A new immersive football experience could be coming to Sheffield, stripping back the sport to its purest forms.
Plans have been submitted to transform the former Arnold Laver timber depot on Little London Road into the country’s first Yard Ball venue.
The Yard Ball concept will transport visitors back to a time when football was football. No goal music. No half-and-half scarves. And certainly no VAR.
Reimagining the football world, evoking memories from Mexico ‘86 to France ’98 and the birth of the Premier League, Yard Ball promises to reintroduce people to football in a fun, positive and inclusive environment where players feel no pressure or judgment and are encouraged to simply enjoy the moment.
If planning permission is granted, the 50,000+ sq ft venue will undergo a £1m+ transformation to build a unique, hi-spec setting full of activities that transport adults back to a simpler time and help people of all ages discover the joys of street football.
Family, friends and visitors will be able to face off against each other, shooting against garages, finding the top bin and playing kerby in Yard Ball’s street scene, while others can practice their touch and finish as their mates throw balls down from the top floor of the purpose-built maisonette.
There’ll be a new take on the crossbar challenge and the chance to fire the balls at set targets like strategically placed pub signs and dink balls into a bin chute or a perfectly positioned ice cream truck.
Yard Ball’s high-tech features will also let visitors pit their wits against the world’s strongest AI goalkeeper, allow people to channel their inner David Beckham or recreate famous Mark Hughes volleys from down the years.
And after the fun is done, people will be able to taste the delights of the major football tournaments many of us remember fondly – from the spicy tacos inspired by Mexico ‘86, the pizza and pasta from Italia ‘90 to the pie and peas or fish and chips from Euro ‘96. Adults can sample a pint from the social club, kids can try a coke float and there’s the chance to have the best football-themed birthday party anyone could wish for.
A Yard Ball spokesman said: “One-man Wembley, spot, kerby – the games we all played as kids are back.
“Anyone who played football as a child knows the feeling of practicing their skills on the street, car park or field. Remember when Gazza sent Colin Hendry for a hot dog? Ever try and recreate Tony Yeboah’s crossbar-bashing volleys? Those days are coming back.
“While football is a multi-billion-pound industry, for us it’s simply just a sport. And sport is first and foremost about enjoyment.
“Early memories of football are what shape our future relationships with it. Those fortunate enough to grow up in a period where we created memories on our own doorstep know football is about expression, not pressure.
“By stripping back football to what it should be – fun with a ball with your mates or family – Yard Ball will provide a much-needed escape from the pressures of modern-day football and provide new and exciting opportunities to create memories that will last a lifetime.
“We’re thankful to the amazing Laver family – a true football family – for trusting us with our vision and desire to transform their old building into something which cements Sheffield’s place as the home of the beautiful game – no matter who you support.”
Proposals were submitted to Sheffield City Council in June 2023. If given the green light, redevelopment work will start this autumn and it is envisaged Yard Ball will open to the public in early 2024.
Yard Ball’s proposals also include community engagement plans to meet the Football Association’s ambitious goals to encourage more people, particularly from under-represented groups, to engage with the sport.
