Football stadium in Sheffield, England

Bramall Lane is a football stadium in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. It is the dwelling of EFL Championship club Sheffield United. As the largest stadium in Sheffield during the nineteenth hundred, it hosted most of the city ‘s most significant matches including the final examination of the populace ‘s first football tournament, first floodlight match and several matches between the Sheffield and London Football Associations that led to the union of their respective rules. It was besides used by Sheffield Wednesday and Sheffield F.C. for major matches. It has been the base of Sheffield United since the baseball club ‘s establishment in 1889. It is the oldest major stadium in the global distillery to be hosting professional association football matches. [ 2 ] [ 3 ] The stadium was built on a Sheffield road named after the Bramall class ( who were file and grave manufacturers ). The Bramalls owned The Old White House on the corner of Bramall Lane and Cherry Street, and subsequently built the Sheaf House, now a populace sign of the zodiac that inactive stands at the top of Bramall Lane. The stadium in the first place opened as a cricket land. It was used for football games in the nineteenth century by Sheffield F.C. and Sheffield Wednesday, but since 1889 has been the base of Sheffield United.

Bramall Lane is one of only two grounds ( the other being the Oval ) which has hosted England football internationals ( five games anterior to 1930 ), an England cricket test equal ( a single Test, in 1902, against Australia ) and an FA Cup Final ( the 1912 play back, in which Barnsley beat West Bromwich Albion, 1–0 ). It besides regularly hosted FA Cup semi-finals and replays between 1889 and 1938. The grind has besides hosted rugby league games for the Sheffield Eagles, [ 4 ] and has besides been selected to host England v Greece in the 2021 Rugby League World Cup. [ 5 ] The land besides hosted a Billy Graham Evangelist converge in 1985, a copulate of rock concerts by Bruce Springsteen in 1988 in battlefront of 88,000 people, a friendly match for the hundred-and-fiftieth anniversary of the world ‘s oldest football club Sheffield F.C., where they played Inter Milan in 2007. besides hosting a Travis Pastrana Motor cross event in 2016, an IBF Welterweight title boxing equal featuring Sheffield United fan Kell Brook, in front of 27,000 people in 2017, the Women ‘s League Cup final and a Rod Stewart concert both in 2019. The stadium has besides been used respective times to host England men ‘s and women ‘s senior and youth teams in friendly and competitive matches. The record attendance for the flat coat is 68,287 jell at an FA Cup 5th Round tie between Sheffield United and Leeds United on 15 February 1936. The ground was extensively renovated in the aftermath of the Taylor Report, and has an all-seated capacity of 32,050. [ 1 ]

history [edit ]

Bramall Lane is located in SheffieldBramall Lane Bramall Lane shown in Sheffield

cricket [edit ]

cricket at Bramall Lane in 1965 Bramall Lane opened as a cricket ground in 1855, having been leased by Michael Ellison from the Duke of Norfolk at an annual lease of £70. The locate was then away from the city ‘s industrial area, and relatively complimentary from smoke. It was built to host the matches of local cricket clubs and originally had six clubs playing there, one of whom was the Wednesday Cricket Club, precursor of Sheffield Wednesday. Bramall Lane opened on 30 April 1855 as a cricket flat coat with a match between “ The Eleven ” and “ The Twenty Two ”, [ 3 ] The Eleven, despite being the senior team, lost by an innings and 28 runs. A team representing Yorkshire played the first base county match at the earth on 27 August 1855, against Sussex but lost by an innings and 117 runs. [ 6 ] Although the first gear county game had been played eight years earlier, the official Yorkshire County Cricket Club was not formed until 1863. [ 7 ] The idea came from Ellison, who was using his own finances to support the club, in arrange to improve Bramall Lane ‘s fiscal position as the county ‘s headquarters. It was the club ‘s headquarter until 1893, when they moved to Headingley in Leeds. [ 7 ] In 1897, Jack Brown and John Tunnicliffe recorded a first wicket score of 378 against Sussex—a land read that has never been beaten. Brown ‘s score of 311 and Yorkshire ‘s innings of 681 for 5 declared were besides records when the cricket ground closed. [ 8 ] early noteworthy scores include the 582 for 7 declared they piled up against Surrey in 1935 and the 579 posted against the touring South Africans in 1951. Six early scores in surfeit of 500 were made. In contrast there were a host of scores under 100, chiefly in the nineteenth hundred, although Derbyshire ‘s measly entire of 20 in 1939 remains the lowest ever score. Nottinghamshire were dismissed for 24 in 1888 but Kent showed the Yorkshire batsmen up in 1865, bowling them out for 30. many of the low totals were made on rain affected, uncover wickets. The establish hosted a individual Test match in 1902, against Australia, which England lost by 143 runs. [ 9 ] Australia won thanks to a hundred by Clem Hill and the bowl of Saunders and Noble, who each took 5 wickets in England ‘s first gear innings of 145 and Noble and Trumble who took 6 and 4 wickets respectively to bowl the home team out for 195 moment time around. The defeat was blamed on the poor light at the prime ; a product of smoke emitted by local factories. Attendances were poor, and the experiment was never repeated. In addition Jack Brown ‘s ternary hundred 10 double centuries were scored on the grind, Sir Len Hutton scored unbeaten two double tons, a 280* against Hampshire in 1939 and 271* against Derbyshire in 1937. W Barber posted 255 against Surrey in 1935 while the great amerind batter V.S. Hazare scored 244 not out for the indian tourists in the beginning season after World War II. Among many luminary partnerships W. Barber and Maurice Leyland amassed 346 for the second wicket against Middlesex in 1932 and the aforesaid V.S. Hazare and Vinoo Mankad put on 322 for the Indians against Yorkshire for the 4th wicket in 1946. merely one century was scored in tilt A one-day cricket at Bramall Lane, John Hampshire ‘s 108 against Nottinghamshire in 1970 in the Sunday League. Three bowlers took all ten wickets in an innings at Bramall Lane, the feat being more park in the annals of first class cricket than many think. The great australian stage spinner Clarrie Grimmett took 10 for 37 for the tourists in 1930 while TF Smailes took all 10 for 47 for Yorkshire against Derbyshire in 1939. G. Wootton took 10 for 54 for an All England Eleven v Yorkshire in 1865 while 9 early bowlers took 9 wickets in an innings there, including a haul of 9 for 12 by the capital Yorkshire slow left armer Hedley Verity. The best equal bowling figures at the ground, 16 for 114, were recorded by G. Burton of Middlesex against Yorkshire in 1888 while Hedley Verity took a noteworthy 15 for 38 against Kent in 1936. Len Braund took 15 for 71 for Somerset in 1902 while W. G. Grace showed his youthful talent with the ball with a draw of 15 for 79 for Gloucestershire in 1872. D. Hunter of Surrey dismissed caught 5 batsmen and stumped another in one innings in 1891 while Yorkshire stalwart Jimmy Binks completed 5 dismissals in an innings 3 times. The two ends of the ground were known as the Pavilion End and the Football Ground End. between 1863 and 1973, Yorkshire played 391 first class matches, including 339 County Championship matches at Bramall Lane. Yorkshire ‘s last match at the ground took stead on 4, 6 and 7 August 1973, a string game against Lancashire. [ 7 ] The construction of the South Stand began soon after, over the cricket square, finally enclosing the football pitch on all four sides. [ 10 ] Yorkshire ‘s cricket games in Sheffield moved to Abbeydale Park .

International centuries [edit ]

One Test hundred has been scored at the venue. [ 11 ]

No. Score Player Team Balls Opposing team Date Result
1 119 Clem Hill  Australia NA  England 3 July 1902 Won

International five-wicket catch [edit ]

Five five-wicket hauls have been taken at the venue. [ 12 ]
Bramall Lane, Sheffield, 1992 v. Manchester United. The erstwhile John Street terrace may be seen ( left ) A page from the Sheffield FA handbook showing the team selection for the first gear ever floodlit bet on. The majority of players were members of the Wednesday club The ground hosted its first football couple on 29 December 1862, [ 3 ] between Sheffield F.C. and Hallam F.C. The crippled was played to raise money for the Lancashire Distress Fund and ended 0–0. As Sheffield ‘s main sporting stadium it held all the most crucial local matches. Bramall Lane hosted the semi-final, final and second-place playoff of the 1867 Youdan Cup ( won by Hallam ). [ 13 ] This was followed by the Cromwell Cup a class late, which was won by a newly formed team called The Wednesday. [ 14 ] By 1877, a crowd of 8,000 watched The Wednesday beat Hallam in the Sheffield Challenge Cup. [ 15 ] Bramall Lane effectively became The Wednesday ‘s permanent wave home between 1880 and the opening of their new stadium at Olive Grove in 1887. [ 16 ]
Bramall Lane, Sheffield, 1992. The first inter-association match, between the FA ( much referred to as the London FA ) and Sheffield FA, was besides held at Bramall Lane on 2 December 1871. [ 17 ] [ 18 ] It was won, 3–1, by the home plate side, who besides arranged a number of games with other Associations including regular fixtures against the Glasgow FA ( the first gear in 1874 and the last in 1957 ). On 22 March 1889, six days after 22,688 people paid to watch the FA Cup semi-final between Preston North End and West Bromwich Albion, [ 19 ] it was decided to create a dwelling football team to play at Bramall Lane. It was named Sheffield United after the cricket team .

International matches [edit ]

Bramall Lane was regularly used for international matches before the structure of a national stadium in London. The world ‘s first ever floodlit football match took position at Bramall Lane on 14 October 1878 in front of an attendance of 20,000. [ 20 ] England ‘s match against Scotland on 10 March 1883 was the first match between these two countries outside London or Glasgow. It makes it the oldest football venue inactive capable of hosting international matches in the universe, after the Racecourse Ground, Wrexham .

Milestones [edit ]

Bramall Lane in 1989. The old John Street Terrace ( left ) and Kop Terrace ( right ) are visible

  • 1855: The ground at Bramall Lane built for cricket.
  • 1878: First floodlit game played between “Reds” and “Blues” (the first competitive floodlit game was held at Mansfield Town’s Field Mill ground).
  • 1896: A new John Street Stand built with room for 6,000 both seated and standing.
  • 1897: A new Shoreham Street Stand built.
  • 1900: A new cricket pavilion built.
  • 1901: Cycle track removed.
  • 1911: Roof added to the Bramall Lane End.
  • 1935: Roof added to the Kop. Running track built in front of John Street Stand.
  • 1940: The ground damaged in Sheffield Blitz. John Street was badly affected and the Kop roof damaged.
  • 1953: Floodlights installed.
  • 1966: Bramall Lane Stand opened.
  • 1975: South Stand opened.
  • 1981: Cricket pavilion demolished.
  • 1991: Seats installed in Kop.
  • 1994: John Street demolished. Seats added to lower tier of Bramall Lane End.
  • 1995: New pylon-less floodlights installed.
  • 1996: New John Street Stand opened.
  • 2001: New corner stand holding 1,000 fans opened between Shoreham Street and John Street.
  • 2002: Blades Enterprise Centre is built between John Street and Bramall Lane.
  • 2005: Wooden seats removed from South Stand.
  • 2006: New corner opens between Cherry Street and Bramall Lane. Bramall Lane end cantilevered.
  • 2008: New hotel built on the corner of the south stand and Bramall Lane end.

The crunch today [edit ]

Plan view of the Lane, with the point of view names and nearby roads

The stands and layout [edit ]

The ground has been an all-seater stadium since 1994 and is now made up of four main stands and two corner infill stands in the northeast and southwest corners. [ 21 ] The northwest corner ( equally well as a lot of the down under the John Street Stand ) contains the Blades Enterprise Centre. The southwest corner behind the Bramall Lane corner bandstand is a 4 star hotel built in 2008 .

Bramall Lane Stand [edit ]

The Bramall Lane Stand, with the Blades Business Centre ( right ) This is the oldest existing stand at Bramall Lane, this two-tiered structure was opened in 1966 behind the goal at the Bramall Lane end, opposite the Kop. The bottom grade is generally occupied by away fans whilst the upper tier, which links into the southwest corner infill stand, is given to home fans ( although part of the upper tier may be offered to away fans for cup fixtures if demand is sufficient ). During the 2005–06 temper, the outside of the Bramall Lane Stand was reclad in red-and-white, with the stand sponsors and the cabaret crest on the outside of the stall, while the wooden seats of the upper berth tier were replaced with newer plastic seats with the words “ BLADES ” written into them. When the corner infill stand was built during the closed season, the roof over the Bramall Lane Stand was extended toward the pitch to provide better cover for the lower tier and to remove the supporting pillars from the upper tier. There are approximately 2,700 seats in the upper berth grade, and 2,990 in the lower, giving a total capacity of 5,680. This stand has for many years housed a basic LCD scoreboard and clock between the amphetamine and lower tiers, however at the begin of the 2006–07 season both were replaced by a modern color video recording scoreboard. The stand was temporarily known as the “ Jessica Ennis Stand ” following the 2012 Olympics but was renamed after sponsors in 2015. Ennis-Hill had threatened to remove her list from the stand following controversy over the golf club ‘s decision to re-sign Ched Evans after his release from prison. [ 22 ]

The Tony Currie Stand [edit ]

The South Stand, showing the new seats with sword emblems. Located off Cherry Street, The Tony Currie Stand opened in August 1975. In 2018, the stand was named after Sheffield United caption Tony Currie. The Stand is besides known as the “ South Stand ”, although some fans hush refer to it as the “ Laver Stand ” ( after the stand ‘s long-run sponsors in the 1990s ) or even the “ New Stand ” by many older fans since there was no stand on the South end of the pitch until 1975, where previously it was used as the cricket pitch ‘s outfield. During the 2005–06 season, this stand was renovated, with a re-clad of the external of the digest and the old wooden seats replaced by newer crimson fictile seats and white formative seats forming an emblem of two swords. The box-seats were besides upgraded. This stand holds approximately 7,500 fans, and most of the crunch ‘s amenities, including the box office, newly expanded and renovated for the 2006–07 temper Blades Superstore, Platinum Suite, “ Legends of the Lane ” museum, “ 1889 ” award-winning restaurant ( once known as Bosworth ‘s of Bramall Lane ), the former police control center ( now relocated to the Blades Enterprise Centre between the Bramall Lane and John Street Stands ), newly refurbished reception, weigh box, players entrance, administrative offices and television receiver gantry attached to the roof of the stand. The bottom of the stand, facing into the club car ballpark, has been made into a fans “ Wall of Fame ”. Built of the footing ‘s signature set red bricks, each one is etched with an individual supporters ‘ name or dub. The wall was launched as a commercial speculation by the golf club in the 1990s and is still offered nowadays for other sections of the ground. [ 23 ] Within the cable car parking lot situated adjacent to the base on Cherry Street, statutes were erected in 2010 commemorating Joe Shaw, [ 24 ] holder of United ‘s attendance record with 714 appearances, and Derek Dooley, [ 25 ] former clubhouse chair.

In December 2017 the clubhouse announced plans to extend the Tony Currie Stand. Proposals included adding more than 5,400 extra seats, new administrator boxes and a media center. The plans would extend the stand construct into part of the existing Cherry Street cable car parking lot area. [ 26 ]

The Kop Stand [edit ]

The Kop Located on Shorham Street, The Kop has been seated since 1991, this is the area in which the most boisterous home fans sit, [ 27 ] such that erstwhile adjunct coach ( 1999–2003 ) and coach ( 2008–10 ) Kevin Blackwell named the noise coming from this stand as the “ Bramall Roar ” after the 2003 play-off semi-final second-leg against Nottingham Forest, which the Blades won 4–3, coming from 0–2 down. [ 28 ] The stand is presently sponsored by Kennedy ‘s Law and, was once sponsored by Hallam FM. The stand itself is built into a hillside situated behind the goal, at the east end of the stadium. This places the stand along Shoreham Street, therefore the often-heard chant of “ Hello ! Hello ! We are the Shoreham Boys ” coming from this stand on matchdays. [ 29 ] It has the golf club ‘s initials “ SUFC ” written into the seats, and holds 10,221 fans, making this the largest stand at Bramall Lane. The facilities are of lower choice in the Kop because there is no indoor multitude, although an outdoor bar was completed in September 2007 to complement the fast-food takeaway, but in hurt of this it is hush a firm favorite amongst the fans, and normally full on matchday. At a Shareholders ‘ meet in November 2007 the club announced that it intended to expand the Kop by 3,500 ( making it the largest ‘kop ‘ in the state ) and to upgrade all the facilities and cover the concourse areas. [ 30 ] however, since then, early headman executive Trevor Birch announced that the extension will not be taken into consideration until the club can gain and maintain Premier League status. [ 31 ] United submitted a revised application for the renovation of the stall in 2015, which would see 3,215 seats added to its current capability. [ 32 ]

John Street Stand [edit ]

John Street Stand The John Street stand, completed in 1996, is used as a family enclosure for home fans and is situated along the north english of the deliver, boasting great views of the dally action. Sponsored by the Maltese Tourist Board, in a blend stand and shirt sponsorship deal, it has the word “ BLADES ” written in the seats, and holds just under 7,000 fans. This is besides where the home plate disabled supporters may sit. The digest is home to a small golf club denounce ampere well as the Marstons & Malta Executive Suites and “ Tunnel Bar ”. There is besides a quarrel of 31, individual executive boxes with private facilities and their own balconies along the back of the stand .

John Street Corner [edit ]

The John Street Corner, with Kop ( right ) and John Street Stand ( foreground ) besides called the Northeast Corner and once known as the Pukka Pies Stand after its sponsorship deal, this stand was completed in 2001 and is between the Kop and the John Street stand. It is amply linked to the John Street Stand, and is besides used as a syndicate enclosure holding about 900 fans ( after the facility of newly restricted-view seats after the 2006–07 crusade. This section of the ground has always been depart of the Kop stand structure and the lower half was historically used as a family standing enclosure until it was demolished as region of the independent Kop re-development .

Bramall Lane Corner [edit ]

The new Bramall Lane corner, with South Stand ( left ) and Bramall Lane End ( right ) besides known as the “ new ” recess infill, this stand is in the southwest recess of the stadium, between the Bramall Lane Stand and the South Stand and was sponsored by Westfield Health. It is linked to the Bramall Lane Stand ( upper berth tier ), sharing its facilities, turnstiles and exits. It is constantly used by home fans, and reputedly has the best views of the grate. The stand holds approximately 2,000 fans. Built good behind the stall is a 4 star hotel .

Blades Enterprise Centre [edit ]

The northwest corner is filled in by rentable offices, known as the Blades Enterprise Centre, one of many examples of United diversifying their off-the-field activities to maximise income streams. Completed in 2002, the Enterprise Centre provides position outer space for smaller and fresh companies in the barricade between the John Street and Bramall Lane Stands, and besides underneath the John Street Stand itself .

current and ongoing function [edit ]

The stadium has an enviable central location close to the city center. In order to maximise the earnings likely of the estate around the stadium in June 2007 work began to build a 158 bedroomed 4-star Millennium and Copthorne Hotel behind the new Westfield stand. The raw hotel opened its doors in November 2008. At the Shareholders ‘ meet in November 2007 the club announced that it intended to extend the back of the Kop rack with an extra 3,200 seats and remove the pillars holding up the roof. The retool stand capacity is probable to be about 13,400, slenderly less than the Holte end at Villa Park. The clubhouse besides planned a major upgrade to the Kop facilities and overlay of the multitude areas, in tandem with a plan to build scholar accommodation at the back of the Kop and a large business center ( office block ) between the Kop and South stand. In the same meet, the club announced that its long-run ambitions are to add an extra 6,000 seats to the independent South ( Valad ) Stand with the intentions of taking the overall stadium capacity to just over 44,000, however this expansion would depend on demand in the Premiership and any electric potential 2018 World Cup venue bid. United PLC Chairman Kevin McCabe has stated that he would build Bramall Lane ‘s extensions to any specifications laid down by the FA with a view to the ground hosting matches should England be successful in winning their World Cup wish. [ 33 ] however, on 16 December 2009, the FA announced that Hillsborough Stadium ( home of rivals Sheffield Wednesday ) would be Sheffield ‘s venue in the event that a World Cup is awarded to England and Sheffield is named a host city. [ 34 ] Following this announcement Sheffield United ‘s Chief Executive, Trevor Birch, made it known that all planned renovation work had been put on appreciation until the club was able to regain and maintain Premiership status. In May 2015 work began on the installation of a state-of-the-art Desso gear, bringing to an goal around 153 years of football being played on a traditional surface at the oldest professional football stadium in the worldly concern. [ 35 ] New proposals for the presently afford corner between the Kop and South Stand were revealed in 2017, with the plans including the construction of a block of residential flats and a fresh, larger club patronize. [ 36 ]

attendance [edit ]

The John Street Stand before a Championship game v. Coventry City in 2010 The record attendance stands at 68,287 for the Sheffield United v. Leeds United FA Cup fifth rung connect, played on 15 February 1936. The record attendance since the 1994 initiation of all spectators being seated is 32,604 at the Sheffield United vanadium. Wigan athletic plot in the Premier League, on 13 May 2007. [ 37 ] In the 2007–2008 season, Sheffield United had the best average attendance in the Championship. The follow season Sheffield United had the second best average attendance in the league of 26,023 .

average league attendances [edit ]

This is the average league attendances stretching back over ten years for Sheffield United home matches at Bramall Lane. Sheffield United away games and any home cup matches are excluded.

placement and ecstasy [edit ]

Bramall Lane is located in the zone of Highfield, south of Sheffield city center. Heading south from Junction 4 of the A61 Sheffield Inner Ring Road which surrounds the city center. On match days Bramall Lane closes off to most traffic shortly before and after matches, with traffic diverted to Shorham Street, or towards London Road or onto the A61. This is to ensure the safety of the public, as Bramall Lane is a main road labelled as the A621 and the turnstiles on Bramall Lane are alone a few metres aside from the road. besides this enables the off fans ‘ coaches and team coaches to approach/leave the stadium unimpeded ( normally with a police bodyguard from/to Park Square traffic circle ) and avoid a constriction scenario .

Public conveyance [edit ]

Sheffield railroad track station is under a mile from the ground. [ 43 ] As is Sheffield Interchange, which is a bus place and a National Express Coaches hub. Sheffield ‘s light track tramway network called the Supertram runs east of the grate. The nearest stops are : Granville Road/Sheffield College or Park Grange Croft. Both stops are 0.5 miles walking distance and either stops can be used in both directions. The ground is besides visible from the viaduct which connects the two stops. The Blue road and the Purple path suffice these stops. Both routes go to/from the city center. There are bus links outside the grind with bus stops on Shoreham Street and Bramall Lane. early bus stops located near the background are on Charlotte Road, Queens Road and London Road. All buses from these locations will go to/from the city center .

bicycle [edit ]

The stadium is located near Route 6 of the National Cycle Network [ 44 ] with numerous cycle paths and lanes surrounding the stadium which connect to it. Bramall Lane circuitous has an underpass for easy access to/from the city center for cycles and pedestrians, with Bramall Lane itself having an on-road cycle lane running its distance. Shorham Street is a bless cycle route and St. Mary ‘s Gate ( A61 Ring road ) has a traffic absolve cycle path. There are respective secured and unbarred bicycle parking facilities close to the ground. [ 45 ]

See besides [edit ]

far read [edit ]

  • Chris Arnot, Britain’s Lost Cricket Grounds, Aurum, 2011.

References [edit ]

Read more: Willem Dafoe