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We are the home of the beautiful game.

Now, finally, we are making a noise about it and stand poised to finally turn it to our advantage.

It has been a painful path to get here but thanks to an impressively dedicated group of volunteers (who else?) we have all been given a call to action. Why should you care?

Councillor Anne Murphy, Nick Partridge, SCC Head of Libraries, Archives and Information Services, Councillor Julie Dore, Leader of Sheffield Council, Nancy Fielder, Editor Sheffield Star and Telegraph, Chris Holt, Sheffield Star Head of Sport and Richard Cabourn at the campaign launch.

Well, the future success of our city matters to every single Sheffielder because it will impact on our lives. Most places can only dream of having such a heritage.

They invest millions in creating brands and dreaming up ideas to become well know for – while quite the opposite is true here.

We have let our proud past slip through our fingers for more than a century. No more!

Remember the last World Cup squad and how many of those England players were born and trained here?

It isn’t just the past we need to be proud of, it is what is happening right now every weekend on the rain soaked, muddy fields which attract hundreds of young players every weekend.

This isn’t just about attracting in more tourists and not having an answer when visitors ask where they should go to discover more about our footballing past.

This is about using the most influential game in the world to help tackle obesity, bring communities together and make a difference to all our futures … right here in Sheffield.

The debating is done. We now have a glossy document that details irrefutably why we are the home of football and the 40 firsts which took place here to make that true.

If you have ever complained that we – as the combined half a million folk who make up this city – haven’t done enough to capitalise on football, then stop and make a pledge.

Yes, for this plan to become more than just a strategy document it will take businesses and individuals to put their hands in their pockets.

But, it will also take all of us to come up with suggestions and promises to do something. Add ‘Home of Football to your logo, put it on your team’s shirt and tell your class all about it. Tell me what we should be doing and how.

This isn’t something that ‘Sheffield’ needs to do unless you are counting yourself in. We’re all Sheffield aren’t we?

Let's bring football home to Sheffield