The world’s oldest football clubs will go head to head in Derbyshire to celebrate the first derby ever played.
Sheffield FC and Hallam FC first clashed on 26 December 1860 with the match played under new rules drawn up by the founders of Sheffield FC, reports the BBC.
The so called “Sheffield Rules” became the basis of the modern game, introducing elements such as throw-ins and corner kicks.
Organisers said the event was to “celebrate the heritage of football”.
Chairman of Sheffield FC Richard Tims said: “Sheffield FC were founded in 1857 and we played amongst ourselves for three years, married gentleman against unmarried gentleman etc.
“Three years later we pursued another cricket club to form a football club which was Hallam FC and we played them in a challenge match and the oldest derby has been continuing ever since.”
Tims said fans from all over the world were attending the match at Sheffield FC’s home ground in Dronfield at 18:00 BST.
“In fact we’ve got 54 Nuremberg fans coming, some guys from Munich, some guys from Genoa, so you know, people who love Sheffield FC because we are the great-great grandfathers,” he added.
Hallam FC was founded in 1860 and still play at their original ground at Sandygate Road.
The site is the Guinness World Record holder for being the oldest football ground in the world.
