The oldest derby in world football is set to be reignited with a fiery cup clash between Hallam FC and Sheffield FC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The two teams last played each other competitively in 2012.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The match will take place at Hallam FC\u2019s home ground, Sandygate on 31st January 2025.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The inaugural derby match was played on Boxing Day of 1860 under \u2018Sheffield Rules\u2019, which differ slightly from the FA rules that football fans have come to know and love.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sheffield Rules resembled the beginnings of modern footballing rules, including offsides, but did not contain key rules such as penalty kicks or having one designated goalkeeper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sheffield FC, formed in 1857, currently compete in the Northern Premier League Division One East, the seventh tier of English football, and currently sit bottom of the league table. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hallam FC play in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division, a tier below Sheffield FC, and are currently pushing towards the top of the league.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dylan Ralph, employee of Sheffield FC, expects a busy crowd to attend the match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said: \u201c I reckon we could probably get 1300 people maybe. So it will be amazing, it\u2019ll be very busy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
“It will be a very good atmosphere, despite there being a lot more neutral fans.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The match is a great opportunity for neutral fans to attend a historic fixture that will no doubt be competitive and lively.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As the \u2018rules derby\u2019 will take place as part of the Sheffield Senior Cup, the profits made from the game will be shared between the two clubs, injecting a significant amount of money into the infrastructures of both sides.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The groundsman of Hallam FC, Andy Taylor, commented on the scale of the match.<\/p>\n\n\n\n