COUPLE BECOME SHEFFIELDERS FOR WEEKEND
A couple from Thirsk in North Yorkshire have experienced what it’s like to be Sheffielders for the weekend – and they loved it.
Linton Austen and his wife Liudmila Selezneva won a competition to sample a taste of life in Sheffield, as part of the city’s celebration of 150 years of football and business.
The pair watched their first ever football match after seeing Sheffield United beat Watford at Bramall Lane in the Premiership, before having dinner over-looking the Winter Gardens at Zucca’s restaurant at MacDonald St Paul’s Hotel.
Linton and Liudmila then made their way to the Lyceum Theatre to watch Guys and Dolls and stayed overnight at the Royal Victoria Holiday Inn. The following day they were treated to a guided tour of the Peak District which borders the city.
The competition was organised through www.our150th.co.uk as part of the Sheffield Chamber of Commerce and Sheffield FC’s 150th anniversaries this year.
Linton was making a return to Sheffield after studying in the city during the mid-1970s. He said: “It was a super weekend and one we will remember for a long time! For me it was very interesting to return to Sheffield and see how it has changed.
“With the sense of greenness and space, Sheffield didn’t feel like a major city, more like a large village. I’m not a city person, but felt Sheffield didn’t have the same hustle and bustle of some major places. I will certainly recommend my friends to visit it over other Yorkshire cities such as Leeds, York and Bradford.
“The football match was a very memorable experience for both of us and we were pleased the Blades won. It was the first football match we have ever been to! We had never experienced anything like it and the atmosphere was electric.
“The meal was wonderful in such as fantastic setting, Guys and Dolls was excellent and the hotel was great. We also had a very pleasant day in the Derwent Valley and enjoyed the opportunity to go down a secret passage at the famous dam busters dam.”
The competition begins a series of events organised by Sheffield Chamber and Sheffield FC in May. Both are hosting a joint dinner on May 17 attended by Sir Bobby Charlton, Roy Hattersley, Richard Caborn and a live performance from Paul Carrack.
A day later, the Millennium Galleries will be staging a week-long our150th exhibition featuring a host of memorabilia from Sheffield’s prestigious football and business history.