So, you’ve made it to Sheffield. Maybe you came for the degree, maybe for the nature, maybe by accident after missing your UCAS first choice. But here’s what you didn’t realise you signed up for: one of the most passionate sporting cities in the UK, where you’ll find yourself dressed in black and gold before you even know the rules of the game you’re watching!
The last time I walked into the Utilita Arena and the Canon Medical Arena, I wasn’t there as a fan. I was in charge of live-streaming Varsity’s most popular matches in front of the thousands of Sheffield students watching in my role as Head of Sport at ForgeTV. A year later, I found myself on the other side of the world, studying sports journalism at The University of Hong Kong under sports commentator and programme host Vien Tsang. Her module gave me the incredible opportunity to interview face-to-face Philip Chan Siu Kwan, a professional footballer who plays for the Hong Kong Premier League club Tai Po, and work on projects in the same team as windsurfing silver medallist and Olympian rep, Hayley Chan.
Now here I am, back in Sheffield, prepared for another year of sports as Forge Press’ Sports Editor. Coming back here, in this role, reminded me why Sheffield matters: because no other city makes sport feel so close, so loud, and so ours. If you’ve read the other articles in this sports section, you already know that Sheffield is the perfect sports city for students with its Wednesday and United historic football clubs, accessible Championship games, massive ice hockey fan culture at the Utilita Arena under the Steelers, fierce basketball at the Canon Medical Arena from our Sheffield Hatters and Sharks, and much more. Then, of course, there is Sheffield’s heartbeat: Varsity. But I won’t be repeating what was already said. Instead, I’m telling you that whether you packed your bags to live here for the next three years, or whether you’re already looking for jobs after graduation, our Forge community and Varsity is the ultimate Sheffield student experience, that can start right from your first year and be the last thing you ever do in Sheffield.
If you love sport, here you can commentate, write, film. Join Forge Press, TV or Radio, come along as a presenter or pundit, email Bramall Lane to volunteer for them, become the Hatter’s filming team, sit in the press box at a Wednesday match, write match reports for the Steelers, cover Varsity in roles you don’t even know they exist yet—these are all things I’ve done in the past couple years and that led to the conclusion that Sheffield isn’t just watching sport—it’s making sport: students organise, produce and edit coverage.
This is the freedom to learn by doing, in real arenas, with real audiences.
In Hong Kong, I studied sports journalism under industry giants. In Sheffield, I reported from ice rinks, rugby grounds, and Varsity arenas. One city gave me expertise, the other gave me community. That’s why I came back! Because Sheffield is where sport belongs not just to professionals, but to students. You’re part of what makes Sheffield so special!
