Editing Sheffield (section)

==Sport==
{{Main|Sport in Sheffield}}

===Football===
[[File:Bramall Lane End.jpg|thumb|right|[[Bramall Lane]], the home of [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]], is close to the city centre.]] [[File:Hillsborough Stadium interior.jpg|thumb|left|[[Hillsborough Stadium|Hillsborough]], the home of [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]], is the city's largest stadium with a capacity of just under 40,000.]]
Sheffield has a long sporting heritage, and the city claims to be the birthplace of professional [[association football]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Smith |first=Rory |date=14 February 2024 |title=An English City Gave Soccer to the World. Now It Wants Credit. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/02/14/world/europe/sheffield-england-football-soccer.html |access-date=20 August 2024 |work=The New York Times |url-access=subscription}}</ref> In 1857 a collective of [[cricket]]ers formed the world's first-ever official football club, [[Sheffield F.C.]],<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/south_yorkshire/7060059.stm |title=Stars mark team's 150th birthday |date=24 November 2007 |work=BBC News |access-date=19 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107182211/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/south_yorkshire/7060059.stm |archive-date=7 January 2012 |url-status=live}}</ref> and the world's second-ever, [[Hallam F.C.]], who also play at the [[Sandygate Road|world's oldest football ground]]<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/worlds-oldest-football-ground-sheffield-secures-protected-status-437953 |work=The Star |title=World's oldest football ground in Sheffield secures protected status |date=4 February 2018 |access-date=1 June 2020 |archive-date=7 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200807060306/https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/worlds-oldest-football-ground-sheffield-secures-protected-status-437953 |url-status=live }}</ref> in the suburb of [[Crosspool]]. Sheffield and Hallam are today Sheffield's two major non-league sides, although Sheffield now play just outside the city in nearby [[Dronfield]], Derbyshire. Sheffield and Hallam contest what has become known as the Sheffield derby. By 1860 there were 15&nbsp;football clubs in Sheffield, with the first ever amateur league and cup competitions taking place in the city.<ref>{{cite book |last=Harvey |first=Adrian |title=Football: the first hundred years: the untold story |url=https://archive.org/details/footballfirsthun00harv |url-access=limited |publisher=Routledge |year=2005 |pages=[https://archive.org/details/footballfirsthun00harv/page/n116 92]–125 |chapter=Britain's first football culture—Sheffield 1857–67 |isbn=0-415-35019-0}}</ref>

Sheffield is best known for its two professional football teams, [[Sheffield United F.C.|Sheffield United]], nicknamed ''The Blades'', and [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]], nicknamed [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.#Nickname|''The Owls'']]. United, who play at [[Bramall Lane]] south of the city centre and Wednesday, who play at [[Hillsborough Stadium|Hillsborough]] in the north-west of the city, both compete in the [[EFL Championship]] for the [[2024–25 EFL Championship|2024–25 season]]. The two clubs contest the [[Steel City Derby]], which is considered by many to be one of the most fierce football rivalries in English Football.<ref>{{cite news |title=The 20 fiercest rivalries in English Football |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/picturegalleries/11197636/The-20-fiercest-rivalries-in-English-football-by-Jonathan-Liew.html?frame=3090046 |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |access-date=7 August 2015 |location=London |date=11 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150814202727/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/picturegalleries/11197636/The-20-fiercest-rivalries-in-English-football-by-Jonathan-Liew.html?frame=3090046 |archive-date=14 August 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>

In the pre-war era, both Wednesday and United enjoyed large amounts of success and found themselves two of the country's top clubs; Sheffield Wednesday have been champions of the Football League four times—in [[1902–03 Football League|1902–03]], [[1903-04 Football League|1903–04]], [[1928-29 Football League|1928–29]] and [[1929-30 Football League|1929–30]], whilst Sheffield United have won it once, in [[1897-98 Football League|1897–98]]. During the 1970s and early 1980s the two sides fell from grace, with Wednesday finding themselves in the [[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] by the mid-70s and United as far as the [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] in [[1980-81 in English football|1981]]. Wednesday once again became one of England's high-flying clubs following promotion back to the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] in [[1983-84 in English football|1984]], winning the [[1991 Football League Cup Final|League Cup in 1991]], competing in the [[1992–93 UEFA Cup|UEFA Cup in 1992–93]], and reaching the final of both the [[1993 Football League Cup Final|League Cup]] and [[1993 FA Cup Final|FA Cup]] in the [[1992-93 in English football|same season]].

United and Wednesday were both founding members of the [[Premier League|FA Premier League]] in 1992, but The Blades were relegated in [[1993-94 in English football|1994]]. The Owls remained until [[1999-00 in English football|2000]]. Both clubs had gone into decline in the 21st&nbsp; century, Wednesday twice relegated to [[Football League One|League One]] and United suffering the same fate in [[2010-11 in English football|2011]], despite a brief spell in the Premier League in [[2006-07 in English football|2006–07]]. United was promoted to the Premier League in 2019 under manager, and Sheffield United Fan, Chris Wilder. Despite being written off by most football pundits, and declared favourites for relegation from the Premier League, United exceeded expectations and finished in the top half of the table in the 2019–20 season. In the 2020–21 season, United sat at the bottom of the Premier League table by the conclusion of the season and were relegated.

Sheffield was the site of the deadliest sports venue disaster in the United Kingdom, the [[Hillsborough disaster]] in 1989, when 97 [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] supporters were killed in a stampede and crush during an [[FA Cup]] semi-final at the venue.

[[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]], who play in the Championship, did play their home games in the city between 2008 and 2012, having moved to play at Sheffield's [[Don Valley Stadium]] in 2008 following a dispute with their previous landlord at their traditional home ground of [[Millmoor]], Rotherham. However, in July 2012, the club moved to the new 12,000 seat [[New York Stadium]] in Rotherham. There are also facilities for golf, [[climbing]] and bowling, as well as a newly inaugurated national ice-skating arena ([[IceSheffield]]).

===Rugby===
[[File:Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park (overview).jpg|thumb|[[Olympic Legacy Park|Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park]], home of the [[Sheffield Eagles]]]]
[[Sheffield Eagles]] RLFC are the city's professional [[rugby league]] team and play their matches at [[Sheffield Olympic Legacy Stadium]]. They currently play in the second tier of the professional league, the [[Co-operative Championship|Championship]] and won back to back titles in 2012 and 2013. Their most successful moment came in 1998, when, against all the odds they defeated [[Wigan Warriors|Wigan]] in the Challenge Cup final, despite being huge underdogs. The team then hit troubled times before reforming in 2003. Since then they have played their rugby in the Championship (second tier). In 2011, they made the playoffs finishing in fifth place. They made the Grand Final, by defeating [[Leigh Centurions|Leigh]], who were huge favourites in a playoff semi final. In the final, they were comprehensively beaten by [[Featherstone Rovers]]. Sheffield also put in a bid to be a host city for the [[2013 Rugby League World Cup]], but their bid was unsuccessful.

===Other Sports===
Sheffield has a number of [[field hockey]] clubs that compete in the [[Men's England Hockey League]], the [[Women's England Hockey League]], the [[North Hockey Association|North Hockey League]], the [[Yorkshire Hockey Association|Yorkshire Hockey Association League]] and the [[British Universities and Colleges Sport|BUCS leagues]]. These include [[Sheffield Hockey Club]] (partnered with [[Sheffield Hallam University]]), [[Sheffield University Bankers Hockey Club]] and [[University of Sheffield]] Hockey Club.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sheffieldhockeyclub.com/|title=Sheffield Hockey Club |access-date=25 September 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/clubs/sheffield-hc/teams|title=England Hockey – Sheffield HC|access-date=25 September 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.englandhockey.co.uk/clubs/sheffield-university-bankers-hc|title=England Hockey – Sheffield University Bankers HC|access-date=25 September 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.subhc.co.uk/|title=Sheffield Bankers Hockey Club |access-date=25 September 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://su.sheffield.ac.uk/activities/view/mens-hockey|title=Sheffield Student Union – Clubs & Societies|access-date=25 September 2024 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://su.sheffield.ac.uk/activities/view/womens-hockey?activity=437
|title=Sheffield Student Union – Clubs & Societies|access-date=25 September 2024 }}</ref>

[[Sheffield Sharks]] are a professional basketball team established in 1991 who play in the [[Super League Basketball]] at the [[Park Community Arena]]. 

[[Sheffield Giants]] are an [[American football]] team who play in the [[BAFA National Leagues]] Premier Division, the highest level of British American Football.

[[File:IceSheffield.jpg|thumb|iceSheffield]]

Sheffield is home to the [[Sheffield Steelers]] professional ice hockey team who play out of the 9.300 seater [[Sheffield Arena]] and are known as one of the top teams in the UK, regularly selling out the arena. They have the 28th highest average attendance rating in Europe, and the highest in the UK. They play in the 10 team professional [[Elite Ice Hockey League]]. Sheffield is also home to the semi-professional ice hockey team Sheffield Steeldogs who play in the NIHL.

The Sheffield Ice Hockey Academy also are based in Sheffield, and play out of [[IceSheffield]], competing in the EIHA Junior North Leagues and have had one player, [[Liam Kirk (ice hockey)|Liam Kirk]], become the first born and trained British player to be drafted into the NHL, when he was drafted in the [[NHL entry draft]] 189th overall in 2018 by the [[Arizona Coyotes]]. The [[National Hockey League]]'s [[Stanley Cup]] was made in Sheffield in 1892. Sheffield is also home to the [[Sheffield Steel Rollergirls]], a roller derby team.

===Facilities and events===
[[File:English Institute of Sport Sheffield.png|thumb|right|alt=A Modern sporting facility. The building is roughly rectangular in shape and is quite modern, with a wooden clad design. It is surrounded by greenery and has several tall, white spikes on its roof.|English Institute of Sport, Sheffield]]
[[File:Sheffield Skyline from Park Hill.jpg|thumb|right|alt=A large sports centre situated in Sheffield City Centre|[[Ponds Forge]] (bottom left) with Sheffield City Centre behind and Park Square in the bottom right]]

Many of Sheffield's sporting facilities were built for the [[Universiade|World Student Games]], which the city hosted in 1991, including Sheffield Arena and the [[Ponds Forge]] international diving and swimming complex. Ponds Forge is also the home of Sheffield City Swimming Club, a local swimming club competing in the [[Speedo]] league. The former [[Don Valley Stadium|Don Valley International Athletics Stadium]], once the largest athletics stadium in the UK, was also constructed for the Universiade games.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.runtrackdir.com/details.asp?track=sheffield&country=uk |title=Sheffield: Don Valley Stadium |last=Grose |first=Tim |year=2003 |work=UK Running Track Directory |publisher=Tim Grose |access-date=19 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090420013908/http://www.runtrackdir.com/details.asp?track=sheffield&country=uk |archive-date=20 April 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref>

Following the closure and demolition of Don Valley Stadium in 2013, The Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park was established and constructed on the same site, adjacent to the English Institute for Sport. The park is designed to a collaborative project with input from numerous stakeholders including both universities in Sheffield, the English Institute of Sport Sheffield, the NHS and private medical companies.<ref name="ReferenceB">{{cite web |url=http://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/business/developments/olympic-legacy-park |title=Welcome to Sheffield &#124; Olympic Legacy Park |website=welcometosheffield.co.uk |access-date=2 November 2020 |archive-date=29 October 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029141951/http://www.welcometosheffield.co.uk/business/developments/olympic-legacy-park |url-status=live }}</ref> A key part of this collaboration is Sheffield Hallam University's £14&nbsp;million Advanced Well-being Research Centre (AWRC), which was established along similar lines to the University of Sheffield's [[Advanced Manufacturing Park|Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre]]'s (AMRC's).<ref name="ReferenceB"/> The site also includes teaching facilities, a stadium and research & innovation facilities.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>

The [[Sheffield Ski Village]] was the largest artificial [[ski]] resort in Europe, before being destroyed in a series of suspected arson attacks in 2012 and 2013. The city also has six indoor climbing centres and is home to a significant community of professional climbers, including Britain's most successful competitive climber [[Shauna Coxsey]]. Sheffield was the UK's first National City of Sport and is now home to the [[English Institute of Sport – Sheffield]], where British athletes trained for the 2012 Olympics.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Party-time-as-EIS-celebrates.4823062.jp |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120918140540/http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/Party-time-as-EIS-celebrates.4823062.jp |url-status=dead |archive-date=18 September 2012 |title=Party time as EIS celebrates five years |last=Fielder |first=Nancy |date=27 December 2008 |work=The Star |access-date=22 July 2009}}</ref>

Sheffield also has close ties with [[snooker]], with the city's [[Crucible Theatre]] being the venue for the [[World Snooker Championship]]s.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/8022313.stm |title=World Snooker to stay at Crucible |date=28 April 2009 |work=BBC Sport |access-date=21 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090503120957/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/other_sports/snooker/8022313.stm |archive-date=3 May 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> The English Institute of Sport hosts most of the top fencing competitions each year, including the National Championships for Seniors, Juniors (U20's) and Cadets (U17's) as well as the 2011 Senior European Fencing Championships. The English [[Squash (sport)|squash]] open is also held in the city every year. The International Open and World Matchplay Championship [[bowls]] tournaments have both been held at [[Ponds Forge]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldbowlstour.com/tournaments/ |title=Tournament Archive |work=World Bowls Tour website |publisher=World Bowls Tour |access-date=13 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140108154204/http://www.worldbowlstour.com/tournaments/ |archive-date=8 January 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> The city also hosts the [[Sheffield Tigers RUFC|Sheffield Tigers]] [[rugby union]], [[Sheffield Sharks]], American Football team the [[Sheffield Giants]], basketball, [[Sheffield University Bankers Hockey Club|Sheffield University Bankers]] [[Field hockey|hockey]], [[Sheffield Steelers]] [[ice hockey]] and [[Sheffield Tigers (Speedway)|Sheffield Tigers]] [[Motorcycle speedway|speedway]] teams. Sheffield also has many golf courses all around the city.

Sheffield was selected as a candidate host city by the [[The FA|Football Association (FA)]] as part of the [[English 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cup bid]] on 16 December 2009.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.england2018bid.com/news/158/candidate-host-cities-revealed.aspx |title=Candidate host cities revealed |publisher=england2018bid.com |access-date=17 December 2009 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100830193632/http://www.england2018bid.com/news/158/candidate-host-cities-revealed.aspx |archive-date=30 August 2010}}</ref>
[[Hillsborough Stadium]] was chosen as the proposed venue for matches in Sheffield.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8414235.stm |title=Milton Keynes chosen for England's 2018 World Cup bid |work=BBC Sport|access-date=16 December 2009 |date=16 December 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091217032444/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/internationals/8414235.stm |archive-date=17 December 2009 |url-status=live}}</ref> The bid failed.

Sheffield hosted the finish of Stage 2 of the [[2014 Tour de France]]. Within the City limits and located just {{cvt|4|km|mi}} from the finish, was the ninth and final climb of the stage, the Category 4 Côte de Jenkin Road. The one point in the [[King of the Mountains]] competition was claimed by [[Chris Froome]] of [[Team Sky]]. The climb was just {{cvt|0.8|km|mi|1}} long at an average gradient of 10.8%. The stage was won by the eventual overall winner, [[Vincenzo Nibali]] of [[Astana Pro Team]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.letour.com/le-tour/2014/us/stage-2.html |title=Tour de France Stage 1 |access-date=15 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140725103415/http://www.letour.com/le-tour/2014/us/stage-2.html |archive-date=25 July 2014 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

[[IceSheffield]], an Ice Rink with 2 [[Ice hockey rink|Olympic sized rinks]], was opened in May 2003, and is home to the Sheffield Steeldogs, Sheffield Ice Hockey Academy, and Sutton Sting amongst other teams. It is the host to the yearly EIHA Conference Tournament, EIHA Nationals, and Sheffield Junior Tournament.

The [[Sheffield Half Marathon]] is held annually.<ref>{{cite web |title=Asda Foundation Sheffield Half Marathon – 28th March 2021 |url=https://www.runforall.com/events/half-marathon/sheffield-half-marathon/ |access-date=24 January 2021 |website=Run For All |archive-date=28 February 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210228184149/https://www.runforall.com/events/half-marathon/sheffield-half-marathon/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It has thousands of participants every year.