Sheffield F.C.

The FC Sheffield ( Sheffield Football Club officially, shortly SFC) was established on October 24, 1857 in Sheffield, England, and is the oldest still existing football club in the world. Founders of the club were Nathaniel Creswick, a lawyer and director of a company for the manufacture of silver plates, and William Prest, wine merchants. William Prest and Nathaniel Creswicks impact on the game today is undeniable and can be attributed mainly to two important 'milestones' lead back:

History

The first important milestone for the development of football represented the establishment of a regular gaming operations and the unification of the rules, for the two pioneers were largely responsible. The factors set out in 1859 Sheffield Rules were the first modern football rules the world - and more than overdue, since up to that time colleges and universities set up their individual rules, all coexisted. The then established Sheffield rules set true innovation is, the meaning is clear on the one hand by its large share in founding the English FA in 1863 and secondly by the fact that today many of the former rules have stock. Among the most important inventions of William and Nathaniel include the corner, the throw and the crossbar. In addition, the FC Sheffield is known for other innovations, such as the implementation of the first floodlit game ( 1878), the first international football match (1872 ) and the implementation of the first Derby. The latter took place between Sheffield FC and its local rivals Hallam FC on December 26, 1860. The Derby is one of the oldest surviving team sports derbies in the world. The game was wearing at that time at the oldest football ground in the world, the so-called " Hallam pitch at Sandy Gate Lane " in Sheffield.

The second important milestone for the football game today represented above all, the basic understanding of the game and the associated values ​​of William and Nathaniel, today its incomparable character and his strength give the game: integrity, respect and community. This is due to the men to a large extent that football has become what he is today: a great game that unites people around the world and makes you happy for their achievements in football and the undeniable influence of their values ​​on the game was Sheffield FC awarded by FIFA with the FIFA Order of Merit, the highest awarded by the FIFA award for individuals and clubs. The FC Sheffield is therefore - in addition to Real Madrid - the only club in the world who has received this award. The ceremony took place on the occasion of the Centenary of FIFA held in 2004, were awarded at the Real Madrid as the most successful club, Sheffield FC as the oldest club. Because the club put on his status as an amateur club level, it was already obsolete at the end of the 19th century by the popular professional clubs Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday and now plays in the Northern Premier League Division One South, the fourth- highest amateur league in England, equivalent to the 8 power stage of the English league system. Accordingly, and because of its history and its fundamental services for the football club FC Sheffield today is based on his own foundation, the so-called " Sheffield FC Foundation". The Foundation has set itself the goal:

• Continually maintain the FC Sheffield in his status as an amateur club and with it the legacy of 1857,
• To found an institution outside of professional football,
• To allow prospects for future pioneers of amateur football.

Above all there is the vision of the Foundation to preserve the roots and natural values ​​of football and fight through the matches for a better world. In this sense, the foundation various local and global projects has started.

"Happy Birthday Football"

The 155th anniversary of the club Club launched under the slogan "Happy Birthday Football" a special action with the aim of the amateur club to make a global brand and thus also to attract sponsors and fans to secure the financial future of the club. For this, a brand image to the unique feature was designed "elder football club in the world " in the run in collaboration with the marketing agency UFA Sports. The FC Sheffield should be " everyone's second favorite football club ". For this purpose was created a new front adjacent to the old, club crest among others. In addition, the foundation day was communicated as the birthday of the entire football and disseminated through a variety of digital channels, such as Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, Youtube, and the club's website. In addition, international top clubs and associations, FIFA and UEFA were approached with a request to participate in the action. Ultimately, the action was a success. On 24 October 2012, the number of Facebook fans doubled from 10,000 to 20,000, met on Twitter for hashtag # happy birthday congratulations football from over 75 countries and news channels around the world reported on the subject. Following the increase in awareness were among the so-called "Club of Pioneers " intensified and the sponsors are won.