THOUSANDS SEE FOOTBALL COME HOME TO SHEFFIELD
More than 3,000 people attended a successful event showcasing Sheffield’s unique history in the development of football and business.
The week-long ‘our150th exhibition’ at the Millennium Galleries attracted huge interest from the public, with organisers having to extend the opening hours for an extra day to meet the demand.
Schools from across the area were also able to make a special trip to view the artefacts on show with 350 pupils visiting to learn about the city’s history.
Sheffield FC's important role as the world’s oldest football club and the key landmarks of Sheffield Chamber of Commerce in the business world were highlighted at the exhibition, which marked both organisations’ 150th anniversary this year.
The our150th exhibition featured the FA Cup two days after Chelsea had beaten Manchester United in the final as well as a host of unique cups, medals and treasures from Sheffield’s own prestigious football history.
A VIP reception kicked off the event ahead of the our150th dinner, with MPs Clive Betts and Nick Clegg opening the exhibition to more than 100 invited guests.
Sheffield United’s new manager Bryan Robson later made a surprise visit at the exhibition to view the city’s football history and to meet with supporters.
Nigel Tomlinson, chief executive of the Chamber of Commerce, said: “We were delighted with the number of visitors to the one-off exhibition. It’s a sign of how interested and proud people are in the history of the city and its football achievements. “The exhibition showed the importance of the region’s industrial heritage, the events which have transpired to make this great city what it is today and what we hope it will become in the next 15 years.”
Artefacts included Sheffield FC’s original rules of the game, a winner’s medal from their 1904 Amateur Cup win and a replica of the 1966 World Cup presented to the club.
Special memorabilia from Sheffield Wednesday, Sheffield United and the Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA were also on show at the exhibition – sponsored by the Learning and Skills Council (LSC), the Kier Group, First Group and Siemens VAI.
The exhibition featured a message board inviting comments from people on their favourite memories of Sheffield. These ranged from the city’s thriving music scene and university hey-days to meeting wives and husbands and setting up home in the city.
Film footage and artefacts were provided by Yorkshire Film Archive and Kelham Island Museum, while images from Sheffield’s past were sourced from Picture Sheffield’s extensive photographic archives.
Visitors were able to view a picture story from the city’s early industrial expansion, the impact of the World Wars on the region, to the modern day economy and even looked forward to the next 15 years for the city region.