Sheffield FC have announced their plans for a new 5,000 seater stadium.
The world’s oldest football club plans to return to Sheffield after moving to play in Dronfield in North Derbyshire over 20 years ago.
The ground will be shared with the rugby league club Sheffield Eagles, who will have joint ownership of the facility.
Richard Tims, chairman of Sheffield FC, said: “It has been our plan for a good number of years to try and get the right investment to move back… we want to build a physical home of football where fans can make a pilgrimage to watch the world’s first (football club).
“The plans are now in place with the city council for first phase planning and we are feeling ready to go.”
It will be situated at the Sheffield Transport Sports Club site, just off the Meadowhead roundabout, where the club was first established in 1857.
The club plans to move into the new stadium in time for the start of the 2025/26 season.
Mr Tims said: “Emotionally it is a great thing but it is more about sustainability… The revenues that we can generate outside of matchdays, bartaking and rentals for weddings, and all the other stuff that clubs do that gain that extra income we’ve not been able to do. From a sustainability point of view it’s massive.
“Football stadiums are used once a week if you’re lucky, and rugby league is in the summer so it makes absolute sense to maximise the facility by sharing it with a rugby league club.”
The facility aims to be a community hub with a museum and sports hall as well as a tourist attraction for the many football fans keen to watch the world’s oldest football club.
Mr Tims said: “New fans are always welcome, get behind the club, get behind the city. No matter what team you support, you should support your great great grandfather.”
A full video of the plans can be found on The Zoom News social media accounts.