Remembering the Hillsborough Disaster: 35 Years Later
On 15 April 1989, during an FA Cup semi-final match between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at Sheffield's Hillsborough Stadium, a tragic crush killed 97 and left hundreds injured.
The causes of the Hillsborough tragedy are deeply rooted in a series of systemic failures and poor decisions. Overcrowding, inadequate stadium design and a lack of effective crowd control measures contributed to the fatal crush in the Leppings Lane end of the stadium.
The aftermath saw a prolonged battle for justice as families of the victims sought accountability and truth, challenging the initial narrative falsified by South Yorkshire Police which blamed Liverpool supporters for the tragedy.
Debbie Caine, of The Hillsborough Law Now Campaign, said: “The pain and suffering of the past 35 years have not diminished. Today, we pay tribute to all 97 supporters, they will never be forgotten, and we fight on in their memory and for all those who have suffered such injustice at the hands of the state."
Investigations and inquiries revealed a pattern of negligence, cover-ups, and scapegoating, highlighting the failures of authorities, including the police and emergency services.
In 2016, a jury finally concluded that the 97 (96 at the time) victims were unlawfully killed, and subsequent inquiries have led to criminal charges against individuals and organisations responsible for safety and security at Hillsborough Stadium.
Ms Caine said: “The truth of what really happened on that dreadful day was not revealed for decades because public authorities and officials concealed the truth in their own interests.
"Yet, 35 years on, the experiences of Hillsborough families have been repeated countless times, currently with the Post Office scandal. Little has changed.”
This week Labour Party leader Keir Starmer confirmed a Labour government would prioritise bringing The Hillsborough Law into being a parliamentary bill.
This would introduce a legally enforceable, positive “duty of candour” for police and all public authorities to assist investigations into a major incident, and equal public funding for legal representation of bereaved families at inquiries and inquests.
The bill, drafted after the 2016 verdict, is aimed at ensuring that other people do not suffer police cover-ups and mistreatment, as the Hillsborough families did.
Pete Weatherby, the solicitor who represents 22 of the affected families and co-writer of the first draft of the proposed Hillsborough Law, said: “The fact that he [Keir Starmer] has come out publicly in support to the bill is good news.
“Hillsborough Law is the legacy project of the Hillsborough families after establishing their loved ones have been unlawfully killed.”
Mr Weatherby compared Hillsborough to other tragedies that has struck the nation in more recent years. He said: “You can substitute Grenfell, COVID, the post office, whatever you like, for Hillsborough. It is an issue that goes on in every single investigation and inquiry.
“The Hillsborough Law is an attempt to make practical and effective changes to the law to prevent public servants and others from covering up wrongdoing or hiding error.”
As we honour the memory of the 97 lives lost in the Hillsborough disaster, let us reaffirm our commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of fans at sporting events. May their legacy serve as a reminder of the ongoing pursuit of justice, accountability, and solidarity in the football community and beyond.
World mourns 35 years since the Hillsborough Disaster
Today marks the 35th anniversary of one of football’s greatest tragedies - the Hillsborough Disaster - when 97 people were unlawfully killed attending an FA Cup semi-final tie between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest.
The tragedy unfolded primarily due to overcrowding in the Leppings Lane stand, which led to a crush of fans in one of the standing terraces.
The situation was exacerbated by inadequate crowd control measures, poor stadium design, and the failure of police to properly manage the influx of fans.
As fans entered the stadium, many were directed towards the already congested central pens, rather than the less crowded side pens. This led to crushing as the central pens became overcrowded.
Despite pleas from fans, the match was not halted. The response from emergency services further contributed to the severity of the disaster.
Over the past 35 years, multiple investigations and inquiries unravelled a series of conspiracies and cover-ups.
This led to a second inquiry being ordered which concluded gross negligence by police and ambulance services resulted in 97 unlawful deaths.
The incident led to significant changes in stadium safety regulations in the UK, including the introduction of all-seater stadiums for top-flight football matches and improved crowd control measures.
Labour leader Keir Starmer took to X [formerly Twitter] to express his condolences to the victims and their families.
He said: "Today on the 35th anniversary of Hillsborough, I'll be thinking about those lost, their families, and their enduring courage and determination to pursue justice.
"Making the Hillsborough Law a reality would be a priority of my Labour government."
The Owls will host the annual memorial service to remember the 97 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives in 1989.
The service will commence at 2:55pm at the permanent memorial site adjacent to the South Stand bridge and run for approximately 20 minutes, during which time Parkside Road traffic will be suspended.
Hillsborough Stadium will be open to all visitors wishing to pay their respects throughout the day from 10am to 4pm.
Second Sheffield man charged with attempted murder after alleged stabbing in Darnall
A second man from Sheffield appeared in court today after being charged in connection with a reported stabbing in Darnall last week.
Adil Mohammed, 24, of Acres Hill Road, Sheffield, appeared before Sheffield Magistrates' Court earlier today after being charged with attempted murder.
Mr Mohammed pleaded not guilty today and is the second man charged in connection with the alleged assault last week.
It comes following an alleged stabbing on Staniforth Road on Tuesday evening left a 21-year-old man with serious injuries which are now thought to be life-changing.
The man had multiple suspected stab wounds and remains in hospital.
Mr Mohammed has been remanded in custody and is next due to appear before Sheffield Crown Court on 13 May.
Sheffield man hopes to fundraise £40k for human trafficking victims
A Sheffield YMCA worker is aiming to raise £40,000 for human trafficking victims before his 40th birthday by running four half marathons in a month.
The Snowdrop Project is a Sheffield-based charity which provides long-term support to survivors of modern slavery and exploitation.
Jonathan Buckley, 39, decided to fundraise for the organisation after he volunteered to drive trafficking victims to safe houses for the Salvation Army.
He said: “For us, these weren’t just people you saw on the news in boats crossing the channel, or on trucks. They were real people with real stories and real lives too.
“You always think, what happens to them next? Do they just get lost in the system, do they go back to their home countries, what happens to them?”
He discovered the Snowdrop Project through friends who volunteered there, and decided to raise money for long-term support of human trafficking victims.
So far, including gift aid, Jonathan has raised £2,000 of his £40,000 target. He admits raising £4,000 is more realistic than £40,000, but he is determined to raise as much money as possible.
He said: “Encouraging people to part with their cash has always been a gift I have had.”
Jonathan aims to completes the Sheffield Half Marathon, which took place on April 7, Rugeley Half Marathon, which took place yesterday, and the upcoming Roche Abbey Half Marathon and East Yorkshire (Hull) Half Marathon.
He said: “Carrying the Olympic torch last Sunday was hard. I’ve not carried it since I carried it in 2012, and that was only 300 metres, rather than 13 miles. My arm muscles hurt quite a bit on Sunday night.
“The torch has been behind the TV for the last ten years, so it was good to get it out again!”
Jonathan said doing back-to-back races is a challenge, but he has friends and family members joining him on the way to cheer him on.
“Having planned this for the past five or six years, it’s good to actually do it. Come May, I think I will be at a loose end and wondering what is next!”
The Snowdrop Project said: "As a small charity, we rely on the generosity of supporters like Jonathan to fund the work we do.
"We're lucky to have an incredible community of people who fundraise and donate to enable survivors to rebuild their lives after exploitation."
You can donate to Jonathan Buckley’s Just Giving fundraiser here, or donate directly to the Snowdrop Project by visiting their website.
Friends band together to run the Sheffield Half Marathon in memory of an ‘inspirational’ racing driver
The death of an "inspirational" Rotherham racing driver by suicide has led a group of friends from Sheffield to raise money for mental health in his memory.
Jake Cook, a father of two, had competed in a variety of competitions, including the Formula Ford EuroCup and British Formula Renault Championship. His death led to 14 of his school friends coming together to honour his memory by raising money for the mental health charity, MIND.
His friend Jojo Quattrocchi, 32, said: "It's been something so tragic but we've managed to try and spin that into something positive by running for Jake's family, for MIND, and just sharing our solidarity for mental health and how we can maybe break these stigmas."
When asked about their memories with Mr Cook, the friends had an abundance of experiences they wanted to share. James Brodie, 30, bonded with Mr Cook over their joint love of auto racing.
He said: “He was just the sweetest guy. Even though I live down in London now and he was living up in Sheffield, we would stay in contact and we sometimes messaged each other about F1.
“He was just someone who I really enjoyed that world with.”
Olivia Parker, 30, spoke about what Mr Cook was like in school. She said: “He was very hard-working. He was very determined because not only was he incredible at sport and at such a high level, but he was also very intelligent.
“He was also very humble. He was never someone to particularly brag or rub it in your face.”
Miss Parker detailed why they had chosen a marathon to raise money and pay tribute to their friend: “He had competed as a Formula racing driver for his whole life. He was an extremely sporty and inspirational person and I think we thought what more could we do in his honour than a sporting challenge?”
The group decided to start a fundraiser for the mental health charity, MIND, to help increase awareness of men’s mental health. Men make up 80% of suicides that happen in the UK each year.
Originally, the group had set their fundraising target at £5,000 but after receiving generous donations, they decided to double it to £10,000.
Miss Parker said: “It’s really been quite amazing to see the generosity of people coming together. I think people really understand that MIND is a charity that they want to contribute to.”
MIND puts 83 pence from every pound they receive directly into helping people with mental health difficulties.
In spite of the progress made by mental health charities in the past few years, there is still a stigma around being open about mental health, especially for men.
The group are all taking a different approach to training for the marathon but are updating each other along the way.
Mr Quattrocchi, who is starting his own mental health charity, has found the process challenging but enjoyable. He said: “I’ve never run 10K in my life. I've gone years without running and it has been really good, personally, to get back to feeling the benefits of running, and then obviously the end goal is to finish it, all in honour of Jake."
The group will be running the half-marathon on 7 April.
You can donate to their fundraiser here.
Owls Glide by Millers in South Yorkshire Derby
The Owls made it three in a row after a comfortable 1-0 away win against Rotherham United.
Sheffield Wednesday needed three points against out-of-form Rotherham United to keep their survival dreams alive.
Pre-match, Wednesday boss Danny Rohl said: “We know the situation is still serious and it goes very quickly in this league in the other direction.
“But at the moment, we are going in the right direction.”
Although only seven miles and one league position separate the clubs, the gulf in class between the two sides was evident at the New York Stadium on Saturday afternoon.
Wednesday spent the majority of the first half camped inside the Millers’ final third but lacked composure in and around the box.
This was evidenced after 21 minutes when Owl’s winger Poveda flashed a shot around the post after a positive run, cutting inside from the right.
The visitors did have the ball in the net from Akin Famewo but it was disallowed for offside in a questionable decision by the officials.
The goal didn’t come for Wednesday in the first half, but they were certainly on top, boasting 60% possession and 11 shots to Rotherham’s solitary effort.
Leam Richardson’s side started the second half with more intensity during the first ten minutes and had a few flurries around the away side’s area, but they didn’t create any clear opportunities.
The lack of quality in the Millers’ attack was met by a collective groan from the home fans on the 64th minute, when a seemingly promising counterattack culminated in a 30 yard back pass to their goalkeeper, Viktor Johansson.
Danny Rohl’s men finally broke the deadlock in the 66th minute when Ike Ugbo swept the ball in from close range after a quick passing exchange from the Owl’s on the edge of the box.
The last half an hour was fairly straightforward for the Owls, despite Barry Bannan clearing an effort off the line to keep the clean sheet intact.
Second half substitute Mallik Wilks also hit the post for the visitors with a headed effort in added time.
After the match, Rohl said: "From the beginning we were on the front foot, and we created a lot of chances and at half-time I had a clear message.
I said to my team it was great what we were doing, but it was about what we did in the box.”
The win for Wednesday was crucial and has pushed the Owls to within three points of safety.
When Rohl took the helm in December, they were struggling on 13 points at the foot of the table.
Wednesday play host to Plymouth Argyle tomorrow for another ‘six pointer’ in the relegation scrap.
From Sheffield to Sydney: 40 years of Rock and Roll photography with Tony Mott
A former Lowedges chef who became one of the most esteemed photographers in rock and roll, working with over 3,000 musicians including The Arctic Monkeys and Madonna, talks about his 40 years in the industry.
From touring with The Rolling Stones to having dinner on Paul McCartney's yacht, and being forced to shoot Blink-182 in a bathtub, Tony Mott reminisces about his time shooting some of the world's most famous bands.
"The reality is that I've shot thousands of bands and musicians," says Tony. "I've only met three a***holes, and that's after more than 40 years experience. They're not great time keepers, nor are they hugely reliable. But they're definitely not all a***holes."
The son of a steelworker, Tony, born in 1956, a loyal Blades fan, was raised in Lowedges. He lived in the city until he was 18, where he studied to become a French Chef in Granville Catering College and can recall clearly the 'buzz' of the Moor on a Saturday morning.
After qualifying as a chef, Tony worked in Surrey, before meeting an Australian girl and moving 'down under', but he soon discovered his real passion, and what would become his true calling in life, was photography.
Tony was introduced to what became his vocation by his childhood friend, Paul Mitchell, from Hackenthorpe, who worked on black and white portraits. He taught Tony how to process and print photographs, and this was the start of his lifelong love of the art.
Despite being born and bred in Sheffield, Tony has spent most of his life in Australia, admitting when he returned to the city in the late 80s, while working with the band U2, he got lost. “That period, when all those steelworks disappeared, Sheffield changed radically. When I left in ’76, people, including my dad, worked in the steelworks. That was the industry. So, it's a hell of a shot to just be wondering around Attercliffe going to myself, ‘where the f**** has everything gone? You’ve got to remember, when I left, there was no Meadowhall or anything like that."
Although Tony moved away from Sheffield almost 50 years ago and may have lost his Yorkshire drawl, he’s never lost that classic, old school Northern sense of humour. The anecdotes he has are endless, and his delivery when telling them is as magnetic and entertaining as the world's best stand-up comedians. Referring to the Arctic Monkeys, he says: "The first time I worked with them, they asked me, ‘are you United or Wednesday then?' As soon as I said United, that was sort of the end of that relationship really - I guess they’re all Wednesday”.
In the early years after moving to Australia, Tony would take his camera into local pubs and photograph local bands. This is how he stumbled across the rock band Divinyls, known for their hit 'I touch myself' and went on to be a big success in Australia and the United States.
"I got lucky that they got famous when I was starting and so I rode their coattails to certain extent", Tony says. “I never really ever meant it to happen, it just happened. Being a chef was bloody hard work, but taking photos of musicians was fun," he added, with a smirk.
In 1987, Tony got his self-confessed 'big break' in the industry, when Mick Jagger landed in Australia on a solo tour and asked him to be his photographer. He toured with The Rolling Stones three times as well as working with Fleetwood Mac, Iggy Pop, Blink-182, the Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Madonna and Paul McCartney just to name a few.
Tony once spent an afternoon in Sydney harbour with Paul McCartney. "I was told by my management that I had to go and photograph Paul on the harbour in his boat." says Tony, "So you immediately think, 'Oh it's going to be some f***ing great big luxury yacht. But he just loves sailing and I ended up having lunch with him, and he told me how he misses double-decker buses. He was a lovely bloke."
Tony has also witnessed some hilarious behind-the-scenes moments, including finding Travis Barker, the drummer of American punk band, Blink-182, in a bathtub. "I did a front cover for Rolling Stone magazine," he says. "But Travis wasn't answering the door and hadn't come out of his room. He was so hungover in the bathtub of his hotel room that he quite literally couldn't get out of it. He's still, p****d, so I said, 'let's shoot it in there', so I got them all in and just shot them in the bathtub."
Tony reveals, though, sometimes, he was the cause of the mishap, including a time he forgot to put film in his camera during a session with Guns 'n' Roses. The rock group were at the pinnacle of their popularity and Tony spent the entire session disguising his mistake before confessing his rooky error. After the session, Tony had a chat with their manager, forming a cunning lie to save himself, "It worked out alright because the next day, I said to the manager, 'I'm not even gonna show you. They're not good enough'. So I managed to con another session out of them, I suppose!"
After four decades, Tony has now hung up his cameras, and retired from what he calls 'rock and roll photography', and is working in Australian television production.
"I've been doing it for 40 years. The best 40 years of rock and roll photography. It's all been a joy. I feel I've been quite blessed because making money, and good money out of photographing musicians is not something everyone gets to do."
Purchase Tony's book here: Rock N Roll Gallery: A Journey from Sheffield to Sydney 1983-2023: Amazon.co.uk: Mott, Tony: 9781922810748: Books
Ukraine war anniversary: Sheffield’s Ukrainian community gathers for ‘precious’ commemoration
Over 100 people gathered in Sheffield Cathedral last night to commemorate the second anniversary of the war in Ukraine.
The event consisted of an evening eucharist with Ukrainian orthodox prayer and was followed by live traditional Ukrainian music. The cathedral is also hosting an exhibition of artworks created by wounded Ukrainian soldiers.
Organised by the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, the music was performed by Ukrainian refugees and included songs played on the Bandura, an ancient Ukrainian instrument.
Event organiser Tanya Klymenko said: “It means a huge amount to the refugees because despite the warmest welcome we got from locals who opened their hearts and homes, it is still important for people to have a sense of belonging and to speak their own language.”
According to Sheffield City Council, more than 800 refugees have arrived in Sheffield during the past two years as part of the Homes for Ukraine Scheme. Mrs Klymenko, however, estimates that there have been around 1,000 new arrivals, accounting for those with an extended family visa.
Anna Kovalenko, a Ukrainian refugee attending the event, said: “It is unfortunate that this is the second anniversary of the war but this was really precious for us. We try to keep together because it is really important for our people and for our children.”
Mrs Kovalenko came to the UK in 2022 with her two sons and had to leave her husband in Ukraine.
She added: “I think this is the best place for us to be in. I am really grateful to Sheffield and can say that our lives continue here.”
Many women refugees have had to leave their husbands behind and are counting the days until they are able to go back to Ukraine.
“I want to emphasise that the war in Europe is still raging and Ukraine needs your support as much as it did two years ago. Please don’t give up on Ukraine," said Mrs Kovalenko.
The event connected different communities, including the Ukrainian Society at the University of Sheffield.
Founder of the society Roksolana Rohozhynska said: “I loved it. I am so grateful that we now have a big Ukrainian society in Sheffield. It is great to see so much support from people from other countries uniting with us for one purpose.”
‘We won’t go away’ says anti-abortion group holding 40-day vigil outside hospital
An anti-abortion group holding a 40-day ‘vigil’ outside of the Royal Hallamshire Hospital in Sheffield claim they are there to raise awareness, rather than judge women.
40 Days For Life is an international Christian organisation that claims it is ‘helping to end the injustice of abortion’. Its first campaign took place in 2007, and has reached over 1000 cities in 63 countries.
Rachel Wood, who organises the Sheffield vigils, told Sheffield Wire that the group has been in the area for three years and aims to pray outside the hospital from 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week, which is when abortions are performed in the hospital.
Mrs Wood, who also assists in running two helplines that aim to end abortion, said: “We believe life is a gift. Abortion hurts women – they think it’s a right to choose, but it does hurt women.”
The group do not consider their actions to be a protest, with Mrs Wood stating that 40 Days For Life considers it a “peaceful prayer vigil.”
Another one of the vigil attendees, Andrew, declined to provide his last name due to fears surrounding his safety.
He said: “We’ve had vigils interrupted where we’ve just been praying, people have come along and smashed our signs up.
“An elderly gentleman had his sign ripped out of his hands and stood on and torn into small pieces – it was quite shocking, but it wouldn’t deter him from coming.”
Marie, who also declined to provide her surname, said: “People mention rape making it okay to abort, but it’s still a life.
“We speak up for the babies – they have no voice. We won’t go away.”
The group faces heavy criticism in Sheffield. Alexandra, 23, from Sheffield Solidarity Group, said: “We think that being harassed whilst undertaking one of the most difficult decisions a pregnant person can take is an awful thing and should not happen.”
Sarah, who declined to provide her last name, helped to set up the Facebook group ‘Sheffield Protecting the Right to Choose’ in September 2022, after reading about 40 Days For Life. The group aims to establish counter-protests and figure out how to support people in Sheffield.
Sarah believes there should be more buffer zones in place to protect people using the services.
“Everyone’s got a right to their beliefs, but I think there needs to be better securities and systems in place.
“It’s already such a stressful time, adding that stress and judgement on top – I can’t imagine what that feels like.”
Sarah also added that she doesn’t think there are a massive amount of people in Sheffield who aren’t pro-choice.
Vigil attendee Marie disagreed, saying she knows “plenty of people who are pro-life. Maybe they don’t see that.”
According to BPAS, 1 in 3 women will have an abortion by the time they are 45 years old.
Next month, MPs are expected to get a free vote on decriminalising abortion in England and Wales after 24 weeks.
Homeless people at risk of being criminalised by council plan, charities and public say
A draft proposal which would criminalise begging and loitering in the city centre has been criticised for marginalising the homeless by charities and the public.
The Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) has received backlash that it will drive homelessness into other parts of the city rather than addressing its causes.
The policy, which is open to public consultation, has been pitched by the council to tackle antisocial behaviour.
Benjamin Archer, a law lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University who specialises in anti-social behaviour and public space management, said: “PSPO’s are a tool to deal with symptoms of behaviour rather than addressing its root causes.
“They disproportionately target vulnerable groups through financial penalties and open them up to a cycle of criminality.”
The PSPO is designed to crack down on antisocial activities, but many issues such as drug-taking and public drinking are already covered by other laws.
This has led to the view that the policy’s only purpose is to tackle begging and loitering which are not currently illegal.
As part of the PSPO, temporary structures such as tents would be banned, while anyone sleeping rough could be charged for ‘loitering’.
The Archer Project, a charity for homeless people based at the Cathedral, said: “If people are without accommodation, excluding them from the city centre will only lead to homelessness elsewhere and the city doesn’t want that either.”
The PSPO will be enforced through fixed penalty notices, and would encompass everywhere within the ring road as well as the train station.
Councillor Ben Miskell, Chair of the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee, said: “I don’t think there’s necessarily any evidence that introducing PSPO’s moves the issue of antisocial behaviour outside of a city centre.
“We do need to take a very firm line on antisocial behaviour and make sure our city centre is safe for everyone.”
PSPO’s have been introduced in cities such as Doncaster and Barnsley since the government repealed the Vagrancy Act in 2022, which removed begging as a prosecutable offence.
Sheffield previously tried to implement one in 2019, but it was dropped after failing to gain public support and meeting similar criticisms from charities.
The council will be taking public opinions on the policy until 25 March.
Black animals are harder to rehome says Sheffield-based sanctuary
Black animals have a harder time getting adopted due to the superstition surrounding their colour, according to local North Anston animal sanctuary.
Based in south Sheffield, Thornberry Animal Sanctuary was founded in 1988 and rescues animals from abandonment, and neglect.
While the sanctuary have had great adoption success stories, and have strong support from their local community, at times they have struggled to find homes for black animals, specifically cats and dogs.
Dating back to the European witch craze, black cats have often been regarded as an omen of bad luck, deterring people from adopting them.
Cattery and Small Animals Manager, Courtney Berry, said: “They’re a lot like marmite – people either love them or they don’t. We get a lot of them and they are very difficult to rehome.”
Additionally, at this time of year, it is particularly difficult for animals to be rehomed and as Christmas is a high travel period, animals can’t be homed with those who have upcoming trips booked, resulting in animals staying in the centre for longer periods of time.
In the kennels, black Lurchers and black Greyhounds are notorious for sticking around.
Hannah Armes, Thornberry’s Kennel Assistant said: “It's just the colour – people are put off by black dogs. The other colours of Lurchers and Greyhounds usually go quite quickly, but the black ones are less desirable,”
Desirable dogs have also been sent to Thornberry due to owners not foreseeing certain characteristics of their animal, or their medical costs.
A misconception around animal adoption is the underlying costs of taking care of small animals. According to Battersea pets, cat care is roughly £1587 per year, and rabbits at a similar cost of £1550.
Thornberry Animal Sanctuary hopes to hold classes in the new year to educate new pet owners on caring for their animals.
Entirely run on donation, fundraising plays a big part in keeping the centre afloat. Thornberry regularly holds events to entice the local community to support the centre and the animals it houses.
In early November, the sanctuary celebrated its 35th anniversary with a dinner gala. Last weekend, they held their annual Christmas fair, where they promoted local businesses.
Thornberry invites the local community to volunteer to help them day-to-day. Anyone is welcome to volunteer and can find an online application form on their website.
Thornberry Animal Sanctuary will soon open up a charity shop in Crystal Peaks Shopping Centre.
Maddy Cusack “broken by football”: the women’s game in the UK remains an afterthought
Former Sheffield United player Maddy Cusack’s early death at 27 has spotlighted the ongoing struggle which still dominates women in football. The pressure of the game is growing but the money in the game is not.
Maddy’s family have criticised the “half-baked” nature of the women’s game. Players have no choice but to work multiple jobs due to the lack of funding for salaries, equipment and facilities.
There has been an increasing demand for the women’s game after the 2022 Euros, but the lack of commitment from clubs for the women’s game, shows the stark contrast between the women and men’s game.
Maddy’s brother, Richard Cusack, 29, spoke out on the pressures his sister faced during her career. He said: “Women don't get paid enough for the effort they put in. They've got to find a way of making the balance work in women's football.
“What you're asking players to do at the moment is live as a full-time, elite, professional athlete by eating, training, and then playing on a Sunday. You’re going out all day Sunday and then players have got to get up for work on a Monday morning and with some away games it’s a weekend-long event as well.
“We have got to find a way of making this work for everyone. At the moment, it feels a little bit half-baked.”
Mr Cusack emphasised the difficulty for players to fully commit to playing football when a risk of injury one game could impact their full-time job.
Maddy’s mum, Deborah Cusack, 55, claims her daughter, who also played for the Lionesses, was “broken by football”. She told the BBC: “Maddy worried about her career in football. Because football, to her, was everything.
“At Sheffield United, last year their players were part-time, which means that they all had full-time jobs and trained three times a week. They often travelled on a Saturday to play on a Sunday, for minimal amounts of money. I think Madeline was on £6,000 a year, last year, to play football.”
Mrs Cusack, from Horsley, Derbyshire, spoke to the Sheffield Wire about a campaign for Maddy to participate in the FA mixed gender trials held across the country, while she was still in secondary school. Unfortunately for Maddy the campaign was unsuccessful despite backing from “every manager and every team”.
Olivia Cusack, 24, explained her sister had a huge ambition to develop opportunities for young women who were pursuing football careers.
She said: “I remember at clubs she'd been in, some female clubs were completely separate from the men's and she could never get her head around why they weren't working together. It wasn’t just funding, but equipment too, and even general relationships between the men and the women. Why was it not more merged?”
After moving to Sheffield United, Maddy noted men and women were gradually integrated which Ms Cusack explained was good for Maddy as the absence of a gendered hierarchy allowed all the players to learn and progress more.
She said: “I think she wanted a level playing field for both men and women. She wanted young girls to be able to achieve what the men have in a way, or even, the females that are in the Euros now. I think she just wanted to make it not so difficult for women to be able to achieve in football and get as much out of the sport.”
The Sheffield Wire’s campaign last May on the retention of teenage girls in football showed a large spike in girl’s interest in football as well as the challenges the girls faced.
Data from Sports England showed that 777,000 girls at the end of the 2021 school year played organised football and a 200,000 increase in the numbers of girls playing informally.
According to FIFA, there are over 29 million women and girls playing football globally, which will be expected to increase to 60 million by 2026.
In school, Maddy participated in the Sports England’s ‘This Girl Can’ campaign, which aimed to challenge stereotypes of girls in sport.
Maddy became known as “Miss Sheffield United” and continued to encourage girls to play football. Throughout her career she participated in various events including multiple visits to Charnock Ridgeway Girls FC.
Olivia, social media manager for Derby Runner, who lives in Horsley, said: “The young girls and parents I spoke to, they believe it's really difficult for girls teams to actually have access to equipment or places where they can carry out training sessions.
“A lot of the time, it's already kind of reserved or bought for boys, men’s, teams. The priority is not the same for females.”
Hana Bhatia, 14, saw Maddy Cusack as a role model for her own pursuit into a football career.
She said: “There’s still stereotypes. I feel like getting on to a team is a lot more difficult for a girl than a boy, because there's so many more divisions for the boys than for girls. I feel like boys don't understand that girls know how to play football”.
Hana also pointed out discrepancies at a professional level. “The women only get one shirt for the entire season and the men get one every single game.”
Rachel Iball, Hana’s mother, explained: “There's a lot more opportunities for the boys to develop and be scouted and we've looked for more teams for Hana. It's just been really difficult to try and go to the next step.
“One of Hana's friends got scouted just so easily. Whereas for girls, it's a lot harder. And there's less teams around. So we end up travelling all over the place to go to matches for a Doncaster, Barnsley, all over.”
Brett Hawke, Barnsley Ladies FC Chairman for the Junior and Development teams, 43, explained that there is an increased pressure from clubs investing in the women’s game for teenage girl players to be elite despite the lack of funding.
“The problem I’ve got with it is, if you read the press, you’d think there’d be a lot of money going to the women’s game because they go on about how much funding has gone into it and how it’s going to improve it”, he said.
“But when you dig into it you’ll find that the funding’s there for already established men's clubs to bring women’s football in. So they go after that funding, bring one women’s team in, and spend the rest of the money on the men's team.”
Mr Hawke has been involved in the women's game for seven years but was originally from the men’s football background.
The financial constraint and overshadowing of the women’s game, as Mr Hawke explained, has risen with the introduction of the UEFA Financial Fair Play Regulations to clubs which has further limited their spending.
He said: “For me there should be a special kind of fund that is specifically for the women’s game and it shouldn’t be included in men’s Financial Fair Play Regulations, it should be rolled out to the women’s game and it’s got to start out at the grassroots.
“Because some of the facilities that we have to play on, if it were boys they would not be playing on that.”
As the number of women in football continues to grow, so does the financial pressure. This reinforces the importance of The Maddy Cusack Foundation that aims to provide funding and opportunities for young girls in their football careers.
#MarkedbyMaddy: The impact of Maddy Cusack on the next generation of players
"She helped so many young people. I was always really shy because I thought that if I said something wrong, then I would regret it but I think I should have spoke to her more because now I can't."
As soon as Hana Bhatia, 14, saw Maddy Cusack play the Sheffield United midfielder became her favourite player. Her passion on the pitch was mirrored in the generosity she gave to younger players.
Hana, who plays for Hallam Rangers Junior FC, recalled: "Anyone who came across Maddy could just tell that she was a really nice person, on the pitch and off the pitch. She treated me more like a friend than a fan."
Rachel Iball, Hana's mother, said: "Hana's dream was to play with Maddy on the pitch so to be able to talk to her and have a relationship was really meaningful. She was a really good role model.
Maddy gave so much time to her supporters. Every time Hana plays football now, she writes MC 8 on her hand and when she scores, she points up and says that was for Maddy."
Hana isn't the only young player or fan who has been impacted by the much loved player. The Maddy Cusack Foundation has been sharing stories using #markedbymaddy and highlighting her impact.
It's evident Maddy has inspired so many young players to want to go on to have a career just like her. However, it can be a hard path to follow.
Ms Iball explained the cost of playing football can make it difficult. She said: "I'm a single mother ferrying Hana around. I love that she's a footballer but the costs can add up."
With the lack of local teams girls have to travel miles to play matches. When they do get to play it's often with less facilities than boys teams.
It's these and many other barriers that The Maddy Cusack Foundation, created by Maddy’s family in October, seeks to address. Their hope is to continue Maddy’s inspirational legacy.
‘It was a privilege to have grown up around such talent’: Cusack family reflect on the fierce woman Maddy became.
Maddy as an adult mirrored her much loved childhood personality, she was fierce, determined and spirited – three words that would eventually become the slogan for The Maddy Cusack Foundation.
Her passion and enthusiasm on and off the pitch inspired many. During the footballer’s childhood, she crafted her talents under the guidance of her beloved teachers, including Anne Cox, and the support of her family.
After completing her A Levels Maddy enrolled at Derby University, so she could stay near her family, and was awarded a first-class honours degree in Marketing, Advertising and PR. By this point, Maddy was working part-time, studying full-time, and playing at Aston Villa on the weekends.
As Olivia entered adulthood, the bond between herself and her older sister strengthened. Maddy helped Olivia gain a job in marketing at Derby Runner, where she still works today.
“Towards the end of our teenage years, into adult life, we were always super close – we came together a lot more. I think it was because there were four years between us and during that time, you go on similar journeys,” she says. “We found a lot of similarities between us as we could open up more, and could relate to each other. I'd do her makeup. I think she liked to humour me in that way because it could bring us closer. At the beginning, she’d say ‘You’re making me look completely different,’ and I’d say ‘Maddy that’s the point in makeup so sit down and let me do your eyelashes!’”
It was the friendship of her family Maddy cherished above all else. “When Maddy had down days from football or work, she would be with me, my little sister and my mum – she and my mum were best friends. I’d always say to Maddy ‘Don’t you want a group of girls to go out with for a coffee or a night out?’ She’d always be mortified at the idea and say ‘You're my best mate – you, Mum, and Felicia are. I don't need friends,’” the social media manager recalled.
Maddy juggled a lot during her adult life. She had a full-time job as a Marketing Executive for Sheffield United, in which she would work Monday to Friday. On Sundays, she would swap the office for the pitch and turn her focus to her career as a semi-professional footballer.
The COVID-19 lockdown forced Maddy to break from her hectic lifestyle. She immediately moved back to Horsley and back into her childhood bedroom. “For the first time in 18 years, her fast-paced lifestyle had slowed down – not stopped because she was still working. I think she was quite annoyed she wasn't furloughed like everyone else,” says Olivia.
“Everything slowed down and that was really nice for her because we got to just spend time together – we were all just locked in the house together. We did a lot of walking, playing games and just messing about. She liked the simple things, I think because it wasn't an option for her all the time.”
Although Maddy loved being at home with her family, she was also eager to move back to Sheffield, with her flatmate and football captain, Sophie Barker. The Yorkshire city was not only home to her beloved football team, but also home to her father’s family.
Maddy’s brother, Richard, 29, recalls, “She instantly fell in love with the city – moving to Sheffield was quite a big deal for Maddy because that's where my dad's side of the family is from and all his relatives are up there. My dad was very proud of her for doing that. She always said the city felt so warm to her – just home away from home.”
During the footballer’s time in Sheffield, the siblings would often visit her and take a trip down Ecclesall Road to grab a drink from Pom Kitchen. Other times they’ve opted for a bite to eat at Kelham Island’s Cutlery Works.
Despite her love for a caramel latte, and obsession with Greek wraps, Maddy was strict with herself when it came to training, diet and work ethic. When she wasn’t working, a lot of the time she could either be found at the gym or training.
“She was like a manager's dream,” Richard says, “She was professional, she trained well, ate well. She was always on time. Last year, we had a Christmas dinner around my house and she bought her own – weighed out. She had football the next day and said ‘look, this is what I'm going to have to do’, but even that shows that she was so dedicated to football, and to her family as well. She wouldn't have missed out on the Christmas meal, she just had to make a few adjustments. She really was a marvel – an example of how to conduct yourself.”
Richard works as a sports journalist for Football London, and is based in Birmingham with his partner, Emily, who was also very close to Maddy. “She always welcomed me with open arms. We were quite different, but that didn’t stop us from having a brilliant connection. We got on so well. She'd always take the time to talk to you and get to know you. And she was like that with everyone.”
Emily witnessed the bond between Maddy and her siblings, as well as the mischief they caused. “They would always play football in the house. They'd break something, but no one would ever admit to it. Deborah was always finding something that was broken because they had kicked a ball around the house.”
Maddy never lost her cheekiness, nor did she ever lose the love and affection of her friends and family. “We're so lucky that we know how much she loved us, and she knew we loved her. I think that's very lucky because sometimes you can fall out with people and you might regret things. In this family, there was no question,” Emily says.
For the Cusacks, the festive season remains a very special time of year. Emily recalls a moment from their final. “It's so vivid. We were all just opening presents and Maddy disappeared, we thought she'd just gone to the toilet. Eventually, she came back down and was head-to-toe in a full Santa suit. She put on this funny voice, and she gave out all her presents. We were all laughing, and she was so happy. It was a really happy time,” the primary school teacher says.
Olivia, Maddy’s sister, added, “I remember looking at her and thinking, she was absolutely crazy.” The
Maddy’s love for the season was infamous but in contrast, she wasn’t typically overly sentimental about Christmas, but Olivia still has a card her sister wrote each member of her immediate family two years ago. “To have something that you could actually read and that she took the time to write meant so much. It was just so left-field for her, but it was so amazing.”
During Maddy’s memorial, Olivia read out a part of the note written inside the Christmas card her sister wrote. ‘Thank you for everything you do for me and for always being there for me. I love you so much and I don’t know where I would be without you.’
‘Madeleine displayed a unique spirit, an indomitable spirit’: A glimpse into Maddy Cusack’s childhood
Madeleine Cusack was a star in women’s football – hailed as Miss Sheffield United. Boasting an enviable, professional career, the star midfielder, who hailed from Derbyshire, went on to become vice-captain of Sheffield United.
It is easy for anyone to see why the athlete excelled exponentially in her career: according to her teammates and clubs, she possessed great talent, took any given opportunity to improve, and had unconditional love and support from her family.
But where did Maddy come from? At one point, she was simply a young girl from the small Derbyshire town of Shipley View, Ilkeston. She came from a tight-knit family, close to her parents, Deborah and David, grandmother, Judy, with unbreakable bonds with her siblings, Richard, Olivia and Felicia.
At Scargill Primary School in West Hallam, Maddy was a shining light with a special talent for sport. “She would spend all of her time playing football with the lads. Her school shoes had to be boy shoes, because they were the only ones that would last,” Deborah, 55, says. “Even then, she was very competitive. On sports day she won absolutely every race she ever entered. The school had a little marathon at the end of the year and she'd always win that as well.”
Maddy’s younger sister, Olivia, shared her mother’s sentiments about her competitive nature. “We learned very quickly to just let Maddy win, because she would win anyway,” she says, laughing.
Maddy also enjoyed horse riding and would often ride with her cousins. “When she was a child, her favourite film was Black Beauty and so her fifth birthday present was a horse riding lesson,” Deborah shares dotingly. “We also tried ballet as her grandmother wanted to take her, but that lasted about one week.”
This time of year is particularly hard for the Cusack family, as she loved Christmas. It was a time to spend with her family and take a break from the passions of the pitch. Deborah recalls, “She made an angel at school when she was little, and that goes on top of our tree every year. I've kept all the Christmas decorations from when all the children were five. The others used to get a bit cross when the angel went back up every year.”
Following Scargill Primary School, Maddy moved to Kirk Hallam Academy. Similarly to when she was a younger pupil, the football prodigy spent the ‘majority of her waking hours’ dedicating her time to sports.
“During secondary school, she was a part of the netball team. I went to watch every game she was ever in. On one occasion Maddy nearly went to kick the ball, and I had to shout ‘Don’t boot the ball!’ In netball, she was like a little Jack Russell because she wasn’t tall and lean, she was just on everybody like she was in football so it was funny to watch her play,” Deborah recalls, chuckling at the memory. “I'm very, very proud – I'm proud of everything she's ever done,” Deborah says.
Popularity came easily to Maddy, who was respected by the boys and idolised by the girls. She had a large group of friends throughout her time as a student and was still close to them years later.
She and her boyfriend of the time were crowned prom queen and king in her final year of school. Her ‘prom queen’ sash still remains in her childhood bedroom. It was the first, but by no means the last time she would be celebrated for her popularity and excellence. On the day, there were group pictures of Maddy and her friends taken outside West Hallam Community Centre. The park in the centre is the starting location for the foundation fundraiser, Miles for Maddy, on December 10.
At school, she impressed many of her teachers with her talents and fierce personality. One in particular was Anne Cox, her PE teacher and Key Stage 4 Head of Year.
She worked closely with Maddy on and off the pitch and recalls, as an athlete, she was impressed with her dedication and determination to her interests. As a pupil, she was also in awe of her selflessness, confidence and optimism.
“As a PE student in year seven, she was part of a very talented group of girls,” the retired teacher says fondly. “However, Maddy always just stood out that little bit more. You shouldn’t have favourites in school as a teacher – never. Having said that, there was a group of girls in that year, along with Maddy that were just outstanding beyond belief.”
Branded a ‘cheeky monkey’ by her former teacher, Maddy would often lead the group into mischievous fun which always left a smile on everyone’s face.
“In the early years, the children would perform dances to each other, Anne says. “Maddy would try to break into fits of laughter with her dancing. We once performed a dance to West Side Story and she loved that because it was full of strong, confident movements.”
When the athletic powerhouse wasn’t dominating her way through sport, her focus moved to her studies. Maddy received all A*s, As and Bs in her GCSE subjects, including Psychology and PE, and retook maths three times to secure an A. After GCSEs, she then went on to study English, Biology and PE for her A Levels. It appeared as though she shone as much when reciting Shakespeare, as she did when dribbling on the pitch.
A standout memory for Anne was when the school football team made it to the national finals. “Maddy led the girl’s football team to the National Finals. We had never made the finals before, and this was the only team to have ever done it. She was an integral part of that team with regard to raising motivation and getting everybody to train. She was an absolute star.”
It was while Maddy was at secondary school, the Cusack family moved from Shipley View to Horsley and moved next door to Zoe Stannard, who went to school with Olivia. “I was in year four at the primary school in the village when Olivia started,” Zoe says. “We became best friends that same day. Liv introduced me to Maddy and from then on, we were either always at my house, or theirs. Because I was best friends with Olivia, I always saw Maddy as a big sister. I was an only child and so I felt as though Olivia, Maddy, Felicia and Richard were like my siblings. She was the first person who bought me makeup, the first person to straighten my hair – she was a big sister. We looked up to her so so much.”
During separate conversations, both Zoe and Olivia agreed that once somebody befriended one of the Cusacks, that person automatically became friends with the entire family. Living within a close bubble of family and friends, the entrance to the Cusack house was a revolving door.
Zoe was present for many milestones of Maddy’s life, such as getting her first job as a waitress at the Horsley Lodge Hotel. During Maddy’s exam period, Zoe remembered watching Maddy revise so intently, that it inspired her to mimic her friend’s work ethic when it was time to revise herself.
By this point, Maddy was playing for Aston Villa and would have to drive from Derbyshire to Birmingham three times a week for training sessions. As her father drove her back and forth along the A38, Maddy’s head was in her books, revising for her next exam. Her dedication to ‘being the best’ is something that inspired all those around her.
“She achieved everything she set out to do. She did everything first and set the benchmark for the rest of us: GSCEs, Sixth Form, and even her driving test – She was the first one out of all of us to pass driving,” Zoe, a deputy safeguarding lead, recalls.
Some of her favourite memories of her time with Maddy centre around simplicity: whether it be going for walks with their mums, or going for long drives with Maddy and Olivia. “As she got older, she loved being in her car – she loved listening to R&B, and would literally blast songs in her car as loud as she could.”
Like Deborah, Zoe also cherished the memory of seeing Maddy at her secondary school prom. “It is probably one of my favourite memories. I just remember thinking, she looked amazing. Everyone thought she looked the best.”
Legendary Golf Club Closes After 122 Years
Renishaw Park Golf Club, established in 1911, is set to cease trading after ongoing financial hardship.
Despite club members raising a substantial fee of £20,000, it was not enough to keep the club open during the upcoming winter months when trade is slow.
Renishaw Park Golf Club has also confirmed that multiple donators have come forward to offer further payment, but they will be declining.
The club released a statement to members that said: "We are respectfully declining the very kind offers made and will not be using your money to prop up the club for the next couple of months with no future beyond."
Despite the situation, Renishaw Park Golf Club have stated that they will be exploring options so that a club may continue to operate on location, "in whatever form that may be."
On Sunday 3 December at 4.30pm, the club is scheduled to shut its doors for the last time.
Sheffield FC and Eagles RLC Join For Stadium Move
For the first time in over 20 years Sheffield FC are returning to the city with a brand new state of the art stadium.
The oldest football club in the country will share the site with Sheffield Eagles RLC.
The proposed stadium, which is aiming to be ready for autumn 2025, boasts a capacity of 5,000 and will be located in Meadowhead, on the same site as the former Sheffield Transport Sports Club. The proposal also includes a plan to include a club museum for Sheffield FC.
Richard Tims, Sheffield FC's chairman, said: “This is about being proud of the region’s sporting heritage and making it a hub for sporting excellence and community engagement in Sheffield and the South Yorkshire region."
Sheffield FC have been forced to postpone matches due to bad weather at their current ground in Dronfield, including a game yesterday, against Ashington AFC, following a waterlogged pitch.
Fan, Philip Staton, 70, of High Street, said: “The ground is always flooded. You wouldn't believe the amount of games that are called off."
The proposal for the new Home Of Football Stadium features artificial turf, which would make the pitch resistant to wet weather conditions.
The current ground is just south of Sheffield’s county border with Derbyshire.
Sheffield FC fan and club historian, Andrew Dixon, highlighted the importance of bringing the club north into Meadowhead, and back to the city.
He said: “Crucially, we will be back in Sheffield. I love Dronfield but it doesn't feel right for Sheffield Football Club to be playing in Derbyshire.”
Mr Dixon also compared the similarities between this stadium switch and a previous one made by the club, leaving their old site on East Bank Road.
“For well over a century, the club led a nomadic existence, playing at several grounds. So securing our own home was essential to the survival of the world's oldest club and I hope that the next move will see some success on the pitch. We're definitely due some after the last few years,” he said.
Sheffield Eagles will celebrate their 40th anniversary in 2024 which will coincide with the new stadium project.
The Eagles currently play in the Rugby League Championship, the tier below The Super League, which is the pinnacle of professional Rugby League and a division they haven't played in since 1999.
“There will be more facilities, a gym for players, an indoor supporters club and bar, the ground will be developed and it’ll allow us to push for the Super League. For us, there are no negatives. We’re beyond excited. It's something we've wanted for a very long time,” said Eagles fans, Kate Peat, 54 and her husband, Alan, 52.
Despite the plans for the Meadowhead site exciting some fans, others are worried about the travelling implications.
Mark Webster, 41, of Ellenbro Road, who believes having a ‘Super League standard’ stadium is essential, said: “There’s one negative and it's a strong one. The lack of public transport links to Meadowhead.
"As a non-motorist, it's going to be difficult to get home after games. It's ideal for motorists, and there are buses from the city centre, but they’re not very frequent, but I'm sure this is something the developers will address."
Sheffield FC and Sheffield Eagles have announced that full planning permission will be submitted early next year.
They have also invited the public to two meetings in which they will discuss the plans in more detail. The first on Tuesday, 28 November, and the second on Wednesday, 6 December: IMPORTANT: PUBLIC CONSULTATION EVENTS | Sheffield FC
Kameron Kielly Leaves Sheffield Steelers For More Ice Time
Sheffield Steelers player Kameron Kielly has left the team to return to North America after a short stint in South Yorkshire.
Kielly began his career in 2012 at the Gatineau Olympiques before spending time at the Charlottetown Islanders, Atlanta Gladiators, and eventually the Sheffield Steelers.
Kielly joined the Steelers in the summer of this year, making it his first season overseas.
After his initial signing, head coach Aaron Fox was sure of Kielly’s future success on the team.
He said: “Kam will start off in a bottom 6 role, but I feel he will be one of those guys that will be pushing that internal competition in our group for a bigger role as the season goes on.”
While playing with the Steelers, forward, Kielly, made six appearances and scored one goal on October 21 against the Nottingham Panthers.
The Steelers media manager, David Simms, confirmed that the Charlottetown native would be moving back to North America to secure ice time.
Kielly will be expected to pick up a new side in the East Coast League. It hasn’t yet been confirmed which team he will play for.
Following his departure, fans have shared words of support on X:
Other Steelers fans connected his lack of ice time to his reason for departure.
Kielly has not made a public statement, although he did repost the Steelers’ official announcement on X.
Barnsley apologise following FA Cup removal
Barnsley have apologised to everyone associated with the club following their surprise expulsion from this season’s FA Cup.
It was announced on Wednesday that Neill Collins’s side had fielded an ineligible player in their First Round Replay clash against Horsham last Tuesday.
In a statement released on the club’s website, the Tykes said: "We would like to apologise to our fans, players and staff for this regrettable error."
The player was not named, and the club are not expected to appeal the decision.
Barnsley cruised to a 3-0 victory against Horsham in front of the ITV4 cameras after a dramatic 3-3 draw at Oakwell earlier this month.
However, it is the Isthmian Premier League side who will now face Sutton United in the tournament’s Second Round next weekend.
Photo credit: 19andy76 (Flickr)
Sotona Loan Exit Confirmed
Doncaster Rovers winger Deji Sotona has joined non-league side Boston United on loan until January.
The Irishman joined the club in the summer from Burnley but has struggled to find his feet in Grant McCann’s side.
A product of the Manchester United academy, a 16-year-old Sotona was the fastest player at the Red Devils in 2019. He clocked a top speed of nearly 23mph, more than 1.2mph faster than the previous record holder Diogo Dalot according to the Daily Mail.
Sotona has featured six times under McCann this season, scoring on only one occasion. The Rovers boss confirmed a first-team player would be leaving the club at his press conference yesterday.
Photo credit: David Dixon
Emboldened Blades host Bournemouth in attempt to break free of relegation zone
Sheffield United host AFC Bournemouth at Bramall Lane tomorrow in a match that could see them finally break free of the relegation zone following Everton's points deduction.
After a disappointing start to the season, the Blades have been emboldened by a draw against Brighton and a win over Wolves in their past two fixtures.
With these four points and Everton’s 10-point deduction last week for breaching financial fair play rules, Sheffield United have climbed into 18th place in the table.
At yesterday’s press conference, manager Paul Heckingbottom said: “In terms of where we are, we want to keep momentum going.
“The message hasn’t changed. We’re going to have difficult moments but we have to ride them out and capitalise when we’ve got good momentum.”
Heckingbottom confirmed both Oliver McBurnie and Anel Ahmedhodzic have recovered from recent injuries and will be in contention for starting positions on Saturday, news that will bolster many fans’ expectations of success.
However, Bournemouth is riding its own resurgent wave after a shock 2-0 victory over Newcastle before the international break, paving the way for an exciting basement battle between the sides.
Sheffield’s propulsion out of the danger zone also relies on Crystal Palace beating or drawing to Luton at Kenilworth Road.
On the topic of Everton’s points deduction being to his advantage, Heckingbottom refused to be distracted, and said: “It’s not going to help us get the points we need.”
But he did fire a warning shot towards the Premier League over its investigations into other clubs, such as Manchester City and Chelsea: “You can’t punish one team and not others. There has to be consistency.”
The match will be played on the two year anniversary of Heckingbottom taking over as club manager, an appointment which saw the Blades dominate the Championship and regain their place in the Premier League.
It also follows an international break which saw several impressive performances for members of the squad, including midfielder James McAttee netting a superb brace for England in the U21 Euro Qualifiers against Serbia to help them claim a 3-0 victory.
Supporters have been invited to join a minute’s applause in the 37th minute of the game in memory of Blades fan Matt Hardy, who died aged 37 after a two-year battle with cancer.
Sheffield United v. AFC Bournemouth kicks off at 3pm tomorrow at Bramall Lane.
Bereaved families of students who died by suicide to give evidence at Parliamentary committee
Grieving parents are preparing to tell their stories to the nation’s MPs at a government committee next week in a fight to get a duty of care enshrined in law.
The evidence will be given to the Petition Committee, a parliamentary group which will go over the contents of a petition submitted by campaign groups #ForThe100 and The LEARN Network.
This is ahead of a debate at Westminster Hall on June 5 which MPs will attend and voice their support in order for it to be passed to the next stage of the legal process.
One of the families attending is Dr Mark Shanahan who lost his 22-year old son Rory while he was studying at the University of Sheffield in 2018.
“We want the law to have teeth,” Dr Shanahan said. “This is not something that is going to finish on June 5. Think of Everest. We've got to base camp so there is a long way to go.”
MPs who have spoken in support of the petition include Helen Grant, the MP for Maidstone and the Wield who joined The Learn Network in delivering the petition to Downing Street ahead of the debate next month. Conservative MP Caroline Nokes was also present.
Other MPs such as Darren Henry for Broxtowe, attended the event after the petition was handed in where the families of those who had lost their loved ones to suicide at university read out testimonials.
Sheffield MPs, Olivia Blake and Paul Blomfield as well as Andrew Western for Stretford and Urmston were also at the event.
A spokesperson for Matthew Western, the Labour MP for Warwick and Leamington, said: “Matt is aware of the campaign and has met both campaign groups in Parliament and elsewhere. He will be the Shadow Minister responsible for responding to the debate on 5 June.”
Professor Edward Peck, the government’s first Student Support Champion, said in relation to the time it would take to put the duty of care into legislation: “18 months to two years to do all of what is in training around student mental health, some changes much sooner.”
In response to the petition, the government said: “Higher education providers do have a general duty of care to deliver educational and pastoral services to the standard of an ordinarily competent institution and, in carrying out these services, they are expected to act reasonably to protect the health, safety and welfare of their students.”
Ahead of a debate next month, the Petitions Committee will hear from those involved in the petition, and representatives from charities such as PAPYRUS, Student Minds and Universities UK.
They have received more than 128,000 signatures for their joint petition which concerns the introduction of a statutory duty of care to be made a legal requirement in higher education.
Duty of care is defined by #ForThe100 as protecting students from reasonably foreseeable harm, caused either by direct injury or failing to act. It is already in place in employment law in the UK.
“We can’t sit around for ten years”: father of student who took her own life on the battle for a legal duty of care in universities
“Why is nobody listening? Why is nobody understanding? Perhaps it’s too simple and so fundamental no one believes we’re asking for it.”
These are the words of Bob Abrahart, the 67-year-old father of Natasha, a university student who tragically took her own life while studying at the University of Bristol in 2018. A member of Lived Experience for Action Right Now (the LEARN Network), he is campaigning alongside #ForThe100 for universities to have a legal duty of care.
Bob believes the whole campaign comes down to a fundamental concept: people should be cared about.
The LEARN Network and #ForThe100 are two campaign groups, set up by bereaved families, fighting for the introduction of a statutory duty of care to be made a legal requirement in higher education.
Their joint petition has received more than 128,000 signatures and debated at Westminster Hall on June 5.
The campaign groups estimate 100 university students a year take their own lives, with an estimated 319 in the period between 2017-2020 in England and Wales according to a Freedom of Information request.
Duty of care is defined by #ForThe100 as protecting students from reasonably foreseeable harm, caused either by direct injury or failing to act. It is already in place in employment law in the UK.
Natasha’s story
“We discovered after Natasha’s death that, in a second-year physics module, the students had interviews. All we know from the first one-on-one interview is that she ran out of the room,” Bob, a former university lecturer said. “We have never had any more detail on exactly what happened. That was followed by another failed attempt at an interview. We don't know what happened there either.
“Natasha was diagnosed as having social anxiety disorder. At home and amongst her friends, you wouldn't have noticed it. It's only when she was put in some stressful, performance situation such as a one-on-one presentation in class, when she went shopping, when she went out for a meal, that’s when it caused a problem.
“She only managed to be marked on two laboratory assessments. One at the beginning, which she ran out of and one just before she died. That did not go well either. For the rest, she just got zeroes because they failed to address the problem. Did they fail her? The judge ruled they caused her death. So yes.”
20-year-old Natasha took her own life on the day she was expected to participate in an oral presentation which would have taken place in front of 40 staff and students.
“They should not have subjected her to six months of non-stop, that was in effect for her, torture. It is this torture which caused her to become depressed and it's the depression that led to the suicide and they still did nothing. They carried on regardless.
“So why did they? The answer is that they didn’t have to stop.”
A civil court ruled that the University of Bristol failed to make reasonable adjustments for Natasha under the Equality Act 2010 and the Abrahart family won £50,000 in damages.
However, the judge refused to accept that the university was negligent under a duty of care - because Bristol University successfully argued that none existed.
Natasha’s father argues that if a duty of care had existed, the university wouldn’t have subjected her to the distress associated with the oral assessments that she was struggling with.
“Natasha was a wonderful daughter. She was methodical in everything she did,” the former associate professor at the University of Nottingham said. “She loved computer programming and was musical. She played piano and cello.
“She had one thing holding her back: her social anxiety disorder.”
The Abrahart family are prepared to go all the way to the Supreme Court, if that is required, to get justice for Natasha. This could take up to ten years and they believe other families should not have to go through the same process.
The University of Bristol declined to comment on the matter.
UUK response
Professor Steve West CBE, the President of Universities UK and Vice-Chancellor of UWE Bristol said every life lost to suicide is a tragedy but “although universities are investing in student support and developing partnerships with NHS services, their primary role is as settings for adult learning not health care.”
“We do not believe the proposed additional statutory duty of care, beyond the existing duties that already apply to universities, would be practical, proportionate, or the best approach to supporting students.
“We question whether a compliance-led approach will drive the cultural changes needed to promote awareness and disclosure, conversations, and co-production – all of which are needed to act on prevention and early intervention.
“We continue to work with the government, and its Student Support Champion Professor Edward Peck, on proposals to improve outcomes for students.”
Government response
In response to the petition, the Government released a statement that says higher education providers already have a general duty of care.
“This can be summed up as providers owing a duty of care to not cause harm to their students through the university’s own actions.
“Over the last decade, higher education providers have devoted considerable resources to their student support services, and a good deal of support is now widely provided to students who struggle with their mental health.”
They point to Office for National Statistics data that shows a significantly lower rate of suicide in Higher Education students compared to other people of similiar age.
Looking forward
#ForThe100 and Learn Network met with MPs in Parliament after handing in their petition to Downing Street last month.
Bob said the debate in Westminster Hall in June will need backing from them in order to get promoted through to the House of Commons.
“I think people are starting to understand that we’re not going anywhere. We’re only going forward.”
You can find out more about The Learn Network here and #ForThe100's campaign here.
Sheffield Poverty Truth Commission: the charity putting people’s voices at the forefront to create change
One in four people in Sheffield is living in poverty and the city has one of the highest rates of child poverty in the UK.
The South Yorkshire city has some of the poorest neighbourhoods in the country with 31.2% of children experiencing poverty compared to a national average of 18.9%.
Martin McKervey, civic and business commissioner for the Sheffield Poverty Truth Commission (SPTC), said: “Those statistics anger me. I don’t feel a sense of frustration, I feel anger and agitation, that in 2026, we live in a city that seems to think this is acceptable and normal.
“At the commission, there is a very singular focus, we have to do something about this.”
In a bid to help those in need, the SPTC has published a new report recommending public services use simpler language when offering support to residents who are struggling financially.
The brown envelope code focuses on clear communication around bills, benefits, debts, and services, to combat the intimidation and confusion many in poverty can feel.
“We are creating hope and helping to make Sheffield a better place,” said Mr McKervey.
The recommendations come after a year and a half of discussions, where community commissioners with lived experience of poverty told of their struggles in accessing information and support.
The SPTC have become a key voice in how the council makes decisions around poverty after being regularly invited to Sheffield City Council meetings.
What are Poverty Truth Commissions?
Poverty Truth Commissions (PTCs) are community-led initiatives designed to tackle poverty by bringing together people with lived experience of poverty and local decision makers.
The motto that underpins PTCs is, “nothing about us, without us, is for us”.
PTCs are split up into regional poverty truth commissions, with the SPTC established in September 2024.
The first meeting brought together community commissioners, people who have faced the struggle of poverty, and civic commissioners, who have had influential roles within South Yorkshire.
The SPTC’s report, entitled Finding the Root Cause, was brought forward for discussion in February this year, and has already impacted policy implementation by Sheffield City Council.
When the Council introduced £10m for the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) over the next three years, the report was credited with “highlighting the need for more compassionate, dignified, and person-centred services”.
Part of the CRF was a ‘no wrong doors’ model, allowing residents to get help online, by phone, or through trusted places such as Family Hubs, a policy introduced to create person-centred support.
What else does the SPTC focus on?
As well as recommending changes to the system in place for people living in poverty to get help, Finding the Root Cause focuses on poverty-proofing education, and prioritising the impact poverty can have on people’s mental health.
Finding the Root Cause says: “There are strong societal forces that trap people in poverty, including the availability of secure work, housing costs and government choices on benefit levels and eligibility. Yet, poverty is not inevitable. We know that policy decisions can and do influence poverty rates.”
Through recommending city-wide implementation of the brown envelope code, and influencing the council in replacing the former Household Support Fund (HSF) with the CRF, they are going some way to changing how poverty is discussed in Sheffield.
Mr McKervey said: “This commission has been one of the most rewarding and important things I have ever taken part in.
“We take our lanyards off at the door, there is no power in this commission. The community commissioners are at the centre of everything we do, because that lived experience must be the leading voice, the determining voice in all that we discuss.”
However, Mr McKervey acknowledges poverty is a deep-rooted issue with no short-term fix, and change will not happen overnight.
“What our commission cannot be is just a conversation over a year, we all have a good time together, and then we all disappear into the ether,” he said.
“We must be very comfortable in the fact this is a long-term project, there is no quick fix in this.”
Inequality is another factor that plagues the city. If you were to take the 83 bus route from Fulwood in the west to Burngreave in the east, which takes approximately 40 minutes, female life expectancy drops by ten years from 87 to 77.
Douglas Johnson, Green councillor for City ward, sat on the Strategy and Resources Policy Committee that heard the SPTC’s report in February.
He said: “The SPTC was a chance to get under the skin of what poverty really looks like in Sheffield and how it holds the city back. It was also a chance for all the sectors in Sheffield - public, private, and voluntary - to think how they can help tackle poverty, or alternatively, how their actions make things worse for people on very low incomes.
“Everyone, especially in official bodies like the council and NHS, can help address poverty and hardship by being kind and trying to understand where individual people are coming from when they use our services.”
Video: What does Sheffield think of poverty in the city?
How urgent is the need to address poverty in Sheffield?
Sheffield residents agree that poverty is a prominent feature of life in the city.
Dr Lisa Thorley, 48, from Woodseats, said: “There’s a lot of evident poverty in Sheffield, with many ghettoised areas.
“If you look at Eccy (Ecclesall) Road and London Road, they’re nearly parallel, but economically they’re worlds apart.”
She believes the city is mainly divided along the lines of race. Her daughter was the only dual heritage student at her primary school in an affluent area of south Sheffield, while poorer parts of the city are often much more ethnically diverse.
Alessandro Leonardi, 38, a senior lecturer at the University of Sheffield, said: “In Sheffield, you just cross a neighbourhood and everything is different. In parts of the city centre there is so much homelessness.”
He said he was part of a family looking to adopt, and many of the children looking for adoption in Sheffield are from low-income areas.
What do residents think should be done?
Residents were sceptical about what could be done to combat poverty in Sheffield.
Dr Thorley said: “There’s not enough funding at the local level. There have been decades and decades of austerity and mismanagement.
“It’s good that the council is investing in the city centre, but some of it is still an absolute dump.”
Simon Clifford-Smith, 79, who is now retired, agreed that funding on the council level was a major issue.
He said: “The council doesn’t get paid enough to do what they want to do. There’s lots of social services that the council is trying to provide and they can’t because they don’t have the funds.”
Asked about one of the SPTC’s tenets, poverty-proofing education, Danijel Filipovic, 35, said: “I think more accessible learning and development could help, in England there is a big difference between who can afford to study and who can’t.”
Everyone who spoke to Sheffield Wire agreed that poverty was a pervasive feature in Sheffield.
Over a year and a half of discussions and research, the Sheffield Poverty Truth Commission has worked to put people with lived experience’s voices at the forefront to change how poverty is understood on a council and government level.
Sheffield City Council approves £1m Sport England investment
The Communities, Parks and Leisure Policy Committee has unanimously agreed to £1m of funding by Sport England to tackle health inequalities and physical inactivity in Sheffield.
As part of the agreement, Sheffield City Council will become the accountable body for the funding, and enter into a grant
agreement with Sheffield Hallam University Services Limited, which is the leading applicant in the investment.
The Council will be in charge of two main schemes "Community Development & Services", focusing on strengthening community delivery in local neighbourhoods, and the "Move Well" services, focusing on supporting residents, especially those with long-term health conditions.
The five Sheffield neighbourhoods chosen for this programme are Firth Park, Woodthorpe, Arbourthorne, Batemoor & Jordanthorpe and Tinsley, with each ward receiving £70,000 to £80,000, and can spend in accordance with community needs.
In each of the local areas, there will be a newly appointed community project officer who will host community listening and work alongside them to understand how they would like that money spent.
The council will also implement training scheme, working with local people to build their capacity, resilience, understanding and skillset to be able to deliver long-term change in their community.
The full conditions of the agreement will not be brought to the committee until the summer, likely in June.
While there is a risk of Sport England clawing back funds, Kathryn Mudge, Service Manager at the council's Physical Activity, Sport and Leisure committee, said the risk is "minimal".
She said: "The only opportunity for clawback is if we use the grant funding for other purposes than what we have applied for, so if the funds are misspent or spent not against agreed headlines.
"We won't do that and we'll look to ensure that we're spending as agreed."
"We have a close relationship and a really strong relationship with Sport England, so they're a part of the investment as well.
"They are on our committee board that oversee the investment. So they're with us all the way along and we have a really great working relationship with them."
Ms Mudge put herself forward as the point of contact if any residents want to engage or make any suggestions: kathryn.mudge@sheffield.gov.uk
Sheffielders reveal mixed views about the city’s bid to become UK City of Culture 2029
People in Sheffield have voiced divided opinions about the bid to become the UK City of Culture 2029, with some believing local issues, including cost of parking and business rates, should be prioritised first.
As one of the nine longlisted cities, Sheffield will receive £60,000 to boost its entry for the 2029 title, but is this the most important thing for Sheffield?
Amber Savage, co-owner of Vulgar, an independent vintage clothing shop on Devonshire Street, said: "I just feel like there's a lot of changes that could be made on the ground right now to make Sheffield better.
"If you speak to most people in Sheffield, they're terrified of driving into the town centre because they think it's going to cost so much, and things like that do affect all the businesses in the town centre day-to-day."
The winning city, which will be announced at the end of this year, will receive £10 million to deliver culturally-rooted events and projects with the hope of drawing in more visitors and investment opportunities.
Bradford won the title for 2025 and the city saw around 5,000 events with an approximate audience of three million that year.
Ms Savage believes that Sheffield should focus its investments into its younger generation of entrepreneurs.
"People who are in their early twenties that are thinking about setting up businesses are petrified by all of the rising costs, the business rates, staff wages, and all of the issues that we are all facing right now," she said. "There should be more support for the next generation."
However, some people believe the hardship many are experiencing could benefit from the projects and events which could happen as a result of the bid.
Sophia James, a staff member in a shop in Leah's Yard, said: "I think times are hard and creativity, and positive arts and music events could make things a bit easier."
The competition also highlights the possibility for a number of opportunities for local residents to take part in key projects throughout the year and embrace local strengths.
"It's a great thing for bringing a whole city together for events," said Lynne Davis, a Sheffield resident.
"Anything that brings more people into Sheffield city centre and shows them what has changed in the last year or two would be brilliant and all these events that bring people in make them then look at all the other things and see all the other businesses and hopefully bring them in more into the city centre."
South Yorkshire’s new system aims to make the city great again taking inspiration from Manchester’s Bee Network
South Yorkshire was once famed for its public transport system and now travellers have been promised it will once again be “world-class”.
South Yorkshire’s new £1.5bn People’s Network (SYPN) is being framed as a turning point and a chance to rebuild the region’s once-brilliant transport system.
The region was hailed as one of the most integrated and affordable public transport systems in the country in the 1970s and early 80s but deregulation in 1986 fragmented it under the Transport Act 1985.
The new scheme was inspired by Greater Manchester’s successful Bee Network.
The Bee Network service launched in Greater Manchester in September 2023 and has been considered largely successful with a 14% increase in the number of people using the service since last year.
While the plan clearly draws from that model of public control and integration, what is now taking place across South Yorkshire is rooted firmly in local need, local frustration and rising expectations from the people who rely on the system every day.
What can South Yorkshire learn from Manchester?
Nick Fairclough, Interim Deputy Network Director for Bus at Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM) said: “Every region is different, but it’s really important not to underestimate the amount of preparation required before Day One. Transition programmes of this scale rely on strong programme management, deep operator engagement, clear communication with the public and workforce, and robust contingency planning. It’s also important to be realistic about phasing—franchising is a long-term transformation, not an overnight switch. Getting the foundations right gives you a far better platform for the improvements people want to see.
“Early, visible improvements made the biggest impact. In Greater Manchester, integrated Bee Network branding, simple £2 capped fares, and more reliable timetables helped build trust quickly. Clear communication - explaining that changes were coming in phases - also helped manage expectations so the public understood the direction of travel even before every improvement was in place."
Last week, South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard, announced at Sheffield Town Hall that the region would be undergoing a £1.5bn investment transformation.
The aims of the network include more affordable and reliable bus travel, more investment in trams, a new e-bike scheme and rail services.
The Mayor’s vision is a simple, long term vision to provide “a network that’s genuinely people-focused - one that works for every community, every day”.
Coppard said: “Public transport in South Yorkshire has been broken for too long.
“I promised to make change happen, to give South Yorkshire back the world class public transport system we once had, and that’s exactly what we’re doing.”
One of the most significant elements of SYPN is the bus reform and franchising as, under the current system, private operators largely control private fares, routes and timetables.
It is built around six key principles which include keeping transport affordable and prioritising people.
Residents often complained over hiked travel prices and unreliable bus times.
Marika Wyroslak on Facebook commented: “It’s been a disaster with the buses last week. It’s impossible to get to school or work.”
The South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) annual travel survey 2024-25 found that 72% of 1238 residents use public transport regularly.
However, many people were dissatisfied with these services stating the “frequency, length of waiting, timing and reliability” a major issue.
This new scheme would mean that all transport is under local travel authorities instead of private companies such as FirstBus and Stagecoach.
Greater Manchester’s Bee Network has shown that the franchising model can work at scale, offering a practical reference point for how to manage the shift.
Back in Manchester, Mr Fairclough said: “Under franchising, the relationship fundamentally shifts. That brings clearer accountability, a more collaborative working culture, and a shared focus on overall system performance.
“Operators have responded positively, and the contractual framework gives both sides clearer expectations and incentives.”
The first major step for the SYPN is the franchising beginning in Sheffield and Doncaster from September 2027 when it comes under public control, with the aim of completing it for Rotherham and Barnsley by 2029.
Outside of London, Greater Manchester was the first city region to bring bus services under local control.
This came after after 40 years of deregulation, with a failing system that almost halved the number of bus journeys in Manchester, effectively being the first city to reverse deregulation completely.
With the new announcement of South Yorkshire’s travel plans, many have compared it to Manchester and how they have managed it.
Mr Fairclough said: “In Greater Manchester, growing numbers of people are travelling on an affordable, increasingly expanding and much more reliable network and we have created a solid foundation for long term improvement that will support growth and benefit all our residents and businesses.”
One large difference between their new plan and the Bee Network is free travel for under-18s.
While Manchester launched the ‘OurPass’ which allowed 16-18 year-olds free travel from September 2019, SYPN’s plan will be making travel completely free for under-18s later this year.
This initiative has gone down particularly well with Sheffielders.
Jennifer Dunstan, on Facebook, said: “Never ceases to amaze me that little kids have to pay on buses when they don’t earn any wages.”
Many people on social media reminisced on the popular policy under SYPTE of 2p bus fare for children from 1974 to 1985.
The new services will have a molten orange, grey and asphalt black colour scheme with the colour scheme referring to South Yorkshire’s history of industry and ‘Northern grit and resilience’.
After the plan was launched by Coppard at Sheffield Town Hall, the vibrant buses went on tour around the four boroughs showcasing the new design.
However, there has been many mixed reviews on the colour and the name, comparing it to Manchester’s yellow Bee Network service.
One comment on Reddit, from 'flourypotato', said: “Very much in favour of bus franchising, but "The People's Network"; is that really the best they could come up with? Could literally apply to anything anywhere in the world. Couldn't have had something a bit more distinctive, like Manchester's Bee Network?”
This refers to how Manchester’s yellow buses and name refer to the city's 150-year-old emblem that represents Manchester’s hive of community.
On Facebook, Nick Mason commented: “Can we have a consultation on that name its generally really poor. You could of leaned into South Yorkshire history and gone for Steel Network/Steel Link.”
But not all comments are negative. Ahead of the new franchising from next year, Chukwudi Ndubueze on Facebook commented: “This is a much-needed, welcome development. A great leap for the South Yorkshire community. Congrats to SYMA and the SCC team.”
Rotherham TikToker inspires others with powerful speech impediment representation
A South Yorkshire content creator has amassed 23 million likes sharing his day to day life with a stammer, and is hoping to inspire others with a speech impediment.
Sam Bagshaw, 29, a warehouse operator from Rotherham first began posting TikToks to increase his own confidence.
“I noticed other people were doing videos and talking about their experiences with a stammer and I saw it was really helping them," he says. “So I started doing videos in my room to share my experience and then all the support in the comments is what kept me going to do more and more videos and become more confident.
Sam records himself in various everyday life scenarios, such as getting his hair cut and ordering in drive thrus to spread awareness of speech impediments.
“People like that I’m doing things on my own and it’s not stopping me. I think it helps people with a stammer.
“They might find it hard with a stammer, especially with the ordering videos, I know a lot of people might get friends or family to order for them so it’s really good I show that. It's inspiring people to try it for themselves.”
The content creator’s comment section is a testament to Sam's work, with thousands of heartwarming responses applauding him.
“Thank you so much for this, my daughter who is seven just got diagnosed with a severe stutter and started speech therapy," said one viewer. “I admire your courage and bravery so much and hope my daughter does the same.”
Another follower said: "I don’t have a stammer and I still struggle with ordering at restaurants, I always think of you when I do.”
Sam began posting TikToks during the first Covid lockdown, “I always thought when I was younger if I was able to watch someone doing my type of videos then it would have really helped me,” he says.
In 2022, Stamma, the national UK charity for people who stammer, commissioned a YouGov poll that exposed how little representation of stammering there is in the media.
They found that of over 2,000 people asked, 59% said they don't know a character in a TV series or film who stammered.
Only 2% could name five characters who stammered and many named characters such as Forrest Gump and Rain Man, neither of whom stammer.
CEO of Stamma, Jane Powell, said: "The poll shows just how badly the stammering community is served by our media.
“It is no wonder that people try and hide their stammer or face discrimination and being mocked because of how they talk.
“Most members of the public don't know how to react to a stammer because it isn't visible in our media.”
The survey led to a petition calling on all TV and radio stations to ensure that people who stammer are routinely represented in media spaces in all forms, on the news, on soaps and as experts and the campaign gained coverage on ITV, with the support of Ofcom.
Sam noted he has seen a positive change in the perception of speech impediments saying: “I think it has definitely got a lot more better since I was at school and it’s definitely helped with the social media side of thing."
Michael Wright, a trustee of Empowering Voices, a UK charity dedicated to helping those who stammer echoed the importance of representation saying: "For a long time, the media often used stammering as a joke or to show someone was weak, which simply isn't true.
“Positive representation is so important because it changes the story. When creators like Sam Bagshaw share their real, unedited voices, it is incredibly beneficial for the stammering community. It builds huge confidence and shows people they aren't alone.
“This visibility reminds everyone that you don’t need to speak perfectly to be smart, successful, or capable.”
What is a stammer?
Stammering, also referred to as stuttering, usually begins in young children,
Most children begin stammering between the ages of two and five and this is known as developmental stammering, however some people start stammering later on in life.
According to Empowering Voices, at least 1% of the UK population having a stammer, that’s 690,000 in the UK, or 900 stammerers in a Wembley stadium capacity crowd. Worldwide, an estimated 80 million people around the world stammer.
The reason why people stammer is currently unknown, but research shows there's a slight difference in how the brain is wired in people who stammer.
Stammering often has a genetic link, around 60% of people who stammer have a family member who stammers or used to stammer.
People do not stammer due to nerves or level of intelligence, despite media representations pushing these misconceptions.
Aya Kawamura, from Action for Stammering Children , said: "Many children and young people who stammer experience a profound sense of isolation, often feeling that their stammer prevents them from connecting with others.
"Having positive representation of stammering in mainstream media is incredibly important to the children we support. It helps them see themselves reflected in the world around them and believe in what they can achieve,"
“It’s all about hope”: A Barnsley charities message ahead of art exhibition
A Barnsley charity is hosting an exhibition where listeners can hear accounts of real examples and experiences of people who have had struggles with mental health and suicide, and how they "got through the dark days".
As part of Penistone Arts Week, local charity Suicide Sucks is holding its 'Voices for Hope' exhibition in which people who have have shared their stories which attendees will be able to listen to.
Artists such as Lorna Cooper, Tara Taylor, Rachel Mills, Charlotte Eastwood and many more have made artwork that is based on the voices within the exhibition, they will also be on display.
Some of the artwork that will be displayed
All the above - Credit Mick Rowe
Mick Rowe, the founder of the charity, hopes that people who attend will be able to take away some advice that may help them in the future.
Mrs Rowe said: "It's all about hope, and it's all about sharing what worked for them."
The exhibition will feature voices of those that have appeared on the Suicide Sucks podcast, and Mrs Rowe believes these people can be role models who show that talking can help.
She said: "That is what is so awesome about anyone that comes on the podcast, they have got to a point in their life where they are not embarrassed, they don't feel guilty about what they did because they are in a good place now."
One person featured in the exhibition will be Samii Soffe, who recently spoke at Friday's Stand Up To Suicide comedy night, in which she received a standing ovation for sharing her experience.
Ethan McIntosh was in the audience when Miss Soffe shared her experience with mental health and suicide and said: "It was heartwarming to have the courage to go on stage and say what she said, it was extremely powerful, and sent out a good message for those watching."
Listen to Samii's story below
You can listen to all of the stories shared on - Voices Of Hope Montage - YouTube
The exhibition will take place at St John's Church in Penistone, starting at 8pm on Thursday 26th March.
Sheffield Hatters take a step closer to the quadruple following Super League Basketball cup win
At a packed out AO Arena, Sheffield's own B. Braun Hatters claimed the cup over Manchester Basketball in a thrilling game that finished 90-71.
Sheffield native and GB athlete Georgia Gayle walked away with the Final's Most Valuable Player award, becoming just the seventh player to win multiple final MVP's in the Women's British Basketball League era, having won already won the Playoff Finals MVP during the Hatter's winning campaign last season.
She finished the game with 20 points, seven assists, and hit four of her seven three point attempts, with six points in the fourth quarter helping to get her team over the finish line.
The Hatters started off the first quarter strong, with Shauna Harrison scoring seven points as the team went up 22-14.
Manchester fought back but struggled to make up the deficit from the start of the game, with guard Tiarra East getting eight of her eventual 23 points as the half ended 49-39, as the Hatters began to break away from the home side.
In the third quarter the Hatters outscored Manchester 24-11, taking the game to 73-50 as their deep squad powered ahead, with Jess Eadsforth-Yates, Georgia Gayle, Nina Krisper, Antoinette Lewis and Megan Mullings all scoring at least four points.
Manchester managed to win the fourth quarter 21-17, but the Hatter's lead was too dominant and Manchester were unable to come back by the final buzzer.
Alongside Gayle and East's imposing performances, with teen star Irene Oboavwoduo a keen contributor for Manchester, scoring 16 points and going four-for-four from the free-throw line, although scoring just 38% of her field goal attempts.
For the Hatters, Megan Mullings had a filled sheet with 15 points, six rebounds, five assists and a steal and a block, while Antoinette Lewis had a points and rebound double double, finishing with 11 and 10 respectively.
The Hatters now look forward to the end of the SLB season, with just three games left to confirm another trophy as they sit top of the table, four points ahead of second-placed Caledonia Gladiators.
If they end the season at the top of the table, all that will be left for a historic quadruple is victory in the SLB playoffs.
Weekend win for Sheffield’s Hallam Hellcats sets the stage for a nail-biting Five Nations Roller Derby
The Five Nations Roller Derby is off to an exciting start after the Hallam Hellcats fought to clinch a home win at Concorde Sports Centre on Saturday.
While the Manchester Valkyries proved themselves to be stiff competition, it was Sheffield’s Hellcats who managed to hold onto their 15-point lead up to the final blow of the whistle.
“We got control of the game towards the end of the first half and it was just a case of maintaining that, which we did," said coach Andrew 'Stuntman' Morley, 38.
“We knew it was going to be a close game, I’m just glad we came out on the right side of the scoreboard.”
One roller derby game consists of two 30-minute halves, which can be broken down into two-minute ‘jams’, each separated by a 30-second interval.
With a total of ten players on the track at any time, both teams will put forward one ‘jammer’ - distinguishable by the star on their helmet - and four ‘blockers’.
The role of the jammer is to fight their way past all four blockers in order to complete a full lap of the track, earning a point for every blocker they leave behind.
Importantly, roller derby is a full-contact sport, allowing the blockers to use a combination of their shoulders and hips to prevent the jammer from succeeding in their goal.
at Concorde Sports Centre.
Saturday marked the first game of the season for the Hallam Hellcats and their victory over a team like the Valkyries bodes well for their upcoming fixtures.
Caroline ‘Carnage’ Adams-King, 39, said: “I feel like the first game really sets the tone and we wanted to come in winning, so that we can try and carry that on for the rest of the season.”
The all-female team muscled their way into Tier Two of the league table after triumphing at the playoffs back in 2023 - and have been working tirelessly to defend their position ever since.
While the Manchester Valkyries are relatively new to Tier Two, having been promoted last season, the team is currently ranked one place ahead of the Hellcats, making Saturday’s win all the more impressive.
The Hellcats have taken the Valkyries on several times in recent years and are familiar with the team’s game play, but they are yet to beat their next opponent, Glasgow's Irn Bruisers, who are notoriously strong competitors.
“The Glasgow bunch that we're playing next are really tough," said the team's captain, 38-year-old Chelsea 'Abattoir' Abbott.
“We've played them a couple of times and we've come away thinking: ‘Well, at least we’re in one piece!’”
Perhaps the most integral part of roller derby, though, is the emphasis it places upon fun, as well as competition.
And with an unusual array of alter egos for every player, including the coach, the Hellcats are no exception.
Robbyn 'Bobcat' Snow, 40, explained: “We train quite hard, but I think part of being a Hellcat is not taking things too seriously, so training tends to be intense, but still enjoyable."
EXCLUSIVE: Talented Sheffield waterskier youngster to compete at upcoming world waterskiing championships
A teenage waterskier from Sheffield will be competing in a world championships next week with strong hopes of achieving a medal for Great Britain.
Charlie Fearn, 16, is a pupil at Bradfield Secondary School in Sheffield and he will be flying to compete as a Team GB member for waterskiing at the Under-17 Waterski World Championships in Argentina next week.
He will be competing alongside 110 other athletes from across 18 countries in Córdoba, Argentina in the slalom, tricks and jumps. The championships are being held across five days between 1st April and 5th April 2026.
Waterski jumping involves the competitor skiing on two skis over a ramp at speeds of up to 70mph. They take off and land on the water to ski. The distance travelled and a successful landing is measured.
Charlie Fearn at the 2025 Europe & Africa Youth Waterski Championships. Photo Credit: Chris Yates
Slalom is when a boat is travelling at a constant speed in a straight line down the middle of a course, 36mph for men and 34mph for women.
The skier must go through a pair of buoys then bend from side to side and successfully round six turn buoys and end by going through the exit gate. The winner is the skier who completes the most turn buoys at the shortest rope length.
Tricks is when the skier is given two second-passes to complete as many different tricks as possible such as a 180-degree turn to somersaults. Points are awarded based on difficulty and if they are successfully performed.
The combined scores from each discipline contribute to the athlete's total score. The individual scores of the squad then contribute towards a Team score.
Charlie's fellow GB youth athletes are siblings James Cosgrove (16), Isabel Cosgrove (14), Lara Cosgrove (12), Willow Skipsey (16) Chichester, West Sussex and Harley Coster (15) Camberley, Surrey.
The sixteen-year-old currently trains at Hazelwood Ski World in Lincoln and in the lead up to the championships has been training in Florida, USA.
Charlie was previously a medallist at the 2023 Europe and Africa Youth Championships where he won bronze in the Under 14 Boys' Jump. He is a former Under 12 Boys British Jump Champion and represented GB at the European Youth Championships in 2022 in Greece.
You can find out more about the Under-17 Waterski World Championships by following the link below: IWWF WORLD UNDER-17 WATERSKI CHAMPIONSHIPS
Temporary ski slope brings hope of funding for derelict Sheffield Ski Village
Excited crowds gathered at Pinball Park to try out the 'challenging' makeshift slope across three action-packed days as part of the Sheffield Adventure Film Festival (ShAFF).
Peter Shipston, founder of rewilding project Revive Rewild, set up the event for the weekend, encouraging the community to come down and try out the free event.
Mr Shipston founded the organisation to help promote the creation of green spaces across the city as well as overseeing the campaign for the return of the Ski Village to Sheffield.
Revive Sheffield Ski Village, an organisation trying to get the site up and running, were present at ShAFF, attempting to bring snow sports back to the hills of Sheffield.
Sheffield Ski Village at Parkwood Springs was permanently closed in 2012 after a fire, with repeated arson attacks since, leaving the site derelict.
After originally being set up in 1988, the ski village acted as a vast tourism hub for the 'outdoor city,' and now with a bustling Kelham Island nearby, arguments around reinstalling the development are stronger than ever.
Mr Shipston said: "We wanted to bring something real that people could really connect with.
"Sheffield was one of the biggest snow communities in the UK, probably bigger than Scottish communities because it was a known area and sort of central."
A £19.4m government grant has helped with Sheffield City Council's plans to redevelop the site at Parkwood Springs, with a £12m access road.
New Zealand-based company, Skyline, has held talks around building a major outdoor leisure facility at the site, with ideas suggested include a zipline, luge ride and gondola lift.
Similar attractions are already a huge hit in New Zealand, with scenic towns like Queenstown and Rotorua hosting Skyline venues.
On a visit to Sheffield last year, CEO of Skyline Enterprises Ltd, Geoff McDonald, said: "Skyline sees real potential in the Parkwood Springs opportunity and is keen to progress discussions with Sheffield Council on how we can deliver this for the Sheffield community."
Mr Shipston said there were some huge wheels turning in the background, with "some big players really wanting something to happen here".
There is no guarantee of snow sports at the site, but Mr Shipston reiterated a desire to help more green spaces in the city.
He said: "To have those outdoor spaces, you need outdoor communities to use them."
Sheffield City Council were contacted for updates on the redevelopment at Parkwood Springs.
Is narrowboat living in Sheffield the answer to the cost of living crisis?
Narrowboat living has become increasingly popular, but there are many unseen complications that people don't know about when they are presented with the idyllic lifestyle beforehand.
Swapping your house for a boat has traditionally been popular amongst retirees but, amid the Cost of Living crisis, it is now seen as more affordable for younger generations.
Narrowboat owner Chris Brack received his boat as a wedding present 20 years ago, and has been moored at Tinsley Marina in Sheffield over winter but says it is not as cheap as some people may think.
He admits to paying "a lot of money" to stay for a month and plans to travel around Yorkshire for the rest of the year.
Having been in Sheffield for the last three winters, Chris won't be staying next year and is looking for a change.
Staying in the marina takes a lot of preparation, and it is difficult to get in and out due to a flight of locks requiring a booking two days in advance and an escort through.
Costing between £3000 and £4000 to temporarily reside at the Marina for a year, planning ahead is vital because the moorings are not residential and boaters can't stay at the Marina permanently.
Mr Brack, said: "It is not as cheap as people think it might be.
"It is probably cheaper than living in a house, but there is not a lot in it."
Other financial challenges include boat license fees, which can vary from longer term stays from three to 12 months, and shorter term stays ranging from a week to a month.
The increase in the cost of diesel is also tricky, Mr Brack says: "You have got your diesel cost, and I use diesel for heating."
There are also safety risks, with people untying the ropes attaching the boat to the path and personal items being stolen.
Living in narrowboats has become particularly popular in London, where property prices are rising due to a rise in buyers and the city's dense population.
Justin Hiskett previously lived in a property in East London, and paid £1400 a month for rent.
He swapped his house for a narrowboat in Bath, now paying around a third of what he used to.
He faced challenges due to his inexperience, something he described as a "baptism of fire" for him.
His boat lacked a constant water or electricity supply, and costs were exacerbated by a recent increase in diesel prices of around 40%.
He was on a continuous cruiser license, meaning he had to move around every two weeks, and to move a certain distance over the course of a year or risk having his license restricted.
Mr Hiskett owns a liveaboard, a vessel he built himself, and therefore does not pay VAT, saving him 20% on the price of a commercial vessel.
Other ways he saves money include not having the heating on and adjusting to a minimal lifestyle to save energy where "you have a very direct relationship between the the environmental comfort level and actually facilitating that".
Regarding safety, Justin said: "I did get broken into once up in Hartford here.
"Security is quite an issue, I have had female friends of mine staying on board, they feel a lot more vulnerable and threatened.
"You've got only a little glass window between you and a footpath."
Social benefits come from a peaceful, environmental aspect where Mr Hiskett spends time with his cat by the fire.
He says the lifestyle is ideal for people who like living alone and for people who are "more independent, a bit more adventurous and willing not to have all of the necessary luxuries in life".
This way of living makes him appreciate the small things in life, where wasting a splash or two of water before brushing his teeth can make an impact on efficient energy saving.
He admitted: "things like that that you just don't think of when you're in a house."
Backing the brick over digital tech: Lego surges in popularity with all generations
A new generation of "kidults" and full-time professional traders flocked to Sheffield on Sunday, proving that the plastic brick is not just surviving- it’s thriving.
Traders, builders, young children and adults of all ages attended the sold-out Sheffield Brick Festival at Ponds Forge Leisure Centre, to partake in all things Lego.
In an age of technology, there is still a clear appetite for physical activity and interactive play, for people of all ages.
Among the familiar sound of shuffling Lego bricks and kids yelling between stands, there was serious business happening as haggling traders hunted for lucrative deals.
Patrick Emeny, 18, a college student from Doncaster, was working on the pick n’ mix stand where, for £8, anyone can sift through buckets of Lego and take what they want, as long as it fits in a pint-sized cup.
He says: “It’s great to see young and old coming together, it really bridges the gap between the generations.”
Two different parents sifted through Lego for their children while a few men looked for any “hidden gems” to add to their collection.
Dan, 26, a collector, says it's like “trying to find a diamond in the rough".
The Sheffield chapter of the Brick Festival is one of five this month, along with others in London, Bournemouth and Weston-super-Mare.
It was Mr Emeny’s second event as he balances his A-levels with his Lego hobby.
He is part of a growing demographic within the Lego consumer base as he has maintained his hobby up through his childhood and while taking his A-levels and gaining his driver's license.
A report by the British Toy & Hobby Association said that the ‘kidults’ (ages 12+) now contribute £1 for every £3 in the toy industry.
Lego sales increased by 16% in 2025, the same year that the toy industry saw its' first growth in years.
There was a 25% increase in more complex “building sets” such as Bionicals and Formula One which are catered towards adult audiences.
There were many different activities at the festival, including vintage Lego video games and speed-building competitions.
One of the first points of contact at the entrance was the charity tombola which guaranteed a minifigure to each participant.
All the funds went to the charity partner, Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children Charity which provides specialist nurses to children with the most serious and complex conditions in the UK.
The festival also offered builders the opportunity to show-off their designs to a wider audience.
Thomas, 35, is a seller from Latvia, targeting individual bricks and sets that have a high profit potential.
He trades on BrickLink, the world’s largest online marketplace for buying, selling and designing Lego sets.
Thomas, explained that alongside it being his full-time job, he also builds custom Lego sets and minifigures.
“I get inspired by many things, sometimes it’s a movie or as little as one tiny Lego piece," he says.
“Days like today are for building community, based around Lego, for people to interact with each other, share contacts and tips and tricks.”
Many of the traders travel around the country, attending events such as these, to put a face to their mostly online businesses.
Thomas Derbyshire, 38, is the founder of Beanbay bricks, a company that trades on BrickLink.
Based in Lancashire, he attends events like these and prioritises selling lower-cost items.
“Today it’s been some of the smaller sets, because of the current financial situation, people are going for the five-pound-sets and the minifigures," he says.
“I always enjoy it, from the young kids to the elderly. If we can provide them with something that they’ve been after for a long time, it’s great, that’s why we do it.”
While families often target smaller sets, professional and seasoned traders are happy to invest in high quality sets that often exceed their original value.
Online, the sets with the highest prices are often big names including Star Wars and Indiana Jones.
Trending sets, such as Stranger Things, see a particularly strong markup, with a trader at the festival saying one of his retired sets had increased in price from £300 to £700.
Those sets which are no longer sold by Lego can see a significant mark-up as their supply is limited and their exclusivity is increased.
Unopened or 'sealed’ sets also carry value as it is assured that no sets are missing pieces and quality is assured.
According to the BrickEconomy, the ‘sealed premium’ adds 70% value to the set.
Another trader says: “It’s just the same as Pokemon or baseball cards, except it takes up a lot more room in the house than a filing cabinet does.”
The most expensive advertised price on the day was £780 for the retired, Lego Star Wars, Death Star.
An alternative Lego product was provided by Brickbybrick23, a company that produces personalised Lego brick photo blocks, primarily sold as gifts.
Katie Benn, 30, from Middlesborough, founded the company with her partner, Steven, and they recently made the move to commit to the company full-time.
“It started as a hobby a couple of years ago and then we took the leap to go full-time and now we love it. It’s great fun, we get to build Lego every day,” she says.
Ms Benn explained how the events had expanded their client base with the in-person stand acting as a promotional tool.
As the phenomenon of festivals becomes more popular for everything from podcasting to sports, it is clear, the Lego community is hopping on this trend, determined not to be left behind.
With a generation growing up isolated and over-reliant on technology, Lego offers an alternative and a chance for connection, away from screens and towards building together.