Another first for Sheffield football : competing in the first ever ‘Charity Shield’ in 1898
Sheffield United FC, together with Corinthians FC, were the first team to compete in the 1898 Sheriff of London Charity Shield in March 1898, a trophy which must be the biggest in the history of football.
A football competition played annually between the best amateur and best professional club in England (either the Football League champion or FA Cup winner). The game was the predecessor to the FA Charity Shield, today the FA Community Shield, which began in 1908 after the Amateur Football Association split from the Football Association.
The match went to a replay:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1898_Sheriff_of_London_Charity_Shield
A medal from the first final is being auctioned on the 11th April with a guide price of £1,800.00
https://www.mullocksauctions.co.uk/lot-727076-very_rare_first_sheriff_london.html
Much more detail can be found in my newly revised book ‘A History of Sheffield Football 1857-1889: Speed, Science and Bottom’ http://bit.ly/2qYw0r0
The trophy was the size of a wardrobe;here it is pictured with the Aston Villa team in 1899:
