Charity calls on Sheffield’s police and councillors to tackle youth violence
A Sheffield charity has written an open letter to the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for South Yorkshire and the city's councillors urging them to tackle the rising issue of youth violence. The letter was shared on Twitter by Mums United on 2 May. They asked candidates in this week's election to outline the support they will offer to youngsters following a rise of violence in Sheffield. They highlight a total of 17,443 incidents of violence in Sheffield reported to South Yorkshire Police between June 2019 and June 2020 - an increase of 8% compared to the previous year. Sahira Irshad, trustee chair of Mums United, said the group wrote the letter following a recent fatal shooting and a stabbing in the city. "We’ve already had numerous meetings with council leaders and MPs but we felt that it would make more of an impact if we wrote a public, open letter," she said. "This same letter has been sent to every councillor, all the nominees and to the PCC candidates as well. We wanted to make a public statement that we have had enough and these are the measures that we think need to take place in order for change to happen." So far, Ms Irshad said the response from councillors has been quite positive, but that they are still waiting for their local MPs to respond. She said: "I’m hoping that they respond before the march. It’s really important that we all stand together and ensure that our voices are heard." The march, which is planned to take place from Heeley People's Park on 22 May at 3pm, has been organised by Mums United to show solidarity against gang violence. "I noticed quite a few people making comments saying ‘It’s not going to stop the dealing, it’s not going to stop the gangs from going about their daily business,' Ms Irshad said. "That may be true, but we’re here for every mum, dad, brother, sister, auntie, uncle and grandparent who have lost children to the gang violence. Whether it’s gangs or being attacked, we’re here to say that we’re here for them."
Mums United
WATCH: Sheffield Wednesday fans’ mixed feelings on relegation decider against Derby County
Sheffield Wednesday's grudge match against Derby on Saturday could decide which famous club falls down to the third tier of English football. From financial trouble to managerial switches, calls for owner Dejphon Chansiri to leave and an underperforming squad - Sheffield Wednesday have had a host of issues thrown at them this campaign. Former Doncaster Rovers boss Darren Moore was brought in to steady the ship in March, but his battle with Covid has kept him away from the touchline and his enforced absence sums up the Owls' fortunes this season.
Owls' boss Darren Moore. Credit: Derby Telegraph.
Relegation battle explained
The EFL Championship Table going into the final day. Image credit: www.11vs11.com
Hear fans' thoughts
By Sam Gilder & Tom Hardwick
Neil Redfearn signs new two-year deal as SUFC Women’s manager
Credit- Simon Bellis/Sportimage Neil Redfearn has extended his contract as Sheffield United Women’s manager following a successful season for the team. After finishing fourth in the FA Women’s Championship, and with an FA Cup fifth round tie still to play, Redfearn has committed his future to the club until 2023. He said: “I think we’ve made really good strides this season, the girls have been absolutely fantastic and they’ve applied themselves really well. We’ve got big plans to try and move forward and get the club into the top flight- that’s the big aim.
Credit- Wikimedia Commons
Sheffield-based Team GB climber has sights set on Paris 2024
Professional climber, Jennifer Wood, has confirmed she has her sights set on Paris 2024 after narrowly missing out on this summer's olympics. Wood, 26, relocated to Sheffield last year to pursue her dream of representing Great Britain in an Olympic games. Growing up in Manchester, the athlete got into climbing at the age of 12 at a friends birthday party, within four years she had been called up to represent the Team GB junior squad. "I remember my call up pretty well, because it was in the summer of 2012 and I was on my way to watch the Olympics and I got a call from Team GB saying there's a spot for you if you want it." Wood told us. Her decision to join the squad was quickly vindicated and within two years she had been promoted from the junior squad into the senior squad for whom she participated at the European and World Championships. Even more impressively, Wood was able to combine her promising sporting career with her studies, moving to the University in Sheffield in 2014 to study Biochemistry for her undergraduate degree. Wood explained that the city's vast array of climbing walls and natural spots in the Peak District, means that Sheffield is the perfect location for her: "I am pretty spoiled for choice, in Sheffield "The climbing works is across the road from me where Team GB have built a specific training facility." The training facility in Sheffield has been perfect for Wood, who, even though she works another job on the side her role in Team GB meant she benefitted from the Elite sport exemption enabling her to continue training during the pandemic. She said this has been critical for continuing her development: "It was super useful, and it allowed us to prepare for the competitions."
Wood specialises in Bouldering, which is among the three climbing disciplines that will be introduced to the Olympic Games this summer in Tokyo alongside lead-climbing and speed climbing. She told us that due to her lack of experience in speed climbing this is something she needs to improve if she is to make the squad for Paris 2024. The huge rise in sport's popularity has helped it achieve its Olympic status and Wood welcomed the increase in walls that have been created as a byproduct of it and the rise in quality that it has created. "When I was younger my mum would have to drive 40 minutes just to get to one climbing wall. Nowadays, I've got five to choose from within a 20 minute drive. The quality has gone up loads also, the climbing walls are in competition with each other so some of them are enormous now." A European Universities champion at bouldering, Wood has not ruled out the prospect of returning to the University of Sheffield to study for her PHD but for now, it seems she is focussing on her very promising climbing prospects.View this post on Instagram
Three men and one teenager arrested after Doncaster shooting
Three men and a teenage boy have been arrested today on suspicion of attempted murder after a man was shot in Cantley this morning. Police received reports at around 11.20am of a disturbance and a suspected firearms discharge on Aldesworth Road. A short time later, officers were notified that a 30-year-old man had attended Doncaster Royal Infirmary with suspected gunshot wounds. The man remains in a serious but stable condition. Armed response officers were deployed to the area and arrested a 15-year-old boy and three men aged 18, 27 and 52 on suspicion of attempted murder. All are currently in custody. Det Ch Insp Jamie Henderson says: “We are currently treating this incident as a targeted attack and we do not believe there is any wider risk to the public. “I do however understand that there will be concern within the local community and I would like to reassure people that our enquiries are moving quickly." There will be an increased police presence in the area, including armed response officers, throughout the day and into the evening, Det Ch Insp Henderson added. Police are appealing for anyone with any information to contact South Yorkshire Police, quoting incident number 320 of 6 May or via their online reporting portal, or to contact Crimestoppers.
Outraged students launch petition against proposed changes to University of Sheffield language courses
Students and staff have spoken out against proposed changes to School of Languages courses at the University of Sheffield as a petition has gained over 5000 signatures.
On 30th April, students were informed by their student-staff committee about a planned reduction in contact hours, the potential doubling of class sizes, as well as a decrease in the level of language proficiency expected. Other features of the course may also be axed including grammar, translation, speaking, debate and discourse analysis classes.
Stephen Gamage and Matthew Hartill, two fourth year students who are the co-chairs of Sheffield University School of Languages & Cultures Student-Staff Committee, said they were extremely concerned about the proposed changes to the way the School is run.
They said: “In our opinion, they constitute an outright ‘de-specialisation’ of languages provision. Perhaps more concerning than that, however, is the extremely poor communication from the university to students about these changes.”
The university has responded by saying students' contact hours will not be reduced and their students will continue to receive an excellent learning experience.
They said the proposed changes mean the scope of language interaction and experience for students will allow them to maximise their potential and level of achievement.
Despite this, Mr Gamage and Mr Hartill said these changes would have a monumental impact on the way languages are taught at Sheffield into the future, and this would affect students who are already studying here.
They added: “For the principal student representative body, the Student-Staff Committee, not to have had any communication with the faculty on this issue until only very recently is unacceptable. The university appears to pride itself on its ‘global’ reputation. It’s time they put their money where their mouth is.”
Professor Philip Swanson from the School of Languages and Cultures at the University also said he was naturally very concerned for the current and future students.
He expressed further concern for the integrity of the department’s discipline, their reputation as a major centre for Modern Languages, and for those SLC staff who are facing the prospect of redeployment, reduction of employment conditions or worse.
Professor Swanson said: “I hope that, through genuine, honest and meaningful consultation with staff and students from SLC, we will all be able to work together to reach a viable and ethically acceptable outcome in our common quest to sustain and improve the Languages and Cultures experience at Sheffield.”
The Committee have said the changes proposed did not undergo any consultation from staff or students, and they have come as a shock leading to several students considering dropping out of the course next year and leaving the university.
A spokesperson from the University of Sheffield, said: “Sheffield is committed to delivering the high-quality language courses our students have come to expect; and so the university has been consulting with staff on proposed changes that will help protect the sustainability of our languages provision, and strengthen our offer for our students in the current challenging external environment.”
The University of Sheffield course is unique in offering students the opportunity to reach near fluency in up to three languages, with a very high standard of specialist language teaching, dedicated grammar and translations, and four hours a week per language.
There are also a wide range of cultural modules which make the Sheffield University course stand out. It is important the University maintains this quality to not fall behind other Russell Group universities.
First year student, Kitty Horne said: “We would become an outlier among other Russell Group Universities with the lowest attainment expectations and a decline in our specialist language provision. This will be detrimental to our future job prospects making us less competitive with alumni of other universities in the job market - especially in the field of translation. Paying the £9,000 tuition fee for language classes that are readily available to other students at Sheffield as a ‘free’ addition to their degree feels grossly unfair.”
The petition started by Darcey Taylor now has over 5000 signatures and is continuing to be a hugely debated topic among students and staff at the School of Languages in spite of the University denying changes will impact the students' experience.
‘We’re punching above our weight’ – Sheffield Eagles pragmatic over positive start
Image Credit: Sheffield Eagles via Instagram As the players trudged off the Keepmoat Stadium pitch following a 30-6 Challenge Cup defeat at the hands of York, the signs for the season ahead were ominous. However, the pessimism that may have gathered in the wake of the cup exit was quickly cast aside as Sheffield Eagles set about re-constructing the narrative as the new Betfred Championship season got underway. After playing just five games during the voided 2020 Championship season, Mark Aston's side returned to league action for the first time in over a year in magnificent fashion with a scintillating display against Bradford Bulls. Braces from scrum-half Anthony Thackeray, left-centre James Glover and loose forward Aaron Brown helped the Eagles to a 50-12 victory over their 2005 Super League-winning opponents. This was quickly followed by a successful trip to York, where revenge for the Challenge Cup defeat was exacted as Sheffield ran out 20-14 winners at the LNER Community Stadium. However, General Manager Liam Claffey admits that the two victories perhaps contributed to a degree of complacency. "We put in a very good performance against Bradford and York but then we probably fell in love with ourselves a bit and came undone against Newcastle" Defeat in the North East brought the winning start to an abrupt end as Aston's side squandered a six-point half-time lead, with Thunder scoring three times in the second period to put the game beyond the visitors. Nevertheless, the side's ability to bounce back was on show once again last Saturday as they welcomed London Broncos to the Keepmoat Stadium. A battling performance should have yielded a victory for the hosts, who were outstanding against their newly-relegated opponents, but a last-minute drop-goal from London's Jarrod Samuel broke Eagles' hearts. However, Claffey has taken a positive view on the draw with the side who had been mixing it with the Super League big boys just six months earlier. "At the start of the year, if you told me we'd have got a point against London, and even before kick-off to be honest, I'd have snapped your hand off." "The boys were disheartened but a point against London is great. Every point is crucial this season." Claffey heaped praise on both the players' commitment and the work of the club's backroom staff in going so close to beating a quality side. "To nearly win the game shows both the commitment from the players and the work that's gone in with the backroom staff." Crucially, Sheffield Eagles train far less than their London counterparts which meant that fitness was initially a concern going into the game, but it was clear that there was no such issues in this regard. The last-minute heart-ache, however, now must be put to one side as attention turns to Friday's visit of Batley Bulldogs who currently sit third and a point ahead of Eagles. "We need to dust ourselves down and go again against Batley." "They've got some very good forwards, some great half-back with the likes of Tom Gilmore, so it will be a tough game." Gilmore, a Salford loanee last season, has played a starring role for Batley so far this season and was impressive in their last outing against Newcastle. However, Claffey is hoping that his side can take the positives from last weekend's performance and carry it into Friday's clash. "We've just got to keep doing what we're doing and keep working hard in these tougher games." "We've got to keep the momentum going." There is, of course, the tantalising prospect of a temporary jump to the summit of the Championship if they can beat the Bulldogs, but realism is the order of the day for the Sheffield Eagles. "It's an unknown season so we're working week by week and if we can keep picking up points then we could be in a great position." However, early exits from both the Challenge and 1895 Cup have afforded the Eagles the unwanted luxury of a clearer schedule, so league success would be the perfect tonic to cup disappointment. Despite remaining generally realistic about his club's chances in the league, the Eagles General Manager did allow himself to consider the prospect of a successful season. 'If we can knock on the door of the top six we'd probably be overachieving but again how fantastic would that be?" "We're punching above our weight at the minute and we just need to keep doing that." It's been a good start for The Eagles, but the South Yorkshire outfit know that there will be no easy game this year and a tough season lies ahead.
72-year-old woman injured trying to stop Walkley attack
(Photo Credit: hugovk) A 72-year-old woman suffered minor injuries after trying to stop a group assault on a 45-year-old man. Police were called at 7:30pm on Wednesday 5 May to reports of an attack on Carr Road in Walkley. They said: "It is reported that a group of individuals were witnessed assaulting a 45-year-old man. A 72-year-old woman attempted to intervene and suffered minor injuries." "The woman later suffered a medical episode and was taken to hospital via ambulance to receive treatment. She has since been discharged." Four people were arrested in connection with the attack, two 18-year-old women, a 17-year old girl and a 22-year-old man on suspicion of grievous bodily harm without intent. If you have any information connected to this incident please call 101 using incident number 834 of 5th May or contact Crimestoppers via 0800 555 111.
How close are we to 50+1 fan ownership?
It's the question on the tip of the tongue for supporters and one that is important for the future on English football.
Protests on Sunday by Old Trafford, Manchester, underlined the issues in our game. Thousands gathered outside Manchester United's stadium against the controversial ownership regime of the Glazer Family, who've taken almost £1.1 billion out of the club since their takeover in 2005.
United were a debt-free club before the American owners purchased the worldwide brand. The current bill stands at £455.5 million.
The catalyst for the anger stemmed from the proposals of the European Super League (ESL), which opened up the opportunity to change the football pyramid forever. It removed the competitive aspect of the game so many have fallen in love with. There was only one way it was going to end.
Yet, it hit the nerve of so many people. So much so, in fact, that CEO of the Football Supporters' Association, Kevin Miles, is worried about the ideas reappearing in a more strategic format.
He said: "Unless something is done in terms of independent regulation and government legislation, it's absolutely inevitable this will resurface again.
"What we're seeing here is a natural consequence of football's trajectory. More and more global interest without any commitment to the traditions of the sport. It's all financially orientated."
Manchester wasn't the only location for anger to be expressed.
Scenes outside Stamford Bridge before Chelsea's game against Brighton sparked the beginning of the end of the ESL. Similarly, protests appeared outside the Emirates stadium, where Arsenal supporters vocally chanted 'Kroenke Out' in the hope of removing the Americanisation of their club.
A common phrase was plastered across cardboard banners at all of these events;
"50+1", it said.
What exactly is 50+1?
Propositions have been put forward to move to this model in England, in a government review led by Tracey Crouch, MP for Chatham and Aylesford.
However, the utilisation of this template is complex and one which wouldn't be easy to implement, according to Freelance German Football Expert, Kit Holden.
"There are two ways of doing 50+1. The first is more traditional. Clubs like Union Berlin and Schalke have this, where you have members, who are fans, and they vote for the board and it's pretty straightforward," he says.
"What most big clubs including Bayern Munich have done is that they've basically commercialised the men's first team and they're the professional arm of the club.
"So that then exists as a kind of commercial body inside the broader structure of the club, which encompasses the seams and the women's teams.
"That does, to a certain extent, weakens the power that membership has over certain decisions, such as sponsorship and things like that.
"Union Berlin fans, for example, had a big uproar about the decision they made to have a property developer on their shirt. Supporters didn’t really want that. It didn't stop that happening, but there was enough of a backlash that something had to be taken seriously by the leadership.
"At Bayern, you can have the backlash, but essentially of a decision like that, they have little influence over commercial aspects of the club."
Proposals being made
Legislation in England would make it difficult to implement something similar. Owners of clubs wouldn't want to sell more than half of their stake to others.
The majority of clubs in Germany held fan ownership before becoming privatised institutions. The problem remains as to how England can implement a system which gives supporters some sort of control over key decisions at boardroom level.
In discussions that were held with Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, Kevin explains how a 'golden share' structure would offer fans the chance to have their voices heard.
"If you can create a company structure, which includes a golden share held by the supporters, there is a list of things you can vote on," he says.
"It doesn’t mean the fans pick the team or decide who is going to be brought or who the sponsors are going to be. The commercial element is still left in the hands of the club. But you could have a list of things that cannot be done without the approval of that golden shareholder.
"You want some things supporters have control and can veto over. So it could be that the owner has to bring his business plan and the approval of the support is on the basis of something. The golden shareholders could then veto it and say, no, no, actually we don't like the fact that you're stripping so much money out of the club.
"Now, in order to get that done, that would require legislation and it would require some sort of independent regulation to make sure that clubs conform with that. This will be led by the review. I think this is probably a once in a lifetime opportunity."
Clearly, the way to move forward is to support the government-led review. Just two weeks ago, fans were united in wanting to rid of the horrific plan by the so-called 'big six' clubs. If people want change at boardroom level, sticking together, both on and off the field, is the best means for transformation. Whether we see fans unite in the same way as we saw though, remains to be seen.
Sheffield United freeze season ticket prices for 2021-22
Credit: Richard Barrett-Small (Flickr)
The Blades have announced that season ticket prices have been frozen for the 2021-22 season.
With Sheffield United preparing for a return to the Championship next season after suffering relegation, the club has stated that ticket prices will remain as they were for the 2019-20 campaign.
The club said: “We are delighted to welcome you, the fans, back to beautiful downtown Bramall Lane.
“As the lifeblood of the club your absence has been felt by us all and we cannot wait to hear the roar of Bramall Lane yet again.”
Fans have until 5pm on Friday 28 May to secure their usual seats for 21-22.
They can renew their tickets online, or over the phone by calling the ticket office at 0114 2537200. However, there is currently no option to do so in person at Bramall Lane.
Fans who have still have credit with the club from the 19-20 season will be able to deduct this from the cost of their season ticket.
United have also launched ClubCash- a loyalty scheme which rewards supporters for their purchases from the club. Fans purchasing or renewing a season ticket with ClubCash will receive a 3% discount.
University rent strike protesters may be forced to abandon Arts Tower occupation
University of Sheffield students who have been occupying the Arts Tower as part of the rent strike may be forced to leave after an Interim Possession Order (IPO) hearing this Friday. The occupiers have remained inside the building since 23 April and said they received notice of the order made by the University, which can be made against trespassers, on 30 April. It would be a criminal offence if the students failed to leave the Arts Tower within 24 hours of the IPO being served, for which they could be arrested and charged by police. In a statement published on Twitter, the group said: "This heavy handed legal attempt by a University to evict their own students from their own University building is unprecedented amongst the wave of Rent Strike occupations of 2020/21. "This represents an institutional stifling of freedom of speech on behalf of the University, emblematic of wider restrictions on the rights to protest." They also said that Students' Union (SU) Officers had privately indicated their support for the occupation, despite SU President Beth Eyre releasing a statement on 23 April which condemned it. "They [SU Officers] have been intimidated into silence by the Vice-Chancellor, who has previously refused to engage with Officers if they act against his wishes," the group said. In the statement, the students said they were disappointed at Eyre's response, calling her statement "unwittingly incendiary." Of the occupation, Eyre said in the statement that it is unnecessary to detriment the studies of their fellow students and that she is in discussion with the rent strike and the University about how to bring the occupation to an end. Ms Eyre told Sheffield Wire: "I represent almost 30,000 students and have to balance the needs and interests of them all - that includes recognising the right to peacefully protest for grassroots student organisations, as well as the students who will have experienced disruption as a result of their occupation. As well, I completely understand the frustrations of students at the situation they're facing, having been a student during the pandemic myself. "As a result, in my role this year I've already secured about £4million in rent for students in halls, release contracts for those who do not want to return to halls in May and an extra £3million in a Covid support fund for all students to apply for from the university. I have been helpful and cooperative with the rent strikers since we met last year and have facilitated discussions at all opportunities. She added: "I want to reiterate my support for students' right to peaceful protest. At this point in time, I strongly believe that all of the higher education sector should be uniting in the fight against the government, who have disgracefully forgotten students at every turn during the pandemic." The rent strikers said they will continue to commit to the rent strike and their demands which are securing a 30% rent rebate and no-penalty release clauses for all students in University-owned accommodation, as well as adequate support for students who are self-isolating. The University of Sheffield students coordinated their occupation with Sheffield Hallam rent strikers, who are occupying the Cantor building on Arundel Street. Students at the Universities of Manchester and Nottingham are also occupying campus buildings. Larissa Kennedy, President of the National Union of Students (NUS), said: “We extend full solidarity to all students who are facing extreme challenges after being forced to occupy campus buildings, and having been exploited for fees and rent throughout this pandemic. Students deserve better than such hostility from their own institutions and threats of academic sanctions for simply taking action to counter the government’s abysmal treatment of students over the past year.
“Whilst we wholeheartedly support their resistance, students shouldn’t need to fight to be able to afford to be in education on a campus by campus basis. We need the Government to step up and provide a financial support package that includes direct payments to students, a reinstatement of maintenance grants, action on student housing and movement towards fully-funded education.”
Students have been occupying the Arts Tower since 23 April
“As part of this continued support, the University has not charged rent to students who are unable to make use of their University owned or managed accommodation due to the government’s restrictions and has established a £3 million COVID Support Fund for those facing financial difficulties.
"While the University cannot control the decisions of private landlords, we are continuing to work closely with the Students’ Union to ensure we are providing students with the most effective and appropriate support."