Bramall Lane

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 rent of £70. The site was then away from the city's industrial area, and relatively free 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, forerunner of Sheffield Wednesday.

Bramall Lane opened on 30 April 1855 as a cricket ground 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 county match at the ground on 27 August 1855, against Sussex but lost by an innings and 117 runs.[6]

Although the first 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 order to improve Bramall Lane's financial position as the county's headquarters. It was the club's headquarters 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 ground record that has never been beaten. Brown's score of 311 and Yorkshire's innings of 681 for 5 declared were also records when the cricket ground closed.[8] Other notable 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 other scores in excess of 500 were made. In contrast there were a host of scores under 100, mainly in the 19th century, although Derbyshire's paltry total 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, uncovered wickets.

The ground hosted a single Test match in 1902, against Australia, which England lost by 143 runs.[9] Australia won thanks to a century by Clem Hill and the bowling of Saunders and Noble, who each took 5 wickets in England's first innings of 145 and Noble and Trumble who took 6 and 4 wickets respectively to bowl the home team out for 195 second time around. The defeat was blamed on the poor light at the ground; a product of smoke emitted by local factories. Attendances were poor, and the experiment was never repeated.

In addition Jack Brown's triple century 10 double centuries were scored on the ground, 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 Indian batsman V.S. Hazare scored 244 not out for the Indian tourists in the first season after World War II.

Among many notable partnerships W. Barber and Maurice Leyland amassed 346 for the second wicket against Middlesex in 1932 and the aforementioned V.S. Hazare and Vinoo Mankad put on 322 for the Indians against Yorkshire for the 4th wicket in 1946. Only one century was scored in list 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 common in the annals of first class cricket than many imagine. The great Australian leg 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 other bowlers took 9 wickets in an innings there, including a haul of 9 for 12 by the great Yorkshire slow left armer Hedley Verity.

The best match bowling figures at the ground, 16 for 114, were recorded by G. Burton of Middlesex against Yorkshire in 1888 while Hedley Verity took a remarkable 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 haul 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 place on 4, 6 and 7 August 1973, a drawn 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.

One Test century 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

Five five-wicket hauls have been taken at the venue.[12]

No.	Bowler	Date	Team	Opposing team	Inn	Overs	Runs	Wkts	Econ	Result
1	Sydney Barnes	3 July 1902	England	Australia	1	20	49	6	2.45	Lost
2	Jack Saunders	3 July 1902	Australia	England	2	15.3	50	5	3.22	Won
3	Monty Noble	3 July 1902	Australia	England	2	19	51	5	2.68	Won
4	Wilfred Rhodes	3 July 1902	England	Australia	3	17.1	63	5	3.66	Lost
5	Monty Noble	3 July 1902	Australia	England	4	21	52	6	2.47	Won

Bramall Lane, Sheffield, 1992 v. Manchester United. The old John Street terrace may be seen (left)

A page from the Sheffield FA handbook showing the team selection for the first ever floodlit game. The majority of players were members of the Wednesday club

The ground hosted its first football match on 29 December 1862,[3] between Sheffield F.C. and Hallam F.C. The game 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 important 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 year later, 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 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 (often referred to as the London FA) and Sheffield FA, was also held at Bramall Lane on 2 December 1871.[17][18] It was won, 3–1, by the home side, who also arranged a number of games with other Associations including regular fixtures against the Glasgow FA (the first 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 home football team to play at Bramall Lane. It was named Sheffield United after the cricket team.

Bramall Lane was regularly used for international matches before the construction of a national stadium in London. The world's first ever floodlit football match took place 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 still capable of hosting international matches in the world.

Date		Result		Competition
4 October 1883	England	2–3	Scotland	Friendly
5 February 1887	England	7–0	Ireland	British Home Championship
29 April 1889	England	4–0	Wales	British Home Championship
4 April 1903	England	1–2	Scotland	British Home Championship
20 October 1930	England	5–1	Ireland	British Home Championship

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 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 north-east and south-west corners.[21] The north-west corner (as well as a lot of the land under the John Street Stand) contains the Blades Enterprise Centre. The south-west corner behind the Bramall Lane corner stand is a 4 star hotel built in 2008.

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 tier is generally occupied by away fans whilst the upper tier, which links into the south-west 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 season, the outside of the Bramall Lane Stand was reclad in red-and-white, with the stand sponsors and the club crest on the outside of the stand, while the wooden seats of the upper 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 tier, 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 upper and lower tiers, however at the start of the 2006–07 season both were replaced by a modern colour video scoreboard.

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 legend Tony Currie. The Stand is also known as the "South Stand", although some fans still refer to it as the "Laver Stand" (after the stand's long-term 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 outside of the stand and the old wooden seats replaced by newer red plastic seats and white plastic seats forming an emblem of two swords. The box-seats were also upgraded. This stand holds approximately 7,500 fans, and most of the ground's amenities, including the box office, newly expanded and renovated for the 2006–07 season Blades Superstore, Platinum Suite, "Legends of the Lane" museum, "1889" award-winning restaurant (formerly known as Bosworth's of Bramall Lane), the former police control centre (now relocated to the Blades Enterprise Centre between the Bramall Lane and John Street Stands), newly refurbished reception, press box, players entrance, administrative offices and television gantry attached to the roof of the stand.

The bottom of the stand, facing into the club car park, has been made into a fans "Wall of Fame". Built of the ground's signature mark red bricks, each one is etched with an individual supporters' name or nickname. The wall was launched as a commercial venture by the club in the 1990s and is still offered today for other sections of the ground.[22] Within the car park situated adjacent to the stand on Cherry Street, statutes were erected in 2010 commemorating Joe Shaw,[23] holder of United's attendance record with 714 appearances, and Derek Dooley,[24] former club chairman.

In December 2017 the club announced plans to extend the Tony Currie Stand. Proposals included adding more than 5,400 extra seats, new executive boxes and a media centre. The plans would extend the stand building into part of the existing Cherry Street car park area.[25]

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,[26] such that former assistant manager (1999–2003) and manager (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.[27] The stand is currently sponsored by Kennedy's Law and, was formerly 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, hence the often-heard chant of "Hello! Hello! We are the Shoreham Boys" coming from this stand on matchdays.[28] It has the 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 quality in the Kop because there is no indoor concourse, although an outdoor bar was completed in September 2007 to complement the fast-food takeaway, but in spite of this it is still a firm favourite amongst the fans, and usually full on matchday. At a Shareholders' meeting in November 2007 the club announced that it intended to expand the Kop by 3,500 (making it the largest 'kop' in the country) and to upgrade all the facilities and cover the concourse areas.[29] However, since then, former chief executive Trevor Birch announced that the extension will not be taken into consideration until the club can gain and maintain Premier League status.[30] United submitted a revised application for the redevelopment of the stand in 2015, which would see 3,215 seats added to its current capacity.[31]

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 side of the pitch, boasting great views of the playing action. Sponsored by the Maltese Tourist Board, in a combined stand and shirt sponsorship deal, it has the word "BLADES" written in the seats, and holds just under 7,000 fans. This is also where the home disabled supporters may sit. The stand is home to a small club shop as well as the Marstons & Malta Executive Suites and "Tunnel Bar". There is also a row of 31, individual executive boxes with private facilities and their own balconies along the back of the stand.

The John Street Corner, with Kop (right) and John Street Stand (foreground)

Also called the Northeast Corner and formerly 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 fully linked to the John Street Stand, and is also used as a family enclosure holding around 900 fans (after the installation of new restricted-view seats after the 2006–07 campaign. This section of the ground has always been part of the Kop stand structure and the lower half was historically used as a family standing enclosure until it was demolished as part of the main Kop re-development.

The new Bramall Lane corner, with South Stand (left) and Bramall Lane End (right)

Also known as the "new" corner infill, this stand is in the south-west corner 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 tier), sharing its facilities, turnstiles and exits. It is always used by home fans, and reputedly has the best views of the ground. The stand holds approximately 2,000 fans. Built just behind the stand is a 4 star hotel.

The north-west 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 office space for smaller and new companies in the block between the John Street and Bramall Lane Stands, and also underneath the John Street Stand itself.

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. For more details on this topic, see Sheffield United F.C. seasons.

• 2009–2010: 25,120
• 2010–2011: 20,632
• 2011–2012: 18,702[37]
• 2012–2013: 18,612[38]
• 2013–2014: 17,507[39]
• 2014–2015: 19,805[40]
• 2015–2016: 19,803
• 2016–2017: 21,892
• 2017–2018: 26,854
• 2018-2019: 26,175[41]

From the North:
Exit the M1 at Junction 33 following signs to Sheffield (A630) and continue along the Sheffield Parkway (A630) until you reach Park Square Roundabout (Junction 2 of the Sheffield Inner Ring Road (A61)). Take the third exit, go along the Sheffield Inner Ring Road (A61), keeping in the right lane on approach to Junction 3 Granville Square, continuing on the ring road to the next roundabout Junction 4 Bramall Lane, take the first exit.

From the South:
You can use M1 Junction 33 (as above). Depending on driving conditions, driver preference or time of day, you may want to find an alternate route:

M1 Junction 31. Follow signs for Sheffield (A57) until reaching Park Square Roundabout. (Consult North or East directions).

M1 Junction 30: Follow signs for Sheffield (A6135), following it to Junction 3 Granville Square of the Sheffield Inner Ring Road (A61). Follow signs for Bramall Lane.

M1 Junction 29: Follow signs for Chesterfield (A617). Then follow signs for Sheffield (A61(N)). Upon reaching Queens Road, turn left onto Bramall Lane (A621).

From the East:
Take the A57 into Sheffield. Taking the 3rd exit upon reaching Park Square Roundabout (Junction 2 of the Sheffield Inner Ring Road (A61)). Take the third exit, go along the Sheffield Inner Ring Road (A61), keeping in the right lane on approach to Junction 3 Granville Square, continuing on the ring road to the next roundabout Junction 4 Bramall Lane, take the first exit.

From the West:
Take the A57 into Sheffield and take the fourth exit at University Square (Junction 6 of the Inner Ring Road (A61)) onto Upper Hanover Street. At the next roundabout take the second exit and at the next roundabout Junction 4 Bramall Lane, take the third exit.

From the South West:
Follow A621 or A625 to Sheffield Inner Ring Road (A61) and follow signs for Bramall Lane.

Parking
The ground has two car parks. One on Cherry Street behind the Tony Currie Stand and one on Shorham Street behind the Kop Stand. You must have a permit to park at either car park on match days. Other parking is available in the city centre and within a 10 to 15 minute walk of the ground. On street parking in the residential areas around the ground are for resident permit holders only, under the Highfield Parking Zone.[42]

Sheffield railway station is under a mile from the ground.[43] As is Sheffield Interchange, which is a bus station and a National Express Coaches hub.

The Blue and Purple routes of the Supertram run east of the ground. The nearest stops are: Granville Road/Sheffield College (quicker for southbound journeys) or Park Grange Croft (quicker for northbound journeys). Both stops are 0.5 miles walking distance and either stops can be used in both directions. The ground is also visible from the viaduct which connects the two stops.

There are bus links outside the ground with bus stops on Shorham Street and Bramall Lane. Other bus stops located near the ground are on Charlotte Road, Queens Road and London Road. All buses from these locations will go to/from the city centre.

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 roundabout has an underpass for easy access to/from the city centre for cycles and pedestrians, with Bramall Lane itself having an on-road cycle lane running its length. Shorham Street is a signed cycle route and St. Mary's Gate (A61 Ring road) has a traffic free cycle path. There are various secured and unsecured bike parking facilities close to the ground.[45]