UNESCO status bid by Club!

The world's oldest football club is applying to join the list of 814 UNESCO Cultural Heritage sites around the globe, including the Taj Mahal, the Great Barrier Reef, Grand Canyon and Hadrian's Wall.

The EVO-STIK NPL First Division South, which was founded on 24 October 1857, made the announcement on Monday, the 159th anniversary of its foundation.

Sheffield FC are hoping to move back to their old home from their current base at Dronfield and chairman Richard Tims hopes the move will help attract grant aid and further publicity for their cause as well as flagging up the city as an international tourist destination.

Tims, pictured at their old home, said: "Now in 2016 as we celebrate our birthday I would like to announce our official application to the UK Government for UNESCO World Cultural Heritage.

"This move for world cultural recognition is not only a celebration for the club but also for our fans and world football as we aim to protect the game’s roots through internationally recognising Olive Grove, the field on where football and the world’s first football club was founded on October 24th 1857.

"As we continue to raise funds to rebuild the original home of football and move the club's stadium back to Olive Grove, the application is good timing in encouraging the support of governing bodies."

He added: "To further increase support, alongside our historic application we have delivered a Sheffield FC membership addressed to the UK Government to officially recognise the government now as a 'Future Protector of Football'."

Founded in 1857 by Nathaniel Creswick and William Prest, Sheffield FC was responsible for the first officially adopted set of rules and laws for the game and is recognised by FIFA and the Football Association as the world's first football club.

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