Hallam

Hallam FC is a non-league football club from the South Yorkshire stronghold of Sheffield. The club is believed to be the second or third oldest football club in the world, with Cray Wanderers of Kent also laying claim to being second.

What is not in dispute is that the clubs home ground at Sandygate is the oldest in existence, as verified by the Guinness Book of Records. Hallam were formed in 1860 after interest grew at Hallam Cricket Club over having their own football section to compete with Sheffield FC, who had been formed three years previously.

The oldest local derby in the world was played between the two sides at Sandygate on Boxing Day 1860. In 1867 the club won what is thought to be the first ever football competition, when they lifted the Youdan Cup. In 1878 the England international Billy Mosforth became a regular with both Hallam's football and cricket clubs.

Hallam competed in the senior local leagues and entered the FA Amateur Cup for many years. 'The Countrymen' joined the Yorkshire League for the 1952-53 season with the club having to move an Amateur Cup tie that season against Dulwich Hamlet to Hillsborough, with the game attracting a crowd of over 13,000.

Throughout the 50's and 60's Hallam won the Sheffield Cup on several occasions, becoming members of Division Two of the Yorkshire League in 1952-53. Promotion to division One was achieved in 1956-57, before the side dropped back down a level in 1959-60.

The Division Two title was won at the first attempt, with the team remaining in the top tier of the competition until becoming founder members of the Northern Counties East League in 1982.

With only seven years of the grounds lease remaining and the new league requiring certain facilities, a new ninety-nine-year lease was signed to remain at Sandygate. The club’s profile and history were highlighted during this period thanks to John Steele's hard work and research.

By 1985-86 the side had been placed in Division Two after the league was restructured, from where they were promoted. The following season the ‘Countrymen’ won promotion to the Premier Division. However, at the end of the 1989-90 campaign they were relegated because Sandygate did not possess floodlights.

A runners-up spot in Division One came the following season and was repeated in 1993-94, this time to be rewarded with promotion to the Premier Division after funds came in from interested enthusiasts to install floodlights, two new stands and changing rooms while the old facility was converted into a clubhouse.

The Youdan Cup had somehow been lost by the club, but it was bought back in 1997 when it turned up in a Scottish antique dealer’s shop. Guy Glover was appointed as Hallam manager in May 2003, lasting in the position until May 2007 when he was replaced by former player Darren Bland. 

Ronnie Akers was the next man to take up the post in November 2008, lasting until Wilf Race was appointed the following April. Kenny Geelan soon took over from Race prior to the arrival of former Sheffield Wednesday defender Julian Watts was given the role as the club celebrated their one hundred and fiftieth anniversary. 

Former Premier League referee Uriah Rennie became club president, but unfortunately, the team were relegated at the end of the celebratory season. Watts resigned in May 2013, with Chris Sellars taking his place in the dugout. Steve Toyne and Mark Ramsden were appointed as joint bosses at Sandygate at the start of the 2014-15 campaign.

However, Ryan Hindley took over within a few months, taking the side to the playoffs in 2016-17, losing to Grimsby Borough in the semifinals, then finishing third in 2018-19 when no playoffs were staged before two seasons were lost to Covid-19 by which time Steve Whitehead had been put in command of the team.

Craig Denton was appointed as Hallam manager in May 2020, as his side were crowned as Division One champions in 2021-22 to return to the Premier Division of the NCEL, finishing in sixth place twelve months later.

Hallam FC will compete in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division in the 2024-25 season.

My visit

Wednesday 10th October 2012

I awoke in The Harley, a budget hotel in the university area of Sheffield the night after attending a game at the Keepmoat Stadium in Doncaster. I was tired, hungry and not in pristine condition. The real ale had been in fine nick and far too tempting for me to turn down.

I dragged my body up West Bank to the bus stop outside the Children's Hospital. Within minutes my carriage had arrived, I had paid for the excellent value Day Tripper and was sat onboard the top deck, wondering just how much higher the hills would reach. I anticipated Sandygate to be registered as being at high altitude.

The bus dropped me off right outside, but that is where I was to remain as the gates were locked. That wasn't a huge problem as I had a sufficient view to see most of the ground. The pitch sloped severely with nothing down the right hand side, where it bordered the cricket ground. 

There was a neat seated stand on the half way line opposite along with the clubhouse and a small covered standing area at the entrance end. The rest of the ground consisted of open grass and concrete standing.

I entered the courtyard of the flats behind the stand where I was able to get a decent look of the cover behind the goal, before catching a bus back down the mountainous terrain to the city below. I was not upset to find a branch of Greggs to give me some massively needed sustenance. 

This would keep me going as I headed to the station to catch the train to my next destination which was Oakwell the home of Barnsley FC.