En el día de su 159 aniversario el club más antiguo del mundo, el Sheffield FC, hace pública su intención de pedir oficialmente el reconocimiento de la UNESCO a su estadio como el lugar de nacimiento del fútbol. De esta manera, anuncian que pedirán al gobierno del Reino Unido que considere el que fue su primer campo de juego, donde se jugaron los primeros partidos de fútbol de la historia, como patrimonio cultural, UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.
Con este reconocimiento se pretende preservar las raíces del deporte más seguido en el mundo y este reconocimiento servirá para recoger fondos y reconstruir la que fue su casa, Olive Grove, y no tener que estar «exiliados» en su actual campo en Dronfield.
Para llevar a cabo esta petición, el club ya está buscando los mayores apoyos posibles, por lo que cientos de clubes, leyendas del club y distintas comunidades futbolísticas de todo el mundo del fútbol han sido invitados por el Sheffield FC para mostrar su apoyo a esta petición y a la protección de las raíces originales de fútbol.
Dear Friends of Football,
As I write to you today on October 24th, The World’s First Football Club is officially turning 159 years old. Founded by the pioneers Nathaniel Creswick and William Prest in 1857 the formation of Sheffield FC marked the beginning of the game as we know it, with the creation of the game’s first ever rulebook and the original values of Integrity, Respect & Community.
Now in 2016 as we celebrate our birthday I would like to announce to you our official application to the UK Government for UNESCO World Cultural Heritage. This move for world cultural recognition is not only a celebration for the club but also for our fans and world football as we aim to protect the game’s roots through internationally recognising Olive Grove, the field on where football and The World’s First Football Club was founded on October 24th 1857.
This Sheffield FC World Cultural Heritage is officially supported and conducted by our International Football Agency Jung von Matt/sports, who are based in Hamburg. Clubs, legends and football communities worldwide are also being invited by Sheffield FC to show their support for the application and the protection of football’s original roots.
As we currently continue to raise funds to re-build the original Home of Football stadium and move the club’s stadium back to Olive Grove, the application comes in good timing in encouraging the support of governing bodies. To further increase their support, alongside our historic application we have delivered a Sheffield FC membership addressed to the UK Government to officially recognise the government now as a “ Future Protector of Football”.
As always, I would like to thank our fans for your continued support in helping us to protect our story and the roots of football. There is more to the game than money and fame!
Yours in sport,
Richard Tims
Sheffield FC Chairman and the Global Sheffield FC Family