Later this year, Boxing Day to be precise, will see the 150th anniversary of the first football match to be played here. The cricket club was here many years before that, set up on land donated by the landlord of the Plough Inn, which still dispenses refreshment across the road from the ground.
The cricket outfield means that most of the ground's facilities stand along one side.
A closer view of the impressive seated stand.
Hallam play in the Premier Division of the Northern Counties East League, with today's opponents Atherton Collieries plying their trade one step lower in the North West Counties League Division One.
Visitors Colls are playing down the considerable slope in the first half, and they almost make a flying start, Paul Hynes seeing his chipped shot clip the bar after just 40 seconds.
At the other end of the ground, the sign proclaiming Sandygate's history, and shown in the first photo on this post, can be seen just to the left of the goal.
It is somewhat against the run of play when Hallam take an 18th minute lead, Miles Ridall given rather too much time inside the penalty area to pick his spot. However, Paul Atherton takes advantage of a short back pass to bring Colls level on 26 minutes, and the teams go in to the interval on level terms.
The setting is gloriously picturesque.
The second half could have gone either way, but Colls take the lead on 73 minutes, with captain Andy Walker converting Jonathan Bridge's free-kick at the far post, and they look to have wrapped the tie up five minutes later, Phil Williams cutting inside and finishing confidently.
The markings of the cricket boundary are just visible in this picture.
Colls miss a couple of good chances to put the outcome beyond all doubt, and face a nervy finale after Miles Ridall glances home a 88th minute header from a Danny Bainbridge cross. However, Hallam are unable to find a dramatic equaliser, and the visitors can head back to Atherton with a 3-2 win that was probably a fair reflection of the afternoon's football.
