Hallam FC have issued an update about Sunday’s big match against Sheffield FC:
Tickets are still available to purchase in person from the Plough pub on Sandygate Road
If you have already ordered tickets online, the final date that they were posted out was 20 December. Any ordered via the internet after this date will be available for collection at the ground on the day
With supporters travelling from around the UK and abroad, a pitch inspection is planned for tomorrow (Thursday 23 December) to assess the impact of the current cold spell. Following this an update will be issued regarding the likelihood of the match taking place, as the club very much hopes it will. There will also be a pitch inspection on the day of the match
A commemorative programme and limited edition Badges (numbered 1- 150) will also be on sale on the day
We’ll pass on any news as soon as we get it after tomorrow’s pitch inspection.
A £280,000 visitors centre is likely to be built in 2011 at Sandygate after a loyal fan left Hallam football club an unexpected donation in his will.
Long-term supporter Roger Bell followed the Countrymen home and away but never told anyone at the Crosspool club his plans to leave them a financial gift when he passed away.
The money will be used to fund ground improvements, including a visitors centre and new clubhouse.
A local youth sports trust has offered its car park for the Boxing day match between Hallam FC and Sheffield FC in Crosspool.
The trustees of Crosspool & District Youth Sports Trust (CDYST) have agreed that the CDYST car park on Coldwell Lane can be used by fans attending the 150th anniversary Boxing day match at Sandygate.
On Boxing day 1860, Hallam FC played Sheffield FC in the world’s first inter-club football match. The 2010 rematch at Sandygate marks the 150th anniversary of this historical game.
Meanwhile, Hallam earned deserved point against Dinnington on Tuesday 23 November to put a stop to their run of seven straight defeats in the Northern Counties East League Premier Division. The match finished 1-1, with Neil Longhurst equalising for the Countrymen in the 64th minute.
Two matches since then have been postponed due to the weather, with the game against Liversedge rearranged for Tuesday 18 January. The Countrymen’s next outing is away at Tadcaster Albion this Tuesday night (14 December), kick off 7:45pm.
Bus operator First has announced that the current discount fares on the 51 bus running from Lodge Moor to Charnock via town are to continue until at least March 2011.
The promotional fares, which were launched last June, mean that a single journey from Crosspool to town costs £1.60, compared to the previous price of £1.95.
The operator says that the 51 has seen encouraging growth in passenger number and the price reductions continue the company’s strategy of using promotions to stimulate passenger growth.
The promotional prices for route 51 are:
Most single fares reduced
‘Local hop’ single fares from 85p
Maximum single fare £1.95
Route 51: discounted fares have stimulated growth in passenger numbers
We meet Judith Hanson, author of two local history books about Crosspool and secretary of Hallam Art Group.
Her first book, Images of England: Crosspool, contains photos and text exploring the suburb’s development over time.
Follow-up title Crosspool Through Time features many more contrasting images of Crosspool.
How long have you lived in Crosspool and what do you like about the suburb?
I have lived in Crosspool since 1979. I am originally from Hunters Bar but have also lived in Bingley, London, Cyprus and Sweden. I like Crosspool as it is so close to open countryside, it is a very friendly community and a very pleasant place to live.
Tell us about your 2003 book on Crosspool. What made you decide to write it?
My first book came about through my being a bit of an amateur artist; I am secretary of Hallam Art Group. I wanted to paint pictures of the pubs in Crosspool and it was about the time that the King’s Head was to be demolished.
I worked in the post office and asked several people if they had photos of the King’s Head in its prime – to paint from. I realised that we were losing our local History and it needed to be recorded.
I had bought the Tempus Publishing book on Ecclesall so I wrote to them and asked if a book on Crosspool was in the pipeline. They said “No, how about doing one”. So I did.
How did you go about researching the content for your books? Was it hard work?
Because I worked in the post office and knew so many people I managed to acquire a lot of info and photos. Sadly some of these original photos have already been lost on the deaths of their owners.
My first book took over my life for several months and apart from talking to people, visiting them and listening to their stories I did a lot of research in the Local Studies Library.
The first book must have sold quite well, as you produced a follow-up book in 2010. How is the second book different?
For my second book, which I said I would never do, I also took a lot of photographs. The second book shows contrasting views of now and then.
A lot of my original contributors were no longer around so I had quite a difficult job finding new photos and of course I no longer had my contacts through the post office.
Do you have plans or material for any further books about Crosspool?
I have no plans for a future book but I am sure there is scope for someone else to take up the mantle. I wish there were some books on Fulwood and Broomhill too! 
I did do one more project. I was asked after my first book if I would do some guided walks which I declined.
However, I did do a guided walk booklet which was sold at GT News. The proceeds went towards a new bench in Lydgate Green at the bottom of Lydgate Hall Crescent.
If you’re struggling for a Christmas gift idea, then have you considered Judith’s books? They are available to buy from local shops, direct from the author or online:
1. From local shops: both books are available at GT News and Crosspool Through Time is also available at Craft Angels.
2. Direct from the author: signed copies can be purchased from Judith at 25 Lydgate Hall Crescent, Sheffield S10 5NE.
The Yorkshire Post and Sheffield Star report that from next year, the council will allow Crosspool householders to select how they use their blue bin and blue box for recycling.
With the current system, residents must use the bin for bottles and the box for paper. But from April, you will be able to choose which you use for which type of item.
The news will come as a relief to elderly residents, some of whom found the boxes cumbersome to move when full of paper and also susceptible to windy and wet weather due to the detachable lid.
Crosspool News - crosspool.info 