Shaw was also the victorious captain of the world’s first football tournament and helped to unify the rules of the game, Mr Wood said.
He was born in 1830 in Penistone, the son of a bootmaker, and moved to Sheffield in 1853, after marrying local girl Mary Ann Garnett.
Shaw started to organise kickabouts with other men near East Bank Park and “loved his football,” Mr Wood said.
In 1857 Sheffield Football Club was established by Nathaniel Creswick and William Prest, with Shaw becoming the first club captain.
In 1860, he set up his own club, Hallam FC.
He was the winning captain of the Youdan Cup, the first football tournament, in 1867.
“Modern football was forged during the two decades between 1857-1877,” Mr Wood said.
“Sheffield was the world’s leading crucible during this formative time and developments in the world’s first city of football helped ignite developments nationally.”
