Sport and health

Get moving: a city full of climbers, cyclists, ramblers and runners

In Sheffield, Sport can be anything you want it to be. Training to be a world-class athlete. Competing for fun. Or meeting friends and trying out something new.

Our students love to get together and play all kinds of sports. Our elite athletes are supported to thrive through our Elite Sports Performance Scheme. Hundreds of students are in teams, playing in our sport leagues.

Others just like a casual game of five-a-side once a week, or a social run. In a city packed with activity, you’ll find groups perfectly suited to your interests and fitness level.

We've got all the facilities you need. Two full sized synthetic turf pitches. A fully equipped gym and fitness centre. A fibreglass moulded bouldering wall. A 33m indoor heated pool.

Students enjoy discounted memberships and flexible options to use our facilities.

If you love the outdoors, the Peak District National Park is right on your doorstep. Climbers flock to Sheffield for the excellent array of indoor climbing walls. From the Monsal Trail to picturesque reservoir loops, the nearby Peak District has tons of glorious routes to charm cyclists and walkers.

It’s also the perfect place to try something a bit different, including BMX, skateboarding, caving and rowing. This city is full of active and supportive people, keen to find new devotees for the sport they love.

Letting off steam, being social and keeping active are all big boosters for our wellbeing - and with so much on offer, you’ll find it easy to discover the sport that works for you.

Take part in Sport at Sheffield

The facilities at Goodwin (the University’s sports centre) are amazing. I've had professional help from the coaches there – they tailor programmes to help you improve. And being able to train on ice at Ice Sheffield at least three times a week allows me to put everything I do in the gym into practice.

My advice for new students? Take every opportunity that comes your way because in Sheffield the opportunities are endless and you don’t know where it could take you.

By taking every opportunity I have made Team GBU and played my first professional ice hockey game

Solomon Smith

Economics and Philosophy

Sheffield Varsity

Each year, students from the city’s two universities compete at venues across the city region for the coveted varsity trophy. Events include a wide and diverse range of individual and team sports. Everything from road cycling, climbing and American football to the biggest ice hockey event outside of North America.

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Events are enthusiastically attended by students and the wider university community. In 2023 the University of Sheffield were crowned the Varsity champions. Will you be part of team Black and Gold?

I was amazed by how dramatically emotional I was – waving, shouting and feeling the indescribable joy and overwhelming frustration, with hundreds of people sharing the same faith in our team

Tansy Liu

Journalism

Watch sport

Beyond university, Sheffield has a rich sporting culture. Sports fans will find teams to fall in love with and exhilarating sports to get involved in across Sheffield.

As well as two professional sides in Sheffield Wednesday and United, the city is a hotbed of grassroots football and the birthplace of the modern game. Founded in 1857, Sheffield FC is the world's oldest club. Just across the city you'll find Hallam FC playing at Sandygate – the oldest football stadium on Earth.

Choose to watch ice hockey with the Sheffield Steelers, both codes of rugby with the Sheffield Tigers and Eagles, the Sheffield Sharks and Sheffield Hatters basketball sides, and speedway at Owlerton Stadium – the fastest track in Britain.

Or sink your teeth into entire tournaments, including the legendary World Snooker championships at the Crucible and the electrifying British Bouldering Championships on Devonshire Green.