Sheffield FC reign supreme at commemorative community game
IMAGE: Graham Hogg
In a bid to enliven community spirit, fans were welcomed to Sheffield's "home of football" for free last weekend.
Sheffield FC partnered with ticketing organisation TicketsForGood in an effort to bring in as much of the community as possible.
CEO of TicketsForGood, Steve Rimmer, said of the partnership: "We want more people to feel like football, and live events more broadly, are something they can be part of."
The community match saw Sheffield FC, which is widely considered the world's oldest football club, beating Bradford-based side Thackley 2-1 in the Northern Counties East League.
This comes after Sheffield FC welcomed Jon McClure, Reverend and the Makers singer, as club Chairman in early March.
"This is not Wrexham. I'm not Ryan Reynolds. Let's get it clear, I'm in an indie band. I know my place in this world," Mr McClure told the BBC last week.
Ahead of the game, a spokesperson for Tickets for Good said: "Jon has long been one of Sheffield’s most passionate champions, so it feels fitting that he’s now involved with the club that sits right at the beginning of football’s story."
"Top man. They’re in good hands," one fan on X, formerly Twitter, reacted to the news.
Since the announcement of Mr McClure as Chairman, Sheffield FC have had consecutive wins, including a 3-0 result away to Eccleshall United.
And it seems that the Reverend and the Makers frontman was also able to Shine a Light on the club on Saturday: fans were kept on their toes but the winning goal was finally scored by Luke Mangham in the 90th minute.
Sheffield FC are set to face Horbury Town on St Patrick's Day in what could be another consecutive win since Mr McClure's arrival.
Lost 18th century headstone discovered at Sheffield church, locals working to find out more
Volunteers at a Penistone church have uncovered the hidden gravestone of a local young woman who died over 300 years ago.
The headstone was found at St John the Baptist Church in Penistone, buried underneath another stone and completely obscured from view.
It belongs to 19-year-old Hannah Howe, who died in 1770.
Richard Galliford, 74, who is the chairman of Friends of Penistone Church, said he was happy to have played a part in returning Hannah's gravestone to its rightful position.
"Every gravestone has got a story, it's got a life to tell," he said.
Mr Galliford started volunteering with the group and maintaining the churchyard to stave off the boredom of retirement.
Members of the volunteer group were cutting the grass around the stones when they noticed another large stone underneath one of the graves.
Mr Galliford realised this was not just a supporting stone, as the team had initially thought, due to a decorative border around the edge.
After identifying an engraving, he realised this must be someone's headstone, and asked a friend at the local fire station if they could visit the church and lift it as a training exercise.
Firefighters lifting the stone. Image credits: Friends of Penistone Church.
Mr Galliford explained that Hannah's stone is likely to have been covered up for at least 150 years, as many gravestones were moved when the vestry was built in the early 1800s.
Engravings on the headstone revealed that Hannah had lived at Hordron Farm, a short walk from the church itself.
The volunteers walked over to what they believe is Hannah's old home, now a remote and derelict farmstead.
Mr Galliford believes the Howe family were sheep farmers, raising livestock for the Penistone "beast market", which opened in the early 1700s.
He said: "I was trying to visualise the life of a 19-year-old in this very remote and bleak area.
"I was trying to imagine what a lonely life Hannah must have had. There are other farms in the area, but they're so far apart, she couldn't have had many friends."
Hordron Farm today. Image credits: Friends of Penistone Church.
Hannah's isn't the only headstone that has been discovered at St John's recently.
The volunteer group has also uncovered the grave of Joanna Swift, daughter of the local historical figure Reverend Henry Swift.
Rev. Swift was a popular non-conformist vicar, who preached in the area in the 1600s and was repeatedly imprisoned for his refusal to convert to the Book of Common Prayer.
His legacy lives on, with locals at the time building Bullhouse Chapel, the oldest continuous non-conformist chapel in the country, near Millhouse Green in Penistone.
What happened to Rev. Swift's headstone remains a local mystery; however, Mr Galliford believes it may have been damaged and disposed of by workers laying drains around the vestry in the 1980s.
"There are some amazing people buried in the churchyard, which you don't really think about," he said.
The current Reverend, David Hopkins, also spoke about the wealth of historical figures buried at St John's, including ancestors of William Wordsworth and the founders of Sheffield Wednesday.
He said: "You don't know who you're going to discover next."
You can find out more about the church's historical significance and local history in the area on the Penistone Pictorial's website.
Sheffield’s Greenhill community come together for Great British Spring Cleaning Week
A Sheffield-based environmental group has hosted their annual spring clean-up in Greenhill this week, with members of the community coming together to litter pick for Great British Spring Cleaning Week.
Poppy Smith, 33, has been a member of Greener Greenhill for three years now. The organisation is dedicated to doing their bit, keeping Greenhill clean and sustainable.
With her trusty sidekick daughter, Eleanor, Mrs Smith stood outside the Greenhill library handing out equipment and assignments to fellow community members.
She said: “To take pride in your area, across Sheffield we all have to do our bit.
“It’s all about being visible, it helps build the community spirit.”
She found out about Greener Greenhill when she first moved to the area, seeing a stand similar to her own and sparking up a conversation with a member of the organisation.
The litter picks happen twice a year, with the first taking place in March when the flower beds show signs of life.
The group works closely with other stakeholders in Greenhill, most notably the local library which is run entirely by volunteers
Greener Greenhill holds other events in the area, such as running repair cafes at St Peter's church.
These events bring local craftspeople come together to help reduce waste by repairing tools, electronics and clothes free of charge to avoid them going to landfill.
Neil Hicklin, 63, has been involved with the group since it started working in the community three years ago.
He said: "We have helped create a sense of identity through our Greenhill branding, and have helped create a better sense of community."
Greener Greenhill also helped commission metal statues made by Huddersfield-based artist, Jason Heppenstall, that now stand outside of the library.
Mr Heppenstall said: “It was lovely to make the pieces for the library.
“I wanted to add an element of fun to make everyone smile, everything I make is 100% recycled, fitting with the green Greenhill ethos.”
Spring themed lantern show lights up the night at nature reserve
Handcrafted lanterns were made by local volunteers to educate visitors about the importance of conservation and wildlife.
As the sun set at RSPB Old Moor on Friday and Saturday, families were welcomed to explore the darkness to spot lanterns of animals who reside on the site at springtime.
Organiser, Julian Mayston, said: "When you look around everything you see is actually built by volunteers, that's huge.
"It's just a fantastic way to open up the doors to the nature reserve to a new audience, getting see the nature reserve in a different way."
From dragonfly, kingfisher and even a dinosaur, each animal takes months of hard work for it to be ready and waterproof for the event.
The main structure is made of willow, as it is both light and flexible, then it is covered with layers of wet strength tissue and PVA to make sure it can withstand any rain.
"After waterproofing you have to do all the mechanisms inside, some of that will be working to help attach wings, but for this one it's working out how the wheels move," said the volunteer who operated the hedgehog. "So this has oval wheels that make the hedgehog wobble from side to side when it walks.
"Usually it takes a few months to go from the design stage to complete and it is from volunteers that do the work, which is amazing, so we get to come along on Wednesday or Sunday do to some arts and crafts."
Along with the trail, visitors took part in workshops and crafts to learn about the animals on display, and the importance of looking after the environment.
Children were encouraged to make paper lanterns which they could bring round the trail and take home with them at the end of the night as a souvenir.
"Our granddaughter loved all the activities and as well as lanterns," said one of the visitors. "I'd recommend it to anyone."
The younger visitors were also invited to write a wish on a paper leaf or butterfly to hang on a tree.
Below are those wishes, ranging from 'world peace', 'for all to be happy', and 'a cheese burger':
The money raised from the event will go directly towards the upkeep of the reserve, supporting vital conservation work at RSPB Old Moor.
Success of Sheffield’s second ice hockey team highlights passion for the sport in the city
There was a vibrant atmosphere at the Sheffield Steeldogs on Friday night as they celebrated their champions who had won the National Ice Hockey Cup two days previously.
The Steeldogs act as the reserve side of the Sheffield Steelers, and play in the division below (the National Ice Hockey League) at Ice Sheffield, 50 yards from the Utilita Arena.
That both of Sheffield's ice hockey teams pull in good crowds and achieve success demonstrates the popularity of the sport in the city.
One fan said: “The atmosphere [at the Steeldogs] is fantastic. I’ve been coming for about ten or eleven years, and after the first game I came to I was hooked.”
The matchday experience at the Steeldogs also offers a more family-friendly alternative to the noise and cost of Steelers games which can be off-putting to some.
Many fans told Sheffield Wire they enjoyed attending Steeldogs games more because of the price, the sensory benefits for those who have children with special needs, and the ability to access players.
Fans thoughts on why they attend Steeldogs games:
One fan said they don’t go to Steelers games because they can’t afford the cost, and find the Steeldogs matchday experience much better value for money.
He said: “I find the Steeldogs games a bit more passionate and gritty, it’s a lot more fun to watch. The fact that you’re closer to the ice and it’s more accessible makes it better for the little ‘uns as well.”
Another fan explained the issues their daughter with sensory issues faces at Steelers games, saying: “The arena is so much bigger, it’s so much louder, whereas it’s much more family-orientated at the Steeldogs so it’s easier to bring her.”
Access to players is another big advantage for fans attending Steeldogs games, with players always taking the time to speak to fans after the game.
A fan who attends every week, with her son who drums for the Steeldogs said: “It’s the highlight of her week.”
Her friend said: “Everyone’s so friendly, the fans are amazing, and the players, if they see the kids out and they want to say hello, they are so accommodating.”
While the Steelers remain Sheffield’s leading ice hockey outfit, fans of the Steeldogs clearly feel they are an exciting and accessible alternative, with their own capacity to entertain and provide success.
Oliver Coppard sets out the transport vision and brand for South Yorkshire
A new publicly-owned transport system, called the South Yorkshire People's Network (SYPN), is set to be announced.
Mayor Oliver Coppard described this as a "once in a generation" opportunity that will mark the end of the "failed privatisation of buses, with a vision that brings a myriad of plans, proposals and directives under one brand."
Key plans include a new design for South Yorkshire transportation, inspired by a molten orange and charcoal grey colour scheme alongside a new logo, a tracing of the route from Sheffield through to Rotherham.
He set out his 15-year-plan for South Yorkshire transport, starting in September 2027 with the creation of the Magna train station and extension of tram tracks to Rotherham.
From 2027, there will be a £350m investment in buses with the new colour scheme, which will also represent a unified system with simpler and more affordable fares.
Around 900 e-bikes will be introduced across Sheffield, with a subscription scheme to provide access.
There will be passenger flights to Doncaster/Sheffield airport by 2028, enhanced by better bus and tram transit links to connect all of South Yorkshire.
From 2030 to 2034, Mayor Coppard hopes to make the most of the governments £500m investment into trams to bring a new fleet capable of holding dogs and bikes.
Train links will also be improved by 2035, with plans established to make all stations step-free, trains running from Leeds to Sheffield every hour, and improved connections between rural and urban routes.
By 2040, the network aims to transform transport to Manchester, cutting travel times and make South Yorkshire transport a defining feature of the region and the "envy of the world."
“This season’s a grind”: Steelers react to a weekend of losses
IMAGE: Cerys Heslop
The Steelers' Head Coach said the team "lost the will" to beat the Giants on Sunday night after two losses in the double header this weekend.
The double loss means that the title is out of reach for the Steelers, whose focus now becomes the play-offs.
With a 16-point swing between the Giants and the Steelers, Aaron Fox admitted this weekend's games were going to be a challenge.
"This season's a grind," he said after the game on Sunday, before giving credit to the Giants for their performance on the rink.
"There should have been a fight to put us into the position to claw back into that hockey game. You need more from certain guys. It can't be the same guys every night."
Steelers fans on X, formerly Twitter, reacted bitterly to Fox's management.
"Where's your passion, accountability and heart, Mr Fox? Can you get the guys up for a 1 goal game? I didn't see much action from you!" said one user.
Another fan said: "Title firmly going back to Belfast without them really having to lift a finger to earn it."
The atmosphere was celebratory for the Giants on Sunday night, whose fans look forward to what could be their 11th trophy in eight seasons.
Head Coach Adam Keefe told the Belfast Telegraph: "Everybody was pulling the rope, saying the right things and doing the right things.
"I thought it was a business weekend for them."
A Giants fan on X called the four-point weekend "massive" for the team, adding: "Sheffield get battered everywhere they go."
The Steelers now look towards next week's game against the Nottingham Panthers, who are two points above them in the standings.
Recycling relief: Blue bins to get bigger in Sheffield with key household waste point closed
A petition has started after rising community frustration over a lack of excess recycling facilities.
This is following the closure of a recycling point outside of Waitrose on Ecclesall Road, Sheffield.
Sheffield City Council has recently announced plans to increase the size of recycling bins from 1 April.
Bins will now have a capacity of 240 litres, up from the current 140 litre limit.
This provides relief for residents, as one blue bin collection per four weeks makes recycling difficult.
Tessa Lupton, Green Party candidate for Ecclesall Ward, said: “In talking with my neighbours, I heard from people who want to recycle but have to drive several miles, taking bags of plastic trays and cartons to the Council’s household recycling sites.”
A Waitrose spokesperson said: "We remain fully committed to working constructively with the council and engaging in any future discussions."
They also said there has been no formal request from the council to reinstate the bins on Ecclesall Road.
Waitrose are not obliged to reinstate these facilities, but there are concerns around this setting a precedent for other supermarkets in the area, following trends of declining attitudes towards environmental support.
Mrs Lupton has started a petition, which has reached over 400 signatures.
The petition echoes the Sheffield Green Party’s stance, which calls for the supermarket to act swiftly to ensure recycling remains within reach for everyone near Ecclesall Road.
This reiterates Mrs Lupton's desire to “focus on the petition for the local residents’ sake.”
She believes reinstating these facilities would allow Waitrose to meaningfully contribute to Sheffield’s environmental goals while reaffirming its role as a responsible, community-minded retailer.
Sheffield City Council’s positive action on blue bins should relay any fears over the lack of accessible recycling, however debates remain over the long-term success of recycling in the UKs greenest city.
The public has welcomed these changes on social media, saying their blue bins are "Always full and overflowing. Bigger blue bins would be great."
Brown bins will also be able to include aerosols and plastic pots from 1 April.
Friends set to tackle three day hike to raise money for new state-of-the-art healthcare centre
Three football fans are set to walk 75 miles in three days to raise money for new centre aiming to tackle biggest health challenges faced by children and young people.
James Michalowski, Carl Hessell and Ashley Beighton will be walking approximately 140,00 steps across three days, in long 12-hour stretches from Hillsborough Stadium to the MKM Stadium in Hull in order to raise money for Sheffield Children's Hospital Charity.
Sarah Boddington, corporate fundraising officer at Sheffield Children’s Hospital Charity, said: "Their walk captures exactly what this appeal is about: ordinary people doing extraordinary things to help change children’s lives.”
The 140,000 step route was purposefully designed with the 142,000 bricks that will be put into the new National Centre for Child Health Technology (NCCHT) which they are raising funds for.
The centre will be equipped with state-of-the-art technologies to cover areas such as; movement and rehabilitation, clinical care, design and manufacturing, and a testbed.
The testbed is a UK first in paediatric healthcare, filling a crucial gap by enabling researchers and industry partners to collaborate and evaluate child health technologies in a range of real-world spaces.
Each member will carry a brick along the route to symbolise the building which will be returned to the centre and used for its construction by the end of the challenge.
Mr Michalowski, said: “It’s so much more than a hospital, the work that is put in by the hospital for future research. They are basically revolutionising the world in terms of research and development into child's health, and that's particularly what's going to be going into this new building.”
While the friends, who were brought together by a common love for Sheffield Wednesday, prepare for the physical element of the challenge, they are most excited for the chance to connect and spend time together.
Mr Hessell, said: “I think probably just going out together for a few days and getting away from it all. And, yeah, it's just nice to switch off for a few days. And have some good catch-ups."
The walk will take place from 18 March to 20 March, the group will be joined on the last day by friend Gary Zielosko, before the attending the Sheffield Wednesday v Hull City match on the 21 March.
The group aims to raise £3,000 for the charity that seemed an obvious pick to support for the friends who grew up in Sheffield.
Mr Michalowski, said: "I am actually at a loss for words in terms if what they are going to be doing there. It is really going to revolutionise children's health for the whole world."
The link to the fundraiser can be found here.
“We’re clearly doing something right”: Sheffield pantomime nominated for three national awards
Aladdin, Sheffield Theatres’ 2025 festive comedy, has been nominated for Best Pantomime, Best Principal Lead and Best Contribution to Music at the UK Pantomime Awards 2026.
The UK Pantomime Association (UKPA) announced the nominations for their fifth annual awards show on Thursday and Aladdin, which was co-produced by Sheffield Theatres and Evolution Productions, has been nominated three times.
James Harrison, the show’s musical director, is nominated for the his Contribution to Music. He said: “I pour every ounce of energy into the show and into the music creation process - to have that recognised by UKPA is an amazing feeling and it makes it all feel so worth it.
“It’s important to highlight how integral the rest of the band and the sound design is - their work is what brings my work to life. If I look at them the right way, they know exactly what I'm going to do.”
At last year’s ceremony, Sheffield won the award for Best Pantomime and is nominated in the same category again this year. James said: “To be recognised again, amongst all these other amazing shows, shows that we’re clearly doing something right.
“It's nice to feel that we’re doing something that really matters to people.”
James’ music will feature at the UKPA awards show, as it has for several years. “One of my proudest moments was a couple of years ago when Sir Ian McKellen walked up to the stage to collect an award and I had goosebumps watching him walk up to my music”, James said.
“I've always been a massive fan of his.”
Anita Harris, star of stage and screen, was announced as the new President of the UK Pantomime Association in December 2025. She said: “In the 2025-26 pantomime season, our 64 judges travelled the length and breadth of the country, visiting 234 venues and seeing over 603 performances.
“It is a glorious privilege to witness the passion, hard work and extraordinary talent behind pantomime and the joy it brings to audiences.”
The winners will be announced on Sunday 19 April at the Wycombe Swan Theatre in High Wycombe.
Flower shops bloomed with an increase in orders for Mother’s Day
Across the city, florists prepared for a hectic weekend as customers rushed to buy flowers ahead of Mother’s Day.
Local flower shops across Sheffield said Mother’s Day is one of their busiest days of the year alongside Valentine’s Day.
In 2025, Barclays found that there was a 553.2% increase in transactions at florists on the Friday before Mother’s Day in comparison to the average day in 2025.
Florists prepared by ordering extra stock and extending their business hours, with most florists keeping their shops open on Sunday.
Shop windows filled with colourful bouquets attracted last-minute customers looking for a quick and meaningful gift.
One shopper, Komal Chauhan, 21, said: “I bought my mum flowers because they’re her favourite and I knew that she would appreciate them.”
The most popular flowers customers got included spring flowers and tulips.
Kathy, 29, a florist assistant and delivery driver for Plantology in Sheffield, spoke on why it was important to support local florist businesses.
Plantology is an independent florist with a trained team of florist designers.
Kathy said: "There's a lot of care that goes into people's products that potentially you would not find in supermarkets."
Flowers remain the most popular gift for Mother's Day. Serenata Flowers' study, of 2005 British adults, found that 48% of gifts bought for Mother's Day were flowers.
Roots and Bloom, a community interest company (CIC) that invests their profits back into the community, founded their flower shop in 2019 from their local flower farm to continue their support for people with dementia.
Gina O’Connor, the founder and director of Roots and Bloom, emphasised the connection she has with customers and how supporting local businesses “supports their livelihood."
The celebration continues to be one of the busiest times of the year for florists.
“Talk is cheap, we want action”: Wednesday die-hards send clear message to potential US owners
Sheffield Wednesday fans sent hopeful messages for the future as potential new American owners became the latest preferred bidders for the club's takeover.
American billionaire investor David Storch and his group Arise Capital Partners LLC have reportedly moved ahead of former Newcastle United owner Mike Ashley in the bidding process for Sheffield Wednesday.
Storch, his son, Michael, and business partner Tom Costin were in Sheffield earlier last week and had meetings with the Wednesday staff, officials and members of the Wednesday Supporters’ Trust.
The 73-year-old hopes that his group can bring the team back on track after some stormy years, especially this season when The Owls went into administration in October and received an 18-point deduction.
More recently, the English Football League (EFL) has suggested a 15-point deduction could be in play going into the 2026/27 League One season.
Fred, a Sheffield Wednesday fan at the Saturday game against Ipswich Town, said: "I think the 15-point deduction is unfair, both on the fans and the players. They're not at fault.
"The EFL needs to look at themselves very closely to find a different system for punishing clubs. It's not the club's fault, it's not the supporters fault, it's not the player's fault. So why should they be made to suffer?
"If the takeover goes through, hopefully, it will be nice to start on a level playing field, because Sheffield Wednesday haven't been on a level playing field for many years now."
Storch's takeover will likely not help Sheffield Wednesday avoid the point penalty, as he and other bidders are not willing to pay Dejphon Chansiri the money he is owed.
Although many fans are not happy to start the next season in the minus, they are confident the team can overcome this deficit and head into a more stable future with a new ownership.
James, a fan at Hillsborough stadium, spoke out on the deduction: "It's difficult with minus 15 points. I think we'll probably struggle next year, but I think they'll get themselves together and then maybe a year after look to get promotion."
He also hopes David Storch will not replicate Chansiri's mistake if he becomes the new owner of the club. He said: "Listen to the fans. I know they seem to be doing well with what they've done with some sports franchises, but hopefully they've got people that they can put in who know about football and not do what Chansiri did and try and just do it himself."
Stephen, another Sheffield die-hard, sent a big message to the American businessman: He said: "Get your hands in your pockets, because you've got to have big pockets for this club, I tell you. But if he does, he's got a good fan base. Fans will be behind him, and it'll be bouncing in that stadium. But he needs money."
Storch's camp returned to the USA from Sheffield on Saturday. He posted a message on X, with the handle @storchyowl, to Owls' fans upon his arrival:
"I want to thank the wonderful city of Sheffield, the local community members we met, the Supporters’ Trust and the Sheffield Wednesday fans for making us feel so incredibly welcome.
"We are listening to and collaborating with talented Wednesdayites across the city to ensure we deliver a best in class fan experience.
"Whilst we continue to work diligently to become stewards of this unique and historic club, please know that we will be doing everything we can in the interest of a “Better Wednesday” and a brighter future for everyone associated with Sheffield Wednesday."
Whoever becomes the owner of Sheffield Wednesday, the fans all hope to see practical actions instead of words, as one senior fan said: "Talk is cheap, actions, we want."