It was common in the late 19th century for clubs to organise a sports day at the end of the season - 
partly as a piece of end of season fun, and partly as a fund raiser.

In the 1860's and 70's these sports days commonly attracted larger attendances than any 
of the season's football matches.

The Wednesday Cricket and Football club organised its first sports day at the end of its 
very first season, 1867.

Wednesday Athletic Sports                                                                                                        
April 18th 1869

at Bramall Lane in front of a crowd of 2000

Boys from the charity school were invited and ended proceedings by leading a community sing song.

events included

Walking Mile
30y kick at goal
300y steeplechase
100y for veterens
2 miles
120y
half mile
sack race
150y hurdles
quarter mile
1 mile
200y
700y steeplechase
horizontal & Parallel bars
singlesticks ?

Wednesday Sports                                                                                                                    
1874 Easter Monday
At Bramall Lane in front of 7-8000
admission 6d(ladies free)
included a bicycle race

Ashes were laid down to form a running track

competitors from London, Liverpool, Manchester, Derby, Halifax for bike race

H Hawksley - Starter
FS Chambers - Judge
W Fearnehough - ass. Judge
C Hill - Clerk of Course

Wednesday Sports Day                                                                                                             
May 1883
at Bramall Lane

14 events
Druids Band played

2 miles
120y won by TE Cawley
Bicycle Race included J Fountain who only had 1 leg - he won his heat and finished 3rd in the final
440y steeplechase - W Mosforth
Players Race - A Smith
300y - H Cawthorne
150y H J Hudson
3m Bike Race - Ambler
Charity Boys race (for money collected in the crowd)
1 mile - W Russel
440y - F Stokes
880y - W Russel
220y CL Stratford
700y Steeplechase - FJ Newbould
Consolation Scramble - started at 1.30 - 6.00

More Information to come