Sheffield City Centre in South Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)

Heads or Tails?

Photographed by Ray Gurganus, May 8, 2026

1. Heads or Tails? Marker

Inscription. Flipping or tossing a coin has been used to make decisions or settle disputes since Roman times when it was known as navia aut caput (ship or head). The only time an F.A. Cup match was decided by a coin toss followed two drawn matches between Sheffield FC and Shropshire Wanderers. After the second game on the 21st November 1873, Sheffield FC's captain Harry Chambers called correctly and Sheffield FC went on to play Pilgrims. Nowadays, every match begins with the referee flipping a coin. The winning team captain decides whether to take the kick-off or choose which goal to attack first.

What decisions will you make by: Flipping a coin?

Erected 2026 by Sheffield Home of Football.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Notable Events • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is November 21, 1873.

Location. 53° 22.778′ N, 1° 27.99′ W. Marker is in Sheffield, England, in South Yorkshire. It is in Sheffield City Centre. It is at the intersection of Surrey Street and Arundel Gate on Surrey Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Surrey Street, Sheffield, England S1 2PR,

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United Kingdom. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in England’s Yorkshire & The Humber.

Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean,

in the North Atlantic Region,

in Europe,

in Atlantic Europe,

on one of the British Isles,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 10 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Tudor Square (about 150 meters away, measured in a direct line); Leopold Street (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Why a Mining Truck on Track? (approx. 8.7 kilometers away); The Old Market (approx. 9.2 kilometers away); Rotherham Parish Church (approx. 9.2 kilometers away); Welcome to Rotherham Minster (approx. 9.2 kilometers away); The Forge (approx. 9.2 kilometers away); Chantry Bridge (approx. 9.3 kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sheffield.

Also see . . . Heads or Tails? (Newlyn Society of Artists). Excerpt:

A new public sculpture by NSA member David Westby was unveiled by the mayor of South Yorkshire in Sheffield City Centre
Photographed by Ray Gurganus, May 8, 2026

2. Heads or Tails?
on 13th March 2026.

A bronze and stainless steel construction created to celebrate a moment in the history of football in Sheffield plus the fact that a spin of a coin connects players around the world at the start of a match . Commissioned by the charity ‘Sheffield Home of Football’ as the first of many works to be created for a sculpture trail highlighting football ‘firsts’ in the city. It is sited on Surrey Street between the Millenium Gallery and The Graves Art Gallery.

(Submitted on August 6, 2026.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2026, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 12 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 5, 2026, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.