Hillsborough
Hillsborough Stadium is the home of Sheffield Wednesday FC. The stadium has hosted World Cup and European Championship matches, but was also the site of one of the worst stadium disasters in history. It currently has a capacity of 39,732 seats.
Sheffield Wednesday moved to Hillsborough in 1899. The first match played was on the 2nd of September that year between Sheffield Wednesday and Chesterfield (5-1). At that time the stadium was still called Owlerton Stadium.
The stadium underwent a series of improvements in 1913, including the construction of a new south stand and expansions of other parts of the stadium. At the completion of the works, in 1914, the stadium got renamed Hillsborough.
The record attendance of the ground was achieved in 1934 when 72,841 people attended an FA Cup match between Wednesday and Manchester City.
In the early 1960s a new North Stand was built, the second in England with a cantilever roof. During the 1966 World Cup Hillsborough hosted three group matches and the quarter-final between West Germany and Uruguay (4-0).
In 1989 the stadium was the scene of a stadium disaster that cost the lives of 96 Liverpool fans. The fans died in a crush caused by a combination of poor crowd management, police control, and, to a lesser extent, inadequate safety measures.
A subsequent investigation into the causes of the disaster, chaired by Lord Justice Taylor, resulted in the Taylor report. Its recommendations led to, among others, the conversion of all English stadiums into all-seaters and the removal of perimeter fences.
In the early to mid 1990s Hillsborough too got converted into an all-seater, and in 1996 the stadium was one of the playing venues during the Euro 1996 tournament. The stadium hosted three group matches.
Getting there
Hillsborough Stadium is located in the north-west of the city of Sheffield, about 2.5 kilometres from Sheffield city centre and 3 kilometres from Sheffield Rail station.
From the M1, exit at junction 36, and take the A61 toward Sheffield. Follow the A61 for about 7 miles until the Leppings Lane roundabout. Take the third exit. The stadium will lie on the left side of the road.
On non-matchdays one can also take junction 33 and follow the A57 (Sheffield Parkway) toward Sheffield city centre. At approaching the city centre follow for A61 Barnsley (turn right before Park Square roundabout). Keep following for A61 Barnsley until you see the stadium on the left side of the road.
By public transport one can reach the stadium with the Sheffield Supertram. The tram can be taken from several points in the city centre (e.g. Castle Square, Cathedral, or City Hall). Take the yellow line in the direction of Middlewood. Get off at stop Leppings Lane, from where it’s a few minutes walking to the stadium.
From the bus terminal across the Rail station one can also take bus 53 (to Ecclesfield/Parson Cross), or 77 (to Chapeltown). The ride takes about 15 minutes.
Address: Hillsborough, Sheffield S6 1SW
Tickets
Tickets for Sheffield Wednesday matches can be bough online, by phone +44 (0) 871 900 1867, or at the ticket office at the stadium.
Apart from the local derby with Sheffield United, Sheffield Wednesday hardly ever sells out a match.
Tickets fall into two pricing categories. Tickets for category A matches cost either £22.00, £26.00, or £28.00, whereas tickets for category B matches cost either £20.00, £24.00, or £26.00.
Stadium tours
Sheffield Wednesday organises guided stadium tours that include the dressing room, referee room, boardroom, VIP areas, and players tunnel.
Check online, or call +44 (0) 871 900 1867 for exact dates and times, and reservations. The tour costs £10.00.
Relevant Internet links:
Swfc.co.uk – Official website of Sheffield Wednesday FC.
Sheffield.gov.uk – Sheffield tourist information.
Travelsouthyorkshire.com – Sheffield public transport information.
Keep up to date with the latest stadium news by following @stadiumguide on Twitter (all updates) or liking our Facebook page (occasional updates). 
