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Sheffield United
Sheffield United logo
Full name Sheffield United Football Club
Nickname(s) The Blades
Short name SUFC
Founded 22 March 1889; 136 years ago (1889-03-22)
Stadium Bramall Lane
Ground Capacity 32,050
Owner COH Sports
Chairman Steven Rosen and Helmy Eltoukhy
Manager Chris Wilder
League Premier League
2018–19 Championship, 2nd of 24 (promoted)
Third colours

Sheffield United Football Club is a professional football team from Sheffield, England. They are often called "the Blades." This nickname comes from Sheffield's history of making cutlery (knives and forks). The team plays its home games at Bramall Lane, which has been their stadium since they started.

For most of their history, Sheffield United has worn red and white striped shirts with black shorts. Their biggest rivals are Sheffield Wednesday. When these two teams play, it's called the Steel City derby.

Sheffield United was formed in 1889 from the Sheffield United Cricket Club. They quickly became a strong team. In 1892, they joined the new Football League Second Division. They were the first team to get promoted to the First Division in 1893. They even won the English football championship in 1897–98.

The club has won the FA Cup four times: in 1899, 1902, 1915, and 1925. They were also finalists in 1901 and 1936. After spending 41 years in the top league, they were relegated in 1934. They got promoted back in 1939.

United won the Second Division title in 1952–53. For the next 30 years, they moved between the First and Second Divisions. They were promoted in 1961 and 1971. However, the club slowly dropped down the leagues. By 1982, they were in the fourth tier. They won the Fourth Division title right away in 1981–82. This made them one of only five teams to have won all four professional divisions in English football. They earned back-to-back promotions in 1989 and 1990 to return to the top league.

Sheffield United was one of the founding teams of the Premier League in the 1992–93 season. They even scored the first goal in the competition's history! They were relegated in 1994. After losing play-off finals in 1997 and 2003, they returned to the Premier League in 2006. However, they were relegated again the next year. In 2011, they dropped to League One.

After six seasons in the third tier, manager Chris Wilder led them to promotion as champions in 2016–17. They then got promoted to the Premier League in 2018–19. They returned to the Championship in 2021. The club was promoted to the Premier League again in 2022–23. But they were relegated in the 2023–24 season.

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Club History and Achievements

How the Blades Began (1888–1975)

Sufc1895
The United team from 28 September 1895 before a match against Stoke City

Sheffield United was started by members of the Sheffield United Cricket Club. This cricket club was formed in 1854. It was the first English sports club to use 'United' in its name. The football team's main nickname is "The Blades." This name comes from Sheffield being famous for making cutlery.

The club's first nickname was "The Cutlers" from 1889 to 1912. Interestingly, their city rivals, Wednesday, used to be called "The Blades." But in 1907, Wednesday became "The Owls." This was because of their new stadium in Owlerton. After that, Sheffield United took on the "Blades" nickname.

Sheffield United officially started on March 22, 1889. This happened at the Adelphi Hotel in Sheffield. Sir Charles Clegg, the Cricket Club's President, helped create the team. The Wednesday football team had moved from Bramall Lane. So, the owners of Bramall Lane needed a new team to play there to earn money. Sir Charles Clegg was also the president of The Wednesday at the time!

The club's best years were between 1895 and 1925. They won the English championship in 1897–98. They were also runners-up in 1896–97 and 1899–1900. During this time, they won the FA Cup four times: in 1899, 1902, 1915, and 1925. Sheffield United has not won a major trophy since 1925. Their best results in cup competitions since then have been reaching several semi-finals.

Facupfinal1901-D
United conceding the third goal in the 1901 FA Cup Final against Tottenham Hotspur at Burnden Park in Bolton

Ups and Downs (1975–2013)

The club faced tough times between 1975 and 1981. After finishing sixth in the First Division in 1974–75, they were relegated the next season. Three years later, they fell to the Third Division. In 1981, they reached their lowest point, dropping to the Fourth Division.

However, they bounced back quickly. They won the Fourth Division title in their first season there (1981–82). Two years later, they were promoted to the Second Division. They went back to the Third Division in 1988. But a new manager, Dave Bassett, helped them rise again. They earned two promotions in a row. This brought them back to the First Division in 1990 after 14 years away.

They stayed in the top league for four seasons. They were even founding members of the new Premier League in 1992. They reached an FA Cup semi-final in 1992–93. But they were relegated in 1994.

For the next 12 years, they stayed out of the top league. They reached the play-offs in 1997 and 1998. In 1999, Neil Warnock became manager. The club was having money problems. But in 2002–03, they had a great season. They reached the semi-finals of both domestic cups. They also made it to the Division One play-off final. They lost that game to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Three years later, Warnock led the Blades back to the Premier League. They finished second in the Championship. But they only stayed in the Premier League for one season. They were relegated in 2007. This was a controversial time due to the signing of Carlos Tevez by West Ham United. Neil Warnock then left his role as manager.

The club struggled in the Championship. They spent a lot on player wages but didn't get good results. They had many managers in a short time. In 2009, they reached the Championship play-off final under Kevin Blackwell. But then, things got worse. The 2010–11 season was very bad. They had three different managers. They ended up being relegated to League One. This was their first time in the third tier since 1989. They reached the League One play-offs in 2011–12 and 2012–13. But they lost in the final and semi-final.

Recent Years and Premier League Returns (2013–Present)

Prince-Abdullah-bin-Mosaad-bin-Abdulaziz-Al-Saud
Prince Abdullah at Sheffield United in 2013

In September 2013, Abdullah bin Mosaad Al Saud bought half of United's parent company. In 2014, United reached the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley Stadium. They lost 5–3 to Hull City. In 2014–15, they reached the FA Cup quarter-finals and the League Cup semi-finals.

The team won promotion back to the second tier in the 2016–17 season. This was under the management of Chris Wilder. He was a lifelong fan and former player. They won the League One title with 100 points. In 2018–19, Sheffield United earned automatic promotion to the Premier League. Many people thought they would be relegated right away. But they finished ninth in their first season back.

Ownership disagreements continued during this time. In September 2019, after a long legal fight, Prince Abdullah became the club's sole owner. The 2020–21 season was very tough. They won only one of their first 18 matches. Chris Wilder left the club in March 2021. Paul Heckingbottom took over as temporary manager. He could not stop the team from being relegated.

In May 2021, Slaviša Jokanović became the club's first manager from outside the UK. But he was let go in November 2021 after a poor start. Heckingbottom was then reappointed as manager permanently. He brought in former players Stuart McCall and Jack Lester to help him. In the 2021–22 season, they finished fifth in the Championship. They lost in the play-off semi-finals.

In the 2022–23 season, Heckingbottom led United back to the Premier League. They finished second, getting automatic promotion. They also reached the FA Cup semi-finals, losing to Manchester City.

Sheffield United's return to the Premier League for the 2023–24 season was very hard. By December, they were at the bottom of the league. Paul Heckingbottom was sacked. Former manager Chris Wilder returned. But the team's poor form continued. They were relegated back to the Championship on April 27, 2024. They set a new Premier League record for most goals conceded in a season, with 104 goals.

Team Kits, Colours, and Crest

Sheffield United V Cardiff City 24 March 2010 Jon Candy
Sheffield United playing against Cardiff City in 2010

Sheffield United has mostly played in red and white stripes. But they first wore white shirts and blue shorts. For a short time in 1890–91, they had narrow red stripes. Then they went back to all white. The stripes returned in 1892–93. Black shorts replaced blue ones in 1904. The shirts stayed mostly the same.

In the 1974–75 season, black was added to the kit. Later, in 1979–81, they had a white shirt with a red chest. This was to fit the sponsor's logo. Their kits continued to have stripes. But they often changed to fit different sponsors. For example, they had a yellow square for "Laver" from 1988 to 1992. Then came a "diamond kit," which fans really disliked. So, the club went back to stripes the next season.

Since then, red and white stripes with black shorts and socks have been the main look. Sometimes, thin black stripes are added between the red and white ones. The home colours of Sheffield United inspired the kit of an Irish club, Derry City. In 1934, Derry City adopted the stripes. This was to honour Billy Gillespie, who was their manager and had played for Sheffield United.

Trfc v sufc 2013 IJA 02
Sheffield United plays away to Tranmere Rovers in 2013.

The first time a crest appeared on the shirt was in 1891–92. It was a red crest on a white shirt. But it disappeared the next season. From 1965 to 1977, United used the coat of arms of the city of Sheffield.

In 1977, a new crest was introduced. It was designed by former player Jimmy Hagan. This crest has two white crossed swords, or "blades." Above them is a Yorkshire Rose. All of this is on a black background. A red ring goes around it. "Sheffield United F.C." is written at the top. "1889," the year the club was founded, is at the bottom. This crest has been changed slightly a few times. But it returned to its original look in 2000.

Shirt Sponsors and Manufacturers

Here is a list of the companies that have made Sheffield United's kits and sponsored their shirts over the years:

Year Kit manufacturer Main shirt sponsor Secondary sponsor
1973–75 Umbro None None
1975–79 Admiral
1979–81 Hobott Cantor's
1981–82 Bentleys
1982–83 Renault
1983–85 Umbro Simonds
1985–95 Arnold Laver
1995–97 Avec Wards
1997–99 Le Coq Sportif
1999–2000 Blades
2000–02 Patrick Midas Games
2002–04 Le Coq Sportif Desun
2004–06 HFS Loans
2006–07 Capital One
2007–08 Valad
2008–09 VisitMalta.com
2009–11 Macron Capita
211–12 Westfield Health (Home)
Gilder Group/Volkswagen (Away)
Nexis Holdings PLC
2012–13 Westfield Health (Home)
Redtooth (Away)
GCI Com
2013–14 VSports (Home)
Top Spring (Away)
Football Manager
Shebang
2014–16 Adidas John Holland Sales DBL Logistics
2016–17 Alpha Rooms Door Deals
2017–18 Teletext Holidays
2018–19 Ramsdens Currency
2019–21 Union Standard Group Union Standard Group
2021–22 Randox Door Deals
2022–23 Erreà Ultimate Champions
2023–24 CFI Financial Group Gtech
2024–25 Maneki DR CINIK

Bramall Lane: The Home Ground

Bramall Lane
BramallLanevsSheffWeds.png
A near-full capacity South Stand and adjacent Bramall Lane Stand at Bramall Lane
Location Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England
Coordinates 53°22′13″N 1°28′15″W / 53.37028°N 1.47083°W / 53.37028; -1.47083
Owner Sheffield United
Capacity 31,884
Opened 30 April 1855

Sheffield United plays its games at Bramall Lane. This stadium is located near the center of Sheffield. Bramall Lane is the oldest major league football ground in the world. Its first game was in 1862. That match was between Hallam and Sheffield Club.

Bramall Lane also hosted the world's first ever floodlit football match. This happened on October 14, 1878. Two teams from the Sheffield Football Association played. Generators provided the power for the lights. About 20,000 people watched the game.

Bramall Lane was originally a cricket ground. In 1855, it was leased to Sheffield United Cricket Club. The ground opened with a cricket match on April 30, 1855. Later, it became a place for both cricket and football. Yorkshire County Cricket Club used it as their main venue in the 1800s. They continued to play some matches there until 1973. After that, work began to turn Bramall Lane into a stadium just for football.

The stadium has been expanded in recent years. In 2006, a new 3,000-seat stand was finished. Bramall Lane is now an all-seater stadium. It can hold 31,884 people. This makes it suitable for Premier League matches.

In 2009, the club got permission to expand the stadium even more. The plan was to make the Kop stand bigger. This would increase the stadium's capacity to about 37,000. It would also remove supporting pillars and add a giant screen. A second phase would have extended the Valad Stand. This would bring the total capacity to 40,000 seats. These expansions were also planned in case England hosted the FIFA World Cup. However, Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough Stadium was chosen instead for World Cup games in Sheffield. Because of this, the club put all planned stadium redevelopment on hold. They decided to wait until the club could stay in the Premier League.

A new plan for the Kop stand was submitted in 2015. This would add 3,215 seats. In 2017, more plans were revealed. These included building residential flats and a new club shop. This would be in the corner between the Kop and South Stand.

Fans and Rivalries

Sheffield United has fans from all over the city and nearby areas. There are official supporters' clubs in places like Swinton, Kiveton Park, and Australia.

A study in 2013 looked at posts on Twitter. It found that Blades fans had the most positive interactions with their club's official account. Another study in 2006–07 found that Sheffield United fans were very "obsessed." They reportedly thought about the team 110 times a day!

Many famous people support Sheffield United, including:

Team Rivalries

Sheffield United has many rivalries. Most of these are with other clubs in Yorkshire. Their biggest rivalry is with their city neighbours, Sheffield Wednesday. This is known as the Steel City derby. It's named after Sheffield's famous steel industry.

Another big rival is Leeds United from West Yorkshire. This is called a Yorkshire derby. Sheffield and Leeds are the two largest cities in Yorkshire. Other local rivalries are with teams in South Yorkshire. These include Barnsley, Doncaster Rovers, and Rotherham United. These games are called South Yorkshire derbies.

Sheffield United also has a rivalry with Nottingham Forest. This started because of the miners' strikes in the 1980s. Miners from Nottinghamshire did not join the strike. But miners from Yorkshire did.

West Ham United has also become a rival. This is due to the 'Tevez saga' and legal issues that followed.

Fan Chants

Like many English clubs, Sheffield United supporters have many chants and songs. The most famous one is The Greasy Chip Butty Song. It is sung to the tune of John Denver's 'Annie's Song'.

Club Records and Statistics

Here are some of Sheffield United's important records:

  • Biggest League win: 10–0 away against Port Vale (1892) and 10–0 home against Burnley (1929).
  • Biggest Cup win: 6–0 home against Leyton Orient in the FA Cup (2016).
  • Biggest League loss: 0–8 home against Newcastle United (2023).
  • Biggest Cup loss: 0–13 home against Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup (1890).
  • Highest home attendance: 68,287 against Leeds United in the FA Cup (1936).
  • Most league games played: Joe Shaw played 631 games (1948–1966).
  • Most goals scored overall: Harry Johnson scored 201 goals in 313 games (1919–1930).
  • Most goals in a season: Jimmy Dunne scored 41 goals in 41 games (1930–31).
  • Record Transfer Fee Paid: £23.5 million for Rhian Brewster from Liverpool (2020).
  • Record Transfer Fee Received: £11.5 million for David Brooks to AFC Bournemouth (2018).

League History Overview

SheffieldUnitedFC League Performance
Chart of table positions of United since joining the Football League

Sheffield United has played in all four professional divisions of English football. They are one of only a few clubs to have won a championship title in each of these leagues.

  • They have spent 62 seasons in Level 1 (top league).
  • They have spent 44 seasons in Level 2.
  • They have spent 11 seasons in Level 3.
  • They have spent 1 season in Level 4 (lowest professional league).

Here's how Sheffield United has performed in the league over the last 10 seasons:

Sheffield United: League standings for last 10 seasons
Season League Pos P W D L F A Pts
2014–15 League One 5 46 19 14 13 66 53 71
2015–16 League One 11 46 18 12 16 64 59 66
2016–17 League One 1 46 30 10 6 92 47 100
2017–18 Championship 10 46 19 8 15 57 49 65
2018–19 Championship 2 46 26 11 9 78 41 89
2019–20 Premier League 9 38 14 12 12 39 39 54
2020–21 Premier League 20 38 7 2 29 20 63 23
2021–22 Championship 5 46 21 12 13 63 45 75
2022–23 Championship 2 46 28 7 11 73 39 91
2023–24 Premier League 20 38 3 7 28 35 104 16

Current Players

First Team Squad

No. Position Player
1 England GK Michael Cooper
2 England DF Alfie Gilchrist (on loan from Chelsea)
3 England DF Sam McCallum
4 England MF Ollie Arblaster
5 England DF Rob Holding (on loan from Crystal Palace)
7 England FW Rhian Brewster
8 Netherlands MF Gustavo Hamer
9 Wales FW Kieffer Moore
10 England MF Callum O'Hare
11 England FW Jesurun Rak-Sakyi (on loan from Crystal Palace)
14 England DF Harrison Burrows
15 Bosnia and Herzegovina DF Anel Ahmedhodžić
16 England DF Jamie Shackleton
17 Wales GK Adam Davies
18 England DF Harry Clarke (on loan from Ipswich Town)
19 England DF Jack Robinson (captain)
No. Position Player
20 Chile FW Ben Brereton Díaz (on loan from Southampton)
21 Brazil MF Vinícius Souza
22 England MF Tom Davies
23 England FW Tyrese Campbell
24 Bangladesh MF Hamza Choudhury (on loan from Leicester City)
28 Republic of Ireland FW Tom Cannon
29 Peru FW Jefferson Cáceres
31 England GK Luke Faxon
33 Wales DF Rhys Norrington-Davies
35 England MF Andre Brooks
38 England DF Femi Seriki
39 Scotland FW Ryan Oné
42 England MF Sydie Peck
45 England DF Sai Sachdev
Nigeria MF Christian Nwachukwu

Players on Loan to Other Clubs

No. Position Player
13 Croatia GK Ivo Grbić (at Çaykur Rizespor)
34 England FW Louie Marsh (at Fleetwood Town)
Jamaica DF Miguel Freckleton (at Swindon Town)
Republic of Ireland DF Sam Curtis (at St Johnstone)

Player of the Year Award

Last five winners
Year Position Name
2020–21 Goalkeeper England Aaron Ramsdale
2021–22 Midfielder England Morgan Gibbs-White
2022–23 Midfielder Senegal Iliman Ndiaye
2023–24 Midfielder Netherlands Gustavo Hamer
2024–25 Goalkeeper England Michael Cooper

Since 1967, Sheffield United has given out a 'Player of the Year' award. This award celebrates the player who has contributed the most to the club during the season. Fans vote for this award. It is now given at a special 'End of Season' event.

The first winner was goalkeeper Alan Hodgkinson. Striker Alan Woodward has won the award the most times, with four wins. Harry Maguire and Phil Jagielka have won it three times in a row. In 2017, the award was shared for the first time by Billy Sharp and John Fleck. In 2024, it was won by an overseas player for the second year in a row.

Youth and Women's Teams

Sheffield United training ground - geograph.org.uk - 763367
The Sheffield United F.C. Academy & Training ground at Shirecliffe

The Academy: Developing Young Talent

Sheffield United's Academy helps young players develop their skills. It has produced many famous players. These include Manchester City defender Kyle Walker and Phil Jagielka. Both have played for the England national team. Other players like Kyle Naughton, Matthew Lowton, and Harry Maguire also came from the Academy.

The Academy building and training facilities are in Shirecliffe, Sheffield. They opened in 2002. The Sheffield United Academy U18s team plays in the Professional Development League. They were runners-up in the FA Youth Cup in 2011. SteelPhalt sponsors the Academy. They also sponsor the Sheffield United Women's team.

Under 23s Team

The Sheffield United U23s team plays in the Professional Development League. They play home games at different places, including Bramall Lane. The club has had a reserve team since 1893.

United Women's Team

Sheffield United also has a Women's team. They used to be called Sheffield United Ladies. They play in the FA Women's Championship. They were promoted to this league in the 2017–18 season. The Women's team also has a Development team and many junior teams.

Club Management

Club Managers Through the Years

When the club started in 1889, they didn't have a manager like today. A trainer coached the team. A football committee chose the players and decided tactics. Joseph Wostinholm was the club secretary. He handled the daily running of the club and player contracts. He saw the team grow quickly. In 1898, United won their only First Division championship.

After Wostinholm, John Nicholson became secretary. He stayed for over 30 years. Nicholson was in charge during the club's most successful period. United became a top team in English football. They won the FA Cup four times. They often challenged for the league title.

A New Era of Managers

After John Nicholson died in 1932, Teddy Davison became the club's first true manager. The team was struggling and was soon relegated. Davison slowly rebuilt the team with smart signings and young players. They returned to the top league. But the club's money problems after the war made it hard to build a strong team. Davison retired in 1952.

Reg Freeman took over as manager. He made the team stable. But he got sick and died in 1955. Then, Joe Mercer became manager. He struggled with the team and left in 1958. John Harris was then appointed manager. He took a talented but underperforming team and turned them into a promotion team. They returned to Division One in 1961. Harris built a team with local players. He kept them in the top league. But money issues forced the sale of key players. United was relegated again.

Harris moved to a "general manager" role. Arthur Rowley became team manager. But he was sacked after one season. Harris returned as manager. He guided the team to promotion again. But he stepped down in 1973.

Challenges and Comebacks

Ken Furphy became manager in 1973. He did well at first. But the team was getting old, and there was little money for new players. He was sacked in 1975. Jimmy Sirrel took over. But he was not popular and couldn't stop the team from being relegated. He was sacked in 1977.

Harry Haslam became manager next. He had many new ideas. But he built an aging team with "star" players at the end of their careers. The team's performance got worse. Haslam stepped down in 1981 due to illness. Martin Peters, a World Cup winner and player, became manager. But United was relegated to Division Four. Peters resigned.

In 1981, Ian Porterfield became manager. He had an immediate impact. He won the Division Four championship in his first season. He took the club back to the second tier two years later. But some fans were unhappy with the style of play. Porterfield was sacked in 1986.

Billy McEwan was promoted to manager. But he couldn't improve the team. He was sacked in 1988. Then, Dave Bassett took over. He couldn't stop relegation in his first season. But he built a strong, hard-working team. He won back-to-back promotions. This brought the club back to the top league. They regularly finished in the middle of the table. But with the start of the Premier League, old money problems returned. The club sold star players without replacing them. The team was relegated. Bassett was sacked in 1995.

Modern Managers and Recent History

The years that followed were difficult. The club wanted to get back to the Premier League. Howard Kendall became manager. He rebuilt the team. But he left in 1997. Nigel Spackman took over. He quit after eight months, saying there was too much interference from the club's board. Steve Bruce also left after one season for the same reasons. Adrian Heath was a bad choice and was sacked after six months.

Then, Neil Warnock became manager. He saved the team from relegation. He slowly rebuilt the team with little money. Warnock was a strong personality. But he led the team to promotion to the Premier League in 2006. The team was relegated the next season. Warnock's contract was not renewed.

Bryan Robson became manager in 2007. This was not a popular choice and was unsuccessful. He was sacked after less than a year. Former assistant manager Kevin Blackwell took over. He reached the play-off finals in his first season. But the team was getting weaker. He was sacked early in the 2010–11 season.

Things got worse. Player-coach Gary Speed briefly became manager. But he left after a few months to manage the Welsh national team. Micky Adams became the third full-time manager of the season. He oversaw a terrible run of results. United was relegated. Adams was sacked after only six months.

With United in the third tier, Danny Wilson became manager in 2011. Some fans protested because he had worked for rivals Sheffield Wednesday. Wilson led the club to the League One play-off final in his first season. But they lost to Huddersfield Town in a penalty shootout. Despite challenging for promotion, Wilson left in 2013 after a poor run of results. Chris Morgan took over temporarily.

After a long search, David Weir was appointed manager. But his time was short. He was sacked in October 2013, having won only one of 13 games. Nigel Clough became the new manager. Clough guided the Blades to finish seventh in the league. They also reached an FA Cup semi-final in 2014. They lost 5–3 to Hull City.

The next season, Clough led the Blades to fifth place. This meant they qualified for the play-offs. They also reached their first League Cup semi-final in 12 years. They lost to Tottenham Hotspur. United failed to get promoted through the play-offs. Clough was sacked in May 2015.

Nigel Adkins became the new manager in June 2015. But his time only lasted one season. The Blades finished 11th, their lowest finish in the third tier since 1983. Adkins was sacked in May 2016.

Chris Wilder, a former Blades player, quickly replaced Adkins. Wilder led United to promotion from League One in 2017. They returned to the Premier League in 2019. United finished ninth in their first season back in the top league. But the 2020–21 season was very different. Wilder left the club in March 2021. The club was at the bottom of the Premier League. U23 coach Paul Heckingbottom took over temporarily. United was still relegated.

In May 2021, Slaviša Jokanović was appointed manager. He was the club's first overseas manager. But he was sacked in November 2021. Heckingbottom was then appointed manager permanently. He guided United to the FA Cup semi-finals in 2023. He also led them back to the Premier League for the 2023–24 season.

United struggled in the Premier League in 2023–24. Paul Heckingbottom was sacked in December. Former manager Chris Wilder returned.

Club Honours and Trophies

League Titles

  • First Division (Level 1)
    • Champions: 1897–98
    • Runners-up: 1896–97, 1899–1900
  • Second Division / Championship (Level 2)
    • Champions: 1952–53
    • Promoted (2nd place): 1892–93, 1938–39, 1960–61, 1970–71, 1989–90, 2005–06, 2018–19, 2022–23
  • Third Division / League One (Level 3)
    • Champions: 2016–17
    • Promoted (2nd place): 1988–89
    • Promoted (3rd place): 1983–84
  • Fourth Division (Level 4)
    • Champions: 1981–82
  • Football League North
    • Champions: 1945–46

Sheffield United is one of only four clubs to have won a championship title in each of England's four professional leagues. The others are Burnley, Preston North End, and Wolverhampton Wanderers.

Sheffield united facup 1915
Sheffield United posing with the 1915 FA Cup

Cup Competitions

  • FA Cup
    • Winners: 1898–99, 1901–02, 1914–15, 1924–25
    • Runners-up: 1900–01, 1935–36
  • Sheriff of London Charity Shield
    • Winners: 1898 (shared)

International Connections

In 2006, Sheffield United became the first foreign club to take over a Chinese team. They bought Chengdu F.C. in China. The club was renamed the Chengdu Blades. Sheffield United shirts were sold in China, and Chengdu shirts were sold in Sheffield. This helped both clubs earn more money. United sold their share of the Chinese team in 2010. This was after a match-fixing scandal and money problems for the English club.

In 2008, Kevin McCabe, the club's chairman, made a deal with Budapest-based Ferencváros to buy their football team. He also worked with the Hungarian government to develop their stadium. A match was played in Budapest to celebrate this connection.

The Blades also have business and idea-sharing links with other clubs. These include Central Coast Mariners in Australia and White Star Woluwé in Belgium. In 2020, they took over Quartz FC in India. They renamed it Kerala United FC.

Partner Clubs Around the World

Images for kids

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Sheffield United Football Club para niños

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