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<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\nSheffield FC is the world\u2019s first football club and, according to the charity, between 1857 and 1875 half the teams in the world playing football were playing in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Stocks said: \u201cIf you take away Sheffield\u2019s innovations and inventions, such as corners and free kicks, modern football would be unrecognisable.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In 2024, SHOF reinstated their plans for their UNESCO bid which aims to accelerate the growth of tourist potential and generate more money into the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Stocks said that the charity is getting a lot of people overseas on walking tours of the city centre that are attracted by the story of Sheffield being the home of football.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said: \u201cWe\u2019ve had pockets of people from around the world. We had a group of Italian doctors who have come to Sheffield specifically because they\u2019re interested in the football culture here.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
They\u2019re hoping that the UNESCO status will raise global awareness of Sheffield\u2019s contribution to a \u2018game that is appreciated by billions of people\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The charity recently sent a five-year business plan to the Mayor\u2019s office which proposes building a museum with a series of sculpture trails.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mr Stocks believes that the \u2018careful business plan\u2019 will succeed but in order for this they need to attract the right level of funding.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He said: \u201cThe council got on board, so we\u2019re feeling that we\u2019ve got all the big dogs behind us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve still got a lot to do in the meantime to promote the city, encourage tourism and tell our story to the world which is what we\u2019re endeavouring to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n