Olympic Legacy Park, the future home of Sheffield City based in South Yorkshire and currently play their trade in the Sheffield and Hallamshire County Senior League Division One.
A previous FANA Fan Podcast episode with club chairman Ash and manager Danny spoke about the possibility of moving away from St George’s Park Graves into a new facility and Olympic Legacy Park was mentioned at the time but with little progression… Not anymore! They’ve got it! From next season Sheffield City will be playing their home games here but will be playing their very first game today against Wombwell Main Reserves and it’s November 5th which can mean only one thing!
Officer Kizz believes I am wasting a Saturday going here… Well let’s find out whether it will be. But first, it’s a trip to the Cavendish along West Street to meet my good friend Skipton Luke for the day. Can we convert him to a groundhopper? Sheffield United 5-2 Burnley, what a second half performance from the Blades!
Onto the yellow route Tram service for Attercliffe now and here we are in good time. A quick glimpse of the new stand and I have to say it looks impressive! Free entry for this County Senior tie! Tremendous! Great to meet Ash here today as well!
Kick Off! 2 minutes in and Wombwell play a ball over the top to number 7 who gets into the box on the right, the shot… Saved! Corner comes in… Cleared By City.
11th minute now and Wombwell play forward, a great passing move and number 9 is in, he shoots… Good save! Offside anyway! Good start by Wombwell!
18 minutes now and Sheffield come forward down the right, it’s played in low, comes to number 6 to shoot from 20 yards… Good save! Number 10 gets there but it’s out for a corner, in it comes… Number 6 header… Keeper saves!
1 minute later and Wombwell play it long, number 9 finds himself through and he shoots… Keeper gets a hand to it… But it’s forced in! Wombwell have the lead against the run of play it has to be said despite their good start. 0-1!
1 minute later and Sheffield come forward, ball played through to number 15 and he’s in here… And he scores!! Brilliant finish!! 1-1! Just like that! They weren’t behind for long! Their first goal in their new home! The first of many!
26 minutes on the clock and Sheffield come forward again, it’s played to number 15 outside the box, he gets it onto his left and shoots… OH BRILLIANT!! What a finish!!! Curled into the top corner! Fantastic! 2-1!
2 minutes later and Sheffield come forward straight away and number 9 is through, he’s brought down on the edge of the box to the left and it’s a free kick for Sheffield, number 8 takes… Deflected … And in!! They’ve got another one!! It’s 3-1!!
What can Wombwell do to respond here? Straight from kick off and they play a long ball forward, number 7 gets there first and clashes with the keeper… And he’s scored! It’s not over yet!! What a game this is!! It’s 3-2!
33rd minute and Wombwell bomb down down the left, the cross, number 10 brings it down and shoots from close range… Good save! Sheffield hit it away and number 15 finds himself through, keeper comes… And the keeper saves! Wombwell clear the danger.
40th minute and it’s a long ball by Sheffield, number 10 brings it down in the box and he puts it on a plate for number 9… Good save! Good goalkeeping!
1 minute later and Wombwell play forward, the long ball into the box headed away to number 9 on the edge of the box who chests and shoots on the volley… YES! It nestles in the bottom corner!! What a goal!! What a game!! 3-3! That is how it remains at half time. Great to meet Danny at long last!
Second half, 48 minutes played and Wombwell play a long ball to number 9 on the left, he gets into the box and cuts inside and shoots… Over! Big chance!
59th minute and it’s a free kick for Sheffield on the left in the Wombwell half, it’s drilled towards goal, keeper spills it and here’s number 5… He’s missed! Big opportunity wasted there!
62 minutes now and Sheffield play a long ball forward, it comes for number 15 who controls and shoots from 25 yards… OH! Fantastic!! What a goal that is!!! Into the bottom corner brilliant finish!! 4-3!
3 minutes later and Sheffield come again, it’s played through and number 9 gets onto it, he shoots… He finds the bottom corner! Sheffield are pulling away now!! It’s 5-3 now!
79th minute and Sheffield play it forward, they have it in the box on the right, it’s played across, number 15 with the header… it’s in but he’s Offside! No goal! The game has fizzled out and it’s a happy first game at Olympic Legacy Park for SHEFFIELD CITY!!!!
FT: Sheffield City 5-3 Wombwell Main Reserves
Ratings
- Atmosphere: 1/10 – Not any noise from the crowd today sadly.
- The Ground: 8/10 – Very impressive!! I like this ground and it will only get better with the construction of the bar area! It’s all about the stand for me it really is class! There is also elevated banking on the far sides as well! Great ground!
- Expense: 10/10 – Probably the best freebie I’ll ever find!
- Overall Experience: 10/10 – Great to meet Danny and Ash here today and a big thank you to them for having me and Luke here today! Good day out and a great game! Was it a wasted Saturday? Hell no!!
29/40