Surprising & Fun Facts About Sheffield You Need to Know

Sports King: The Football DNA 

Sheffield is famous for its love of football. The city has the oldest football stadium in the world - Sandygate in Bramwell Lane - a home ground that was first opened in 1804. There are three main clubs Sheffield F.C., Sheffield United F.C., and Sheffield Wednesday F.C in the city. Another interesting fact about Sheffield is that the city also has the oldest football club, Sheffield F.C., established in 1857.

Among the many fun facts about Sheffield is the intriguing story behind its football club’s distinctive name, Sheffield Wednesday F.C. It is the only football club in the world that has a weekday included in its name. It originated from the ‘The Wednesday Cricket Club’ founded by six tradesmen in 1820. They used to take half a day off on Wednesday to play sports.  

Beats that HIT, Melody that REMAINS!

Music is the heartbeat of Sheffield and the city houses significant music bands and iconic venues. It has given birth to many talented musicians within the indie / alternative genre. People enjoy the music of famous bands such as Arctic Monkeys, Pulp and the Crookes, and Reverend &Makers. These bands originated in Sheffield and are influencing the world of music. 

There are also famed music venues in Sheffield such as Leadmill, o2 Academy and FlyDSA Arena where all types of music genres are performed. Music lovers can also attend programs in Delicious Clam and Picture House Social. The city has live music festivals like Bassfest Summer Festival and Tramlines, featuring national and international artists. 

The Sheffield Stars 

Keep calm and be surprised by some famous faces from Sheffield! The city has a Walk of Fame outside the Town Hall space that honours local personalities who have achieved national or international success. Astronaut Helen Sharman, Sean Bean, and Olympic athlete Jessica Ennis are some famous personalities. Here are some more renowned mentions: 

• Joe Cocker: An English singer, born and brought up in Crookes, Sheffield, is known for his impressive stage performances and gritty, bluesy voice.
• Harry Maguire: An English football player who plays for Manchester United and comes from Mosborough, Sheffield.
• Jarvis Cocker: An English musician and a radio presenter, he is the founder, main lyricist and the only consistent member of the band Pulp. Jarvis was born and raised in Sheffield and formed his band Pulp in school. 
• Dominic West: An English actor, producer, musician, and director. He hails from New South Yorkshire, Sheffield and has played famous roles such as Jimmy McNulty in The Wire by HBO and Noah Solloway in Showtime's The Affair.

10 Facts about Sheffield​: The Surprise Continues 

• The author of the great masterpiece of Sherlock Holmes, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, lived in Burngreave, Sheffield. He was an assistant to Dr. Charles Sydney Richardson on Spital Hill in 1878. 
• Sheffield has the world record for the longest-lasting rainbow. It lasted for 6 hours in 1997. 
• A street artist named Phlegm creates murals all over the city, mainly in black and white themes. 
• The city uses domestic waste to produce thermal energy. It then gets converted to electricity and hot water.
• Sheffield has a Guinness world record for the pancake-flipping event. In this Big Flip festival, a large number of people flipped pancakes non-stop for 30 seconds. 
• The city was a main target for German bombers in World War 2 to immobilize steel production. They are known as the ‘Sheffield Blitz,’ which occurred on 12 and 15th December 1940. 
• Blake Street is the third steepest residential street in England, with a gradient of 16.6°.
• Sheffield City Hall has the biggest instrument named the Grand Henry Willis III in the city. It has 4,037 pipes and 75 stops. 
• The Sheffield Botanical Gardens span 19 acres of area and have 5000 species of plants. 

Who Knew Sheffield Was this Interesting?

Unexpected records and intriguing facts are not new to Sheffield. It is a city that gives visitors jaw-dropping surprises. It continues to inspire with its green places initiatives and all the ‘firsts in sports.’ Not just this, the stainless steel invention and the longest-lasting rainbow enhance the city’s charm. Next time, when you are exploring the city, remember you are not just wandering places, you are experiencing a walking museum of incredible stories.