Switzerland with BrühlSC BrühlSportclub Brühl St. Gallen is a football club based in St. Gallen, Switzerland, and are currently playing in the Swiss Challenge League. In 1915, the club became Swiss champions.-Players 2011 - 2012:-Staff and board members:...
and St. GallenFC St. GallenFootball Club St. Gallen 1879 is a Swiss football club based in St. Gallen. The club is currently playing in the 2011/12 Swiss Challenge League.-Brief history:...
. - Brian LinighanBrian LinighanBrian Linighan is a former English football defender. He started his career at Sheffield Wednesday, making just one appearance on January 11, 1994 and was sold to Bury in 1998. After that, he played for non-league sides Gainsborough Trinity, Worksop Town and Whitby Town...
: Played for Hallam after being released by Sheffield Wednesday and Bury. Brother of former Arsenal defender Andy LinighanAndy LinighanAndrew "Andy" Linighan is a former English football player.Linighan was born in Hartlepool into a footballing family – his brothers David and Brian were also professional footballers. He first played for his local side, Hartlepool United, before spells at Leeds United , Oldham Athletic and...
and former Ipswich Town defender David LinighanDavid LinighanDavid Linighan is an English former professional football player. He played as a centre-back.-Career:Born in Hartlepool, County Durham, Linighan began his career at Hartlepool in 1982 as a 17-year-old...
. - Billy MosforthBilly MosforthWilliam Mosforth was an English football player. He played for several Sheffield clubs but in his later career played mainly for Sheffield Wednesday before finally settling at United...
: Former England midfielder who played in the first ever floodlit game at Bramall Lane. - Mark SmithMark Smith (footballer born 1961)Mark Cyril Smith is an English former footballer and manager.-Career:Smith played for Sheffield United, Worksop Town, Gainsborough Trinity, Scunthorpe United, Kettering Town, Rochdale, Huddersfield Town, Grimsby Town, Scunthorpe again, Boston United, Gainsborough again, Matlock Town, Sheffield,...
: Played for a number of league and non-league clubs most notably Rochdale, Huddersfield, Grimsby and Scunthorpe. - Jack WhithamJack WhithamJack Whitham was a professional footballer who played for Sheffield Wednesday, Liverpool, Cardiff City and Reading. He was a Centre Forward who only started 111 league games in a nine year career between 1967 and 1976, scoring 40 goals...
: Capped at England under 23 level, Whitham started his career at Sheffield Wednesday making 63 appearances and scoring 27 goals. Later played for Liverpool, Cardiff and Reading in the 1970s before playing for Hallam towards the end of his career. Later became Hallam FC manager before retiring. - Pat Hanwell : In his 50th year at Hallam. Started playing for Hallam in 1959 playing for a number of years and won the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup in '62 '65 and '68. Became Hallam manager in the 1970s and is still involved in the club today.
- Dave McCarthy : Played for and managed Hallam in the 1990s. Now CEO of Ferencvárosi TC in HungaryHungaryHungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.