'World's oldest derby match' returns after 13 years

The world's oldest football clubs have praised the "phenomenal" interest in their first competitive match for more than a decade.

Sheffield FC will take on their old foes Hallam FC at the world's oldest football ground, Sandygate, in front of a sell-out crowd of 1,496 on Tuesday.

The sides first played each other at the same venue 165 years ago and are thought to have met more than 100 times since, although they have not gone head-to-head competitively since 2012.

Ahead of their Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup tie, Hallam chairman Richard Pillinger said the club had been contacted by fans "from all over the world" seeking tickets.

Mr Pillinger said the demand for tickets for the quarter-final clash had been "phenomenal".

An initial 1,336 sold out more than two weeks in advance of the fixture, with an extra 160 tickets snapped up in under an hour on Friday.

"We did get the offer to take it to one of the major clubs in the city, but it takes it away from the oldest ground.

"A lot of people want to come to the oldest derby at the oldest ground. That's where it needs to be."

He predicted hosts Hallam, who play in the ninth tier of English football, could have sold between four and five thousand tickets "at ease" if Sandygate had a bigger capacity.

Sheffield FC manager Vill Powell, a goalscorer in the last competitive meeting between the two teams, said the match had "whet the appetite of a lot of Sheffielders".

The 45-year-old, who grew up in Wincobank and works for Sheffield City Council increasing opportunities for jobseekers and people in employment, said it would be a "privilege" to be a part of the occasion.

"To have played in the last one and be taking the next one, I would be surprised if that has been done or will be again.

"It's going to be a special day. The atmosphere will be rocking and I'm expecting a really good game of football."

According to historical documents, eighth-tier Sheffield FC formed in 1857 - three years before their city rivals Hallam, who are believed to be the world's second-oldest football club and play their home games at the oldest recognised football ground in the world.

The pair's first-ever meeting was also played "in the presence of a large number of spectators", a report from Sheffield FC said, and "was conducted with good temper and in a friendly spirit", with Sheffield winning 2-0.

"Growing up around here you can't really escape the fact that football started here," said Mosborough-born Hallam goalkeeper and vice-captain Hugo Warhurst.

"The history has always been there, it's instilled in you watching football in this area."

Former Sheffield United scholar Warhurst is a manufacturing operative in his day job and will be starting work at 05.45 GMT on the morning of the match and again the next day.

The 24-year-old said he was "absolutely dying" to come up against his former club and several friends in the Sheffield FC side.

"Football will be coming home for a day.

"The history of the game, it's undisputed, it belongs to these two teams that are going to be having it out on the 14th."

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