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{{for|the football club that plays in Hong Kong|Sheffield United (Hong Kong)}}
{{Infobox Football club
| clubname = Sheffield United
| image = [[Image:Bladeslogo2.png|175px|Sheffield United logo]]
| fullname = Sheffield United Football Club
| nickname = [[The Blades]]<br>Red & White Wizards
| shortname = [[SUFC]]
| founded = 1889
| dissolved =
| ground = [[Bramall Lane]]<br />[[Sheffield]]
| capacity = 32,609
| chairman = {{flagicon|England}} [[Kevin McCabe (Sheffield United)|Kevin McCabe]]
| mgrtitle = Manager
| manager = {{flagicon|England}} [[Kevin Blackwell]]
| league = [[Football League Championship|The Championship]]
| season = [[2008–09 in English football|2008–09]]
| position = The Championship, 3rd
| pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=_whitestripes|pattern_ra1=|
leftarm1=FF0000|body1=FF0000|rightarm1=FF0000|shorts1=000000|socks1=000000
| pattern_la2=_redshoulders|pattern_b2=_redsides|pattern_ra2=_redshoulders|
leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=FFFFFF|socks2=FFFFFF|
| pattern_la3=|leftarm3=000000|body3=000000|rightarm3=000000|shorts3=000000|socks3=000000|</s>
}}

'''Sheffield United Football Club''' is a professional [[England|English]] [[football (soccer)|football]] club based in the [[Sheffield|city of Sheffield]], [[South Yorkshire]]. They currently play in the English [[Football League Championship]]. They play at [[Bramall Lane]] in [[Sheffield]], and play in red and white striped shirts.

Their nickname is ''''The Blades''''. The club emblem is said to have been designed by former player [[Jimmy Hagan]].<ref>''"Sheffield United - The Biography"'' by Gary Armstrong with John Garrett, ISBN 1-874718-65-2 <!-- and introduced by former manager [[Jimmy Sirrel]]? My copy has a foreword by [[Sean Bean]] --></ref> They have the nickname ''The Blades'' due to Sheffield's worldwide reputation of [[Stainless steel|steel]] production.<ref>There are numerous sources showing the international reputation of Sheffield for metallurgy, and in particular steel and cutlery manufacture, However The Blades was first adopted by rivals Sheffield Wednesday. Some examples are: the [[Oxford English Dictionary]], which begins its entry for ''Sheffield'', "The name of a manufacturing city of Yorkshire, famous for cutlery"; and the [[Encyclopaedia Britannica]], which in its entry for ''Sheffield'' states that by 1830 Sheffield had earned "recognition as the world centre of high-grade steel manufacture". David Hey in the preface to his 1997 book ''Mesters to Masters: A History of the Company of Cutlers in Hallamshire.'' ([[Oxford University Press]], ISBN 0-19-828997-9) states "It (Sheffield) was known for its cutlery wares long before the incorporation of the Cutlers' Company in 1624, and long before it acquired an international reputation as the steel capital of the world."</ref> The emblem was first used for the [[1977-78 in English football|1977–78]] season, replacing the city's coat of arms that had been used since 1966. Like all clubs, Sheffield United have a range of songs and chants sung by their fans, including the most notable: their unofficial anthem, ''[[The Greasy Chip Butty Song]]'', which is sung before each half,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=jA14bKuuSms|title=The Greasy Chip Butty Song|work=[[YouTube]] video| accessdate = 2007-10-16}}</ref> and often after the game if the team has performed well.
Sheffield United won the League in 1898 and the [[FA Cup]] in 1899, 1902, 1915 and 1925. They were beaten finalists in the FA Cup in 1901 and 1936. Their best performance in the [[Football League Cup|League Cup]] was reaching the semi finals in 2003.

==History==
<!--
Please do not add to this section. Instead, please add history to "History of Sheffield United F.C." article
-->
{{main|History of Sheffield United F.C.}}
{{details|Sheffield United F.C. seasons}}

[[Image:Facupfinal1901-D.jpg|left|thumb|United conceding the third goal in the 1901 FA Cup Final against Tottenham Hotspur in Bolton]]
Sheffield United formed on 22 March [[1888-89 in English football|1889]] at the [[Adelphi Hotel (Sheffield)|Adelphi Hotel]], [[Sheffield]] (now the site of the [[Crucible Theatre]]) by the President of the Cricket Club Sir Charles Clegg, as a way of keeping the [[Sheffield United Cricket Club]] together during the winter [[close season]], following the departure of Sheffield Wednesday to their new ground at Olive Grove and generating income revenues from [[Bramall Lane]] over the winter. Sir Charles Clegg was incidentally also the president of Sheffield Wednesday FC. Gradually, as football took off, the football team supplanted the cricket team, such that in 1975, cricket was no longer played at Bramall Lane.

Undoubtedly United's heyday was the 30-year period from 1895–1925, when they were champions of England in [[1897-98 in English football|1897–98]] and runners up in [[1896-97 in English football|1896–97]] and [[1899-1900 in English football|1899–1900]], and [[FA Cup]] winners in [[1898-99 in English football|1899]], [[1901-02 in English football|1902]], [[1914-15 in English football|1915]] and [[1924-25 in English football|1925]], finishing runners up in [[1900-01 in English football|1901]], and also eleven years after their cup final win in [[1935-36 in English football|1936]]. United have not won a trophy since 1925, bar those associated with [[Promotion and relegation|promotion]] from lower-leagues, though they did reach both domestic cup semi-finals and the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] [[play-off]] final in the [[2002-03 in English football|2002–03 season]], ultimately losing all three matches.

Their darkest days were the [[1975-76 in English football|1975–76]] to [[1981-82 in English football|1981–82]] seasons, where three relegations in six seasons saw ''The Blades'' drop from the top-flight to the fourth division, but this was soon followed by United's best period until [[Neil Warnock]] took the managerial helm, with [[Dave Bassett]] as manager masterminding successive promotions in the [[1988-89 in English football|1988–89]] and [[1989-90 in English football|1989–90]] seasons, to put United back in the top flight in time for the beginning of the [[FA Premier League|Premiership]]'s inception in [[1992-93 in English football|1992]]..

==Ground==
[[Image:Bramall lane1.jpg|thumb|250px|right|the [[Bramall lane#The John Street Stand|John Street Stand]] at Bramall Lane]]

{{main|Bramall Lane}}
Sheffield United play at [[Bramall Lane]], near the centre of Sheffield. Bramall Lane is the oldest major ground anywhere in the world, having hosted its first game in 1862,<ref>{{ cite web|url=http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/FactsFigures/0,,10418~1081166,00.html|title=A brief history|publisher=Sheffied United official website|accessdate=2008-10-07}}</ref> a match between [[Hallam F.C.|Hallam]] and [[Sheffield F.C.|Sheffield Club]]. Bramall Lane also hosted the worlds first ever floodlit football match on 14 October 1878 with two teams picked from the Sheffield Football Association. The power for the lights was provided by two generators. The crowd was 20,000 and the score 2-0. It was originally a cricket ground and the first important match played here was between [[Yorkshire]] and [[Sussex]] in 1855. A cricket club was formed in 1854 named Sheffield United Cricket Club and Bramall Lane was leased to the club by the [[Duke of Norfolk]]. The ground was opened with a cricket match on [[30 April]] [[1855]]. [[Yorkshire County Cricket Club]] also formed here, and played most of their games in Sheffield at Bramall Lane until the last match on [[7 August]] [[1973]] against their old rivals, [[Lancashire County Cricket Club|Lancashire]]. The ground has seen expansion in recent years, and by 2006, on completion of a 3,000 seat corner stand,<ref>[http://www.wcec.co.uk/news/index.php?id=46&SID=26d25ea11287c42c5a51dd166c280e30 2000 seat corner stand, completed September 2006]. Retrieved on [[3 December]] [[2006]]{{Dead link|date=October 2008}}</ref> was an all-seater stadium holding 32,609.<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/fun/360/sheffield_united.shtml BBC webpage]. Retrieved on [[3 December]] [[2006]]{{Dead link|date=October 2008}}</ref> In March 2009 the club received were officially granted permission to expland the stadium once again, over two phases. The first phase would see the Kop being extended to increase the grounds capacity up to approximately 37,000. It would see the removal of the main supporting pillars and a giant screen installed as part of the stands roof. The second phase will see the Valad Stand (formerly Arnold Laver Stand) also extended, bringing the total capacity to 40,000 all seater. The expansion also has a secondary focus of being available for selection for World Cup matches in 2018 or 2022, if England's bid is successful. The first ever floodlit football match took place at Bramall Lane on the [[15 October]] [[1878]]. The Blades latest addition to the stadium is a 4-star hotel, joint biggest in Sheffield. This is located on Bramall Lane.

==Kits, colours and crest==
Sheffield United may be known for their red and white striped kits, but ''The Blades'' began playing in white shirts and blue shorts. They briefly flirted with narrow red stripes for the 1890–91 season, before returning to all white the following year. The stripes returned in the 1892–93 season, with black shorts replacing the blue in 1904. The shirts remained largely unchanged until collars were first removed in 1955, replaced by V-necks until the 1966–67 season (when white socks were also used), and from here on the neck style varied hugely.

The traditional red and white striped remained while the 1974–75 season, when elements of black were added, until the 1979–81 kit. This was essentially white with a red breast, and with thin stripes down either side, and was created to accommodate the Cantor's{{dn|date=October 2008}} logo, the club's principal sponsor. This was to be replaced by a striped kit, with the sponsor [[Bentley's]] (1981–82) and [[Renault]] (1982–83) written vertically down a white stripe over the left-hand side. Stripes continued while the 1995–96 season, albeit with various aids to accommodate the sponsors, including a yellow square for [[Arnold Laver|Laver]] from 1988–92 (the 1990–92 shirt also featured narrow black stripes through each white stripe) and a black hoop, also for Laver in the 1994–95 season. Then came the diamond kit, which was so badly received that the club reverted to stripes rather hastily the following season. Since then, red and white stripes and black socks with varying trim have been the order of the day, with black shorts for all but the 2002–05 seasons, when white and then red were tried.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Sheffield_United/Sheffield_United.htm|title=Historical Football Kits|first=Dave|last=Moor}} Retrieved [[9 April]] [[2007]].</ref> The club also every few seasons opt to put thin black stripes between the red and white stripes. Sheffield United's home colours have been the inspiration for the kit of [[Ireland|Irish]] club, [[Derry City F.C.|Derry City]]. In 1934, Derry City adopted the stripes, while [[Billy Gillespie]] was manager of the club, in recognition of Gillespie's achievements at Sheffield United.<ref>"[http://derrycityfc.net/history/concise/index.php Derry City FC - A Concise History]", ''CityWeb'', 2006.</ref>

The first time a crest appeared on the shirt was actually in the 1891–92 season, when a red crest appeared on the white shirt, but this disappeared the following season. United used the city of Sheffield's [[coat of arms]] from 1965–77, when a new crest was used, introduced by former manager [[Jimmy Sirrel]], but designed apparently over 20&nbsp;years previously by former player [[Jimmy Hagan]]. This consisted of two white crossed swords, or blades, the club's nickname, with a [[Yorkshire Rose]] (white) above, on a black background. This is surrounded by a red ring with "Sheffield United F.C." written around the top and "[[1888-89 in English football|1889]]", the year the club was founded, underneath. This had been altered very slightly a few times, with a simple black embroidered crest appearing on shirts from 1987–90, and an all-white crest on a red-edged black shield for the 1992–99 seasons, when shields were in fashion with English football clubs, but from 2000–present it has reverted to its original form.

The kit manufacturer is [[Le Coq Sportif]], they have been the kit supplier since 2002 and also in 1997–2000.
The 2008–09 season home shirt was designed by a season ticket holder, and the all black away kit was chosen by the players and will be made by [[Le Coq Sportif]]. In August 2008 the club unveiled a new sponsor, the country of [[Malta]] to be represented on the shirts by [http://www.visitmalta.com/ visitmalta.com], the tourism board of the Mediterranean country.<ref>{{cite web
|url=https://www.sufc-shop.co.uk/superstore/index.php?cPath=81_84&osCsid=e4c3041fd76bdb4628ec380c935d3b29|
|title=Blades Direct - home kit
|work=sufc-shop.co.uk
| accessdate = 2007-10-16}}</ref>

Their other sponsor is Australian property company Valad, who have their logo on the back of the shirts and shorts.

United's long standing association with Le Coq Sportif will come to an end after the 2008/2009 season. Macron, an Italian sportswear company will be supplying Sheffield United's kits and sportswear. The four year deal was signed for a seven-figure sum. The 2009/2010 season is Sheffield United's 120th anniversary, and to mark this Macron has designed a 3rd kit for the Blades for that season. This shirt is black and has the names of every player to have ever played for the club woven into the material.

==Shirt sponsors and manufacturers==
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Year !!Kit Manufacturer!!Main Shirt Sponsor!!Secondary Sponsor
|-
| 1973&ndash;75 || rowspan=1|[[Umbro]]
|-
| 1975&ndash;79 || rowspan=1|[[Admiral_Sportswear|Admiral]]
|-
| 1979&ndash;81 || rowspan=3|Hobott || rowspan=1|Cantor's
|-
| 1981&ndash;82 || rowspan=1|Bentleys
|-
| 1982&ndash;83 || rowspan=1|[[Renault]]
|-
| 1983&ndash;85 || rowspan=2|Umbro || rowspan=1|Simonds
|-
| 1985&ndash;95 || rowspan=1|[[Arnold Laver]]
|-
| 1995&ndash;97 || rowspan=1|Avec || rowspan=2|[[Wards_Brewing_Company|Wards]]
|-
| 1997&ndash;99 || rowspan=2|[[Le Coq Sportif]]
|-
| 1999&ndash;00 || Blades
|-
| 2000&ndash;02 || rowspan=1|[[Patrick_(shoe_company)|Patrick]] || rowspan=1|[[Midas Games]]
|-
| 2002&ndash;04 || rowspan=5|Le Coq Sportif || rowspan=1|Desun
|-
| 2004&ndash;06 || rowspan=1|HFS Loans
|-
| 2006&ndash;07 || rowspan=2|[[Capital One]]
|-
| 2007&ndash;08 || rowspan=3|Valad
|-
| 2008&ndash;09 || rowspan=2|VisitMalta.com
|-
| 2009&ndash;Present|| rowspan=1|[[Macron_(sportswear)|Macron]]
|-
|}

==Players==
:''As of 14 August 2009.''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~1358420,00.html|title=Squad numbers|work=Sheffield United F.C.|accessdate = 2008-08-05}}</ref>
===Current squad===
{{football squad start}}
<!-- For help using the below template, please see [[Template talk:Football squad player]] -->
{{fs player| no=2 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=[[Ryan France]]}}
{{fs player| no=3 | nat=Scotland | pos=DF | name=[[Gary Naysmith]]}}
{{fs player| no=4 | nat=Scotland | pos=MF | name=[[Nick Montgomery]]}}
{{fs player| no=5 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=[[Chris Morgan (footballer)|Chris Morgan]] | other=[[captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{fs player| no=6 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=[[Matthew Kilgallon]]}}
{{fs player| no=7 | nat=England | pos=FW | name=[[Darius Henderson]]}}
{{fs player| no=9 | nat=Wales | pos=FW | name=[[Ched Evans]]}}
{{fs player| no=10 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=[[Kyel Reid]]}}
{{fs player| no=11 | nat=Wales | pos=MF | name=[[David Cotterill]]}}
{{fs player| no=12 | nat=Jamaica | pos=MF | name=[[Lee Williamson]]}}
{{fs player| no=13 | nat=England | pos=GK | name=[[Ian Bennett (footballer)|Ian Bennett]] }}
{{fs player| no=16 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=[[Andy Taylor (footballer born 1986)|Andy Taylor]]}}
{{fs player| no=17 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=[[Lee Hendrie]]}}
{{fs player| no=18 | nat=Northern Ireland | pos=FW | name=[[Jamie Ward]]}}
{{football squad mid}}
{{fs player| no=20 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=[[Brian Howard (footballer)|Brian Howard]]}}
{{fs player| no=21 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=[[Leigh Bromby]]}}
{{fs player| no=22 | nat=Malta | pos=GK | name=[[Justin Haber]]}}
{{fs player| no=23 | nat=England | pos=GK | name=[[Mark Bunn (footballer)|Mark Bunn]]|other=on loan from [[Blackburn Rovers]]}}
{{fs player| no=24 | nat=England | pos=FW | name=[[Billy Sharp]]}}
{{fs player| no=25 | nat=England | pos=MF | name=[[Glen Little]]}}
{{fs player| no=27 | nat=Ireland | pos=MF | name=[[Keith Treacy]]|other=on loan from [[Blackburn Rovers]]}}
{{fs player| no=28 | nat=Ireland | pos=MF | name=[[Stephen Quinn]]}}
{{fs player| no=34 | nat=England | pos=DF | name=[[Kyle Walker]]|other=on loan from [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]]}}
<!-- {{fs player| no=39 | nat=England | pos=FW | name=[[Jordan Robertson]]}} -->
{{fs player| no=— | nat=Australia | pos=MF | name=[[David Carney]]}}
{{fs player| no=— | nat=Ireland | pos=DF | name=[[Derek Geary]]}}
{{fs player| no=— | nat=Ireland | pos=GK | name=[[Paddy Kenny]]}}
{{fs player| no=— | nat=Wales | pos=MF | name=[[Gary Speed]]}}
{{fs player| no=— | nat=Algeria | pos=MF | name=[[Aymen Tahar]]}}
{{fs end}}

====Out on loan====
{{football squad start}}
{{fs player| no=39 | nat=England | pos=FW | name=[[Jordan Robertson]]|other=at [[Bury F.C.|Bury]]}}
{{fs player|no=— |nat=Somalia |pos=FW|name=[[Liban Abdi]]|other=at [[Ferencvárosi TC|Ferencváros]]}}
{{football squad mid}}
{{fs player|no=— | nat=England | pos=DF |name=[[Matthew Lowton]]|other=at [[Ferencvárosi TC|Ferencváros]]}}
{{fs player| no=— | nat=England | pos=MF |name=[[Sam Wedgbury]]|other=at [[Ferencvárosi TC|Ferencváros]]}}
{{football squad end}}

===Notable former players===
{{details|List of Sheffield United F.C. former players}}
<!--please see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Sheffield_United_F.C.#Editing_the_Notable_former_players_section"
before adding players-->
* 1890s: [[Ernest Needham]], [[William Foulke (footballer)|William Foulke]], [[Billy Hendry]], [[Billy Mosforth]]
* 1900s: [[Alf Common]]
* 1910s: [[Albert Sturgess]], [[George Utley]]
* 1920s: [[Billy Gillespie]], [[Fred Tunstall]], [[Harry Johnson (footballer born 1899)|Harry Johnson]]
* 1930s: [[Jimmy Dunne]], [[Jock Dodds]], [[Bobby Barclay]], [[Jack Pickering]]
* 1940s: [[Jimmy Hagan]]
* 1950s: [[Alf Ringstead]], [[Joe Shaw (footballer born 1928)|Joe Shaw]], [[Ted Burgin]], [[Graham Shaw]], [[Cec Coldwell]]
* 1960s: [[Alan Hodgkinson]], [[Derek Pace]], [[Mick Jones (footballer born 1945)|Mick Jones]]
* 1970s: [[Tony Currie (footballer)|Tony Currie]], [[Alan Woodward]], [[Len Badger]], [[Eddie Colquhoun]], [[Trevor Hockey]], [[Alejandro Sabella|Alex Sabella]]
* 1980s: [[Keith Edwards]], [[Colin Morris]], [[Paul Stancliffe]],
* 1990s: [[Brian Deane]], [[Tony Agana]], [[Simon Tracey]], [[Alan Kelly, Jr.|Alan Kelly]]
* 2000s: [[Michael Brown (English footballer)|Michael Brown]], [[Phil Jagielka]], [[Paul Peschisolido]], [[Michael Tonge]], [[James Beattie (footballer)|James Beattie]]

==Reserve and Academy teams==
* Sheffield United Reserves currently play in the [[Central League (football)|Pontin's Holidays League East]] at the Coach and Horses ground.[[Sheffield F.C. |Sheffield F.C.'s]] home ground.
* Sheffield United Academy U18s currently play in the [[FA Premier Academy League]] U18s Group D at the [[Shirecliffe]] ground at Firshill Crescent.

==International links==
In January 2006, Sheffield United became the first foreign club to take over a Chinese team<ref>{{cite web|url=http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/200601/13/eng20060113_235136.html|title=Sheffield United take over Chengdu football club|publisher=People's Daily Online|date=2006-01-13|accessdate=2007-10-31}}</ref> when they purchased the football club [[Chengdu Wuniu]], based in the city of [[Chengdu]], [[China]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.shef.ac.uk/chengdublades/blades.html|title=Chengdu Blades - Sheffield students welcome Chinese Blades|publisher=University of Sheffield|accessdate=2007-10-31}}</ref> The club was re-named the [[Chengdu Blades]], after their new owners. Sheffield United shirts are now sold in China, and Chengdu shirts are now sold in Sheffield, increasing revenue streams for both clubs.

In February 2008 Kevin McCabe, the club's chairman, finalised an agreement with [[Budapest]]-based [[Ferencvárosi TC#Football|Ferencváros]] to buy its football team, and also negotiated with the Hungarian government to purchase and develop the ground around [[Stadion Albert Flórián]].<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/7243262.stm
|title = Blades chief wins Ferencvaros bid
|work = BBC Sport Online
|publisher = BBC
|date = [[13 February]] [[2008]]
|accessdate = 2008-10-07
}}</ref> The development of a new all-seater football stadium with a capacity of 25,000 has been started. A match was played in Budapest to celebrate the link-up.<ref>{{cite web|title = Chairman Celebrates Win|url= http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/FerencvarosDetail/0,,10418~1275433,00.html|date=2008-03-27|accessdate=2008-10-07|publisher=Sheffield United official website}}</ref>

The Blades also have operating/business and exchange of ideas links with [[Central Coast Mariners FC|Central Coast Mariners]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Blades expand worldwide links with Mariners agreement|url=http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~1250361,00.html|date=2008-02-26|accessdate=2008-03-27|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.}}</ref> of [[Australia]] and [[White Star Woluwé F.C.|White Star Woluwé]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Royal White Star Woluwe|url=http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/WhiteStarWoluwe/0,,10418~1185107,00.html|date=2007-12-07|accessdate=2008-03-27|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.}}</ref> of [[Belgium]]. The Australian [[Valad Property Group]] are also sponsors of the [[Bramall Lane#The South Stand|South Stand]] at Bramall Lane.

== Rivalries ==
Sheffield United have numerous [[Sports rivalry|rivalries]]. The most outstanding rivalry is with their city neighbours [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]]. Both teams have chants which aim to berate the other, as with many rivals. United and Wednesday's meeting has come to be known as the [[Steel City derby]]; to date 119&nbsp;matches have been played in the Steel City derby, with United winning 44, Wednesday 41, and 37 draws.<ref>[http://www.soccerbase.com/head2.sd?team1id=2328&team2id=2330 Steel City derby], head-to-head: ''Scoocerbase.com'' website.</ref> Sheffield United's other rivals are mainly other teams from Yorkshire, such as [[Leeds United A.F.C.|Leeds United]], [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]], [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]] and [[Doncaster Rovers]]. Sheffield Wednesday remain United's main rivals as meetings between United and Wednesday have occurred the most, and most of Sheffield supports one of the two teams. Sheffield United have not done the league double over Sheffield Wednesday since the 2005&ndash;06 season.


Sheffield United, also have, along with many other sports teams across Yorkshire, a strong rivalry with [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]. This can be attributed to the miners strikes of the 1980s, where workers in the [[Colliery|pits]] of [[Nottinghamshire]] did not join the strike (known locally as [[Strikebreaker|scabbing]]) whereas miners from Yorkshire were on strike. The rivalry between Sheffield United and Forest intensified due to the Blades beating Forest 2-0 at the City Ground for Brian Clough's last ever game as Forest Manager in 1993, Forest were relegated that season. United also defeated Forest in a hostile 2003 1st Division play off semi final, the highlight for United fans being an own goal by former Sheffield Wednesday captain Des Walker.

==Supporters==
Sheffield United derives support from a broad cross-section of the community. The majority of football fans in the [[S postcode area|S2]] postcode of the city (where the ground is located) are Sheffield United fans, particularly the [[Sharrow]], Heeley, Highfield, Manor and [[Park Hill, Sheffield|Park Hill]] areas of the city. There is also a lot of support in the S3 areas, close to the city centre, S8 and around the [[Gleadless]] area, a strong contingent from the [[Dearne Valley]], with a large supporters club from [[Swinton, South Yorkshire|Swinton]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swintonblades.com|title=Swinton Blades}}{{Dead link|date=October 2008}}</ref> in particular. The club usually run two or three special student deals each season, and so also have a small student following, based in the suburbs of [[Crookes]] and [[Sheffield Central ward#Broomhall|Broomhall]].

===Famous supporters===
Supporters of note include former manager [[Neil Warnock]],<ref>[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4158/is_19991203/ai_n14278380 Neil Warnock], famous supporter: article at [[The Independent]] website, via the ''FindArticles'' service.</ref> actor [[Sean Bean]],<ref>[http://www.tiscali.co.uk/entertainment/film/biographies/sean_bean_biog/2 Sean Bean], famous supporter: his [[Tiscali|Tiscali.co.uk]] biography.</ref> the Sports Minister [[Richard Caborn]], MP,<ref>{{cite web
|url = http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2005/mar/28/interviews.politics
|title = Interview: Richard Caborn, sports minister | Sport |
|publisher = ''The Guardian''
|date = [[28 March]] [[2005]]
|accessdate = 2008-10-07
}}</ref> the singer [[Paul Heaton]],<ref>[http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,,946748,00.html Paul Heaton], famous supporter: from a [[Guardian Unlimited]] interview.</ref> musicians [[Joe Elliott]] and [[Antony Genn]], television presenter [[Anna Walker (television presenter)|Anna Walker]],<ref>{{cite web
|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/southyorkshire/content/articles/2008/04/24/the_games_feature.shtml
|title = Sheffield's Anna Walker
|publisher = BBC
|yer = 2005
|month = March
|accessdate = 2008-10-07
}}</ref> author [[Graham Taylor (author)|G. P. Taylor]],<ref>[http://www.shadowmancer.com/shadowmancer_the_film.htm G. P. Taylor], famous supporter: ''Shadowmancer.com'' website.</ref> [[Olympic Games|Olympic]] Laser Class Sailing gold medalist [[Paul Goodison]] has followed Sheffield United since he was a youngster<ref>[http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~1369985,00.html Paul Goodison], famous supporter : sufc.co.uk.</ref> [[Alex Quinn]] ([[Sky Sports News]] presenter) and [[Michael Palin]], who also supports rivals [[Sheffield Wednesday]]<ref>http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001589/bio</ref>. As a boy Argentinian legend [[Juan Sebastian Veron]] dreamed of playing for the Blades.<ref>http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2003/mar/02/football.features1</ref>

===Chants===
Like many English clubs, Sheffield United supporters have a wide variety of chants and songs, the most famous of which is ''[[The Greasy Chip Butty Song]]''. Many others are intended to berate their local rivals, [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]], the most famous of which are (to the tune of "[[Singing the Blues]]): ''"Never felt more like Swinging a [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|pig]]/from [[Hyde Park, South Yorkshire|Hyde Park]] Flats to [[Wadsley Bridge]]/United! You've got me swinging a pig/As you do, as you do, as you do!"'' and ''"No pigs fans in town/No [[Hillsborough Stadium|Hillsborough]] to sadden my eyes/[[Jack Charlton]] is dead/and the pig's fans have fled/and the year is [[1888-89 in English football|1889]]!"''. They can also be heard to sing ''"Are you Wednesday in disguise"'' to poorly-playing teams—an attempt to undermine both the opposition and Sheffield Wednesday.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swintonblades.com/songs.htm|title=Blades Songs and Chants|publisher=Swinton Blades|first=Sean|last=Aitken|accessdate=2007-10-31}}{{Dead link|date=October 2008}}</ref> A popular chant at the moment is ''"Oh when the Blades go marching in!"'' this is usually sung for a long period of time whilst playing away from home. Songs played before kick off at Bramall Lane include 'Meet Her At The Love Parade' by Da Hool, 'We took Pelham' by Deadly Avenger and 'United' by Judas Priest and. These songs are known to fans as the 'Countdown To Kick-Off'.
.
Another popular chant is (sung to the tune of "[[I am sailing]]"): We are Bladesmen, we are Bladesmen, super Bladesmen, from the Lane. We are Bladesmen, super Bladesmen, we are Bladesmen, from the Lane".

==League history==
{{details|Sheffield United F.C. seasons}}

[[Image:Sheffield United league position.PNG|thumb|right|250px|Graphical representation of Sheffield United's historical league standings. Coloured bars represent the tiers of English football]]

{| class="wikitable"
|- style="vertical-align: top;"
|
*1892–1893 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]]
*1893–1934 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]]
*1934–1939 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]]
*1946–1949 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]]
*1949–1953 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]]
*1953–1956 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]]
|
*1956–1961 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]]
*1961–1968 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]]
*1968–1971 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]]
*1971–1976 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]]
*1976–1979 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]]
*1979–1981 [[Football League Third Division|Division 3]]
|
*1981–1982 [[Football League Fourth Division|Division 4]]
*1982–1984 [[Football League Third Division|Division 3]]
*1984–1988 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]]
*1988–1989 [[Football League Third Division|Division 3]]
*1989–1990 [[Football League Second Division|Division 2]]
*1990–1992 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]]
|
*1992–1994 [[Premier League]]
*1994–2004 [[Football League First Division|Division 1]]
*2004–2006 [[Football League Championship|Championship]]
*2006–2007 [[Premier League]]
*2007– [[Football League Championship|Championship]]
|}

*Seasons spent at Level 1 of the [[English football league system|football league system]]: 60
*Seasons spent at Level 2 of the football league system: 39
*Seasons spent at Level 3 of the football league system: 5
*Seasons spent at Level 4 of the football league system: 1

<Center>
{| ! width="80%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" style="border:1px solid #000;"
|+ '''Sheffield United: League Standings for last 10&nbsp;Seasons'''
|
{| ! width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"
|- ! style="background:#BBD;"
| '''Season''' || '''League''' || '''Pos''' || '''P''' || '''W''' || '''D''' || '''L''' || '''F''' || '''A''' || '''Pts'''
|- ! style="background:#CCF;"
| '''1998–99'''||Division One|| 8 || 46 || 18 || 13 || 15 || 71 || 66 || 67
|-
| '''1999–00'''||Division One|| 16 || 46 || 13 || 15 || 18 || 59 || 71 || 54
|- ! style="background:#CCF;"
| '''2000–01'''||Division One|| 10 || 46 || 19 || 11 || 16 || 52 || 49 || 68
|-
| '''2001–02'''||Division One|| 13 || 46 || 15 || 15 || 16 || 53 || 54 || 60
|- ! style="background:#CCF;"
| '''2002–03'''||Division One|| 3 || 46 || 23 || 11 || 12 || 72 || 52 || 80
|-
| '''2003–04'''||Division One|| 8 || 46 || 20 || 11 || 15 || 65 || 56 || 71
|- ! style="background:#CCF;"
| '''2004–05'''||Championship|| 8 || 46 || 18 || 13 || 15 || 57 || 56 || 67
|-
| '''2005–06'''||Championship || 2 || 46 || 26 || 12 || 8 || 76 || 46 || 90
|- ! style="background:#CCF;"
| '''2006–07'''||Premier League || 18 || 38 || 10 || 8 || 20 || 32 || 55 || 38
|-
| '''2007–08'''||Championship|| 9 || 46 || 17 || 15 || 14 || 56 || 51 || 66
|- ! style="background:#CCF;"
| '''2008-09'''||Championship|| 3 || 46 || 22 || 14 || 10 || 64 || 39 || 80
|-
|}
|}

<small>Pos = Position; P = Played; W = Won; D = Drawn; L = Lost; F = Goals For; A = Goals Against; Pts = Points</small>
</Center>

==Honours==
{{details|Sheffield United F.C. records}}
[[Image:ShefU1915.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Captain George Utley leads Sheffield United out for the 1915 FA Cup final.]]
''Note: the leagues and divisions of English football have changed somewhat over time, so here they are grouped into their relative levels on the [[English football league system]] at the time they were won to allow easy comparison of the achievement''

* '''Premier League and predecessors''' (level&nbsp;1 of the English football league system)
** [[Football League First Division|Football League Division One]] ''' Champions''', [[1897-98 in English football|1897–98]]
** Football League Division One '''Runners-up''', [[1896-97 in English football|1896–97]], [[1899-1900 in English football|1899–1900]]
* '''Football League Championship and predecessors''' (level&nbsp;2 of the English football league system)
** [[Football League Second Division|Football League Division Two]] '''Champions''', [[1952-53 in English football|1952–53]]
** Football League Division Two '''Runners-up''', [[1892-93 in English football|1892–93]], [[1938-39 in English football|1938–39]], [[1960-61 in English football|1960–61]], [[1970-71 in English football|1970–71]], [[1989-90 in English football|1989–90]]
** [[Football League Championship]] '''Runners-up''', [[2005-06 in English football|2005–06]]
* '''Football League One and predecessors''' (level&nbsp;3 of the English football league system)
** [[Football League Third Division|Football League Division Three]] '''Runners-up''', [[1988-89 in English football|1988–89]]
*'''Football League Two and predecessors''' (level&nbsp;4 of the English football league system)
** [[Football League Fourth Division|Football League Division Four]] '''Champions''', [[1981-82 in English football|1981–82]]
*'''[[FA Cup]]'''
**''' Winners''': [[1899 FA Cup Final|1899]], [[1902 FA Cup Final|1902]], [[1915 FA Cup Final|1915]], [[1925 FA Cup Final|1925]]
** '''Runners-up''': [[1901 FA Cup Final|1901]], [[1936 FA Cup Final|1936]]
* '''[[Football League Championship]] and predecessors Play Off Final''' Runners-up [[1996-97 in English football|1996-97]], [[2002-03 in English football|2002-03]], [[2008-09 in English football|2008–09]]

==Managerial history==
{{details|Sheffield United F.C. staff}}

{|
|valign="top"|
* 1889 [[John Wostinholm]] (secretary)
* 1899 [[John Nicholson (football)|John Nicholson]] (secretary)
* 1932 [[Teddy Davison]]
* 1952 [[Reg Freeman]]
* 1955 [[Joe Mercer]]
* 1958 [[Archie Clark (footballer)|Archie Clarke]] (acting)
* 1959 [[John Harris (footballer)|John Harris]]
|width="50"|&nbsp;
|valign="top"|
* 1968 [[Arthur Rowley]]
* 1969 [[John Harris (footballer)|John Harris]]
* 1973 [[Ken Furphy]]
* 1975 [[Cec Coldwell]] (acting)
* 1975 [[Jimmy Sirrel]]
* 1977 [[Cec Coldwell]] (acting)
* 1978 [[Harry Haslam (footballer)|Harry Haslam]]
|width="50"|&nbsp;
|valign="top"|
* 1981 [[Martin Peters]]
* 1981 [[Ian Porterfield]]
* 1986 [[Billy McEwan (footballer born 1951)|Billy McEwan]]
* 1988 [[Dave Bassett]]
* 1995 [[Howard Kendall]]
* 1997 [[Nigel Spackman]]
|width="50"|&nbsp;
|valign="top"|
* 1998 [[Steve Thompson (footballer born 1955)|Steve Thompson]] (acting)
* 1998 [[Steve Bruce]]
* 1999 [[Adrian Heath]]
* 1999 [[Neil Warnock]]
* 2007 [[Bryan Robson]]
* 2008 [[Kevin Blackwell]]
|}

==Assistant Managers==

* 1988 [[Wally Downes]]
* 1995 [[Nigel Spackman]]
* 1997 [[Adrian Heath]]
* 1998 [[Russell Slade]]
* 2000 [[Kevin Blackwell]]
* 2004 [[Keith Curle]]
* 2005 [[Stuart McCall]]
* 2007 [[Brian Kidd]]
* 2008 [[Sam Ellis]]

==Bibliography==
*{{cite book
| last = Matthews
| first = Tony
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = The Official Encyclopaedia of Sheffield United Football Club
| publisher = Britespot Publishing Ltd
| date= [[15 December]] [[2003]]
| location =
| pages =
| url =
| doi =
| isbn = 1-904103-19-7}}
*{{cite book
| last = Clarebrough
| first = Denis
| authorlink =
| coauthors =
| title = Sheffield United Football Club
| publisher = Chalford Publishing
| date= [[30 September]] [[1997]]
| location =
| pages =
| url =
| doi =
| isbn = 0-7524-1059-8}}

*{{cite book
| last = Armstrong
| first = Gary
| authorlink =
| coauthors = Garrett, John
| title = Sheffield United Football Club - The Biography
| publisher = Hallamshire Publications Ltd
| date= [[1 December]] [[2007]]
| location =
| pages =
| url =
| doi =
| isbn = 1-8747-1865-2}}

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

==External links==
*[http://www.sufc.co.uk/ Official Site] {{en icon}}
*{{BBC Football Info|BBClinkname=s/sheff_utd}}

{{fb start}}
{{Sheffield United F.C.}}
{{Football League Championship teamlist}}
{{English football league system cells | level = 2 | promotion = [[FA Premier League]] | relegation = [[Football League One]]}}
{{Football in England table cells}}
{{Football in Sheffield}}
{{fb end}}

[[Category:English football clubs]]
[[Category:Sheffield United F.C.| ]]
[[Category:Sports teams and clubs in Sheffield|United]]
[[Category:Premier League clubs]]
[[Category:Football League clubs]]
[[Category:Sport in Sheffield]]
[[Category:Publicly traded sports companies]]
[[Category:Football (soccer) clubs established in 1889]]
[[Category:South Yorkshire football clubs]]
[[Category:FA Cup winners]]

[[ar:شيفيلد يونايتد]]
[[bn:শেফিল্ড ইউনাইটেড ফুটবল ক্লাব]]
[[bg:ФК Шефилд Юнайтед]]
[[ca:Sheffield United Football Club]]
[[cs:Sheffield United FC]]
[[da:Sheffield United F.C.]]
[[de:Sheffield United]]
[[el:Σέφιλντ Γιουνάιτεντ]]
[[es:Sheffield United Football Club]]
[[fr:Sheffield United Football Club]]
[[ko:셰필드 유나이티드 FC]]
[[id:Sheffield United F.C.]]
[[is:Sheffield United F.C.]]
[[it:Sheffield United Football Club]]
[[he:שפילד יונייטד]]
[[lb:Sheffield United FC]]
[[lt:Sheffield United FC]]
[[hu:Sheffield United FC]]
[[ms:Sheffield United F.C.]]
[[nl:Sheffield United FC]]
[[ja:シェフィールド・ユナイテッドFC]]
[[no:Sheffield United FC]]
[[nn:Sheffield United FC]]
[[pl:Sheffield United F.C.]]
[[pt:Sheffield United Football Club]]
[[ro:Sheffield United]]
[[ru:Шеффилд Юнайтед]]
[[simple:Sheffield United F.C.]]
[[sr:ФК Шефилд јунајтед]]
[[fi:Sheffield United FC]]
[[sv:Sheffield United FC]]
[[tr:Sheffield United F.C.]]
[[zh:谢菲尔德联足球俱乐部]]

Revision as of 21:45, 15 August 2009

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