Sport

Person performing a mid-air flip on a hillside with burnt vegetation in the foreground, overlooking a cityscape with numerous buildings, trees, and distant hills under a partly cloudy sky.

The Outdoor City and Home of Football aside, we are renowned around the world for some sports, and have a lesser told history in others. Often this is because of facilities - either from our geography or our sporting centres - and other times it’s because of people from the city who achieve extraordinary things and bring their talents back to the city, such as Jess Ennis-Hill, Brendan Ingle, Steve Peat, Shauna Coxsey and Matt Fitzpatrick.

The city proudly boasts an Olympic size swimming pool and diving centre at Ponds Forge, the English Institute of Sport, London’s 2012 Olympic Hockey Pitch (relaid at Abbeydale Sports Club), two Olympic sized ice rinks at Ice Sheffield, and was a key stage for the Tour de France in 2014.

The facilities we have here made it an easy choice for the Invictus UK Trials in 2019, showcasing the city’s stance on accessibility for all in sport.

Some of the sports we're known for

Swimmer performing the butterfly stroke in an indoor pool, arms extended outward and water splashing around. The swimmer is wearing a black swim cap, and the background shows poolside railings and signage. Snooker championship celebration at an indoor arena. A player stands at the snooker table holding a trophy while photographers capture the moment. Green table surface is covered with confetti and a champagne bottle is placed on it. Behind the table, a large crowd of spectators applauds under bright stage lighting. A large crowd is watching and cheering on runners running on a road. In the background is a large wood. A large group of people on a walk through a wooded area.

Disability sport

It’s no coincidence that Invictus chose to host their trials here in 2019. We're proud to work in collaboration with Within Reach, a phenomenal charity championing disability sport for all ages to get more people into physical activity. More recently, our Move More campaign has also taken up this challenge with the sole intention of improving the health of the population and making Sheffield the most active city in the UK. This has seen them break hopscotch world records and create simple exercise plans that have seen thousands of people get involved, no matter of their ability or background.

Snooker loopy

When you’ve hosted the World Snooker Championship since 1977, and all the current and ex-players speak so fondly of their love for the city on the BBC every year, there’s really not much more to say. We are so proud to be the main event on the world calendar every year, and love taking over the city with snooker-mania to welcome visitors from around the world to the Crucible Theatre, home of snooker. 

A city of runners

Whether marathons, half-marathons or park runs are your thing, fell and endurance running, or a Round Sheffield Run, we’ve got it all. The hills here can make it challenging for first timers, but that’s exactly why the locals come to love it. Come rain or shine you’ll see plenty of people running competitively, for pleasure, or even just to commute wherever you go around town.

Running in Sheffield

Walking

We'd argue there's no better place for walking. With the Peak District National Park on our doorstep, you're spoilt for choice on routes.There's plenty of beautiful routes through the parks and woodland walks in the city too, if you prefer to keep things closer to home. 

Walking

The Outdoor City

Climbing

Sheffield is one of the climbing capitals of the world given its proximity to both the Dark Peak (gritstone) and White Peak (limestone) in the Peak District National Park on our doorstep. World famous but humble individuals such as Steve McClure, Lucy Creamer and Shauna Coxsey are all proud to be here purely for the rock, and others such as Ben set up the world famous Moon climbing brand which is still based in the city. And not forgetting Joe Simpson, whose escapades featured in the well known film, Touching the Void.

You'll also find artificial boulders in many of the parks around the city, as well as 5 indoor climbing centres (The Climbing Works, Awesome Walls, The Foundry, The Depot and Matrix). The city also hosts the British Bouldering Championships every year at Cliffhanger festival, as well as the Climbing Works International Festival (CWIF).

Climbing
Two climbers on a rocky outcrop high-fiving each other.

Mountain biking

Another example of an aspect of sport for which Sheffield is considered a mecca. John Horscroft and Mark Etches are two of the local gurus in this field, having helped to set up numerous events and exhibitions as well as trails around the city. Parkwood Springs and Lady Cannings are prime examples of world-class downhill mountain biking, whilst Greno Woods is put to good use in the Steel City Downhill. 

Mountain biking
Two cyclists riding mountain bikes along a narrow dirt trail surrounded by green shrubs, overlooking a cityscape with modern buildings, cranes, and distant hills under a bright sky.

Road cycling

For those less into mud and more into lycra, the Sheffield Grand Prix, Bradfield Hill Climb and Magnificent 7 in the road scene are revered around the world. 

Cycling
A scenic countryside view with rolling green hills and patchwork fields stretching into the distance. A narrow winding road runs through the foreground, bordered by a stone wall and patches of heather. A cyclist is riding along the road, surrounded by trees and shrubs. The background reveals a valley dotted with farms, hedgerows, and clusters of trees under an overcast sky, creating a tranquil rural atmosphere.
Child wearing a turquoise swimsuit and pink swimming goggles, partially submerged in a clear blue swimming pool with rippling water. Two people participating in a fitness class indoors, performing squats with hands clasped in front. They are wearing athletic clothing in black and pink, and exercise steps and gym equipment are visible in the background. Two ice hockey players in full gear competing for the puck on an indoor rink. One player wears a white jersey and red pants, leaning forward with a stick on the ice, while the other in a red jersey closely defends. Additional players and seating are visible in the background under bright arena lights. One of the green at the Birley Wood Golf Course.

Swimming

At the Ponds Forge complex there are some amazing swimming and diving programmes. It is home to some of the GB squads but also caters for some lesser known sports, thanks to the uniqueness of the pool’s facilities and also the large seating capacity around it - Underwater Hockey being a prime example.

Boxing

Herol Graham, Naseem Hamed, Johnny Nelson and Paul Jones were all world champions at some stage, and all were a product of Brendan Ingle’s Wincobank Gym. 

But there are plenty of others too, such as Kell Brook, and other gyms where the up and coming stars of the sport are trained, such as the Sheffield Boxing Centre run by Glyn Rhodes MBE and the Boxing centre at the English Institute of Sport who work with GB Boxing in their top class facilities.

Ice Hockey

Home to the Sheffield Steelers, Bears, Scimitars and Senators - as well as Bradfield Brewery’s SteelDogs - it’s fair to say there’s a lot of love for the ice here. What’s even more incredible is that the annual finale to the Varsity competition between the University of Sheffield and Sheffield Hallam consistently holds the record for the highest attended Varsity Ice Hockey match outside of North America, with over 7,000 students attending to watch.

Golf

It might not be the first sport to spring to mind when you think of an ex-industrial city, but there are a huge number of courses in Sheffield. And they have crafted some of the best young golfers in the country today - from Danny Willet to Holly Morgan. And if you thought Matt Fitzpatrick was doing good things, then keep an eye on his brother Alex who’s out to go one better than his older sibling!

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