Hallam FC are Delighted to Announce that we have become Members of the Sheffield Chamber

12th August 2015

The World's 2nd oldest Football Club, Hallam FC are delighted to announce that we have become members of the Sheffield Chamber.

Hallam FC are a CASC status, non for profit, Football Team located in a leafy suburb of Sheffield to the West of the city centre and some 800 feet above sea level on Sandygate Road. Officially Sandygate is the oldest football ground in the World and home of Hallam FC since 1860, thus making them the second oldest Football club in the World to Sheffield FC. After the formation of Hallam Cricket club in 1804 the club blossomed until by the 1850's it had in excess of 300 members.  It was the wish of these members, many of whom were familiar with the team football being played by Sheffield FC , formed in 1857, to create a less exclusive club led by cricketers and thus in 1860, Hallam FC was born. The first ever challenge match took place against Sheffield FC on Boxing Day 1860 at Sandygate Road.  This is still believed to be the first ever Inter Club 'derby' game and the oldest to survive until today with the most recent episode played out in July of this year. Onto 2015 and Hallam have just started their 2015-16 league campaign.  Following on from last season's great finish, after a poor start, the gaffer Ryan Hindley has turned Hallam's fortunes around on the pitch. Hallam's U19's also reached the League Cup Final last season so there's a real positive feeling around Sandygate and we firmly believe we can get into the newly formed NCEL play-offs this season. Off the field Co-Chairmen Steve Basford and Chris Taylor have both been working hard to improve both the match day and non-match day experience. We welcomed Rich Davies onto the committee last season, initially to work on the match day programme, and he has now taken on looking after all our social media channels and the website. Rich had never been to Sandygate before last season and was brought up to 'An Evening with Chris Waddle' by Hallam regular and local resident Rob Howe.   He was commandeered by the whit, charm and jokes (maybe not so much the jokes) of Co-Chairman Steve Basford on the evening and Rich already feels part of the 'furniture' at Hallam. For the first time ever Rich has enabled Hallam to sell season tickets online (www.bit.ly/HallamSeasonTickets) , we now have a presence on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn etc. so we're are being dragged into the 21st century very firmly right now. Rich turned the tables on Rob Howe recently and Rob has now become our new membership secretary, watch out for Rob on a match day and details online of the new membership scheme he's working on will be coming your way very soon. We've also added a club photographer to the ranks, Antony Barker was also recruited by Steve Basford and Antony runs his own photography business 'Focusing on Photography'.  He will be around Sandygate snapping away throughout the season so make sure you smile if you see him. Our venue/bar, the 1860 Suite, has gone from strength to strength and all of the credit must go to Jane Basford who tirelessly runs the bar and makes sure all of our events on both a non-match day and a match day run smoothly.  We recently had our first Wedding in the 1860, which means we have the full set now after a recent Christening and also a Wake. One of the most important things we're sure you'll agree on a match day is the food.  Ann Holland in her 'cabin' will be serving up Pasties and Sausage Rolls from the Proper Pasty Company this season, who many of you will be aware of.  Thanks must go to John Worall at The Proper Pasty Company for supplying us with top quality food, and trust us they are delicious.  We obviously had to try them as part of our market research. As you can see we've got lots to talk about right now and thanks must go to the rest of the off the field team whom we've not mentioned above and their hard work that makes your experience all the most pleasurable. First team manager Ryan Hindley said -Hallam FC has always prided itself on being a family club and nothing has changed.  If you want to see real Football played by real people then please come along to Sandygate. The club can only function if people come through the doors and through sponsorship of generous local companies. There are no strangers up at Hallam, just friends we haven't met yet. Co-Chairman Steve Basford added -We are delighted to have become members of the Sheffield Chamber and look forward to a long and fruitful partnership with the Chamber and other businesses in the Sheffield Region.  All in all we hope your match day, and non-match day, experience is a good one and we promise it will get even better over the coming months.  We'd love you to come and say hi at Sandygate whether it be on a match day or otherwise and welcome you to come and have a cuppa (or something a little stronger) with us in the 1860 Suite. If you'd like to become involved with Hallam as a corporate sponsor, or as a fan, then please do contact us on any one of the outlets below. Website www.hallamfc.co.uk Email theclub@hallamfc.co.uk Twitter @fchalllamfc Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hallam1860 LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/hallam-fc