Sheffield FC's plea to city as world's oldest club's membership drive nears major milestone

The club launched its new membership scheme at the beginning of the month as it unveiled a new-look website and revealed plans for a 4,000 seat stadium and heritage centre in Meadowhead.

Its chairman Richard Tims is delighted with the response so far, with nearly 2,000 people having already signed up for free to become members and receive a free online certificate, a monthly newsletter and discounts at the club shop, among other benefits.

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But he is urging more people to get behind the club and help to protect its future and further its bid to promote Sheffield, where the rules for the game as we know it were written, as the true home of football.

“In the first month of our new membership scheme to already have approaching 2,000 members is a fantastic result and proof that we do care about our history and heritage and recognising the city as the home of football.

“We would like to feel that getting 6,000 members from the region, which is only around one per cent of the population, should be achievable and would go a long way to creating sustainability and help towards the relocation of the club.

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“As well as great support from the Sheffield region our membership scheme is travelling far and wide, with people signing up from as far away as Australia, Uruguay, Brazil and China.”

The club’s membership scheme has three tiers, with the basic ‘Kick Off’ membership being free.

‘Club’ membership costs £30 a year, for which supporters receive a printed certificate, a pin badge and a scarf, among other benefits.

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‘Legend’ membership, meanwhile, will set you back £85 a year, and includes everything you get with ‘Club’ membership plus a Sheffield FC heritage shirt, specially produced to celebrate the club’s proud history.

Sheffield FC currently plays its home matches just outside the city limits in Dronfield and hopes to finance its proposed new stadium at Meadowhead, which Mr Tims says could be ready in as little as two years, by building homes at its existing ground.

For more about Sheffield FC’s membership scheme, visit: sheffieldfc.com/become-a-member.