Football Coverage in the Papers of the Sheffield Telegraph, c.1890–1915

Abstract

In specialist newspaper coverage of football between the 1880s and 1910s, two of provincial England's most vibrant cultural products were brought together. From 1870 onwards many provincial newspapers enjoyed enormous popularity.1 National daily papers from London were yet to dominate the market and the local press occupied an important role in provincial life. Association football (hereafter football) had become a major participant sport and England's most popular spectator sport. By 1915 few major urban centres were without their own professional football team and in 1913, 15 clubs attracted over 20,000 fans on average each Saturday.2