Sheffield United
Sheffield United
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).
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
The Manager
Chris Wilder
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
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
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
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
Quiz
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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?
Leave a comment
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Komentar
02/03/2023
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
02/03/2023 08:46
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
19/01/2023
points
Sheffield are no longer in the Premier League, I think they will finish 4th in the Championship League this season.
19/01/2023 10:10
Liverpool
759
Sheffield are no longer in the Premier League, I think they will finish 4th in the Championship League this season.
14/08/2022
points
Worl oldest club also contributed football rules.What a great honour.
14/08/2022 16:04
Tottenham Hotspur
5474
Worl oldest club also contributed football rules.What a great honour.
09/04/2021
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.
09/04/2021 18:11
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.
06/02/2021
points
Good.
06/02/2021 16:05
Wolverhampton Wanderers
76
Good.
21/06/2020
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
21/06/2020 19:47
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
21/06/2020
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
21/06/2020 20:13
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
21/06/2020
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 ;)
21/06/2020 20:16
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 ;)
22/06/2020
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
22/06/2020 13:56
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
15/06/2020
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.
15/06/2020 21:15
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.
25/04/2020
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.
25/04/2020 01:15
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.
01/01/2020
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.
01/01/2020 17:17
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.
02/12/2019
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.
02/12/2019 11:45
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.
02/12/2019
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
02/12/2019 12:04
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
28/11/2019
points
I didn't know anything about the club,
but I want to know more
28/11/2019 01:21
Wolverhampton Wanderers
435
I didn't know anything about the club,
but I want to know more
31/08/2019
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?
31/08/2019 00:58
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?
28/11/2019
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
28/11/2019 08:05
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
26/08/2019
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.
26/08/2019 06:53
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.
05/08/2019
points
The boy and his father it's fantastic
05/08/2019 19:08
Manchester City
1734
The boy and his father it's fantastic
04/08/2019
points
I hope for sheffield united that finish in the 3 rd place.
04/08/2019 11:58
Manchester City
1734
I hope for sheffield united that finish in the 3 rd place.
31/07/2019
points
I knew Sheffield United when I saw the last Championship. I support by Leeds United, this was disappointing
31/07/2019 13:20
Leeds United
5086
I knew Sheffield United when I saw the last Championship. I support by Leeds United, this was disappointing
31/07/2019
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
31/07/2019 14:52
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
31/07/2019
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
31/07/2019 18:37
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
31/07/2019
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.
31/07/2019 08:59
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.
31/07/2019
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
31/07/2019 12:53
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
31/07/2019
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.
31/07/2019 15:48
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.
02/08/2019
points
Regards
02/08/2019 18:07
Leeds United
5086
Regards
02/08/2019
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.
02/08/2019 17:19
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.