Jon McClure, frontman of the band Reverend and the Makers, has become chairman of Sheffield FC, the world's oldest football club. The ninth-tier side, founded in 1857, is based in Dronfield, Derbyshire, but McClure aims to eventually bring the club back to Sheffield city centre. He joins a new minority ownership group alongside David Bianchi, co-founder of Various Artists Management.
McClure, a Sheffield Wednesday fan, says he first wanted to get involved eight years ago but was not ready. Now, he hopes to raise the club's profile without turning it into a celebrity circus like Wrexham. He has already introduced free entry for children, and a recent league match attracted a record crowd of 1,172. The club finished third in the Northern Counties East League and face Tadcaster in a playoff semi-final.
McClure believes Sheffield FC's history is underappreciated. The club codified the rules of football and is one of only two clubs awarded the FIFA Order of Merit, alongside Real Madrid. 'We invented the global game,' he said. 'That story hasn't been told adequately.' He sees potential for tourism and global communication around the club's heritage.
Challenges include operating at a profit and overcoming years of dysfunction. McClure said: 'It's going to take a minute to stabilise it and then to start growing it because there's a danger of putting rocket boosters on a three-wheeler.' He has invited local musicians like Richard Hawley to matches and counts Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder as a close confidant.
