SHOF Guided Football Walks 2026 - Lost Grounds and Youdan Cup

This guided walk explores the locations, people and events in and around the Sheffield S2 area that give us 17 'lost grounds' and 30 'teams' who played on them between 1857 and 1875.

Some of the grounds are Highfield, Cremorne Gardens, Sheaf House Ground, Olive Grove, Hounsfiield, Truro Works, The Farm, Hyde Park, Bramall Lane, and The Orphanage. How many do you know?

The teams that played there include Sheffield FC, The Wednesday, Milton FC, Mackenzie FC, Wellington FC, Garrick FC, British Ladies FC, and Truro Works. We examine 'the pitch' and what it was like to play organised football to 'Sheffield Rules' during that period.

We also follow the Youdan Cup looking at its significance in the formation of the Sheffield FA, the FA Cup and in saving the FA. We follow the games played in 1867 from Round One to the Final at Bramall Lane. This includes The Orphanage where two matches were played at exactly the same time on the same day.

And we get the opportunity to look at the genesis of Women's football in Sheffield and stand on a ground where Britsh Ladies FC played in 1895.

For 2026 we will be adding optional "EXTRA TIME" to our walks.

This means that attendees can optional take some EXTRA TIME for no extra cost. THis allows the Guides to visit extra places and hear about extra personalities that we could not fit in to 90 minutes.

There will be no extra cost for this, just "EXTRA TIME" (and it should not go to penalties!).

EXTRA TIME may be required to get to Park House, the site of the FIRST Clubhouse used by Sheffield FC from 1857 onwards.

This is one of FOUR WALKS by SHOF in 2026. They are:

• HISTORIC CITY CENTRE
• LOST GROUNDS AND YOUDAN CUP
• PORTBROOK'S FOOTBALLING HISTORY
• PENISTONE'S FOOTBALL TRAIL