Sheffield: The Home of Football walking app
As the author of A History of Sheffield Football 1857-1889: Speed, Science and Bottom (available to purchase here http://bit.ly/2qYw0r0) I was approached by Sheffield Libraries to design the route and write the content for a free to download app that offers a walking guide to the heritage of Sheffield football, it is called ‘Sheffield: The Home of Football. It covers the rich history of the four remaining clubs (out of the 95 that existed between 1857 and 1899) and the Sheffield & Hallamshire County F.A. (England’s first County Association)
The walk is just over 4.7 miles and while visiting the ten stops over the 90-minute walk you will be introduced to the places and the people that made Sheffield the home of Association football. (You should allow another 30 minutes of extra time to linger at the various points of interest). Enhanced with audio clips and map mash-ups showing Sheffield in the 1850s and today; you will be transported back to the Victorian era when the world’s first football club started.
The app is available as a free download from the 8th of April at https://situate.io/homeoffootball
Join us for the launch day walk on Sunday April 22nd from midday onwards, when all the home football club historians will join you to answer any questions. Also attending are the authors of ‘Flying over an Olive Grove: The Remarkable Story of Fred Spiksley’; Mark Metcalf and Clive Nicholson. The vicar of Heeley Parish Church and Geoffrey Norton, who is a descendent of Nathaniel Creswick will say a few words before the walk commences. The Lord Mayor will be providing half time oranges at the Town Hall and the walk ends at Highfield Library which will supplying free refreshments. Please wear your favourite football club shirt to show the true spirit of Sheffield the Home of Football. It is important to book for this free event at
https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/sheffield-home-of-football-walking-tour-tickets-44483398041?aff=es2
There is a Facebook Group set up to support the app and the launch walk; just search for Sheffield the Home of Football once you have logged in to Facebook. Or click here
