Sheffield United Cricket Club
Sheffield United Cricket Club was the first sports club or association in England to bear the word ’United’ in its name, common amongst association football clubs in England today. Sheffield United Cricket Club was formed in 1854, by several local cricket clubs in Sheffield uniting, thus the name. The inclusion of ‘United’ in the name also distinguished it from the existing and longer-established Sheffield Cricket Club.
In 1854, M. J. Ellison, agent for the Duke of Norfolk, sought to establish a cricket ground in Sheffield. A piece of land was leased from the Duke of Norfolk. Local clubs were brought together as ‘Sheffield United Cricket Club’ to manage and play on the ground to be built on the land, with Ellison as President. The ground that was built on the land was completed in 1855, and called Bramall Lane. Sheffield United Cricket Club was a management committee, but did not have a team playing in that name until 1895.
The cricket clubs shared Bramall Lane with Sheffield FC, the world's oldest association football club, between 1862 and 1875, and with The Wednesday from 1880 to 1887. In 1889, the management committee decided to form a football club to replace Sheffield Wednesday, who had departed Bramall Lane in a dispute over gate receipts. Bearing the same name, Sheffield United FC was formed, not only to keep the cricket players together during the winter close season, but to generate the lost revenue following Wednesday's exit.
Sheffield United Cricket Club won its first trophy in 1896, the Sheffield Challenge Cup against Kilnhurst. In 1900, the club was a founder member of the Yorkshire League.
The cricket club left Bramall Lane in 1973.
Sheffield United Cricket Club are currently in the South Yorkshire Cricket League and play at Sheffield Hallam University Sports Park, Bawtry Road, Tinsley, Sheffield.
