Sheffield United Community Foundation to bring under-represented groups to Bramall Lane for first matches

Sheffield United Community Foundation is launching a fan-focused project to help under-represented groups and local people attend matches at Bramall Lane for the first time, backed by the Premier League Fans Fund. The Foundation will use the club's reach to engage fan groups who are under-represented in the Bramall Lane crowd, with the aim of making matchdays feel open to everyone in the city. David Bly, the Foundation's chief operating officer, said: "Football has the power to bring people together, creating a sense of belonging that extends far beyond the pitch... This project will help us better understand and respond to the needs of our fans, ensuring football continues to be an inclusive, welcoming environment where everyone feels valued and able to take part." The Fans Fund is open to professional club charities across the Premier League, EFL and both Women's Super League divisions. After an initial £5 million commitment for 2023-2025, the Premier League has put a further £5 million into the fund for 2026-2028, administered through the Premier League Foundation. The first phase supported more than 100 projects, reaching over 18,000 participants across nearly 9,000 sessions, and 137 fan-led projects are being funded in the 2026/27 season. For the sport for good sector, the Sheffield project shows what the fund is for: the stadium itself is the asset. Plenty of people grow up streets away from a ground without ever feeling it belongs to them. A club foundation using its matchday to change that is community work in the truest sense.