SHEFFIELD FC: THE AFTERMATH OF THE DECISION TO PICK AMATEURISM OVER PROFESSIONALISM.

Currently placed in the Non League Division one (8th tier of English Football), Sheffield Fc the world first football club founded in 1857 by Nathaniel Creswick &Wiliam Prest  made a decision in July 1885 when professionalism was admitted by the FA into English Football. The aftermath of such decision is what i intend to discuss in this special dedicated to the world first Football Club, SHEFFIELD F.C.

Founded in Sheffield, south Yorkshire England. The Club initially started playing with the Sheffield rules which was drawn up by founders Creswick & Prest. It was recognizably the first set of rules ever before the Creation of the FA. Initially, Football Games where held against members of the club like the “Married VS Singles” match or the “Professionals VS The rest” match. Indeed, Sheffield was created as an amateur team but it played it’s first out of the club game with Neighbours Hallam in the Rules Derby since 1860 till date. Sheffield was admitted into the FA in 1863 & played it’s first ever competition in 1873 against shropshire Wanderers. That game indeed was a Unique game because it was the only Game in FA cup History to be decided by a Coin Toss.

Sheffield FC decline in football began with the introduction of Professionalism into the sport by the FA in 1885. Amateur side Sheffield couldn’t Compete with the likes of Aston Villa and the rest so much so they asked the FA to create an Amateur cup. The FA Amateur cup was created in 1893 for Amateur teams only and Sheffield would have to wait 11 years to grab it’s first trophy. Claiming the trophy in 1904. Due to it’s Decision not to accept Professionalism, Sheffield Fc couldn’t cope with the demands which forced it to leave the Midlands League a year after joining it. Since then, Sheffield has spent all it’s years in the basement of English Football.

Although, Sheffield weren’t able to win loads of international trophies or become a global brand,  It’s biggest accomplishment was having something all top professional teams in the world lost or are already losing. That is the ”Fan Connection”, that special bond a club maintains with the fans. It’s more or like the club & the Fans are in one body. It’s a unity even we at 3i football in far away Lagos, Nigeria could feel. Sheffield was created for the fans & 160 years later it still maintain that philosophy. True Success doesn’t Actually come from how many Trophies you’ve won. No, it comes from how happy your Fans are. Sheffield may not play in the premier league or have won the UEFA Champions League but they remain the pioneer & one of the most successful clubs for Maintaining it’s stance for 160 years and still counting even when the whole world had forgotten the reason why Football was created.