Sheffield F.C. (“the Club”), The World’s First Football Club, is pleased to announce that it has agreed terms with a new investment partner, LSG Sports (“LSG”). The terms of the deal are not disclosed.
Founded by Nathaniel Creswick and William Prest in 1857, Sheffield F.C. is recognised by FIFA and the FA as the world’s first football club.
The club played a key role in providing the rules of modern football, playing Hallam FC on 26 December 1860, under what are now the recognised as the first commonly adopted set of rules for football in the world. The club has continued to build on this excellent heritage for the past 150 years.
LSG Sports, an investment consortium led by Marco Fabbricini and the Leoni Sceti family, will become a shareholder in this historic club, and Patrick Leoni Sceti will join the board as a director. LSG’s investment will help the club secure its future as the home of grass roots football by helping it develop its brand and marketing materials, as well as bolstering its performance on the pitch with a boost in funding for its facilities and future player development.
Richard Tims, Chairman of Sheffield FC, commented: “Over 150 years, Sheffield FC has built its heritage on the back of its strong principles of integrity, respect and community. It is crucial that all our partners share these, and it was clear from the beginning that LSG Sports did.
We look forward to working closely with LSG, having led the way in the development of modern football, we are very excited to have secured our future at the heart of the sport.”
Marco Fabbricini, Director of LSG Sports, added: “Grassroots football runs through our veins, we are first and foremost lovers of the game. It is a pleasure and a privilege to be associated with one of the true pioneers of this great sport.
Grassroots football, and the unique sense of community and authenticity that comes with it, has an integral part to play in the modern era. We look forward to supporting Sheffield FC with its aspirations to become something truly special both on and off the pitch.”
