An art feature celebrating Sheffield’s rich footballing history has been unveiled this week, illustrating the one and only time an FA Cup tie has been settled by a coin flip.
After four years of fundraising, the project raised the required £53,500 and the artwork now sits outside Leader House on Surrey Street, Sheffield.
The sculpture, commissioned by the charity, Sheffield Home of Football, aims to commemorate a “significant event in Sheffield’s football history” whilst shedding light on a story unknown to many.
Steve Ingall, 66, of Greenhill, who volunteers for Sheffield Home of Football, said: “I think the city of Sheffield and the people of Sheffield need to embrace the story.
“With this, fingers crossed we can get some global recognition of Sheffield being the birthplace of football.”
The artwork comes soon after the launch of Sheffield Home of Football’s bid for UNESCO World Heritage Status to formally recognise the city as the birthplace of modern football and Reverend and the Makers frontman, Jon McClure, announcing he was Sheffield FC’s new chairman.
Mr Ingall added: “Anything that gets the name outside of Sheffield then that’s a great thing for the city.
“The thing that [Jon McClure becoming chairman] does is preserve Sheffield FC. By preserving Sheffield FC, we preserve the story.”
The piece was produced by Sheffield sculptor, David Westby, alongside a handful of craftsmen from across the city, to both celebrate Sheffield’s history and pay tribute to Westby’s brother, Martin, who was a historian on football and a founder of Sheffield Home of Football.
Steph Pierre, 63, of Norton, said: “I like the design. It would be really handy to have a sign saying ‘come down here and look at this’ because it is really good.”
The sculpture, titled “Heads or Tails”, illustrates the story of the only FA Cup tie to be settled by a coin toss, following Sheffield FC drawing two games against Shropshire Wanders on November 21, 1873.
Sheffield FC captain, Harry Chambers, correctly called the coin toss, resulting in Sheffield FC progressing to the next round, with his actions that day now immortalised forever in bronze.
