Whether through their wide-reaching impact, massive controversy or even just warming a few hearts, these were the biggest stories in Sheffield this year.
The Star has curated this review of the headlines in 2023 using 16 stories that got the city talking the most.
Who can forget the time an illegal rave somewhere in Attercliffe kept the entire city awake on night in February?
Or how the city threw a promotion parade for Sheffield United in May, only to throw another for the Owls just three weeks later?
There was that time when everyone had something to say about how 30,000 people and a weekend of torrential rain over Tramlines turned Hillsborough Park into a mudbath.
Or even when everyone's spirits were lifted to hear John Burkhill had hit his goal of raising £1m for MacMillan Cancer Research.
Here are 16 stories to mark the end of 2023 in Sheffield.
Who can forget the time an illegal rave somewhere in Attercliffe kept the entire city awake on night in February?
![Budget retail icon Wilko's departed from the UK's high streets this year went the company went bust in the autumn. It led to these touching photos from October 8 when, on the last day of trading, the staff of WIlko's in Haymarket closed early, put the music on and held their own leaving drinks in the empty store.
- https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/wilko-sheffield-leaving-drinks-held-in-store-staff-last-day-trading-collapsed-retailer-4364268](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/10/08/16/20231008_154605%280%29.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
13. Leaving drinks at Wilko's
Budget retail icon Wilko's departed from the UK's high streets this year went the company went bust in the autumn. It led to these touching photos from October 8 when, on the last day of trading, the staff of WIlko's in Haymarket closed early, put the music on and held their own leaving drinks in the empty store. - https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/wilko-sheffield-leaving-drinks-held-in-store-staff-last-day-trading-collapsed-retailer-4364268 | National World Photo: Alastair Ulke
![Sheffield held its breath as torrential rain brought by Storm Babet caused the city's rivers to rise to record levels on October 20. Flood defences largely held however, causing only a handful of properties to take damage, although several dozen cars were stranded in deep water on roads. The same couldn't be said for the poor residents of Catcliffe though, where up to 250 properties needed to be evacuated when the River Rother burst its banks.
- https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/weather/photos-show-extent-of-flood-damage-in-rotherham-and-south-yorkshire-4380402](https://www.thestar.co.uk/jpim-static/image/2023/10/21/10/received_232391682923398.jpeg?trim=0,0,0,0&width=800)
14. Storm Babet floods Catcliffe - October 20
Sheffield held its breath as torrential rain brought by Storm Babet caused the city's rivers to rise to record levels on October 20. Flood defences largely held however, causing only a handful of properties to take damage, although several dozen cars were stranded in deep water on roads. The same couldn't be said for the poor residents of Catcliffe though, where up to 250 properties needed to be evacuated when the River Rother burst its banks. - https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/weather/photos-show-extent-of-flood-damage-in-rotherham-and-south-yorkshire-4380402 | UCG Photo: UCG
![On October 27, after 19 years as BBC Radio Sheffield's Breakfast host, Toby Foster bid farewell as he was moved the afternoon slot on weekdays from 2pm-6pm, simultaneously covering Leeds, Sheffield and York. At the end of his final Breakfast show he said: "Thank you very much for all your messages today. It's been an absolute blast."
- https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/bbc-radio-sheffield-tears-as-toby-foster-bids-farewell-to-breakfast-show-after-nearly-20-years-4388057](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOjAxNTkzODA1LTUwNDEtNGJjMC04MjdiLTQyODgxYjhiODQ4Yjo3MzJjMDRkZi0yZjdjLTQ1MTQtODA4YS05OTc0NzBlZDZkYzQ=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
15. Toby Foster leaves morning slot after 19 years
On October 27, after 19 years as BBC Radio Sheffield's Breakfast host, Toby Foster bid farewell as he was moved the afternoon slot on weekdays from 2pm-6pm, simultaneously covering Leeds, Sheffield and York. At the end of his final Breakfast show he said: "Thank you very much for all your messages today. It's been an absolute blast." - https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/bbc-radio-sheffield-tears-as-toby-foster-bids-farewell-to-breakfast-show-after-nearly-20-years-4388057 | BBC Radio Sheffield Photo: JPImedia
![On October 28, fans at an ice hockey were cleared out the Utilita Arena when an incident during play led to the death of Nottingham Panthers player Adam Johnson, 29. His passing was met with an outpouring of support from the sport's international community. Police have since arrested, questioned and bailed a man in connection with his death.
Photo: Panthers Images / SWNS
-https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/uk-news/sheffield-steelers-v-nottingham-panthers-utilita-arena-cleared-of-fans-as-player-taken-to-hospital-4389457](https://www.thestar.co.uk/webimg/b25lY21zOmU3NjEyY2UwLWYzMjItNDM3NC1hOGY5LWY4ODEzNzFkZWJiZjo0NTBhNGE5Ni1jYzEyLTQ4YzAtOGNiYy1hMjI0NTdmN2NmZmY=.jpg?crop=3:2&width=800)
16. Adam Johnson killed in incident at Utilita Arena ice hockey game
On October 28, fans at an ice hockey were cleared out the Utilita Arena when an incident during play led to the death of Nottingham Panthers player Adam Johnson, 29. His passing was met with an outpouring of support from the sport's international community. Police have since arrested, questioned and bailed a man in connection with his death. Photo: Panthers Images / SWNS -https://www.thestar.co.uk/news/uk-news/sheffield-steelers-v-nottingham-panthers-utilita-arena-cleared-of-fans-as-player-taken-to-hospital-4389457 | Panthers Images / SWNS Photo: Panthers Images / SWNS