San Siro hosts Sheffield!

A team of veterans from Sheffield FC will be flying the flag for the Evo-Stik Northern Premier League in Italy on Wednesday when they kick off at the San Siro Stadium in Milan.

Sheffield FC Veterans’ SC are playing in two round-robin tournaments, first at Milan’s world famous stadium and then on Thursday at Milan’s original home, the historic Arena Civica, now the base of the city’s ‘third team’, Brera Calcio from the Lombardia Seconda Categoria.

The First Division South club's squad - made up of staff, legends, supporters and sponsors - are competing as guests of Sheffield FC members Dexter Milano Calcio and US ACLI Milano in recognition of their status as the world’s oldest football club.

Milan’s old home was opened in 1807, fifty years before Sheffield’s foundation, and it will play host to a second three team tournament pitting the NPL’s representatives against Dexter Calcio and a Brera Legends XI.

Sheffield FC famously hosted Inter Milan back in 2007 and the club's Director Bob Dyson believes the tour at their illustrious visitors’ home just six years later will go down as another proud moment in their 155 year history.

Dyson, who's been organising the tour as part of the club's ongoing efforts to build links with football's family around the world, said: "We hosted Dexter Milano in November 2012 and our Italian friends had a wonderful time. Our first tour is to meet again and to carry the game’s values to the heartbeat of Italian football at the San Siro Stadium.

"Sheffield Football Club Veterans’ SC Supporters club has formed to build community, friendship and brotherhood across the world of football in line with the spirit of the club as a whole. We've formed this new important section of our club for our past players, supporters and friends to build on our values and to be actively involved in our wonderful game."

He added: "Our aim is to host - and visit - the numerous teams from across the globe that contact us and wish to visit the home of football, while at the same time meeting with our fellow fans throughout the season."