And finally… Sheffield shoots!

The city is looking to cement its status as the home of football by applying to UNESCO for cultural heritage status for the sport.

UNESCO status is commonly applied to natural or built heritage landmarks and cities, however there is also a section for cultural heritage and intangible cultural heritage.

As well as having the two oldest teams in the world, Sheffield is home to the oldest ground in the world, Hallam FC, and the oldest professional ground in the world, Bramall Lane.

“The origins of football are around the world, but the development of the game really began in Sheffield. It was the first football culture in the world,” says John P. Wilson, professor at Sheffield University and trustee of Sheffield Home of Football .

Between 1857 and 1885, the city had more than 180 teams and most of the rules and features of the game as we know it today were invented there, including 90 minute games, the crossbar, penalties, and referees.

After organising an exhibition of football in Kelham Island for the Euro ’96 tournament, Wilson also came up with the notion of creating a museum of football – an idea that ultimately landed in Manchester, a shining example of a city that has used football to its advantage.

“Sheffield hasn’t, until recently, used its football heritage to put itself on the map,” says Wilson. “Football is a fantastic way of showcasing a location.”

In terms of boosting a city’s economy, the evidence is clear: for example, when a team gets promoted to the Premier League, which is watched in more than 100 countries, the number of foreign students applying to that city’s university increases. An example of this is Huddersfield.

It’s difficult to know how long the application process will take, but there are precedents for its success.

Currently, UNESCO recognition exists for Gaelic football and Bulgarian wrestling – so surely, it’s only a matter of time before Sheffield can add this accolade to its trophy case.