Heeley F.C.

1879 kit

Heeley were one of the major teams in the area during the 1860s and 70s. The club was founded by attendees of the Christ Church in Heeley, in 1862[1] and played to the Sheffield rules until the merger with the Football Association in 1877. The club was named after the Sheffield suburb of the same name; until 1870 the club played at Wellsbrook Park before moving to Meersbrook.

Heeley was involved in the formation of the Sheffield Football Association and played in the Youdan Cup. They built a fierce rivalry with The Wednesday, and met them in the first ever final of the Sheffield Challenge Cup at Bramall Lane, losing 3–4 after extra-time. They would go on to lose a further four Challenge Cup finals, but did win the final in 1882.

Their best player was Jack Hunter who played seven times for England[2] and captained them once. They also had Peter Andrews, a Scottish International who played against England in 1875. Jack Hudson started his career at Heeley before joining Sheffield and then The Wednesday, and made one appearance for England.[3]

Heeley entered the FA Cup throughout the 1880s, progressing the furthest into the competition with their maiden entry, a run to the fourth round of 1881–82, all achieved without leaving Sheffield: a home tie with Lockwood Brothers followed by short away trips to Sheffield and The Wednesday either side of a third-round bye. In their second attempt, in 1882–83, Heeley progressed to the second round after Grantham scratched only to lose 7–2 to Nottingham Forest. Forest would repeat the trick at the same stage two years on, after Heeley lost to their city rivals–Notts County–in the first round the intervening season. Having ended Eckington Works' involvement in the first round of 1885–86, Heeley's luck against Nottinghamshire clubs continued to elude them, this time Notts Rangers sinking the Sheffielders with a 1–6 away win.

The 1886–87 FA Cup campaign saw them beaten by Grimsby Town in the first round. Their start to the following edition was far better: a 9–0 win over nearby Attercliffe, however another Sheffield side, Owlerton, put Heeley out in round two. 1888–89 saw them having to qualify for the first round beating Redcar 6–1, South Bank 2–1, Park Grange 3–1 and finally, revenge against Owlerton 5–1. They lost the first round to Walsall Town Swifts, and would never make the tournament proper again. Their final season in the FA Cup ended in the second qualifying round, losing to Sheffield United, though their final entries saw them withdraw from the 1890–91 and 1891–92 FA Cup qualifying rounds at the first hurdle.

In 1898, a new team from Heeley (Heeley Friends) was founded, and by 1899 it seems to have absorbed Heeley, as there are no further references to the club.

The club's original colours were grey and white hoops. In 1877 the club changed to puce and black hoops with a red cap,[8] and from 1879 the club wore violet and black hoops.[9]

• Jack Hunter, player-trainer of the Blackburn Olympic Cup-winning team, and who earned England caps while a player with Heeley[10]

• Jack Hudson, also capped for England while a Heeley player[11]

• Peter Andrews, Scotland international

• Best FA Cup performance: 4th Round, 1881–82