Are you one of the people in this Sheffield social club down the years?

Maurice Champeau took over the Mulehouse Road club to help the failing club turn around for a six-month stint but has been pouring pints and leading the club for six-and-a-half-years.

The 52-year-old said: “It was such a change to come here as I have a pub background and not a club background but it is still a business and one that wasn’t doing well so we had to have a rethink to work out how to keep this historical club open."

Maurice says the club had to reinvent itself and make use of the concert room and hire it out for functions to the community which proved a good move and became the backbone of the club’s income and allowed them to make modernisations elsewhere in the club.

The club has been the backbone of the community for decades and some members are even third or forth generation of being in the club.

Maurice said: “We have always been a family orientated club, our club president, Peter Lonsdale, is 82 and he became a member at 18 just like his father and grandfather before him. Our club is your club it’s a place you come not just with friends but with family too.

"It’s where you come when you want to play pool, do the quiz, play bingo and listen to the entertainment there is something here for everyone.”

But opening in 1919 in the middle of the world flu epidemic, as Crookes Working Men’s club, was never going to be an easy challenge but it continued to trade successfully through the Second World War and last year the club marked its centenary with celebrations and the team were awarded the accolade of Entertainment Club of the Year as a recognition of their hard work.

Entertainment has always been a big part of the club and in 1979 they welcomed Def Leopard, the fledgling rock band whose members grew up a stones throw away from the club and felt the pressures of performing to family and friends at aged just 18 as it was only their seventh or eighth performance.

Maurice said: “The club is wall to wall full of history so much has happened over the years and we want to continue for the next generation.

"We have never been in a more difficult position than we have now with current covid restrictions.

"It’s not just us is the whole hospitality industry that is suffering. I know there are a lot of rules in places at the moment but if people just buy supermarket beer and drink them at home and not go out it is going to do more long term damage to the pubs and clubs you love as without regular income they may be forced to shut for good which would be terrible.

"So please I urge you if you feel like you want to go out, then please go out and help keep the industry alive.”

Want more Sheffield retro? Sheffield pubs of the 1990s but who can you spot?

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