Why is Sheffield the Home of Football?

Hosted by Steve Wood & John Stocks

Hallamshire Tennis & Squash Club

⚽ Discover the city that changed the world’s favourite game.

Join us for an inspiring, good‑humoured, and insight‑packed evening as Steve Wood and John Stocks—two of the leading voices behind the Sheffield Home of Football movement—take you on a journey through the city’s extraordinary football heritage.

From the world’s oldest football club to the first written rules, the first cup competition, the first floodlit match, and the sporting pioneers who shaped how billions play the game today, Sheffield’s influence is deeper and more global than most people realise. This talk brings those stories to life.

🎤 What to expect

• A lively, illustrated talk filled with rare images, surprising facts, and human stories

• The inside track on Sheffield’s campaign to be recognised as the true Home of Football

• A chance to meet others passionate about Sheffield’s sporting heritage

🏆 Why this matters

Football didn’t just happen in Sheffield—it was crafted here. Codified here. Organised here. Celebrated here. This event shows how a local story became a global legacy, and why Sheffield’s role deserves recognition on the world stage.

📍 Venue

Hallamshire Tennis & Squash Club

A relaxed, welcoming setting perfect for an evening of history, conversation, and shared passion.

Whether you’re a lifelong supporter, a history lover, or simply curious about the roots of the modern game, this is a night that will leave you proud of Sheffield’s place in world sport.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Sheffield Home of Football