IMAGE: Graham Hogg
In a bid to enliven community spirit, fans were welcomed to Sheffield’s “home of football” for free last weekend.
Sheffield FC partnered with ticketing organisation TicketsForGood in an effort to bring in as much of the community as possible.
CEO of TicketsForGood, Steve Rimmer, said of the partnership: “We want more people to feel like football, and live events more broadly, are something they can be part of.”
The community match saw Sheffield FC, which is widely considered the world’s oldest football club, beating Bradford-based side Thackley 2-1 in the Northern Counties East League.
This comes after Sheffield FC welcomed Jon McClure, Reverend and the Makers singer, as club Chairman in early March.
“This is not Wrexham. I’m not Ryan Reynolds. Let’s get it clear, I’m in an indie band. I know my place in this world,” Mr McClure told the BBC last week.
Ahead of the game, a spokesperson for Tickets for Good said: “Jon has long been one of Sheffield’s most passionate champions, so it feels fitting that he’s now involved with the club that sits right at the beginning of football’s story.”
“Top man. They’re in good hands,” one fan on X, formerly Twitter, reacted to the news.
Since the announcement of Mr McClure as Chairman, Sheffield FC have had consecutive wins, including a 3-0 result away to Eccleshall United.
And it seems that the Reverend and the Makers frontman was also able to Shine a Light on the club on Saturday: fans were kept on their toes but the winning goal was finally scored by Luke Mangham in the 90th minute.
Sheffield FC are set to face Horbury Town on St Patrick’s Day in what could be another consecutive win since Mr McClure’s arrival.
