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.
Kelly Walsh to celebrate 300th game with Sheffield Shadows
This Sunday, Kelly Walsh will be playing her 300th game for the Sheffield Shadows.
Ms Walsh, 44, got into the sport when a friend from school played for the shadows in 1997, starting in the house leagues working her way to be invited to train with the Shadows after an ice hockey camp in Sheffield.
Reminiscing on her first match at 16, she said: "I can imagine how excited I must have been to put on my team jersey for the first time, especially since I hadn't played a team sport before."
She's been playing with Sheffield Shadows since 2001.
A highlight of her career was the 2009 World Championships in Torre Pellice, Italy, where the teamed earned a promotion to Division II the previous season. They exceeded everyone's expectations by taking the bronze medal.
"Over the years, I've become much more laid-back and developed a real sense of gratitude for having the opportunity to play," she said. "I now truly appreciate each moment on the ice and try not to take any of it for granted."
The Shadows have had their ups and downs over the last 30 years, with both promotions and relegations.
In recent years, after the Covid19 pandemic, she said the Shadows have "struggled to find our feet and regain the momentum we once had."
Ms Walsh is optimistic for the future. She feels that, with a lot of younger members, there is room for developing cohesion and experience.
"The biggest growth has been in resilience and perspective: staying present, keeping a positive influence in the room and on the bench, and enjoying the game," she said.
Her 300th match will be against the Nottingham Vipers on Sunday.
Image: Sheffield Shadows
Maltby post box lets residents send messages to those no longer with us
In the heart of Maltby’s graveyard, a small white post box sits beneath the shade of a few old trees.
Plain and unassuming, it draws the eye only if you’re looking closely.
The box was installed by Dignity, a charity which provides support to people experiencing hardships such as homelessness and period poverty.
The initiative allows visitors to send “special deliveries to heaven.”
For those who stop here, it has become a much needed sanctuary to pause, reflect and breathe, allowing visitors to leave a piece of themselves behind for somebody that they miss.
The box is part of an initiative which serves around 45 communities nationwide, arriving in the wake of a summer defined by tension, and noise, and after Maltby was shaken by controversy over displaying ‘patriotic’ flags.
Now the atmosphere around the graveyard feels markedly different.
People come quietly, in ones and twos, carrying cards pressed between their fingers and tucked inside of coats.
Some write their messages in advance, carefully choosing their words; others stand by the box itself, pen poised, searching for the right sentence to share with someone they can no longer see.
Widow, Araminta Dubois, 76, visited with her grandchildren, who had just finished school for the day. They all paused for a moment before posting their letters.
As they walked back towards the entrance, Mrs. Dubois gently wiped her eyes, reminding us of the simple truth - love is eternal.
Each card and coloured envelope represents a conversation that can no longer be spoken aloud, bridging the gap between Christmases past and present.
Mrs Dubois told us she was sending a card to her late father this year, revealing that she only had a handful of Christmases with him before he passed away.
“Even though they’re not with us, it helps you,” she said.
Erin Connoly, 25, called the post box “an amazing, stoic show of love,” adding she wished something like this had existed when she was younger:
She said: “Children will be less traumatised knowing they’re still being listened to by those not around.”
Erin smiles as she shares her own story: “I miss my Nanna”
“I jokingly wrote her a Christmas list of what I needed,” she laughed softly.
“It’s nice to know we can still celebrate together, after all these years.”
As December deepens and the nights draw further in, the white post box stands steady against the cold.
Each letter that falls inside carries with it - a warmth, longing and love, binding Maltby’s past and present together.
Unique hop-on hop-off bus connects three Sheffield villages in Christmas event
A quirky vintage bus will take locals around Ecclesfield, Grenoside and Chapeltown in a coordinated Christmas event between the three areas.
The S35 Christmas Express is an initiative started by Ecclesfield Together.
This year's event will be an expansion from a smaller event on the High Street of Ecclesfield after interests from surrounding villages.
Debbie Roberts, treasurer for Ecclesfield Together, said people are looking forward to seeing the bus "decked out" with festive ornaments.
She said: "The people of Ecclesfield, Chapeltown and Grenoside are very excited about that. We've already heard from people that it's really what they want to see and they're really excited about jumping on the bus."
People can hop off the bus at anytime to participate in exciting activities around along the way.
The famous Old Red Lion in Grenoside will be serving hot chocolate and Chapeltown will be putting on a market.
In Ecclesfield, there will also be a marketplace at Gatty Hall, with local vendors, handbell ringers, craft tables for children.
The market will also see a pantomime, Christmas stories, carols and music shows at the Eppic Theatre.
Ruby Bunn from the Eppic Theatre said: "I'm very excited really. It's a nice community event, bringing all the venues together. It's very interactive and a great way to kick off our holiday season."
Thanks to the funding from the Sheffield City Council and that the event is run fully by volunteers, the organisers can keep the cost affordable for everyone in the community.
Mrs Roberts said: "It's £1.50 hop on and off as long as you like for the day, and it's actually free for children because we decided that that was really key to us.
"We wanted to make it affordable for everybody. We didn't want anybody to be excluded because of costs," she said.
Organisers hope the event will attract around 300 participants of all ages, giving it a community atmosphere and a chance for people to chat with people they otherwise wouldn't meet.
Mrs Roberts said they want to make sure adults and elderly residents in the community had something to look forward to, not just the kids.
She said: "What makes us special? the fact that we've joined three villages I think is quite unique. I've never heard of any events in Sheffield where they're kind of connecting three very distinct places simultaneously."
The S35 Christmas Express will take place on 14 December, starting at 11am and finishing at 4pm.
Sheffield waste collection service denies using “agency strike-breakers”
A Sheffield waste collection service has disputed allegations that it has been recruiting agency staff to collect bins, while its workers continue to strike.
In a press release published on its website in October, Unite, the largest trade union in the UK, had accused Veolia of employing agency workers in Sheffield.
In a bid to disrupt this practice, strikers at the Lumley Street bin depot have since returned to work on a part-time basis.
Sharon Graham, general secretary for the union, said: "Veolia's absolute refusal to negotiate, its outright dismissal of a reasonable pay claim, and its use of agency strike-breakers means Unite's tactics will now seek to cause maximum disruption.
"Enough is enough."
Unite's members, referred to by some as the 'Lumley Street Warriors,' have been engaged in all-out strike since August 2024, when they first demanded that Veolia recognise their union.
With the last recognition offer having been withdrawn just under a year ago, workers at the Lumley Street depot are continuing to fight for their needs to be met.
Beth Whittaker, chief HR officer for Veolia Northern Europe, said that Veolia has not used agency labour to replace striking workers and described the strike as "an inter-union dispute, which Unite could end tomorrow".
She said: “Unite is changing tack and moving towards a route that they say will cause maximum disruption for Sheffield residents. But, for more than a year, Veolia has navigated Unite’s continuous strike action, with teams working incredibly hard to minimise any disruption to residents’ collections and this will continue to be our focus.
“We will continue to stand against Unite's campaign of defamation and remain eager to see a resolution that will enable our colleagues to return to work."
(Source: Alistair Tice)
Veolia maintains that, if it recognises Unite, GMB Union, which holds majority membership at the depot, has promised to launch a counter-dispute, bringing the company's waste collection services to a halt across the city.
Meanwhile, the strikers have refuted any claims that this is an inter-union dispute, arguing that it is the company's responsibility to respond to their demands.
"It's not another union that recognises a union, it's an employer that recognises a union," Chris Lamming, 58, said on the picket line.
"A few lads have gone back because of mental health issues. It has been tough financially and mentally."
Sheffield Home of Football push for greater recognition of city’s footballing heritage
A statue is set to be placed near the Millennium Gallery in Sheffield City Centre, commemorating Sheffield's footballing heritage.
The charity in question, Sheffield Home of Football, are seeking to raise awareness for Sheffield's footballing heritage, and have also made a bid to the UNESCO Memory of the World as a part of their aim for greater recognition as the "home of football".
'Heads or tails', made by local sculptor David Westby, is dedicated to David's brother, Martin Westby, a founder of the Sheffield Home of Football campaign who wrote extensively about football history in Sheffield, who sadly died in 2020.
The statue will commemorate a tie between Sheffield FC and Shropshire Wanderers that took place on the 30th October 1873.
The game is notable for being the only instance of an FA Cup game being decided by the toss of a coin.
The first game of the tie took place in Sheffield and finished a draw. The story was the same for the return fixture at the Racecourse Ground in Shrewsbury.
"So what do you do if you're a Sheffielder? You go the pub," said John Clarke, Secretary of the Sheffield Home of Football charity.
They realised that due to the dire financial situation of the clubs, which had been owned and run by wealthy businessmen in Sheffield industries, they could not afford to play a third game and so had to come up with an alternative; a coin toss.
"As that coin went up in the air, they suddenly realised that there was no more money in football and it was handed over to the poorer people."
A modern fan might ask why they did not settle the tie with a penalty shoot out, but this was not to be adopted until 1970.
The frame of the statue is curved in an S shape to symbolise its beginnings in the steel industry, while the coins are made brass to symbolise how the industry brought money into the city.
For Sheffield Home of Football "the statues have always been on the agenda," but the fundraising has taken some time as it has cost around £40,000.
As a public statue, it has also had to undergo wind tunnel testing which has added time to the project.
The charity are aiming for it to be installed in February 2026, near the Millennium Gallery in the City Centre.
They want the new installation to be the first of a new art trail all honouring parts of Sheffield's football story.
The hope is for this trail to feature a statue of Brazilian legend Pele, commemorating his visit to the city in 2007, where he famously said: "without Sheffield FC there wouldn't be a me."
The trail would feature in Sheffield Home of Football's guided walking tours.
Images courtesy of Andy Kershaw
Has vintage shopping become too expensive?
Shoppers who browse Sheffield’s growing number of ‘vintage’ shops and secondhand stores are no longer able to find the bargain they were hoping for, as price tags increasingly match rival luxury retailers, and in some cases, exceed them.
Dresses, boots and bags can set customers back by up to £150 as the demand for vintage clothing rises, raising questions about how affordable sustainable fashion and the thrifting landscape really is.
The once budget friendly alternative, has increased in popularity, fuelled by social media trends and platforms, including Vinted and Depop, where millions of people buy and sell secondhand clothing.
There are over 30 vintage shops in Sheffield alone, and while these small businesses are reducing the harm already being caused to the environment, some believe they are slowly stealing the spotlight of the original secondhand clothing stores, charity shops.
A member of staff at Scope, a disability charity, has noticed a steady decline in shoppers visiting the shop, and believes this is partially due to the amount of vintage clothing stores populating the high streets.
Scope, like many other charities, have implemented vintage clothing sections within their stores in a bid to increase sales and appeal to younger shoppers.
Alan Dilley, the manager at the Oxford charity shop branch in Fulwood, hasn't seen a drop in sales or customers, but has noticed an increase in demand for vintage clothing pieces.
He said: “There are so many things you could consider being vintage, whether it’s yesterday’s top or a pair of trousers from the 80s, it’s all down to personal opinion.
“The market for clothing changes all the time and charity shops have to do their part in keeping up with the trends.”
Students in Sheffield have mixed opinions regarding vintage clothing; some proudly expressing their support in saving the environment, while others strongly disagreeing with their motive.
Elena Cowley, a student living in Sheffield, said: “I think vintage shop prices are ridiculous.
“I would rather give my money to a charity shop, find something a quarter of the price they’re asking at the vintage shop, and help the environment that way.”
Ellysia Thorpe, also a student at the University of Sheffield, said: “I don’t really shop at places like that myself, but a lot of my friends have been saying how expensive everything seems to have gotten in those shops.”
The quality of vintage clothing is often said to be superior to generic fast fashion pieces, encouraging customers to buy secondhand and support small local businesses.
The manager of the Division Street branch of Glass Onion, Phoebe Price, 28, explained there is a lot of work behind the scenes on how vintage clothing is handled, offering a reasonable explanation for some of the prices.
She said: “Vintage pieces can’t be cheap. We wash everything, we dry everything, not to mention labelling and making sure the clothes are in good condition to be sold.
“It all comes down to understanding why second hand shopping tends to be more expensive, some pieces are more unique than others, some are branded.”
Glass Onion, founded in 2005, has quickly become one of the UK’s fastest growing independent vintage stores, processing up to 20,000 kgs of vintage clothing every week.
“I think being educated about sustainable shopping is really important, but I understand why some people may still turn to purchasing from fast fashion retailers,” Ms Price said.
“Secondhand shopping is meant to be cheap and affordable. Everyone has the right to express themselves within their budget, so it’s really frustrating to see some vintage stores selling pieces for an extremely expensive price.”
Secondhand clothing sales are set to account for 10 percent of the global fashion market in the year 2026.
It is well documented that fast fashion harms the environment due various reasons such as microplastics, water pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, however, fast fashion appeals to many individuals due to the cheap price and accessibility.
Researchers say the environmental benefits of secondhand fashion remain underexamined, unclear whether this market displaces fast fashion consumption or merely supplementing it.
What we do know however is that secondhand fashion has a significantly lower impact on carbon emissions than fast fashion and large retailers, but this all depends on the consumer and practices of the resale market.
Ms Price, who sees the Glass Onion brand as a movement in itself, said: “Ideally we want to be on the high streets, whether it’s here in Sheffield or in our other locations across the UK.”
650,000 tonnes of used clothing is collected in the UK every year. The sales of secondhand clothing has increased greatly since 2021, however only 30% of this amount is actually sold in the UK.
A lot of the unsold clothing is shipped abroad, mainly to Africa and Eastern Europe, where it is then recycled, which is not an easy process.
Ms Price claims thrifting’ and vintage shopping isn't just for bargain hunters. The store sees many resellers show up during a sale, only to advertise their purchases on Vinted or Depop for an inflated price.
For others sustainable clothing has become out of reach due to higher prices, causing some shoppers to opt for fast fashion, ignore the environmental impact as it is simply more obtainable and fundamentally, cheaper.
Supporting small businesses is undoubtedly a better option for the environment than purchasing from a fast fashion retailer, however the difference in pricing is what many are hesitant about in Sheffield.
Image: Jenny Stoch
“It’s high time we did it”: Sheffield e-bike scheme to arrive next summer
Sheffield is set to catch up with neighbouring UK cities with an e-bike scheme launching next summer.
Lime, Voi and Beryl are among the companies interested in bidding to be Sheffield's first electronic bike scheme.
Many Sheffield residents remember the failure of the cycle-hire scheme in 2018 by Ofo, where vandalism coincided with the company going under.
Cllr Craig Gamble Pugh said he was confident that electric bikes can handle Sheffield's hilly topography.
He said: "It's been nearly eight years. When they were being chucked into the canal and stuff, those schemes were in their infancy. There's a whole industry sector and body of expertise now.”
A cycling advocacy group, CycleSheffield, has had meetings with Voi, and ran a ride event with Lime last Saturday, testing the bikes on Sheffield's hills and discussing GPS virtual docking stations along the route.
John Armitage, Chair of CycleSheffield said: “It’s definitely going to happen. It's just a case of who's going to be here first.
In an exclusive with Sheffield Wire, Mr Armitage added: “We know also, it's not just e-bikes. The scheme is going to be with a company that also does scooters, so it will involve e-scooters as well.
CycleSheffield’s goal is to promote and push the council to improve safe cycling and cycling provisions.
Mr Armitage is optimistic that, whichever company wins the contract, it will be a win for cycle safety.
He said: “It's going to be really important to have more provision, more infrastructure, and these companies are really good at helping advocate for that as well.
“They want safer cycling in the cities they operate in.”
Nat Zimmermann, a member of CycleSheffield, also attended the Lime event.
He said: “A lot of cycling safety comes in strength in numbers.
If people are used to seeing cyclists everywhere, when they turn left, they're going to think; 'Is there a cyclist coming up beside me?' Whereas if there's only a few, it's quite easy to forget.”
Cllr Gamble Pugh, whose ward is East Ecclesfield, said he is excited about giving people another option, especially for Sheffield's less connected communities.
He said: “The further out you get, the more difficult it is to use those active travel options.
“A lot of people in the city would like to be able to leave the car behind sometimes. So having an e-bike would be a great option, but we need to make sure the scheme caters for the further out communities as well.”
Mr Armitage also believes the scheme could plug a gap in Sheffield's transport network.
He said: “We have got really bad night buses and the Uber situation since Covid has got really, really bad.
“So anything else that helps you get home at night is really, really helpful.”
Elsewhere in the UK, e-bikes and scooters have been associated with safety concerns.
In September, the BBC spoke to a lower limb surgeon at Royal London Hospital, who said e-bike accidents were a “massive burden” on their department.
In January, London Centric spoke to three Londoners who suffered severe leg breaks after falling off Lime bikes.
They reported: “the design, weight and speed of the e-bikes used by Lime can transform what should be relatively minor falls into life-changing injuries”.
But in Sheffield, the outlook among the council remains positive.
Cllr Gamble Pugh said: “Sheffield has lagged behind. We’re the last of the UK core cities to have a bike hire scheme, so it’s high time we did it.”
How a new organisation in Doncaster is shaping the future for SEND children
A brand new organisation is aiming to provide SEND children with creative opportunities beyond school.
Shape House Doncaster is launching the start of their organisation with Christmas Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF) beginning 22 December.
Funded by the Department of Education, HAF is targeted towards school-aged children who are eligible for free-school meals. HAF is also open to children not eligible for free school meals for a small fee.
The curriculum is focused on creative learning, arts and crafts sessions, music, theatre and outdoor activities.
While HAF will run every holiday period for the next three years, the Centre Leads, which runs HAF, stated how it is also acting as a "soft opening" to their Alternative Provision focus.
Alternative Provision is aimed towards children not in school due to a variety of reasons, and ensures they receive a suitable education.
They have a number of rooms tailored towards the needs of the children, with sensory spaces and accessible toilet and shower spaces included.
The building is currently still under construction.
Chris Medwell, 41, and Jamie Christian, 53, from the Centre Leads organisation have many years of experience working in SEND schools and being parents to autistic children.
It resulted in them creating the idea for a space to "bridge the gap" between schools and the needs of SEND children.
Mr Christian said "opportunities don't come knocking twice" about his choice to leave his teaching role in a SEND school in order to focus on Shape House.
They highlighted how mainstream and specialised schools in Doncaster are "doing the best they can", but the issue of them being at full-capacity makes it difficult for SEND children to get the help they need.
They feel this is of particular important for SEND children who do not have access to a 'Education and Health Care Plans', meaning they are unable to enter specialised schools.
Mr Christian explained how KS3 is a difficult transition period for special needs children due to a lack of support and a change in routine from primary school.
Therefore, he added that that HAF is especially important to SEND children as holiday periods disrupt their routine.
Mr Medwell said it is important they are able to "shape the future for children and young people who get lost in the system".
Their aim is to develop their curriculum over a 12 week period, working with schools and the local authorities to support these children and young people in their future.
IMAGE: Shape House Doncaster
Emergency flood repairs enter next phase to fix River Sheaf wall damage
Urgent repair works continue on a junction of the River Sheaf near Lowfield as temporary emergency flood defences have been installed following significant repeated flood damage to the river bank walls.
Demolition works have been completed on the former Antiques Emporium site at Clyde Road adjacent to the River Sheaf junction.
Demolition site on Clyde Road December 2025
The Environment Agency (EA) acquired the land and ordered the former thriving business's demolition following a severe flood caused by Storm Ashley in October 2024 to repair significant damage to the left bank wall.
Piles of rocks have been dropped into the river where the hole was and a bund has been installed around the site as temporary flood protection measures following further major damage to the left bank wall by Storm Claudia in November.
The Clyde Road/Broadfield Road Junction December 2025
Problems with the river wall stretch back years, and concerns have been raised over the effect further floods could have on surrounding businesses.
There are further worries over the effect repairs might have on the electrical supply, as the junction is located next to an electrical sub-station.
History of the Broadfield Road/ Clyde Road Junction:
The issue was first raised in 2021 when the Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust reported a crack in the right hand wall.
The EA installed large pipes as a temporary measure.
In 2022, Storm Eunice caused tree trunks and logs to fall into the river near Broadfield Road , causing it to rise and nearly overflow.
The Environment Agency undertook work to repair the right hand wall by installing steel sheet piling backed by concrete.
River Sheaf metal sheets February 2022, Photo Credits: Andy Buck
In October 2024, Storm Ashley caused a section of the left bank wall on the opposite side to be ripped away and damage to the 100-year-old footbridge, debris falling into the river.
The EA reconstructed the left wall to make it more resistant.
Clyde Road was closed following the flood and has remained shut for over a year, but is due to reopen by the end of 2025.
In August, the EA issued a Compulsory Purchase Order on the Antiques Emporium and its land, causing the business to close.
They then began demolition works on the property.
In November this year, damage from Storm Claudia resulted in large sections of the wall falling into the river, with a 2m deep cavity under the right bank wall underneath the power sub-station.
River Sheaf Wall November 2025, Photo Credits Andy Buck
Local Reaction:
Alex Jackson is Managing Director of Wolf Safety Lamp Company Ltd based at Saxon Road a minute's walk from the junction.
Mr Jackson has become more concerned about the risks of flooding for his business in recent years.
His company building is situated next to the power sub-station so has invested in additional defences for his company.
Wolf Safety Lamp Company Ltd's additonal temporary flood defence
He said the situation is at a "five-year low," and the site was currently an "eyesore," but acknowledges the processes the Environment Agency must undertake.
He added: "I want the river to be safer and for the site to be turned into a nice area for the community and for people to enjoy."
Andy Buck, a spokesperson for The Sheaf and Porter Rivers Trust, said the Trust has had good communication with the Environment Agency, and said the purchase of the Antiques Emporium land was necessary to repair the damage done by the storms.
Sheffield City Council have stated: "Since the flood wall failures at Broadfield Road/Clyde Road, the EA remains in close contact with Sheffield City Council and are keeping us informed as the repair works continue with weekly briefings.
"We have assisted the EA in providing newsletters to Councillors and local residents to update them at regular stages as the emergency works have progress.
"The relevant officers at Sheffield City Council have been fully briefed and a contingency plan is in place to deal with any potential flooding should there be any issues.
We appreciate the EA's efforts to maintain the standard of flood defence throughout and reach a secure solution as soon as practicable."
Future of the Broadfield Road/Clyde Road Junction:
The EA and Sheaf and Porters Rivers Trust are now considering options for the site's future and the Trust is hopeful the final design can ensure the long-term protection of businesses from flooding while also facilitating the growth of wildlife and biodiversity in the area.
Mr Buck said he would like to ensure public enjoyment of the river and the solution to be beneficial for the environment such as a pocket park.
The Environment Agency is expected to undertake further work on the right bank under the sub-station in early 2026.
“Infertility already brings heartbreak” The reality of cuts to funding IVF cycles
The founder of a male infertility support group has voiced his concerns after cuts to fertility treatment in South Yorkshire, were announced this month, meaning new patients will only be offered one cycle of treatment instead of two.
Shaun Greenaway co founded NeXYs Fertility, after being diagnosed with an infertility condition, Azoospermia, in 2018.
"News of cuts in Sheffield feels devastating," he says. "For funding to shrink at a time when global fertility rates continue to decline fells short sighted and harmful to future families."
Mr Greenaway helped set up the national platform to bring awareness to male infertility, after a lack of support following his diagnosis.
Image courtesy of Shaun Greenaway.
Infertility is defined as a disease by the World Health Organisation, with one in six people of reproductive age experiencing infertility in their lifetime.
"IVF is not a lifestyle choice," says Mr Greenaway. "Nobody chooses clinic, injections and repeated cycles without reason. They do it because they want a child in their arms and because there is no other path left to try.
"If the government want to protect the next generation, they should strengthen access to treatment rather than reduce it."
Three years after his diagnosis, Mr Greenaway was offered In Vitro Fertilisation (IVF), funded by the NHS, and his twins, now aged four, were conceived. "I think often about the fact that we may not have our children today without NHS support," he says.
The Integrated Care Board (ICB) in South Yorkshire, which covers patients in Sheffield, Barnsley, Doncaster and Rotherham, made the announcement on December 3, that new patients will only be offered one cycle of treatment instead of two.
This is despite the fact The National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidelines state women under 40 should have access to three NHS funded cycles. However it is up to local care board's to decide how many cycles their area will receive.
Chris Edwards, Interim Chief Executive at NHS South Yorkshire, said: “This has been an extremely tough choice, but it must be considered in the wider context of improving health outcomes for our whole population and ensuring fair access to services for everyone across South Yorkshire."
The cuts hope to save the ICB £400,000 annually, as moves to prioritise access to primary care, such as GP appointments, are made.
South Yorkshire are not alone in their decision - 67% of ICB's in the UK only offer one cycle of IVF. Only 10%, follow NICE guidelines, offering three NHS funded cycles. Patients in South Yorkshire who already undergoing treatment will continue to receive their existing treatment plans.
The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA), the UK fertility regulator, revealed one in 32 UK births in 2023 were via IVF – roughly one child in every classroom.
A reduction to NHS funded cycles means patients who cannot afford private treatment are at a disadvantage.
The Fertility Alliance, a national charity, who also voiced their concern, said: "We are deeply disappointed by the decision to reduce funding for those impacted by fertility issues in South Yorkshire, creating a two-tier system where only those who can afford to pay will be able to access the medical treatment."
A report by the South Yorkshire ICB reiterates the financial strain this latest decision will bring, especially within socio-economically deprived families.
It states: "The cycle reduction risks widening inequality as fertility outcomes would become increasingly determined by the ability to pay privately after one unsuccessful NHS funded cycle."
Doncaster Council expressed their concern that the reduction to IVF cycles will create a "postcode lottery".
Financial inequalities are projected to cause a rise in mental health concerns, as success rates of IVF treatment are significantly reduced.
Rachael Leslie, the Director of Public Health in Doncaster Council, says: "Limiting treatment to one cycle may reduce overall success and increase emotional distress and relationship strain. IVF provides an opportunity for resolution, and multiple cycles may reduce the impact of initial failure and increase the chance of successful treatment.”
As a result, an increasing pressure will be put on mental health and primary care services. The ICB recommend that additional support services are offered to patients to help relieve this.
Local organisations also worry about the effects of this reduction. TFP Nurture Fertility run private fertility clinics, serving many patients from across Sheffield.
"Access to multiple cycles of IVF is important for a multitude of reasons, including those with a low egg reserve or patients seeking pre-implantation genetic testing," says Dr James Hopkisson, Medical Director at the clinic. "The latest news will be a devastating blow for families across the region and its impact will be something felt by future generations.”
Small businesses win big at South Yorkshire Business Awards
A women's led consultancy and one of "Sheffield's best kept secrets" that saved the NHS £800,000 this year were amongst the winners at this year's South Yorkshire Business Awards.
Sheffield charity, SCCCC, won the Best Not For Profit, Charity or Social Enterprise and the Innovation Award at unLTD's business awards.
They work to reduce loneliness among the elderly by offering prompt hospital discharge and after-care support, resulting in only 3% of readmissions from over 65s in their care.
SCCCC celebrated their 60th anniversary this year, but Mark Storey, Chief Executive, says they still struggle with recognition for their work.
He said: "We're seen as Sheffield's best kept secret. Why are we a secret?
"To be able to say we're SCCCC, this is what we do and this why you should know about us, this is what this platform provides."
Ceremony hosts, unLTD Business, a business magazine, support small and medium-sized companies across South Yorkshire.
Joseph Food, 32, Editor at unLTD Business, said: "The smaller guys don't get as much love, but they work just as hard and they're doing just as much valuable work".
Ash Birch, 39, Web Editor, highlighted how the ceremony provides organisations all around South Yorkshire with publicity, networking opportunities and the chance to celebrate.
He said: "It's been a tough year for a lot of businesses and I think we need to recognise that.
"We need to help people make these connections so they can thrive next year and hopefully reflect upon what they've achieved this year."
Other winners of the night included Moss Valley Fine Meats who won the Sustainability and Net Zero Award, and all-female Inclusive Consulting who won Best Recruitment or HR Business.
Farmer Stephen Thompson, 65, prides himself on the sustainability techniques his farm utilises and during his acceptance speech he called for more support for local farmers.
Afterward he spoke about his friends' forced business closures and his advocacy work.
He said: "We're being slated by inheritance tax so I'm spending a lot of time in London fighting."
Emma Conroy, 45, Founder of Inclusive Consulting, celebrated the chance to be nominated alongside only female-founded businesses.
Ms Conroy spoke about the significance of the award.
She said: "I'd certainly like to think it would encourage other female entrepreneurs to start up themselves."
This was unLTD Business Award's third year - in the future they hope to expand to other cities and remain committed to celebrating and supporting smaller businesses.
Sheffield University students “feel undervalued” by risk of staff redundancies
Image: Terry Robinson
Students at the University of Sheffield have written a letter to the Vice-Chancellor in support of their lecturers' strikes, over concerns staff will face compulsory redundancies.
Final year Modern Languages and Cultures students sent a firmly worded email to senior management demanding they are reimbursed for any missed tuition due to the industrial action, which has been taking place for the last four weeks.
They said they feel frustrated that, despite plans for a new £86 million STEM building, their tutors may lose their jobs.
This comes after the University revealed they are still navigating financial challenges.
As well as being concerned about her own education, one student, Beatris, 21, said: "The main cause of concern is the welfare of the staff. They shouldn’t have to worry about whether they’re going to be paid or not, or if they are about to lose their job from an institution they have been so loyal to."
The students are trying to balance their allegiances to their lectures with the importance of their final year studies.
They have voiced concerns their education will suffer due to the ongoing disputes, stating in the letter: "We feel uncomfortable paying into a system that does not fairly reward or recognise the efforts of our lecturers."
In response to the strikes, the University has proposed lecturers should make up missed teaching hours in January. They otherwise risk losing 100% of their pay for the hours spent on strike.
Modern Languages and Cultures student, Kirsten, 23, said. "The University’s decision to find a loophole so they don’t have to pay out compensation to the students says to me that they don't even care for the students they are supposedly serving."
The University claims these cuts are being made due to financial strain, saying they need to save £50.7 million.
Though it has offered "to commit to there being no compulsory redundancies before 31 October 2026 and an additional pause on all new restructures until April 2026," the UCU have refused to settle.
In response, the UCU stated: "A good risk management process will identify and make these changes gradually without disrupting the operations or resorting to large scale human/financial costs (like firing or massive restructuring of employees)."
Beatris and Kirsten fear potential redundancies will follow a growing trend at UK universities, including Cardiff and Nottingham, where arts and humanities degrees are being cut.
Another student, Lucy, 21, said: "This affirms the view that the arts in general are being neglected. It shows the increasing demand for STEM-based careers and the arts are being sidelined."
Potential redundancies have been announced despite plans for a new £86 million Central Teaching Laboratory in the Faculty of Science to 'attract high quality students to Sheffield.
Esme, 22, also a Modern Languages and Cultures student, said: "It makes us feel undervalued. We pay the same fees as STEM students."