'From football to speedway, I love the unbeatable range of amazing sport I can watch, living in Sheffield'

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When it comes to an exciting sports scene, it’s hard not to love Sheffield.

It’s not just that it is one of only a handful of places in the country that has a genuine local derby in football.

It’s also the vast breadth it has across its professional spectator sports, which I don’t think many places come close to.

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This month The Star is running its #LoveYour City campaign, looking at the great things about Sheffield that we all love in the city.

Since moving to Sheffield as a child in the 1970s, the sheer number of professional and semi-professional spectator sports events I’ve enjoyed here is vast, and I don’t think there are many places to match it.

Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday fans at the 1993 FA Cup Semi Final at WembleySheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday fans at the 1993 FA Cup Semi Final at Wembley
Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday fans at the 1993 FA Cup Semi Final at Wembley | Sheffield Newspapers

Although I’ve been to games at both Bramall Lane and Hillsborough over the years, I’ve never been to the Sheffield derby. But I love the fact that my city is one of only a few in England that has one.

Other than here, only London, Liverpool, Manchester, Nottingham, Bristol, Stoke, Birmingham have a same-city derby, that’s your lot.

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But the Blades and the Owls are well documented, huge sporting institutions, operating successful teams in both the men’s and the women’s game.

Sheffield has so much more than that for us to go to.

Ever been to a Hallam or a Sheffield FC football match? If you do, you’ll probably find tourists at the game with you.

Although they both play non league, these clubs, one the oldest football club in the world, the other playing at the oldest continuous use football stadium in the world, have such a status in sporting history that overseas visitors take in their games.

Last time I went to Hallam, I found myself talking to people who had come from Germany, and people who had come from the Middle East. And they got a pretty decent game to watch.

And it’s not just football.

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Back when I first came to Sheffield, speedway racing was massively popular. And the Sheffield Tigers are still racing in what is one of the most exciting sports on the planet, at Owlerton Stadium.

Sheffield is home to one of the country's top professional speedway teams, the Sheffield Tigers, who race on Thursdays at Owlerton. Riders are pictured lifting the Sports Insure Premiership trophy in October 2023, pictured. Photo: David Kessen, National WorldSheffield is home to one of the country's top professional speedway teams, the Sheffield Tigers, who race on Thursdays at Owlerton. Riders are pictured lifting the Sports Insure Premiership trophy in October 2023, pictured. Photo: David Kessen, National World
Sheffield is home to one of the country's top professional speedway teams, the Sheffield Tigers, who race on Thursdays at Owlerton. Riders are pictured lifting the Sports Insure Premiership trophy in October 2023, pictured. Photo: David Kessen, National World

The sport has a 95 year history in the city, and many in my class at school knew of local stars like Doug Wyer and Reg Wilson.

But those going now get to watch some of the best riders in the world at Sheffield speedway. Last season’s line-up included three time world champion Tai Woffinden, the most successful British rider in history, and people come to watch from all over the north of England.

If you mention speedway, you often hear people say they used to go in the 70s. Well, it’s still going strong, and now Sheffield are one of the best teams in the country, having won top flight trophies for each of the last three seasons. If you’ve not been since the 70s, take another look.

Then there’s the ice hockey.

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Robert Dowd celebrated becoming the all-time point scorer in the Elite League with a Sheffield Steelers goal in a 6-3 win over Glasgow Clan. Picture: Dean Woolley/Steelers Media.Robert Dowd celebrated becoming the all-time point scorer in the Elite League with a Sheffield Steelers goal in a 6-3 win over Glasgow Clan. Picture: Dean Woolley/Steelers Media.
Robert Dowd celebrated becoming the all-time point scorer in the Elite League with a Sheffield Steelers goal in a 6-3 win over Glasgow Clan. Picture: Dean Woolley/Steelers Media. | Dean Woolley/Steelers Media.

There was no Sheffield Steelers when I was a youngster, but since Sheffield Arena was built in the early 90s, and the team launched, they have been a massive success. They now boast 11 British championships, and a core of dedicated fans.

They are giants of their sport.

We’ve got both codes of rugby, since Sheffield Eagles brought rugby league to the city in the early 80s.

Eagles now play in the sport’s second tier, but attract a loyal following to the Olympic Legacy Park. When I was growing up, my dad was a season ticket holder at Eagles, and I joined him on a few occasions. Sadly, he decided against going to watch their famous 1998 Challenge Cup win, because he thought they would get thrashed!

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Rugby union fans still head over to watch Sheffield at Abbeydale, close to the Sheffield Collegiate cricket club, where Yorkshire used to play. Sadly, Yorkshire no longer play in Sheffield, after Yorkshire CCC decided to stop using the city for matches in the 1990s.

And basketball fans can enjoy their sport in the city too, with both Sheffield Sharks and Sheffield Hatters having enjoyed success, with the game now played at the new Canon Medical Arena, within the Sheffield Olympic Legacy Park.

What’s not to love about a city with a top-level sporting scene on this scale, with this much variety?

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