"Lets not miss the goal once again” - City of Culture bid should include football legacy
‘Most important is to shout loud and proud about our biggest global cultural contribution’
Sheffield’s City of Culture bid should make the most of the city’s unique footballing heritage, says the group set up to highlight that history.
Steve Wood, a trustee of Sheffield Home of Football, says people are now becoming aware of how important the city’s status in the game’s history is, and wants that culture to be included.
It was announced yesterday that the city is in the shortlist of four to become UK City of Culture 2029.
He said: “The biggest cultural phenomenon on the planet is association football. Our current UNESCO bid is built around Sheffield's world first footballing culture and how that culture of clubs gifted the world modern association football through the innovation and creativity of its young men during 20 years of crucial early evolution.
“The game was more than anywhere else, made in Sheffield. Most of the game came out of that creativity, passing, corners, competition, a crossbar to name just a few.
“The cities, music, theatres and museum are all important but most important is to shout loud and proud about our biggest global cultural contribution. Lets not miss the goal once again.”
He said leaders in the city seemed be starting to understand the important of that heritage, and hoped it was central to our City of Culture bid.