I made my way up the A57 in Sheffield to Sandygate Lane to watch Hallam FC play. I make sure I do this every year and I am usually lucky to find they have been drawn at home in at least one round of the F.A. Vase. In the last few years I have seen them go out to AFC Bury and Lincoln United.
This ground, as the oldest in the world, just exudes life. The birth of football to the boisterous knowledgeable large crowds of today. You can’t miss that this is a Cricket ground with a football pitch at one end which is how many original teams started well over 150 years ago.
I recently saw the following text about how history is important to football with context to when Aston Villa recently played Bayern Munich.
‘Football clubs are all about history – a club’s history is one of the main reasons why their fans care so much about it. Villa’s history weighs heavier than most. Specifically, for modern Villa players, there is 1982, an achievement that fills their supporters with pride, but sets a mighty yardstick by which their successors are matched.’
Matthew Howarth, BBC Sport journalist. Brilliant comment Mathew and so true with regards to Hallam.
There is much to write about Hallam FC’s history but here are a few highlights, they are officially the second oldest football club in the world, playing at the oldest ground and holders of the Youdan Cup presented to the winners of the first ever football competition. Hallam also played in the first ever match on Boxing Day 1860, against Sheffield FC a British football tradition still kept today. They played in local leagues with some interruptions when although not playing, kept up their affiliations to the local Football Association. In 1982 they were founder members of the Northern Counties East League where they still play today, now in the Premier Division.
Football has been played in New Mills since 1865 when the local team was an early adopter of the new FA rules. The club officially started in 1903 as New Mills St George after a near by church. Following several moves they ended up at Church Lane in 1922 where they still play today. Financial constraints meant they dropped out of their league in 1982 but two other local teams merged, Birch Vale and Thornsett FC, and continued the New Mills name. Having previously played in local and county football leagues they were in 1982 able to join and be founder members of the North West Counties League, their current home.
There are buildings down one side of the ground including a seated covered stand, changing facilities, club house, terraced standing, and food and drink bars. At one end is a covered standing area which stretches half of the distance and behind the other goal some flat standing and some cricket nets. The final side is completely open to the vast cricket pitch. The whole ground is surrounded by a leafy vista in this affluents side of Sheffield. The sloping pitch was not as muddy as usual and the grass was looking good after our mild, grey, autumn. It was another grey, grey day like so many recently with the temperature only reaching a cool 7.5 degrees.
Despite both teams being in existence for well over 100 years with only the peak district separating them, this was the first time they had ever met at Sandygate Lane. A two minutes silence was observed for ‘Remembrance Day.
Hallam FC 1 New Mills FC 0
Saturday 9th November 2024, FA Vase Second Round, 15.00 pm kick off. Countrymen v Millers
Hallam 6th Northern Counties East League, Premier Division v New Mills 7th North West Counties League, South, Division One.
Hallam: all royal blue kit. New Mills; All grey with small black edging.
Hallam kicked down hill in the first half and although neither side dominated it was Hallam who had the better chances. On 26 minutes New Mills put a shot just wide of the post after a rebound from a defenders clearance and New Mills ended the first half with 3 close shots. Reflecting on the half my only relevant thought was uneventful.
The second half saw Hallam exert a little more pressure and on 55 minutes, Leon Howarth, who had been tricky, switching to either wing, was brough down in the penalty area. Howarth collected the ball and sent it to the right of the keeper who dived to his left.
Hallam were now in charge and didn’t look like conceding until the last 5 minutes, they saw out the game though and went through to the next round.
A disappointing game that never really got going but as usual a big crowd of 701 enjoyed their afternoon at this famous stadium. Everything is well organised here, from the informative program to the handing out of coloured, sponsored, team sheets.
A pleasure that for the second week running I have been served good chips. These were tasty, crispy on the outside, good central texture, hot and not greasy, getting a score of 72.
payonthegate 