Sheffield FC rub shoulders with Barcelona and Real Madrid

The inaugural staging of the Hero Cup, which takes place in Wetzlar and Hamburg today and tomorrow, will pit legends and all-stars from European giants such as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund and SV Werder Bremen against each other.

The indoor tournament will see some of the sport’s most well-known names, including Deco, Guti, Gianluca Zambrotta, Gaizka Mendieta and Edgar Davids, take part.

Sheffield FC, which was responsible for the first officially adopted set of rules and laws for the game, and is recognised by FIFA and the FA as the world’s first football club, will enter an over 35s team into the tournament.

The team will play at the Barclaycard Arena in Hamburg tomorrow against Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, Hamburg, Werder Bremen and FC St. Pauli in the tournament, which has been organised to raise money for charitable causes to support kids against bullying.

Richard Tims, chairman of Sheffield FC, said: “We are extremely proud to be a part of this special tournament which brings together some of the biggest names in football history.

“As the great-grandfather of the sport and the world’s first club, it’s a wonderful feeling to see Sheffield FC placed alongside clubs with the stature of Real Madrid and Barcelona.

“It promises to be a great event and we’re absolutely delighted to be involved.”

* For further information about Hero Cup, visit http://www.hero-cup.de/.

* For more information about Sheffield FC, or to support the club’s campaign to move back to its original home and create a ‘Home of Football’, visit: http://theworldsfirst.org/.