Teddy Bears Wanted!
I want to send some teddy bears on an adventure around the world, but I'll need some help - any takers?
And... the tomtom has arrived safely at its destination. Part 2 of that trade is now in motion, more soon...
Posted by Andrew @ 11:56pm
Sheffield Rules (Trade 31)
"PS I've got Sheffield FC in the FA Cup next week - the oldest football club in the world. I'm on the line..."
That was on the end of an email message from Trade 23 Peter M Adamson to me.
Sheffield United and Sheffield Wednesday, sure, but Sheffield FC... no - I'd never heard of them!
But no matter, I already decided I wanted to do a trade with them.
Straight to www.sheffieldfc.com went I to learn more. Turned out this isn't just the world's first club, it is the club that also gave us rules and innovations, such as the first corner kick, the first free kick, the first crossbar, and even the first flood lighting.
A club of enormous historic significance then, so much so that FIFA recognised it with the Order of Merit in 2004, alongside galactic Real Madrid - these are the only football clubs in the world with this honour.
So I despatched an email to Sheffield FC on September 6th, and received back an offer to trade four days later. From me, Sheffield FC wanted the Pete Townshend letters, and from Sheffield FC... well, we had a little work to do.
After meeting up with the club's Commercial Manager, this guy called Guy, a few weeks later, Sheffield FC agreed to offer me... one life membership, plus season tickets for this and next season, plus a VIP match ticket for one person plus a guest.
That worked for me... so we had a deal!
Guy also handed me a copy of the book entitled "CELEBRATING 150 YEARS OF THE WORLD'S FIRST FOOTBALL CLUB", along with a copy of the first Sheffield FC rule book. If like me you are interested in how association football started, you can buy your own copies here (I just hope this link works!)
All that was left to do was a handshake with the chairman to make the trade official.
Sorted:
(Photo by Guy Higton!)
That's the chairman, Richard Tims, who is I'm sure quite an authority on chairs. Richard took over Sheffield FC in 1999, when there were probably less supporters showing up than players on the pitch!
Now hundreds show up, and they even have their own modern stadium!
Sheffield FC not only gave us this great football experience trade, but also made me very welcome. Guy showed me around the ground, sorted me with a mug of coffee, and I was even given membership for a year, which puts me in the company of such people as FIFA president Sepp Blatter, former England team manager Sven Goran Eriksson, rock band Def Leppard, cricketer Michael Vaughan, and World Cup winning former England goalkeeper Gordon Banks. If you want to become a member too, go to the Sheffield FC website - it's easy!
Oh and I even got to see Pele's autograph, amongst others...
(Photo by Guy Higton!)
I've always been a football fan, and supported Leeds United as a kid. Since then I hadn't aligned my allegience to any one club...
... but now that's changed - because I am now a supporter of Sheffield FC, and that's official!
The drive back from the trade took me through Rugby, right past the statue of William Webb-Ellis outside Rugby school, where another great variation of football was born - Rugby football.
And another trade is in motion, even as I type! I mailed the tomtom last week to someone in another continent, fingers crossed it gets there - of course it will! - more news on that trade soon.
So... three super special world's first football club experience items added to the mix and now up for a trade:
You can check out my current offerings below, and feel free to make me an offer of any number of your things for any number of mine. (Or, if you prefer, give me a shout).
I'm always interested in offers of anything, and I really do mean anything...
Posted by Andrew @ 11:26pm
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