Sandygate Road

Sandygate is a football and cricket ground in Crosspool, a suburb of Sheffield in South Yorkshire. It has been in use since 1804 and became the home of Hallam Football Club in 1860. The Guinness Book of Records recognises Sandygate as the oldest football ground in the world. On Boxing Day 1860 the first inter-club football match took place here, when Hallam played Sheffield Football Club. Spectators watch the pitch from three sides: the Shed End, the Main Stand and the Cricket Net End. The Shed End is a covered terrace behind one goal where most home supporters stand. It is the heart of the ground’s atmosphere on match days. The Main Stand faces the opposite goal and provides seating for visitors. The Cricket Net End sits behind the other goal and is used when cricket is played. The ground remains small and intimate, with no stands on the fourth side. Visitors find a modest stadium set among suburban streets. The Shed End terrace is where the loudest cheers rise when Hallam score. The Main Stand offers a clear view of the pitch and the distant hills of the Peak District. On the other side, the Cricket Net End shows the nets used by Hallam Cricket Club. The whole ground feels like a piece of sporting history still in daily use.