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Billy Sharp

Sheffield United

Sheffield United

Sheffield United badge

Sheffield United are back in the Premier League for the first time since 2006/2007. The club was one of the founder members of the Premier League (1992/93) and also scored the first-ever Premier League goal when Brian Deane got the opener in a 2-1 win against Manchester United. Bramall Lane, Sheffield United's stadium, is the oldest major stadium in the world where professional football is still played and 2019/20 will see its fourth season of Premier League football. 

The Club

The Blades

  • Stadium: Bramall Lane  
  • Stadium Capacity: 32,609
  • Location: Sheffield
  • Founded: 1889
  • Nickname: The Blades
  • Manager: Chris Wilder
  • Kit: Red and white striped shirts with black shorts and red socks

Sheffield United was formed in 1889 and was one of the founder members of the second division of English football when that division was formed in 1892. The club's glory years were in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century when the club won their only Football League Championship (1897/98) and the FA Cup four times (1899, 1902, 1915 & 1925). Sheffield United have played, for most of their history, in the top two divisions of English football but, at times, have also been down to the lower divisions and are one of only five teams to have won all four divisional titles in English football (the other four teams are Burnley, Portsmouth, Wolves and Preston). 

Bramall Lane is the oldest major stadium in world football.

The City

Sheffield

Sheffield is in the north of England, in Yorkshire, and traditionally, is one of the biggest football cities in the UK, although perhaps not one of the most successful. The Sheffield Derby or Steel City Derby, against the 'other' team in Sheffield, is one of the most passionate in the country. As the name of the derby match suggests, Sheffield is famous for its production and development of steel goods such as cutlery (knives and forks). As Sheffield United is based in the heart of the city (Sheffield Wednesday is based in Hillsborough - a suburb of Sheffield) the club probably has more of an affinity with the city's heritage. The club's nickname is the Blades after all!

Sheffield is also home to the world's oldest football club but it is neither United or Wednesday. Sheffield FC was formed in 1857 and play at the eighth level of English football and are officially recognised as the oldest existing football club in the world by FIFA. The club originally played according to Sheffield Rules. Some of the rules and innovations of football that were introduced by Sheffield Rules include:

  • free kicks
  • corner kicks
  • only goalkeepers being allowed to handle the ball 
  • heading the ball

William 'Fatty' Foulke was Sheffield United's goalkeeper the last time they won the League Championship!

The Manager

Chris Wilder

Chris Wilder is the manager of the team he supported as a boy and played at as a player.

Chris Wilder took control at Sheffield United in May 2016. The Blades had just finished eleventh in their sixth consecutive season in League One (the third level of English football) and were going through one of the worst spells of their entire history. Wilder who is from Sheffield and is a Sheffield United fan, ex-Sheffield United ball boy and ex-Sheffield United player, got the team promoted in his first season at the helm. After one season of consolidation, Wilder got Sheffield United promoted again in 2018/19, but this time it was to the Premier League. Under Wilder, United have played an attacking style of football which includes central defenders playing as wingers at times. This unique style has suited the team and also won Wilder the League Managers Association (LMA) Coach of the Year Award 2019 beating Manchester City's Pep Guardiola into second place.

Players

Three to Watch

Chris Wilder's promotion squad contained only players from the UK and Ireland but Wilder has since added Lys Mousset, a French forward who has been bought from Bournemouth for a club-record transfer fee. That club record has, in fact, been broken three times since the club got promoted as they have also brought in key players from the Championship (second level of English football). Here are three players to watch out for in the Premier League this season:

Striker

Billy Sharp

Billy Sharp was Sheffield United's top scorer last season.

Sharp is in his third spell with the Blades and it's this third spell at the club that has been most successful. The boyhood Sheffield United fan and captain has scored at a rate of one goal every two matches over the last four seasons and has over 100 goals for the club. Sharp and United fans will be hoping his second chance at Premier League football will be more successful than his first. He played only twice for Southampton and failed to score a goal.

Fact

No player in all four divisions of English football has scored more goals than Billy Sharp this century! 

Goalkeeper

Dean Henderson

Dean Henderson is England's under-21's goalkeeper and on a season-long loan from Manchester United.

Henderson will be playing Premier League football for the first time after keeping more clean sheets than any other goalkeeper in the Championship last season. The Manchester United goalkeeper has returned to Sheffield United for a second season-long loan. In his first season at Bramall Lane, the 23-year-old became a fan favourite. Last season he won Sheffield United's Young Player of the Year Award and the Championship's Golden Glove Award. He is currently the England Under-21's first-choice goalkeeper. 

Fact

Sheffield United are the oldest professional team called 'United'. Sheffield 'United' cricket club was formed in 1854 and Sheffield 'United' football club created in 1889. 

New Signing

Ravel Morrison

Ravel Morrison came through the ranks at Manchester United. In the photo he is in front of Paul Pogba.

Morrison has arrived at Bramall Lane on a free transfer and is one of the few players in the squad with Premier League experience. Morrison was a youth player at Manchester United and was in the same team as Paul Pogba and Jesse Lingard when they won the FA Youth Cup in 2011. Since that high point, Morrison who was described by Alex Ferguson as the most naturally talented youngster he had ever signed has played for eight different clubs and despite glimpses of his talent has not yet performed to the level people expected eight years ago. Sheffield United will hope that now is the time for Morrison to show what Alex Ferguson saw in him.

Fact

The beaten finalists in that Youth Cup win for Morrison, Pogba and Lingard were Sheffield United (6-3 on aggregate). 

Prediction

2020/21: 11th

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Talk about Sheffield United

What do you know about the Blades? Are you a Sheffield United fan?

Do you know any of their players? Have you seen any Sheffield United matches?

Where do you think Sheffield United will finish in the Premier League this season? Do you agree with our prediction?

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Komentar

Denis2000
02/03/2023
BY
540
points

I know the Blades beat Spurs in the FA Cup 22/23

Petr Kachuro

They will finish on the second place in the Championship 22/23


Denis2000
02/03/2023 08:46
Belarus
Tottenham Hotspur
540

I know the Blades beat Spurs in the FA Cup 22/23

Petr Kachuro

They will finish on the second place in the Championship 22/23

Rath6180's picture
Rath6180
19/01/2023
GB
759
points

Sheffield are no longer in the Premier League, I think they will finish 4th in the Championship League this season.


Rath6180's picture
Rath6180
19/01/2023 10:10
United Kingdom
Liverpool
759

Sheffield are no longer in the Premier League, I think they will finish 4th in the Championship League this season.

hsn's picture
hsn
14/08/2022
TR
5474
points

Worl oldest club also contributed football rules.What a great honour.


hsn's picture
hsn
14/08/2022 16:04
Turkey
Tottenham Hotspur
5474

Worl oldest club also contributed football rules.What a great honour.

Gabriel Amaral's picture
Gabriel Amaral
09/04/2021
BR
1512
points

I knew The Blades last season, when they performed a stunning year in the Premier League, finishing in a high position at the table. I'm not a fan and don't know many players, but I'm not happy that they couldn't perfome as good as they did last season and are fated to relegation this year.


Gabriel Amaral's picture
Gabriel Amaral
09/04/2021 18:11
Brazil
Arsenal
1512

I knew The Blades last season, when they performed a stunning year in the Premier League, finishing in a high position at the table. I'm not a fan and don't know many players, but I'm not happy that they couldn't perfome as good as they did last season and are fated to relegation this year.

Davis1727
06/02/2021
PE
76
points

Good.


Davis1727
06/02/2021 16:05
Peru
Wolverhampton Wanderers
76

Good.

LewMill
21/06/2020
GB
2
points

The idea that "Sheffield United have more affinity with the city's heritage" is an absolute myth. Firstly, Wednesday were the original "Blades" before adopting the "Owls" and United then took the second hand nickname. Secondly, Wednesday used to play near to Bramall Lane, which by the way IS NOT heart of the city which is S1, Bramall Lane is S2. Even when Wednesday moved to Hillsborough many fans still travelled from the city centre to watch The Owls. Wednesday have as much affinity with the city's heritage as United if not more, formed in the city centre, oldest professional team in Sheffield, most successful, the original Blades and the original team of the steelworks. You're clearly not from Sheffield


LewMill
21/06/2020 19:47
United Kingdom
Everton
2

The idea that "Sheffield United have more affinity with the city's heritage" is an absolute myth. Firstly, Wednesday were the original "Blades" before adopting the "Owls" and United then took the second hand nickname. Secondly, Wednesday used to play near to Bramall Lane, which by the way IS NOT heart of the city which is S1, Bramall Lane is S2. Even when Wednesday moved to Hillsborough many fans still travelled from the city centre to watch The Owls. Wednesday have as much affinity with the city's heritage as United if not more, formed in the city centre, oldest professional team in Sheffield, most successful, the original Blades and the original team of the steelworks. You're clearly not from Sheffield

admin's picture
admin
21/06/2020
GB
560
points

Ha ha - thanks for your comment. As it happens, I was born in Sheffield but moved away when I was a child, but Rich (who wrote this piece) was born and raised there. However, he is a Sheffield United fan.

These articles are designed for language learners and while we would prefer to be factually accurate, concentrate more on language. I will get Rich to take a look and revise the content of the article to reflect the points you have raised. 

Thanks again for commenting. It's good for us to be corrected now and again.

Jack

The Premier Skills English Team


admin's picture
admin
21/06/2020 20:13
United Kingdom
Arsenal
560

Ha ha - thanks for your comment. As it happens, I was born in Sheffield but moved away when I was a child, but Rich (who wrote this piece) was born and raised there. However, he is a Sheffield United fan.

These articles are designed for language learners and while we would prefer to be factually accurate, concentrate more on language. I will get Rich to take a look and revise the content of the article to reflect the points you have raised. 

Thanks again for commenting. It's good for us to be corrected now and again.

Jack

The Premier Skills English Team

LewMill
21/06/2020
GB
2
points

The Blades like to think they've got more to do with the city's history than Wednesday, they seen to get some strange kick from it despite it being completely untrue, so I sense a bit of bias here haha. Truth being both clubs are working class and have ties to the local industry of the city, United love to point out that Wednesday aren't in the city centre, must just be their little brother instincts kicking in ;)


LewMill
21/06/2020 20:16
United Kingdom
Everton
2

The Blades like to think they've got more to do with the city's history than Wednesday, they seen to get some strange kick from it despite it being completely untrue, so I sense a bit of bias here haha. Truth being both clubs are working class and have ties to the local industry of the city, United love to point out that Wednesday aren't in the city centre, must just be their little brother instincts kicking in ;)

Rich's picture
Rich
22/06/2020
ES
594
points

Hi LewMill,

Thanks for getting in touch about this. As Jack mentioned, I am a Blade and born and raised in Sheffield. I have supported the club for around 40 years now. As you noticed, there were a couple of sentences that were purely tongue in cheek especially when I mentioned 'the other club' i.e Sheffield Wednesday. If you are from Sheffield I imagine, like me, you have many close friends that are both United and Wednesday fans and we often enjoy winding each other up and the general banter that goes along with that. The semi-final in 1993 was one of my best and worst football memories!

I actually did know that Wednesday used to be called the Blades but from my admittedly limited research, I thought that all sports clubs from Sheffield were known as either the Blades or the Cutlers in the mid to late 1800s? I wouldn't go as far to say that I hope Wednesday get promoted in the next season or two but I do miss the Steel City Derby and I know that it would be amazing for the city (and many of my friends) if Sheffield had two Premier League teams once again.

https://premierskillsenglish.britishcouncil.org/fans/fan-week/rich


Rich's picture
Rich
22/06/2020 13:56
Spain
Liverpool
594

Hi LewMill,

Thanks for getting in touch about this. As Jack mentioned, I am a Blade and born and raised in Sheffield. I have supported the club for around 40 years now. As you noticed, there were a couple of sentences that were purely tongue in cheek especially when I mentioned 'the other club' i.e Sheffield Wednesday. If you are from Sheffield I imagine, like me, you have many close friends that are both United and Wednesday fans and we often enjoy winding each other up and the general banter that goes along with that. The semi-final in 1993 was one of my best and worst football memories!

I actually did know that Wednesday used to be called the Blades but from my admittedly limited research, I thought that all sports clubs from Sheffield were known as either the Blades or the Cutlers in the mid to late 1800s? I wouldn't go as far to say that I hope Wednesday get promoted in the next season or two but I do miss the Steel City Derby and I know that it would be amazing for the city (and many of my friends) if Sheffield had two Premier League teams once again.

https://premierskillsenglish.britishcouncil.org/fans/fan-week/rich

mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
15/06/2020
TR
6473
points

Sheffield United is such a historical team with a lot of heritage and the team plays in a very complete system. They remind me by the German Die Mannschaft in the way they are organised technically and tactically.
My favourite players from the Blades are for sure Dean Henderson ( our future goalie ) and John Lundstram because he gets me lots of points in the Fantasy Premier League :)
I think Sheffield United will end up in the 6th or 7th place this season.


mobeckham's picture
mobeckham
15/06/2020 21:15
Turkey
Manchester United
6473

Sheffield United is such a historical team with a lot of heritage and the team plays in a very complete system. They remind me by the German Die Mannschaft in the way they are organised technically and tactically.
My favourite players from the Blades are for sure Dean Henderson ( our future goalie ) and John Lundstram because he gets me lots of points in the Fantasy Premier League :)
I think Sheffield United will end up in the 6th or 7th place this season.

Hector Pinzon's picture
Hector Pinzon
25/04/2020
CO
496
points

·I don't know nothing about this club.
·I have seen some Sheffield United matches because I like so much English Football.
· They are a small team in the Premier League.


Hector Pinzon's picture
Hector Pinzon
25/04/2020 01:15
Colombia
Manchester United
496

·I don't know nothing about this club.
·I have seen some Sheffield United matches because I like so much English Football.
· They are a small team in the Premier League.

Sargis from Artsakh's picture
Sargis from Artsakh
01/01/2020
AM
244
points

The oldest football club in the world. My congratulations with return in the Premier League. Now Sheffield United situated on 8 place and i think, what Sheffield has real chances to stay in the Premier League.


Sargis from Artsakh's picture
Sargis from Artsakh
01/01/2020 17:17
Armenia
Arsenal
244

The oldest football club in the world. My congratulations with return in the Premier League. Now Sheffield United situated on 8 place and i think, what Sheffield has real chances to stay in the Premier League.

DaniOrtiz's picture
DaniOrtiz
02/12/2019
ES
12
points

The fat boy Billy Sharp is an idol for the @lamediainglesa supporters in spain :)

It is also interesting the Sheffield Rules in a history of football.


DaniOrtiz's picture
DaniOrtiz
02/12/2019 11:45
Spain
Leicester City
12

The fat boy Billy Sharp is an idol for the @lamediainglesa supporters in spain :)

It is also interesting the Sheffield Rules in a history of football.

Rich's picture
Rich
02/12/2019
ES
594
points

Yes, Billy Sharp's bio on Twitter says 'I'm just that fat lad from Sheffield' :)

It's a pity he hasn't played too much so far this season. I'm sure he'll get a chance later in the season.

Thanks for your comment, Dani.

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
02/12/2019 12:04
Spain
Liverpool
594

Yes, Billy Sharp's bio on Twitter says 'I'm just that fat lad from Sheffield' :)

It's a pity he hasn't played too much so far this season. I'm sure he'll get a chance later in the season.

Thanks for your comment, Dani.

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

jjosebadillo's picture
jjosebadillo
28/11/2019
MX
435
points

I didn't know anything about the club,
but I want to know more


jjosebadillo's picture
jjosebadillo
28/11/2019 01:21
Mexico
Wolverhampton Wanderers
435

I didn't know anything about the club,
but I want to know more

RafaelRC's picture
RafaelRC
31/08/2019
BR
663
points

I didn't know Sheffield United, but I hope they stay on Premier League.

The blades of team shield represent the production of steel, I think. But why this kind of sword? Something about Arabia? And what represents the rose above the swords?


RafaelRC's picture
RafaelRC
31/08/2019 00:58
Brazil
Wolverhampton Wanderers
663

I didn't know Sheffield United, but I hope they stay on Premier League.

The blades of team shield represent the production of steel, I think. But why this kind of sword? Something about Arabia? And what represents the rose above the swords?

Rich's picture
Rich
28/11/2019
ES
594
points

Hi Rafael

The sword is also about Sheffield's connection to the steel industry. The sharp, metal parts of a sword or knife are called blades, which is Sheffield United's nickname. The white rose is the emblem of Yorkshire, the region which Sheffield is in.

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
28/11/2019 08:05
Spain
Liverpool
594

Hi Rafael

The sword is also about Sheffield's connection to the steel industry. The sharp, metal parts of a sword or knife are called blades, which is Sheffield United's nickname. The white rose is the emblem of Yorkshire, the region which Sheffield is in.

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

ldzingirai's picture
ldzingirai
26/08/2019
ZW
1742
points

I know nothing about Sheffield United and its players. I did watch some of their matches. It is a stubborn side. I am not surprised it may finish in the top six.


ldzingirai's picture
ldzingirai
26/08/2019 06:53
Zimbabwe
Chelsea
1742

I know nothing about Sheffield United and its players. I did watch some of their matches. It is a stubborn side. I am not surprised it may finish in the top six.

englishman
05/08/2019
DZ
1734
points

The boy and his father it's fantastic


englishman
05/08/2019 19:08
Algeria
Manchester City
1734

The boy and his father it's fantastic

englishman
04/08/2019
DZ
1734
points

I hope for sheffield united that finish in the 3 rd place.


englishman
04/08/2019 11:58
Algeria
Manchester City
1734

I hope for sheffield united that finish in the 3 rd place.

wsanta's picture
wsanta
31/07/2019
AR
5086
points

I knew Sheffield United when I saw the last Championship. I support by Leeds United, this was disappointing


wsanta's picture
wsanta
31/07/2019 13:20
Argentina
Leeds United
5086

I knew Sheffield United when I saw the last Championship. I support by Leeds United, this was disappointing

Rich's picture
Rich
31/07/2019
ES
594
points

Hi wsanta,

Have you been a fan of Leeds Utd for a long time or are you a fan of Marcelo Bielsa? He's a great manager but he couldn't get Leeds promoted last season. Did you know that Sheffield United nearly signed Diego Maradona in the 1970s? I think their history might have been different if they had!!

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
31/07/2019 14:52
Spain
Liverpool
594

Hi wsanta,

Have you been a fan of Leeds Utd for a long time or are you a fan of Marcelo Bielsa? He's a great manager but he couldn't get Leeds promoted last season. Did you know that Sheffield United nearly signed Diego Maradona in the 1970s? I think their history might have been different if they had!!

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

wsanta's picture
wsanta
31/07/2019
AR
5086
points

Hi Rich
I support Leeds for Marcelo, I love watching their teams, as they always go to attack. I didn't know that about Maradona.
Thanks


wsanta's picture
wsanta
31/07/2019 18:37
Argentina
Leeds United
5086

Hi Rich
I support Leeds for Marcelo, I love watching their teams, as they always go to attack. I didn't know that about Maradona.
Thanks

Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
31/07/2019
UA
4408
points

Hi Rich,
On 28th of September Sheffield United will play against Liverpool, it seems to be a hard choice to you which team to support.
And my congratulations on the Blades’ promotion to the Premier League, I hope they will show a good football and have a great result at the end of this season.


Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
31/07/2019 08:59
Ukraine
Watford
4408

Hi Rich,
On 28th of September Sheffield United will play against Liverpool, it seems to be a hard choice to you which team to support.
And my congratulations on the Blades’ promotion to the Premier League, I hope they will show a good football and have a great result at the end of this season.

Rich's picture
Rich
31/07/2019
ES
594
points

Hi Liubomyr,

Yes, it definitely will be. I'm going to speak a little about this dilemma in this week's podcast! You should watch out for our overlapping centre-backs! Have you heard of that before?

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team


Rich's picture
Rich
31/07/2019 12:53
Spain
Liverpool
594

Hi Liubomyr,

Yes, it definitely will be. I'm going to speak a little about this dilemma in this week's podcast! You should watch out for our overlapping centre-backs! Have you heard of that before?

Rich - The Premier Skills English Team

Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
31/07/2019
UA
4408
points

No, I haven't heard about overlapping centre-backs before, will be interesting to watch how they do that in PL. It seems that players using this tactic may leave themselves exposed at the back; also, it must require excellent stamina, due to the higher intensity of game in PL . So, it won't be easy to use this trick at the new level effectively.


Liubomyr's picture
Liubomyr
31/07/2019 15:48
Ukraine
Watford
4408

No, I haven't heard about overlapping centre-backs before, will be interesting to watch how they do that in PL. It seems that players using this tactic may leave themselves exposed at the back; also, it must require excellent stamina, due to the higher intensity of game in PL . So, it won't be easy to use this trick at the new level effectively.

wsanta's picture
wsanta
02/08/2019
AR
5086
points

Regards


wsanta's picture
wsanta
02/08/2019 18:07
Argentina
Leeds United
5086

Regards

wsanta's picture
wsanta
02/08/2019
AR
5086
points

Attacking with centre backs is an idea of Pep Guardiola, as I understand it. In Argentina it used to do Defensa y Justicia of Beccacece.


wsanta's picture
wsanta
02/08/2019 17:19
Argentina
Leeds United
5086

Attacking with centre backs is an idea of Pep Guardiola, as I understand it. In Argentina it used to do Defensa y Justicia of Beccacece.

Leaderboard

Top Scorers
RankNameScore
1mobeckham6473
2Alex_from_Ukraine6229
3hsn5474
4wsanta5086
5kwesimanifest4768
6Liubomyr4408
7elghoul3988
8assemjuve3705
9aragorn19863557
10Gergő Nagy3396
Country ranking
RankNameScore
1Colombia71151
2Ukraine33131
3Spain27479
4Serbia27249
5Brazil21994
6Albania20578
7Vietnam19253
8Macedonia19074
9Turkey18585
10Bosnia and Herzegovina16333
Club ranking
RankNameScore
1Manchester United137425
2Liverpool107093
3Chelsea86849
4Arsenal79908
5Manchester City53778
6Tottenham Hotspur18454
7Leicester City13944
8Newcastle United10251
9Leeds United7763
10West Ham United7133

Level

3
Average: 3 (1 vote)

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