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{{Short description|Association football club in England}}
{{About|the English men's football club|the women's football club|Sheffield United W.F.C.|the Chinese club formerly known as Sheffield United F.C.|Chengdu Tiancheng F.C.}}
{{pp-vandalism|small=yes}}
{{Use British English|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2024}}
{{Infobox football club
| nickname = The Blades
| ground = [[Bramall Lane]]
| capacity = 32,050<ref>{{cite web|url= https://resources.premierleague.com/premierleague/document/2023/08/31/132475d9-6ce7-48f3-b168-0d9f234c995a/PL_Handbook_2023-24_DIGITAL_29.08.23.pdf|title=Premier League Handbook}}</ref><ref name=BLC>{{cite web|url=https://s3.eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/gc-media-assets.gc.sheffieldunited.co.uk/bb5cfa70-9011-11ed-a1fd-efdd708e05e9.pdf|title=Club Charter 2022/23|website=Sheffield United F.C.}}</ref>
| clubname = Sheffield United
| image = Sheffield United FC logo.svg
| upright = 0.8
| alt = Sheffield United logo
| fullname = Sheffield United Football Club
| short name = SUFC
| founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1889|3|22}}
| owner = COH Sports
| chairman = Steven Rosen and [[Helmy Eltoukhy]]
| chief executive =
| manager = [[Rubén Sellés]]
| league = {{English football updater|SheffieU}}
| season = {{English football updater|SheffieU2}}
| position = {{English football updater|SheffieU3}}
| current = 2025–26 Sheffield United F.C. season
| website = {{URL|https://sufc.co.uk}}
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| pattern_ra1 = _sufc2526h
| pattern_sh1 = _sufc2526h
| pattern_so1 = _sufc2526hl
| leftarm1 = ff0000
| body1 = ff0000
| rightarm1 = ff0000
| shorts1 = 000000
| socks1 = 000000
| pattern_la2 = _sufc2526a
| pattern_b2 = _sufc2526a
| pattern_ra2 = _sufc2526a
| pattern_sh2 = _sufc2526a
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| body2 =ffffff
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| stadium = [[Bramall Lane]]
}}
'''Sheffield United Football Club''' is a professional [[association football|football]] club based in [[Sheffield]], [[South Yorkshire]], England. The club competes in the {{English football updater|SheffieU}}, the second tier of [[Football in England|English football]]. They are nicknamed "the Blades" due to Sheffield's history of cutlery production.<ref name="Sheffield City Council Page">{{cite web|title=Sheffield United Football Club|url=https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/libraries/archives-and-local-studies/research-guides/sheffield-united-fc.html|publisher=sheffield.gov.uk|access-date=12 October 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030035628/https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/libraries/archives-and-local-studies/research-guides/sheffield-united-fc.html|archive-date=30 October 2013}}</ref> The team have played home games at [[Bramall Lane]] since their formation. For most of the club's history, United have played in red and white striped shirts with black shorts. Their main rivals are [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]], with whom they contest the [[Steel City derby]].
Sheffield United was formed as an offshoot of [[Sheffield United Cricket Club]] in 1889. Following strong performances in the [[Midland Football League (1889)|Midland League]] and [[Northern Football League|Northern League]], they were invited to become a founding member of the [[Football League Second Division]] in 1892. They won [[promotion and relegation|promotion]] to the [[Football League First Division|First Division]] at the end of the 1892–93 season, the first team to do so, and went on to be crowned [[List of English football champions|English football champions]] in 1897–98. United went on to win the [[FA Cup]] on four occasions: [[1899 FA Cup Final|1899]], [[1902 FA Cup Final|1902]], [[1915 FA Cup Final|1915]] and [[1925 FA Cup Final|1925]]; and were beaten finalists in [[1901 FA Cup Final|1901]]. They spent 41 years in the top-flight before being relegated in 1934. United finished as FA Cup runners-up in [[1936 FA Cup Final|1936]] and were promoted as runners-up of the Second Division in 1938–39.
United won the Second Division title in 1952–53, following relegation in 1949. They spent the next three decades between the First and Second Divisions, winning promotions in 1960–61 and 1970–71 after relegations in 1956 and 1968. However, a slow decline saw the club drop to the fourth tier by 1982, though they would win an immediate promotion as [[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] champions in 1981–82; this achievement meant that Sheffield United are one of only five sides to have won [[English football league system|all four professional divisions of English football]]. Promoted in 1983–84, they recovered from relegation in 1988 to win consecutive promotions into the top-flight at the end of the 1989–90 campaign.
Sheffield United were founding members of the [[Premier League]] in the [[1992–93 FA Premier League|1992–93 season]], during which they scored the first ever goal of the competition. They were relegated in 1994 and after losing play-off finals in [[1997 Football League First Division play-off final|1997]] and [[2003 Football League First Division play-off final|2003]], the club finally regained their Premier League status at the end of the 2005–06 campaign under the stewardship of manager [[Neil Warnock]]. However, United were relegated the following year and dropped into [[EFL League One|League One]] in 2011. They spent six seasons in the third tier, losing in three play-off campaigns, before manager [[Chris Wilder]] led the club to promotion as champions in 2016–17. Promotion to the Premier League followed in 2018–19, though they returned to the [[EFL Championship|Championship]] in 2021. The club played in the Premier League following a promotion from the EFL Championship in the [[2022–23 EFL Championship|2022–23 season]], but were relegated in the [[2023–24 Premier League|following season]].
==History==
{{Recentism|date=December 2020}}
{{main|History of Sheffield United F.C.}}
{{Further|Sheffield United F.C. seasons}}
===Formation and glory years (1888–1975)===
[[File:Sufc1895.jpg|left|thumb|The United team from 28 September 1895 before a match against [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]]]]
The club was formed by members of the [[Sheffield United Cricket Club]], formed in 1854 and the first English sports club to use 'United' in its name. Sheffield United's predominant nickname is "The Blades", a reference to Sheffield's status as the major producer of [[cutlery]] in the United Kingdom. United's original nickname was in fact "The Cutlers" from 1889 to 1912. City rivals Wednesday held the nickname "The Blades" in their early years, however in 1907 Wednesday officially became "The Owls", in reference to their new ground in [[Owlerton]], and United would later claim "The Blades" nickname for themselves.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/on-this-day-1889-sheffield-united-are-formed-by-the-chairman-of-sheffield-wednesday-pictures-and-video-1-8450195|title=On This Day 1889|newspaper=The Sheffield Star|date=22 March 2017|access-date=9 July 2017}}</ref>
Sheffield United officially 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, [[Charles Clegg (footballer)|Sir Charles Clegg]]. [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|The Wednesday]] had moved from [[Bramall Lane]] to their own ground at [[Olive Grove]] after a dispute over gate receipts and the tenants of Bramall Lane needed to create a new team to generate income. Sir Charles Clegg was incidentally also the president of The Wednesday.<ref>{{cite news|title=Football: New Local Professional Team|newspaper=The Sheffield & Rotherham Independent|date=23 March 1889 |quote=At a meeting of the Sheffield United Cricket Club held last evening, an important decision was arrived at. It was resolved to undertake the organisation of a football professional team for next season... The club in future will be known as the Sheffield United Cricket and Football Club.}}</ref>
Undoubtedly United's heyday was the 30-year period from 1895 to 1925, when they were champions of England in [[1897–98 Football League|1897–98]] and runners-up in [[1896–97 Football League|1896–97]] and [[1899–1900 Football League|1899–1900]], and [[FA Cup]] winners in [[1899 FA Cup Final|1899]], [[1902 FA Cup Final|1902]], [[1915 FA Cup Final|1915]] and [[1925 FA Cup Final|1925]]. United have not won a trophy since 1925, bar those associated with [[Promotion and relegation|promotion]] from lower leagues, their best performances in the cup competitions being several semi-final appearances in the FA Cup and [[EFL Cup|League Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Club information – Sheffield United|url=http://www.sheffieldunited-mad.co.uk/club_information/sheffield_united/index.shtml|website=sheffieldunited-mad.co.uk|publisher=Blades Mad|access-date=15 November 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117032403/http://www.sheffieldunited-mad.co.uk/club_information/sheffield_united/index.shtml|archive-date=17 November 2015}}</ref>
[[File:Facupfinal1901-D.jpg|thumb|upright=1.1|United conceding the third goal in the 1901 FA Cup Final against [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] at [[Burnden Park]] in Bolton]]
===Fall from grace and brief revival (1975–1994)===
Their darkest days came between 1975 and 1981. After finishing sixth in the First Division at the end of the [[1974–75 in English football|1974–75 season]], they were relegated to the Second Division [[1975–76 in English football|the following season]], and [[1978–79 in English football|three years after that setback]] they fell into the Third Division. They reached an absolute low in 1981 when they were relegated to the Fourth Division, but were champions in their [[1981–82 in English football|first season]] in the league's basement division and [[1983–84 in English football|two years afterwards]] they won promotion to the Second Division.
They fell back into the Third Division in 1988, but new manager [[Dave Bassett]] masterminded a quick revival which launched the Blades towards one of the most successful eras in their history. Successive promotions in the aftermath of the 1988 relegation saw them return to the First Division in 1990 after a 14-year exile. They survived at this level for four seasons (being founder members of the new [[Premier League]] in 1992 after peaking with a ninth-place finish in the last season of the old First Division) and reached an F.A. Cup semi-final in the [[1992–93 FA Cup|1992–93]] season before being relegated in 1994.
===Financial trouble and fall to League One (1994–2013)===
[[File:SheffieldUnitedFC League Performance.svg|thumb|Chart of Sheffield United's Performances]]
They remained outside the top flight for the next 12 years, although they qualified for the play-offs under Bassett's successor [[Howard Kendall]] in 1997 and caretaker manager [[Steve Thompson (footballer born 1955)|Steve Thompson]] in 1998. They were struggling at the wrong end of Division One when [[Neil Warnock]] was appointed manager in December 1999, and a financial crisis was preventing the club from being able to boost their squad, but in [[2002–03 in English football|2002–03]] they enjoyed their most successful season for a decade, reaching the semi-finals of both domestic cups and also reaching the Division One play-off final, where they were beaten 3–0 by [[Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C.|Wolverhampton Wanderers]]. Three years later, however, Warnock delivered a Premier League return as the Blades finished runners-up in the re-branded [[EFL Championship|Championship]]. They lasted just one season back amongst the elite, before being relegated from the [[2006–07 FA Premier League|Premier League]] amidst the controversy surrounding [[Carlos Tevez]], the player who was controversially signed by [[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] and whose performances played a big part in their remarkable escape from relegation. [[Neil Warnock]] resigned as manager after the Blades went down. The team also purchased Chinese club [[Chengdu Blades F.C.|Chengdu Wuniu]] in 2006, and redesigned the club crest in the style of the Sheffield United badge and renamed the team "Chengdu Blades".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wsc.co.uk/wsc-daily/970-July-2009/3761-sheffield-united-boost-the-brand|title=When Saturday Comes – Sheffield United boost the brand|last=WSC|website=www.wsc.co.uk|access-date=12 April 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170413072342/http://www.wsc.co.uk/wsc-daily/970-July-2009/3761-sheffield-united-boost-the-brand|archive-date=13 April 2017|url-status=dead}}</ref> The team were dissolved in 2015.
The club struggled to come to terms with life back in the Championship, with a spiralling wage bill not being matched by the quality of the players brought in, and a succession of managers within a short period of time. The Blades reached the Championship playoff final in 2009 under [[Kevin Blackwell]], but a period of decline then set in. The 2010–11 season proved disastrous, with the club employing three different managers in the span of a season, which ultimately ended in relegation to [[EFL League One|League One]] under [[Micky Adams]], meaning they would play in the third tier of English football for the first time since 1989. United qualified for the [[EFL League One play-offs|League One play-offs]] in [[2011–12 Sheffield United F.C. season|2011–12]] and [[2012–13 Sheffield United F.C. season|2012–13]] but lost in the [[2012 Football League One play-off final|final]] and semi-final respectively.
===Saudi takeover and return to the top flight (2013–2024)===
In September 2013, [[Abdullah bin Mosaad Al Saud]] of the [[House of Saud]] had bought a 50 per cent stake in United's parent company "Blades Leisure Ltd". Both parties, at that time, agreed to include a "roulette notice" mechanism to end their arrangement when they no longer wished to work together. In 2014, United reached the FA Cup semi-finals at [[Wembley Stadium]] but lost 5–3 to [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/26908665|title=Hull 5–3 Sheff Utd|date=13 April 2014|work=BBC Sport|access-date=14 April 2014}}</ref> In [[2014–15 in English football|2014–15]], the team reached the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and semi-finals of the [[Football League Cup]].<ref name="23sepbbc">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/30390346 |title=Sheffield United 1–0 Southampton |work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=16 December 2014 |access-date=7 March 2015 }}</ref> United secured promotion back to the second tier in the [[2016–17 Sheffield United F.C. season|2016–17]] season under the management of lifelong United fan and former player [[Chris Wilder]], winning the League One title with 100 points.<ref name=":0">{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/39463234 |title=Northampton Town 1–2 Sheffield United |work=[[BBC Sport]] |date=8 April 2017 |access-date=12 April 2017 }}</ref> In late 2017, co-owner [[Kevin McCabe (businessman)|Kevin McCabe]] served a roulette notice on Prince Abdullah, giving him the option to sell his 50 per cent at £5 million or buy McCabe's 50 per cent for the same price. Prince Abdullah chose to buy but McCabe refused to sell, a decision that ended up before the [[High Court of Justice]].<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/feb/03/sheffield-united-prince-abdullah-kevin-mccabe-bitter-battle |title=The bitter battle for Sheffield United – 'He tried to screw me, he got screwed' |work=[[The Guardian]] |date=3 February 2020 |access-date=15 December 2020}}</ref>
In the [[2018–19 Sheffield United F.C. season|2018–19]] season, Sheffield United achieved automatic promotion to the Premier League.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47994362|title=Sheffield United 2–0 Ipswich Town|work=BBC Sport|date=27 April 2019}}</ref> United's first season back in the Premier League, despite being tipped by many for relegation, produced a ninth-place finish.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/sheffield-united/absolute-heroes-sheffield-united-fans-salute-their-team-after-sealing-ninth-place-premier-league-2924504|title='Absolute heroes' – Sheffield United fans salute their team after sealing ninth place in Premier League|work=The Star|access-date=31 July 2020}}</ref> Despite this, ownership disputes between Prince Abdullah and McCabe continued. In September 2019, after 20 months of litigation, the High Court issued its judgment, requiring McCabe's company to sell its shares in United.<ref name="high court">{{cite news|title=Sheffield United ownership: Prince Abdullah wins court battle|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-49715558|access-date=16 September 2019|work=BBC News|date=16 September 2019}}</ref> McCabe sought permission to appeal from the High Court and Court of Appeal but both appeals were rejected.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jan/21/kevin-mccabe-refused-appeal-sheffield-united-ownership-saga-football|title=Kevin McCabe refused right to appeal in Sheffield United ownership saga|access-date=21 January 2020|website=The Guardian}}</ref> As a result, Prince Abdullah became the sole beneficial owner of the club. The club had a very poor start to the [[2020–21 Sheffield United F.C. season|2020–21]] season, winning just one of their opening 18 matches. Wilder left the club by mutual consent in March 2021.<ref name="Wilder">{{cite web|url=https://www.sufc.co.uk/news/2021/march/Club-Statement|title=Club Statement |publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=13 March 2021|access-date=13 March 2021}}</ref> He was replaced by [[Paul Heckingbottom]] as caretaker manager, who could not prevent relegation at the end of the season.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.skysports.com/football/wolverhampton-wanderers-vs-sheffield-united/report/429156|title=Wolves 1–0 Sheffield United: Blades relegated from Premier League after Willian Jose strike|website=Sky Sports|access-date=17 April 2021}}</ref> In May 2021, the club appointed [[Slaviša Jokanović]] as the new manager, making him the first overseas manager the club's history.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12691/12318199/slavisa-jokanovic-named-sheffield-united-manager-succeeding-chris-wilder-at-the-blades-helm |title=Slavisa Jokanovic named Sheffield United manager, succeeding Chris Wilder at the Blades' helm |work=Sky Sports |date=28 May 2021 |access-date=23 August 2021 }}</ref> However, Jokanović was dismissed in November 2021 after a poor start to the season and Heckingbottom was reappointed as manager, this time on a permanent basis.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sufc.co.uk/news/2021/november/25/club-statement/|title=Club Statement|date=25 November 2021 }}</ref> Heckingbottom appointed former Sheffield United players [[Stuart McCall]] and [[Jack Lester]] as part of his coaching team. The [[2021–22 Sheffield United F.C. season|2021–22]] season resulted in a fifth-place finish in the Championship, losing in the play-off semi-finals to Nottingham Forest on penalties. During the following [[2022–23 Sheffield United F.C. season|season]], Nigerian businessman [[Dozy Mmobuosi]] failed with an attempted £90 million takeover of the financially troubled club<ref>{{cite news |first=Matt |last=Lawton |title=Nigerian billionaire Dozy Mmobuosi's Sheffield United takeover close |newspaper=[[The Times]] |url=https://www.thetimes.com/sport/football/article/african-billionaires-sheffield-united-takeover-close-xkgp77lfc |access-date=2 February 2023 |issn=0140-0460}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=King |first=Kieran |date=2 February 2023 |title=African billionaire worth £7bn to move into English football with takeover close |url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/african-billionaire-worth-7bn-move-29117762 |access-date=2 February 2023 |website=mirror }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Dozy Mmobuosi: Nigerian businessman on the cusp of buying Premier League-bound Sheffield United – CNN Video |website=[[CNN]] |date=9 February 2023 |url=https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2023/02/09/dozy-mmobuosi-sheffield-united-nigeria-owner-spt-intl.cnn |access-date=21 March 2023}}</ref> having reportedly paid a near-£10 million non-refundable deposit.<ref name="Slater-26Mar2024">{{cite news |last1=Slater |first1=Matt |title='Under every rock, we found a lie': How the bid to be English football's first black owner unravelled |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5347923/2024/03/26/mmobuosi-nigeria-football-news-sheffield-united/ |access-date=15 April 2024 |work=The Athletic |date=26 March 2024}}</ref> By the end of the season, Heckingbottom had guided United back to the Premier League, securing automatic promotion with a second-place finish. The team also reached the FA Cup semi-finals, losing 3–0 to [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] at Wembley Stadium.<ref>{{cite news |last1=McNulty |first1=Phil |title=Manchester City 3–0 Sheffield United |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/65347141 |access-date=22 April 2023}}</ref>
Sheffield United's return to the Premier League for the [[2023–24 Sheffield United F.C. season|2023–24]] season proved to be difficult and by early December they sat at the bottom of the league. The club's board decided to sack Heckingbottom, replacing him with former Blades manager Chris Wilder.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Poole |first1=Harry |title=Sheffield United sack manager Paul Heckingbottom and appoint Chris Wilder |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/67622537 |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=5 December 2023}}</ref> Despite the managerial change, the team's poor form continued and their relegation back to the Championship was confirmed on 27 April 2024 following a 5–1 loss to [[Newcastle United F.C.|Newcastle United]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Howarth |first1=Matthew |title=Newcastle United 5–1 Sheffield United |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/68862604 |date=27 April 2024 |access-date=27 April 2024}}</ref> On 11 May 2024, after conceding the 101st goal of their campaign in a 1–0 defeat to [[Everton F.C.|Everton]], Sheffield United set a new record for the most goals conceded in a single Premier League season, breaking [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]]'s record of 100 from the [[1993–94 FA Premier League|1993–94 season]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Ryan |first1=Danny |title=What a record! Sheffield United set a new low in Premier League history as dire season keeps getting worse |publisher=GOAL |url=https://www.goal.com/en-us/lists/sheffield-united-premier-league-record-goals-conceded/blt393c3613af39704e |date=11 May 2024 |access-date=11 May 2024}}</ref> On the final matchday of the season, the club lost 3–0 to [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] at home, finalizing their new record of 104 goals conceded, in addition to a goal difference of −69, matching [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]'s record from the [[2007–08 Premier League|2007–08 season]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/live/crgygk217e4t |title=Sheffield United 0–3 Tottenham Hotspur: Spurs thump Sheff Utd to clinch Europa League spot |work=BBC Sport |date=19 May 2024 |access-date=19 May 2024}}</ref> Furthermore, they set new records for goals conceded at home with 57, surpassing [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]'s record from the [[1935–36 Football League#First Division|1935–36 season]], and recorded a home goal difference of −38.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.premierleague.com/stats/records |title=For the record |publisher=Premier League |access-date=19 May 2024 }}</ref>
In the 2024–25 season, they finished third in the EFL Championship, narrowly failing to win automatic promotion, and lost to Sunderland in the playoff final in extra time. Wilder’s contact was terminated in June 2025.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Brennan |first1=Stuart |last2=Oxley |first2=Adam |title=Wilder leaves Sheff Utd as Selles takes over |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cn84wd7v5deo |access-date=19 June 2025 |work=BBC Sport |date=18 June 2025}}</ref>
==Kits, colours and crest==
[[File:Sheffield United V Cardiff City 24 March 2010 Jon Candy.jpg|thumb|Sheffield United playing against [[Cardiff City F.C.|Cardiff City]] in 2010]]
Sheffield United have played in red and white stripes for most of their history, but began playing in white shirts and blue shorts. They briefly played in 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.
The traditional red and white stripes remained until the 1974–75 season, when elements of black were added, until the 1979–81 and 82 season kit. This was white with a red breast, and with thin stripes down either side, and was created to accommodate the logo of the club's principal sponsor, Cantor's, a local furniture shop. 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. Their kits continued to feature striped shirts, albeit with various aids to accommodate their sponsors, including a yellow square for [[Arnold Laver|Laver]] from 1988 to 1992 (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 the following season.<ref>{{cite news|title=RUBBISH KITS: As Sheffield United's effort is blasted the 'worst ever', we take a look at fashion disasters from Blades, Owls, Millers, Rovers, Reds and Spireites |url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/football/barnsley/rubbish-kits-as-sheffield-united-s-effort-is-blasted-the-worst-ever-we-take-a-look-at-fashion-disasters-from-blades-owls-millers-rovers-reds-and-spireites-1-7170803|access-date=15 November 2015|newspaper=The Sheffield Star|date=23 March 2015}}</ref> 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|access-date=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 were the inspiration for the kit of 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>{{cite web|url=http://derrycityfc.net/history/concise/index.php |title=Derry City FC – A Concise History |publisher=CityWeb |date=2006 |access-date=24 April 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205180736/http://derrycityfc.net/history/concise/index.php |archive-date=5 February 2009 }}</ref>
[[File:Trfc v sufc 2013 IJA 02.png|thumb|350px|Sheffield United plays away to [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] in 2013.]]
The first time a crest appeared on the shirt was 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 to 1977, when a new crest was used, introduced by former manager [[Jimmy Sirrel]], but designed apparently over 20 years previously by former player [[Jimmy Hagan]].<ref>{{cite news|title=We Are Blades!!!|url=http://www.sheffieldunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/we_are_blades_488386/index.shtml|access-date=15 November 2015|publisher=BladesMad|date=31 January 2010}}</ref> This consisted of two white crossed swords, or blades, the club's nickname, with a [[Yorkshire Rose]] 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 has been altered very slightly a few times, with a simple black embroidered crest appearing on shirts from 1987 to 1990, and an all-white crest on a red-edged black shield for the 1992–99 seasons, but reverted to its original form in 2000.<ref name="Historical Kits" />
===Shirt sponsors and manufacturers===
{{commons|Sheffield United F.C. kits}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! Year
! Kit manufacturer
! Main shirt sponsor
! Secondary sponsor
|-
| 1973–75 || rowspan=1|[[Umbro]]<ref name="Historical Kits" /> || rowspan="2" style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | '''None''' || rowspan="14" style="background: #ececec; color: grey; vertical-align: middle; text-align: center; " class="table-na" | '''None'''
|-
| 1975–79 || rowspan=1|[[Admiral Sportswear|Admiral]]<ref name="Historical Kits">{{cite news|title=Sheffield United – Historical kits|url=http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Sheffield_United/Sheffield_United.htm|access-date=15 November 2015}}</ref>
|-
| 1979–81 || rowspan=3|Hobott<ref name="Historical Kits" /> || rowspan=1|Cantor's<ref name="Historical Kits" />
|-
| 1981–82 || rowspan=1|Bentleys<ref name="Historical Kits" />
|-
| 1982–83 || rowspan=1|[[Renault]]<ref name="Historical Kits" />
|-
| 1983–85 || rowspan=2|Umbro || rowspan=1|Simonds<ref name="Historical Kits" />
|-
| 1985–95 || rowspan=1|[[Arnold Laver]]<ref name="Historical Kits" />
|-
| 1995–97 || rowspan=1|Avec<ref name="Historical Kits" /> || rowspan=2|[[Wards Brewing Company|Wards]]<ref name="Historical Kits" />
|-
| 1997–99 || rowspan=2|[[Le Coq Sportif]]<ref name="Historical Kits" />
|-
| 1999–2000 || Blades<ref name="Historical Kits" />
|-
| 2000–02 || rowspan=1|[[Patrick (shoe company)|Patrick]] ||[[Midas Games]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Nationwide Division One Club by club|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/4765648/Nationwide-Division-One-Club-by-club.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/championship/4765648/Nationwide-Division-One-Club-by-club.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=15 November 2015|date=11 August 2000}}{{cbignore}}</ref>
|-
| 2002–04 || rowspan=5|Le Coq Sportif || rowspan=1|Desun<ref>{{cite news|title=Blades Land New Sponsor|url=http://www.sheffieldunited-mad.co.uk/news/tmnw/blades_land_new_sponsors_150393/index.shtml|access-date=15 November 2015|publisher=Blades Mad|date=27 March 2004}}</ref>
|-
| 2004–06 || rowspan=1|HFS Loans<ref>{{cite news|title=New Hfs backing for Blades|url=http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/business/business-news/new-hfs-backing-for-blades-1054870|access-date=15 November 2015|date=30 June 2005}}</ref>
|-
| 2006–07 || rowspan=2|[[Capital One]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Capital One in frame to become League Cup sponsor|url=http://www.marketingmagazine.co.uk/article/1130389/capital-one-frame-become-league-cup-sponsor|access-date=15 November 2015|publisher=Marketing magazine|date=4 April 2012}}</ref>
|-
| 2007–08 || rowspan=2|Valad<ref>{{cite news|title=Sheffield United Stars and Malta put their shirts on farm charity|url=http://www.independent.com.mt/articles/2009-05-10/news/sheffield-united-stars-and-malta-put-their-shirts-on-farm-charity-224505/|access-date=15 November 2015|publisher=MT Independent|date=10 May 2009}}</ref>
|-
| 2008–09 || rowspan=2|VisitMalta.com<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.brandrepublic.com/article/839663/sheffield-united-sponsored-malta|access-date=15 November 2015|title=Sheffield United to be sponsored by Malta|publisher=BrandRepublic|date=14 August 2008}}</ref>
|-
| 2009–11|| rowspan=4|[[Macron (sportswear)|Macron]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Macron announce kit deal with Sheffield United FC|url=http://www.gusportshop.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22:macron-announce-kit-deal-with-sheffield-united-fc-kitlockercom-instated-as-official-macron-distributors-in-sheffield&catid=3:latest-news&Itemid=307|access-date=15 November 2015|publisher=Glasgow University|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117023106/http://www.gusportshop.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=22:macron-announce-kit-deal-with-sheffield-united-fc-kitlockercom-instated-as-official-macron-distributors-in-sheffield&catid=3:latest-news&Itemid=307|archive-date=17 November 2015}}</ref>||[[Capita Symonds|Capita]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Capita Symonds partners Sheffield United FC|url=http://www.capitaproperty.co.uk/news__events/news/sheffield_united.aspx|website=Capita Property|access-date=15 November 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117021802/http://www.capitaproperty.co.uk/news__events/news/sheffield_united.aspx|archive-date=17 November 2015}}</ref>
|-
| 2011–12||| [[Westfield Health]] (Home)<br />Gilder Group/[[Volkswagen]] (Away)<ref>{{cite news|title=Both Sheffield United and Wednesday forecast friction over sponsorship link-up|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheffield-united/both_sheffield_united_and_wednesday_forecast_friction_over_sponsorship_link_up_1_3581039|newspaper=The Sheffield Star|date=15 July 2011}}</ref>||Nexis Holdings PLC<ref>{{cite news|title=Sheffield United agree 'groundbreaking partnership'|url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/sheffield_united_agree_groundbreaking_partnership|access-date=15 November 2015|agency=SportsPro Media|date=4 August 2011}}</ref>
|-
| 2012–13||[[Westfield Health]] (Home)<br />Redtooth (Away)<ref>{{cite news|title=Redtooth gets shirty with Sheffield United|url=http://www.redtoothpoker.com/news/?p=3749|access-date=15 November 2015}}</ref>||GCI Com<ref>{{cite web|title=Sheffield clubs unite in sponsorship deal|url=http://www.sportspromedia.com/news/sheffieldclubs_unite_in_sponsorship_deal|website=SportsPro|date=24 September 2012|access-date=15 November 2015}}</ref>
|-
| 2013–14||VSports (Home)<ref>{{cite web|title=VSoftco Sponsor Sheffield United|url=http://www.vsoftco.com/index.php/vsports-games-sponsor-sheffield-united/|website=Vsports Co|access-date=15 November 2015}}</ref><br />Top Spring (Away)<ref>{{cite news|title=Blades announce second away change shirt|url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/20140920-adidas-third-kit-392219.aspx|access-date=15 November 2015|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=20 September 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140920214213/http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/20140920-adidas-third-kit-392219.aspx|archive-date=20 September 2014}}</ref>||[[Football Manager]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Football Manager shirt sponsorship deal|url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/20130726-football-manager-924893.aspx|access-date=15 November 2015|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=26 July 2013}}</ref><br />Shebang<ref>{{cite news|title=In the box|url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/20130925-in-the-box-454227.aspx|access-date=15 November 2015|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=25 September 2013}}</ref>
|-
| 2014–16 ||rowspan=6|[[Adidas]]<ref name="adidas kit">{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheff-utd/sheffield-united-blades-agree-kit-deal-as-croft-features-on-clough-s-radar-1-6576164|title=Blades agree kit deal as Croft features on Clough's radar|newspaper=The Sheffield Star|date=24 April 2014|access-date=18 May 2014}}</ref>||John Holland Sales<ref name="john holland">{{cite web|url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/20140702-john-holland-sales-209219.aspx|title=United in the fast lane with John Holland Sales|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=2 July 2014|access-date=2 July 2014}}</ref>||DBL Logistics<ref name="dbl">{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheff-utd/sheffield-united-blades-successes-start-paying-off-with-new-sponsors-1-6688476|title=Blades successes start paying off with new sponsors|newspaper=The Sheffield Star|date=23 June 2014|access-date=2 July 2014}}</ref>
|-
| 2016–17 ||Alpha Rooms<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/sheffield-united-alpharooms-3138714.aspx|title=Sheffield United unveiled alpharooms.com as their main Club sponsor for the next three seasons at an exclusive Home kit launch event at Doncaster Sheffield Airport|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|access-date=12 April 2017}}</ref>|| rowspan="3" |Door Deals<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/sheffield-united-door-deals-3129902.aspx|title=Sheffield based Doordeals was unveiled today as Sheffield United's latest major sponsor|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|access-date=12 April 2017}}</ref>
|-
| 2017–18 ||Teletext Holidays
|-
| 2018–19 ||Ramsdens Currency
|-
| 2019–21 ||Union Standard Group<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sufc.co.uk/news/2019/june/wilder-on-usg/|title=Wilder on USG sponsorship|website=www.sufc.co.uk|access-date=26 June 2019}}</ref>||Union Standard Group
|-
| 2021–22 ||rowspan="2" |[[Randox]]|||Door Deals
|-
| 2022–23 ||rowspan="3" |[[Erreà]]|||Ultimate Champions
|-
| 2023–24 ||[[CFI Financial Group]]|||[[Grey Technology (Gtech)|Gtech]]
|-
| 2024–25 ||Maneki|||DR CINIK
|}
==
{{Infobox venue
| stadium_name = Bramall Lane
| image = [[File:BramallLanevsSheffWeds.png|290px]]
| caption = A near-full capacity [[Bramall Lane#The South Stand|South Stand]] and adjacent [[Bramall Lane#Bramall Lane Stand|Bramall Lane Stand]] at Bramall Lane
| ___location = [[Sheffield]], [[South Yorkshire]], England
| coordinates = {{coord|53|22|13|N|1|28|15|W|region:GB_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| broke_ground =
| opened = 30 April 1855
| renovated =
| expanded =
| closed =
| demolished =
| owner = Sheffield United
| operator =
| surface =
| construction_cost =
| architect =
| former_names =
| tenants =
| seating_capacity = 31,884<ref name=BLC/>
| dimensions =
|}}
{{Main|Bramall Lane}}
Sheffield United play at [[Bramall Lane]], near the centre of Sheffield. Bramall Lane is the oldest major league 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=Sheffield United official website|access-date=7 October 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113033330/http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/FactsFigures/0,,10418~1081166,00.html|archive-date=13 January 2009}}</ref> a match between [[Hallam F.C.|Hallam]] and [[Sheffield F.C.|Sheffield Club]]. Bramall Lane also hosted the world's 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.
Bramall Lane was originally a cricket ground and in 1855 it was leased to Sheffield United Cricket Club (founded in 1854) by the [[Duke of Norfolk]]. The ground was opened with a cricket match on 30 April 1855 and later became a shared cricket/football venue. After [[Yorkshire County Cricket Club]] was founded in 1863, it was their main venue in the nineteenth century. They continued to use the ground for some matches each season until 7 August 1973, after which construction work began to convert Bramall Lane into a specialist football stadium.
The ground has seen expansion in recent years, with the 2006 completion of a 3,000 seat corner stand,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.wcec.co.uk/news/46/Ready-for-Premiership-Kick-Off.html|title=2000 seat corner stand, completed September 2006|publisher=wcec.co.uk|access-date=3 December 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130513071550/http://www.wcec.co.uk/news/46/Ready-for-Premiership-Kick-Off.html|archive-date=13 May 2013}}</ref> Bramall Lane is now an all-seater stadium fit for the Premier League holding 31,884.<ref name=BLC/>
In March 2009 the club were officially granted permission to expand the stadium once again, over two phases. The first phase would have seen the Kop being extended to increase the ground's capacity up to approximately 37,000. It would also have seen the removal of the main supporting pillars and a giant screen installed as part of the stand's roof. The second phase would have seen the Valad Stand (formerly Arnold Laver Stand) also extended, bringing the total capacity to a 40,000 all seater. The expansion would also have had a secondary focus of being available for selection for [[FIFA World Cup]] matches in 2018 or 2022, if England's bid were to be successful. However, on 16 December 2009 [[The Football Association]] announced that should England's 2018/2022 World Cup bid be successful then any games played in Sheffield would be staged at [[Sheffield Wednesday]]'s [[Hillsborough Stadium]]. In light of this United's former chief executive, [[Trevor Birch]], made it known that all planned ground redevelopment had been put on hold until the club was able to regain and maintain Premiership status.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/yorkshire/126858-|title=Blades seek more time for South Stand extension|work=Insider Media Ltd|access-date=12 April 2017}}</ref>
A revised application for the redevelopment of Kop was submitted in 2015, which would see 3,215 seats added to the stand's current capacity.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.insidermedia.com/insider/yorkshire/blades-to-kickstart-bramall-lane-redevelopment|title=Blades to kickstart Bramall Lane redevelopment|date=11 November 2015 |publisher=Insider Media Ltd}}</ref> Further plans were revealed in 2017 for the development of the corner between the Kop and South Stand, which would see the construction of residential flats and a new club store.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/news/want-to-live-at-bramall-lane-sheffield-united-unveil-residential-plans-for-kop-south-stand-corner-1-8389190|title=Want to live at Bramall Lane? Sheffield United unveil residential plans for Kop/South Stand corner|newspaper=The Sheffield Star|access-date=12 April 2017}}</ref>
==Supporters and rivalries==
Sheffield United derive support from a broad cross-section of the city and its environs, with branches of the official supporters' club running from [[Swinton, South Yorkshire|Swinton]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swintonblades.com |title=Swinton Blades |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060519161024/http://www.swintonblades.com/ |archive-date=19 May 2006 }}</ref> [[Kiveton Park]],<ref>{{cite news|title=The Kiveton Park Blades|url=http://www.worksopguardian.co.uk/news/the-kiveton-park-blades-1-3312211|access-date=15 November 2015|date=21 April 2011}}</ref> [[Retford]], and [[Eckington, Derbyshire|Eckington]]. Further afield, supporters groups also exist in [[Essex]], the [[Republic of Ireland]], the [[Netherlands]], and [[Australia]], amongst others.<ref>{{cite web|title=Supporters Clubs|url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/20131001-supporters-clubs-217090.aspx|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.}}</ref>
A 2013 study of posts on social networking site [[Twitter]] found that Blades fans have the most positive interactions with the official account of their club out of any in English football.<ref>{{cite news|title=Sheffield United fans most positive tweeters|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheff-utd/sheff-utd-news/sheffield-united-fans-most-positive-tweeters-1-7393376|access-date=15 November 2015|newspaper=The Sheffield Star|date=5 August 2015}}</ref> Sheffield United were also found to have the most 'obsessed' fans in the 2006–07 Premier League, with supporters reportedly thinking about the team 110 times a day on average.<ref>{{cite news|title=UK soccer fans ponder sport every 12 minutes|url=http://www.chinapost.com.tw/sports/soccer/2007/05/10/109291/UK-soccer.htm|date=10 May 2007|access-date=15 November 2015|publisher=The China Post}}</ref>
United have a number of celebrity supporters including:
* [[Sean Bean]], actor<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sufc.co.uk/news/2015/december/seans-remarkable-blades-charity-gesture/|title=Sean's remarkable Blades charity gesture – News – Sheffield United|website=www.sufc.co.uk|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref>
* [[Kell Brook]], boxer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sufc.co.uk/news/2017/may/kell-brook/|title=Kell Brook ready for Bramall Lane fight|website=www.sufc.co.uk|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref>
* [[Richard Caborn]], [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]] politician<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/richard-caborn-from-sheffield-to-londons-olympic-bid-77636.html|title=Richard Caborn: From Sheffield to London's Olympic bid|date=10 November 2003|website=The Independent|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref>
* [[Joe Elliott]], singer-songwriter and musician<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.deflepparduk.com/2016newsjan67.html|title=Def Leppard News – Joe Elliott Talks About His Favourite Football Team Sheffield United|website=Def Leppard Tour History|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref>
* [[Jessica Ennis-Hill]], Olympic gold-medallist<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2010/oct/08/jessica-ennis-interview-small-talk|title=Jessica Ennis {{!}} Small Talk {{!}} Gregg Roughley|last=Roughley|first=Gregg|date=8 October 2010|work=The Guardian|access-date=23 July 2019|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
* [[Flea (musician)|Flea]], singer and actor<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/nov/23/bands-versions-football-club-songs|title=Which bands have performed versions of football club songs? {{!}} The Knowledge|last=Ashdown|first=John|date=23 November 2011|work=The Guardian|access-date=23 July 2019|issn=0261-3077}}</ref>
* [[Matt Fitzpatrick]], golfer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.sufc.co.uk/news/2015/december/how-the-blades-have-featured-in-matts-golfing-success/|title=How the Blades have featured in Matt's golfing success – News – Sheffield United|website=www.sufc.co.uk|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref>
* [[Paul Goodison]], Olympic gold-medallist<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.yorkshirelife.co.uk/people/paul-goodison-sheffield-s-2012-olympic-sailing-hero-1-1636169|title=Paul Goodison – Sheffield's 2012 Olympic sailing hero|website=Yorkshire Life|date=16 January 2010|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref>
* [[Paul Heaton]], musician<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/paul-heaton-sing-when-youre-winning|title=Paul Heaton: Sing When You're Winning|date=2 October 2005|website=FourFourTwo|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref>
*[[Ding Junhui]], professional snooker player
* [[Mark Labbett]], Chaser on TV quiz show ''[[The Chase (UK game show)|The Chase]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=https://twitter.com/marklabbett/status/961648701675630593|title=#thechase always a good day when you can mention Sheffield United and Beautiful Downtown Bramall Lane on the show. UTB!|last=Labbett|first=Mark|date=8 February 2018|website=@marklabbett|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref>
* [[Michael Palin]], writer and television presenter<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsc.co.uk/the-archive/100-Fan-culture/3967-call-yourself-a-football-fan--michael-palin|title=When Saturday Comes – Call yourself a football fan? – Michael Palin|website=www.wsc.co.uk|access-date=31 July 2020}}</ref>
* [[Joe Root]], England cricketer<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/10931346/joe-root-captaining-england-will-drive-me-forward-as-a-batsman|title=Joe Root: Captaining England will drive me forward as a batsman|website=Sky Sports|access-date=23 July 2019}}</ref>
* [[Juan Sebastián Verón]], former Argentina international footballer<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2003/mar/02/football.features1|title=My uncle played for Sheffield United|author=<!--Not stated-->|date=2 March 2003|work=The Observer|access-date=23 July 2019|issn=0029-7712}}</ref>
* [[Kevin McCabe (businessman)|Kevin McCabe]], Businessman, property developer and former owner and chairman of Sheffield United F.C.{{cn|date=February 2025}}
* [[Vikkstar123]], Influencer, Youtuber, Record Producer, DJ, and co-founder of the [[Sidemen]]{{cn|date=February 2025}}
===Rivalries===
Sheffield United have numerous [[Sports rivalry|rivalries]], mostly with other [[Yorkshire]] clubs. The most notable rivalry is with their city neighbours [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]], with whom they contest the [[Steel City derby]] (named after the steel industry for which the city of [[Sheffield]] is globally famous).
Sheffield United's next main regional rival is [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]] from West Yorkshire. This is known as a Yorkshire derby match (the two cities of Sheffield and Leeds are the largest two cities in Yorkshire). Other local rivalries are shared with the professional clubs of South Yorkshire: [[Barnsley F.C.|Barnsley]], [[Doncaster Rovers F.C.|Doncaster Rovers]] and [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]]. These matches are known as South Yorkshire derbies.<ref name="footballfanscensus">{{cite web|url=http://www.footballfanscensus.com/issueresults/Club_Rivalries_Uncovered_Results.pdf|title=Club Rivalries Uncovered – Results|publisher=The Football Fans Census|access-date=17 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131020074918/http://www.footballfanscensus.com/issueresults/Club_Rivalries_Uncovered_Results.pdf|archive-date=20 October 2013}}</ref>
Sheffield United also have a rivalry with [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]].<ref name="footballfanscensus"/> 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]]) while miners from Yorkshire did.
[[West Ham United F.C.|West Ham United]] have also become fierce rivals due to the [[Carlos Tevez#Sheffield United controversy|'Tevez saga']] and the following lawsuit charges.<ref>{{cite web|title=Unexpected Rivalries 8: Sheffield United and West Ham United|url=http://thetwounfortunates.com/unexpected-rivalries-8-sheffield-united-and-west-ham-united/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140212100600/http://thetwounfortunates.com/unexpected-rivalries-8-sheffield-united-and-west-ham-united/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=12 February 2014|website=thetwounfortunates.com|publisher=The Two Unfortunates|access-date=15 November 2015|date=12 February 2014}}</ref>
===Chants===
Like many English clubs, Sheffield United supporters have a wide variety of chants and songs. The most famous of these is ''[[The Greasy Chip Butty Song]]'', sung to the tune of [[John Denver]]'s '[[Annie's Song]]'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.swintonblades.com/songs.htm |title=Blades Songs and Chants |publisher=Swinton Blades |access-date=31 October 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070215032900/http://www.swintonblades.com/songs.htm |archive-date=15 February 2007 }}</ref>
==Records and statistics==
{{Further|List of Sheffield United F.C. records and statistics}}
* '''Record League victory''': 10–0 ''away'' v [[Port Vale F.C.|Port Vale]], [[Football League Second Division|Division Two]], 10 December 1892 ''and'' 10–0 ''home'' v [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]], [[Football League First Division|Division One]], 19 January 1929<ref name="records">{{cite web|url=http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/FactsFigures/0,,10418~1081136,00.html|title=United Records|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=18 October 2010|access-date=3 February 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202060331/http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/FactsFigures/0%2C%2C10418~1081136%2C00.html|archive-date=2 December 2008}}</ref>
* '''Record Cup victory''': 6–0 ''home'' v [[Leyton Orient F.C.|Leyton Orient]], [[2016–17 FA Cup|FA Cup 1st Round]] 6 November 2016
* '''Record League defeat''': 0–8 ''home'' v [[Newcastle United]], [[Premier League]], 24 September 2023<ref>{{cite news |title=Sheffield United 0 Newcastle United 8 |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66835401 |access-date=24 September 2023}}</ref>
* '''Record Cup defeat''': 0–13 ''home'' v [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]], [[FA Cup]] 2nd round, 1 February 1890<ref name="records" />
* '''Highest home attendance''': 68,287 v [[Leeds United F.C.|Leeds United]], [[FA Cup]] 5th round, 15 February 1936<ref name="records" />
* '''Most league appearances''': [[Joe Shaw (Sheffield United)|Joe Shaw]] made 631 appearances between 1948 and 1966<ref name="records" />
* '''Most goals scored overall''': [[Harry Johnson (footballer born 1899)|Harry Johnson]] scored 201 goals in 313 games between 1919 and 1930
* '''Most goals scored in a Season''': [[Jimmy Dunne (footballer, born 1905)|Jimmy Dunne]] 41 goals from 41 appearances, [[Football League First Division|Division One]], 1930–31
* '''Record Transfer Fee Paid''': £23.5 million for [[Rhian Brewster]] from [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] on 2 October 2020<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54393687|title=Rhian Brewster: Sheffield United sign Liverpool striker|work=BBC Sport |access-date=2 October 2020}}</ref>
* '''Record Transfer Fee Received''': £11.5 million for [[David Brooks (footballer)|David Brooks]] to [[AFC Bournemouth]] on 1 July 2018<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/football-league-blog/2018/aug/22/david-brooks-james-maddison-persistence-premier-league|title=David Brooks and James Maddison prove persistence does finally pay off|work=The Guardian|date=22 August 2018|access-date=20 September 2018}}</ref>
===League
{{Further|List of Sheffield United F.C. seasons}}
[[File:SheffieldUnitedFC League Performance.svg|thumb|462x462px|right|Chart of table positions of United since joining the Football League]]
{| 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 [[EFL Championship|Championship]]
* 2006–2007 [[Premier League]]
* 2007–2011 [[EFL Championship|Championship]]
* 2011–2017 [[Football League One|League One]]
|
* 2017–2019 [[EFL Championship|Championship]]
* 2019–2021 [[Premier League]]
* 2021–2023 [[EFL Championship|Championship]]
* 2023–2024 [[Premier League]]
* 2024– [[EFL Championship|Championship]]
|}
* Seasons spent at Level 1 of the [[English football league system|football league system]]: 62
* Seasons spent at Level 2 of the football league system: 44
* Seasons spent at Level 3 of the football league system: 11
* Seasons spent at Level 4 of the football league system: 1
{| class="wikitable" style="width:80%"
|+ '''Sheffield United: League standings for last 10 seasons'''
|-
! Season !! League !! Pos !! P !! W !! D !! L !! F !! A !! Pts
|-
| '''[[2015–16 Sheffield United F.C. season|2015–16]]'''||[[EFL League One|League One]]|| 11 || 46 || 18 || 12 || 16 || 64 || 59 || 66
|-
| '''[[2016–17 Sheffield United F.C. season|2016–17]]'''||[[EFL League One|League One]]|| 1 || 46 || 30 || 10 || 6 || 92 || 47 || 100
|-
| '''[[2017–18 Sheffield United F.C. season|2017–18]]'''||[[EFL Championship|Championship]]|| 10 || 46 || 19 || 8 || 15 || 57 || 49 || 65
|-
| '''[[2018–19 Sheffield United F.C. season|2018–19]]'''||[[EFL Championship|Championship]]|| 2 || 46 || 26 || 11 || 9 || 78 || 41 || 89
|-
| '''[[2019–20 Sheffield United F.C. season|2019–20]]'''||[[Premier League]]|| 9 || 38 || 14 || 12 || 12 || 39 || 39 || 54
|-
| '''[[2020–21 Sheffield United F.C. season|2020–21]]'''||[[Premier League]]|| 20 || 38 || 7 || 2 || 29 || 20 || 63 || 23
|-
| '''[[2021–22 Sheffield United F.C. season|2021–22]]'''||[[EFL Championship|Championship]]|| 5 || 46 || 21 || 12 || 13 || 63 || 45 || 75
|-
| '''[[2022–23 Sheffield United F.C. season|2022–23]]'''||[[EFL Championship|Championship]]|| 2 || 46 || 28 || 7 || 11 || 73 || 39 || 91
|-
| '''[[2023–24 Sheffield United F.C. season|2023–24]]'''||[[Premier League]]|| 20 || 38 || 3 || 7 || 28 || 35 || 104 || 16
|-
| '''[[2024–25 Sheffield United F.C. season|2024–25]]'''||[[EFL Championship|Championship]]|| 3 || 46 || 28 || 8 || 10 || 63 || 36 || 90
|}
==Players==
===First-team squad===
{{updated|27 August 2025}}<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.sufc.co.uk/teams/first-team/|title=First team |publisher=Sheffield United F.C. |access-date=14 August 2023}}</ref>
{{fs start}}
{{fs player|no=1|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=[[Michael Cooper (footballer)|Michael Cooper]]}}
{{fs player|no=3|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Sam McCallum]]}}
{{fs player|no=4|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Ollie Arblaster]]}}
{{fs player|no=5|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Ben Godfrey]]|other=on loan from [[Atalanta BC|Atalanta]]}}
{{fs player|no=6|nat=NZL|pos=DF|name=[[Tyler Bindon]]|other=on loan from [[Nottingham Forest F.C.|Nottingham Forest]]}}
{{fs player|no=7|nat=IRL|pos=FW|name=[[Tom Cannon (footballer)|Tom Cannon]]}}
{{fs player|no=8|nat=NED|pos=MF|name=[[Gustavo Hamer]]}}
{{fs player|no=10|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Callum O'Hare]]}}
{{fs player|no=11|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Andre Brooks]]}}
{{fs player|no=14|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Harrison Burrows]]}}
{{fs player|no=16|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Jamie Shackleton]]}}
{{fs player|no=17|nat=WAL|pos=GK|name=[[Adam Davies (footballer, born 1992)|Adam Davies]]}}
{{fs player|no=18|nat=SEN|pos=MF|name=[[Djibril Soumaré]]|other=on loan from [[S.C. Braga|Braga]]}}
{{fs player|no=19|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Jack Robinson (footballer, born 1993)|Jack Robinson]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|captain]]}}
{{fs player|no=20|nat=NGR|pos=MF|name=[[Ehije Ukaki]]}}
{{fs player|no=21|nat=SWE|pos=DF|name=[[Nils Zätterström]]}}
{{fs mid}}
{{fs player|no=22|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Tom Davies (footballer, born 1998)|Tom Davies]]}}
{{fs player|no=23|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Tyrese Campbell]]}}
{{fs player|no=26|nat=SCO|pos=FW|name=[[Ryan Oné]]}}
{{fs player|no=27|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Louie Barry]]|other=on loan from [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]]}}
{{fs player|no=29|nat=IRL|pos=DF|name=[[Sam Curtis]]}}
{{fs player|no=31|nat=ENG|pos=GK|name=Luke Faxon}}
{{fs player|no=32|nat=BUL|pos=DF|name=[[Mihail Polendakov]]}}
{{fs player|no=33|nat=WAL|pos=DF|name=[[Rhys Norrington-Davies]]}}
{{fs player|no=34|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Louie Marsh]]}}
{{fs player|no=37|nat=LTU|pos=DF|name=[[Dovydas Sasnauskas]]}}
{{fs player|no=38|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Femi Seriki]]}}
{{fs player|no=40|nat=NGR|pos=MF|name=[[Christian Nwachukwu]]}}
{{fs player|no=42|nat=ENG|pos=MF|name=[[Sydie Peck]]}}
{{fs player|no=45|nat=ENG|pos=DF|name=[[Sai Sachdev]]}}
{{fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Danny Ings]]}}
{{fs end}}
===Out on loan===
{{fs start}}
{{fs player|no=|nat=ENG|pos=FW|name=[[Billy Blacker]]|other=at [[Tranmere Rovers F.C.|Tranmere Rovers]] until 31 May 2026}}
{{fs player|no=13|nat=CRO|pos=GK|name=[[Ivo Grbić (footballer)|Ivo Grbić]]|other=at [[Fatih Karagümrük S.K.|Fatih Karagümrük]] until 31 May 2026}}
{{fs end}}
==Player of the Year==
{{Further|Sheffield United F.C. Player of the Year}}
{|class="toccolours" style="float: right; margin-left:3px;"
|+ '''Last five winners'''
|-
! style="background:silver;"|Year
! style="background:silver;"|Position
! style="background:silver;"|Name
|-
|
|-
|[[2020–21 Sheffield United F.C. season|2020–21]]||[[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]]||{{flagicon|England}} [[Aaron Ramsdale]]
|-
|[[2021–22 Sheffield United F.C. season|2021–22]]||[[Midfielder (association football)|Midfielder]]||{{flagicon|England}} [[Morgan Gibbs-White]]
|-
|[[2022–23 Sheffield United F.C. season|2022–23]]||[[Midfielder]]||{{flagicon|SEN}} [[Iliman Ndiaye]]
|-
|[[2023–24 Sheffield United F.C. season|2023–24]]||[[Midfielder (association football)|Midfielder]]||{{flagicon|Netherlands}} [[Gustavo Hamer]]
|-
|[[2024–25 Sheffield United F.C. season|2024–25]]||[[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]]||{{flagicon|England}} [[Michael Cooper (footballer)|Michael Cooper]]
|}
A 'Player of the Year' award has been presented since 1967 to recognise the player who has made the greatest contribution to the club over the course of the season.<ref name="poty">{{cite web|url=http://www.myfootballfacts.com/Sheffield_United_Player_of_the_Year.html|title=Sheffield United Player of the Year|publisher=myfootballfacts.com|access-date=20 May 2012}}</ref> Initially organised by the Official Supporters Club the award was voted for by their members although it was presented as an official club award. In recent years the award has been presented at a gala 'End of Season' award ceremony and dinner, usually held at the end of April, and voting has been widened to include a broader section of the club's fanbase. The first winner of the award was long serving goalkeeper [[Alan Hodgkinson]]. The player with the most award wins is striker [[Alan Woodward]] on four occasions between 1970 and 1978. The longest gap between wins by a player is seven years; [[Keith Edwards (footballer, born 1957)|Keith Edwards]] had two spells with the club and won the award during both, in 1977 and 1984.<ref name="poty" /> [[Harry Maguire]] and [[Phil Jagielka]] have won the award on three consecutive occasions.<ref name="poty" /> The award was shared between two players for the first time in 2017, with [[Billy Sharp]] and [[John Fleck (footballer)|John Fleck]] receiving the award. The award was won by an overseas born player consecutive times for the first time in 2024, [[Iliman Ndiaye]] in 2023 and [[Gustavo Hamer]] in 2024.
==Development squads and women's team==
[[File:Sheffield United training ground - geograph.org.uk - 763367.jpg|250px|thumb|right|The Sheffield United F.C. Academy & Training ground at Shirecliffe]]
=== Academy ===
{{Main|Sheffield United F.C. Academy}}
Sheffield United's Academy is responsible for youth development at the club. It has produced such players as [[Manchester City F.C.|Manchester City]] defender [[Kyle Walker]] and defender [[Phil Jagielka]], both [[England national football team|England internationals]], and also [[Swansea City]] defender [[Kyle Naughton]], [[Burnley F.C.|Burnley]] full back [[Matthew Lowton]], [[Manchester United]] defender and club captain [[Harry Maguire]] and current club captain [[Billy Sharp]]. The academy building and training facilities in the Sheffield suburb of [[Shirecliffe]] were opened in 2002 by then [[Minister for Sport]] [[Richard Caborn]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.furd.org/default.asp?intPageID=170|title=Free football coaching at Sheffield United's Academy|publisher=furd.org|access-date=17 May 2012}}</ref> [[Sheffield United F.C. Academy|Sheffield United Academy U18s]] currently play in the Professional Development League at the Shirecliffe ground at Firshill Crescent, and finished as runners-up in the 2011 [[FA Youth Cup]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/13513703|title=Man Utd beat Sheffield Utd to FA Youth Cup final trophy|work=BBC Sport|date=23 May 2011|access-date=17 May 2012}}</ref> In addition, SteelPhalt are the sponsor of the Shirecliffe-based Academy, and are also the major sponsor of Sheffield United Women.
=== Under 23s ===
Sheffield United U23s currently compete in the Professional Development League, playing home games at various venues, including Bramall Lane and Stocksbridge Park Steels FC. The club have fielded a reserve team since 1893, when the reserves played in 'Sheffield League Division One'.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fchd.info/SHEFFIU2.HTM|title=Sheffield United Reserves|publisher=fchd.info|access-date=17 May 2012}}</ref>
=== United Women ===
{{main|Sheffield United W.F.C.}}
Sheffield United also have a [[Sheffield United W.F.C.|Women's team]], formerly known as Sheffield United Ladies, who play in the [[FA Women's Championship]] after having been promoted in the 2017–18 season from the FA Women's National League. Sheffield United Women also have a Development team and numerous junior teams as part of the Regional Talent Club and an additional grassroots arm.
==Management==
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
===Coaching staff and support staff===
{|class="toccolours"
|-
! style="background:silver;"|Role
! style="background:silver;"|Name
|-
||Manager||[[Rubén Sellés]]
|-
|Assistant Manager||[[James Oliver-Pearce]]
|-
|First Team Coach||[[Michael Collins (footballer, born 1986)|Michael Collins]]
|-
|First Team Coach||[[Tobias Loveland]]
|-
|Goalkeeping Coach||[[Matt Duke]]
|-
|Head of Performance||Tom Little
|-
|First Team Sport Scientist||Lee McMahon
|-
|First Team S&C Coach||Nathan Winder
|-
|Head of Recruitment||Mike Allen
|-
|Academy Manager||[[Derek Geary]]
|-
|Lead U21s Coach||[[Gary McSheffrey]]
|-
|Lead U18s Coach||[[Jim_O'Brien_(footballer,_born_1987)|Jim O'Brien]]
|-
|Foundation Phase Lead Coach||Matt Morley
|-
|Physiotherapist||Steve Humphries
|-
|Kit Manager||Carl Hopwood<ref>{{cite web|title=Academy staff|url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/20131001-academy-staff-219092.aspx|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|access-date=15 November 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023175915/http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/20131001-academy-staff-219092.aspx|archive-date=23 October 2015}}</ref>
|}
{{col-2}}
===Owners, directors and executives===
{|class="toccolours"
|-
! style="background:silver;"|Role
! style="background:silver;"|Name
|-
|Owner
||COH Sports
|-
|
|-
|
|-
|Co-chairmen<br />
||Steven Rosen<br />[[Helmy Eltoukhy]]
|-
|
|-
|
|-
|Board of Directors<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />
||Steven Rosen<br />[[Helmy Eltoukhy]]<br />[[Joe Russo (director)|Joe Russo]]<br />[[Len Komoroski]]<br />Terry Ahern<br />[[Pejman Nozad]]<br />Stephen Bettis
|-
|
|-
|
|-
|-
|Chief Executive Officer
||Stephen Bettis
|-
|Operations Director||Dave McCarthy
|-
|Head of Football Administration||Carl Shieber<ref>{{cite web|title=Company Information|url=https://www.sufc.co.uk/company-information/|publisher=Sheffield United|date=1 November 2017|access-date=1 November 2017}}</ref>
|}
{{col-end}}
==Managers==
{{Further|List of Sheffield United F.C. managers}}
At its formation in 1889 United did not employ what would today be termed a [[Manager (association football)|manager]], the side was coached by a trainer and a football committee selected the team and decided upon tactics (this was a continuation of the structure of [[Sheffield United Cricket Club]] from which the football team had been formed).<ref name="jb wostinholm">{{cite book |first1=Denis |last1=Clarebrough |first2=Andrew |last2=Kirkham |title=Sheffield United Who's Who |publisher=Hallamshire Press |year=2008|pages=396 |isbn=978-1-874718-69-7}}</ref> They did appoint [[Joseph Wostinholm]] to the position of club secretary and he was responsible for the day-to-day running of the club, matchday organisation and dealing with players and contracts. Wostinholm oversaw a period of rapid growth for the team, culminating in 1898 when United won their only First Division championship, after which he retired.<ref name="jb wostinholm" /> Wostinholm was replaced by [[John Nicholson (football secretary)|John Nicholson]] as secretary and he would remain in post for over thirty years until his death in 1932. Nicholson presided over the most successful period in the club's history as United became a leading force in English football, winning the [[FA Cup]] four times and regularly challenged at the top of the league but a second Division One title for the club eluded him.<ref name="nicholson">{{cite book |first1=Denis |last1=Clarebrough |first2=Andrew |last2=Kirkham |title=Sheffield United Who's Who |publisher=Hallamshire Press |year=2008|pages=392 |isbn=978-1-874718-69-7}}</ref>
=== A new era ===
Following the death of John Nicholson (who died whilst travelling to an away match in [[Birmingham]])<ref name="nicholson" /> the United board turned to [[Chesterfield F.C.|Chesterfield]] manager [[Teddy Davison]] to become the club's first real manager.<ref name="davison">{{cite book |first1=Denis |last1=Clarebrough |first2=Andrew |last2=Kirkham |title=Sheffield United Who's Who |publisher=Hallamshire Press |year=2008|pages=19 |isbn=978-1-874718-69-7}}</ref> The team were in decline however and were soon relegated for the first time in their history. Davison gradually rebuilt the side with astute signings and young players and regained top flight status, but the club's post-war financial problems would hamper team building for years to come. Davison retired in 1952 and prompted the club to appoint [[Rotherham United F.C.|Rotherham United]] manager [[Reg Freeman]] as his successor. Freeman stabilised the team but fell ill and died in 1955<ref name="freeman">{{cite book |first1=Denis |last1=Clarebrough |first2=Andrew |last2=Kirkham |title=Sheffield United Who's Who |publisher=Hallamshire Press |year=2008|pages=20 |isbn=978-1-874718-69-7}}</ref> after which United turned to the inexperienced [[Joe Mercer]] but he struggled to cope with a team in decline and departed for [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] in 1958.<ref name="mercerpeters">{{cite book |first1=Denis |last1=Clarebrough |first2=Andrew |last2=Kirkham |title=Sheffield United Who's Who |publisher=Hallamshire Press |year=2008|pages=24 |isbn=978-1-874718-69-7}}</ref> United then appointed [[Chester F.C.|Chester]] manager [[John Harris (Scottish footballer)|John Harris]] who inherited a talented but under performing side which he transformed into a promotion team, returning to Division One in 1961.<ref name="harris">{{cite book |first1=Denis |last1=Clarebrough |first2=Andrew |last2=Kirkham |title=Sheffield United Who's Who |publisher=Hallamshire Press |year=2008|pages=21 |isbn=978-1-874718-69-7}}</ref> Harris built a side based on local players and stabilised them in the top flight but financial issues soon prompted the sale of key players and United were eventually relegated once more. Harris opted to 'move upstairs' to become 'general manager'<ref name="harris" /> and handed the role of team manager to [[Arthur Rowley]] but he was sacked after one season following disappointing results.<ref name="rowleysirrel">{{cite book |first1=Denis |last1=Clarebrough |first2=Andrew |last2=Kirkham |title=Sheffield United Who's Who |publisher=Hallamshire Press |year=2008|pages=26 |isbn=978-1-874718-69-7}}</ref> Harris returned as manager and guided the side to promotion once more but after a good start back in the top flight Harris' confidence faded and he stepped down in 1973 to 'move upstairs' for the second time.<ref name="harris" />
=== Rapid decline ===
Experienced [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]] manager [[Ken Furphy]] was the man United turned to replace John Harris.<ref name="furphy">{{cite book |first1=Denis |last1=Clarebrough |first2=Andrew |last2=Kirkham |title=Sheffield United Who's Who |publisher=Hallamshire Press |year=2008|pages=20–21 |isbn=978-1-874718-69-7}}</ref> He initially did well but the team was ageing and there was little money to replace players. After a good finish in his first season a disastrous string of results the following year led to Furphy's sacking in October 1975.<ref name="furphy" /> [[Jimmy Sirrel]] was recruited from [[Notts County F.C.|Notts County]] but he proved unpopular with both the players and fans and could not halt the decline, overseeing relegation and then being sacked in September 1977 with United at the bottom of Division Two.<ref name="rowleysirrel" /> The ambitious and colourful{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} [[Harry Haslam (footballer, born 1921)|Harry Haslam]] was handed the [[rein]]s and although many of his ideas were ahead of their time{{citation needed|date=March 2023}} he built an ageing side based on 'star' players at the end of their career.<ref name="haslamheath">{{cite book |first1=Denis |last1=Clarebrough |first2=Andrew |last2=Kirkham |title=Sheffield United Who's Who |publisher=Hallamshire Press |year=2008|pages=22 |isbn=978-1-874718-69-7}}</ref> Now in the Third Division performances deteriorated still further and Haslam stepped down due to illness in January 1981.<ref name="haslamheath" /> World Cup winner and then United player [[Martin Peters]] was promoted to the position of manager but United were relegated to Division Four at the end of the season and Peters resigned.<ref name="mercerpeters" />
=== Moving on up ===
With a new ambitious board in place United recruited [[Ian Porterfield]] as manager in June 1981.<ref name="porterfieldrobson">{{cite book |first1=Denis|last1= Clarebrough |first2=Andrew |last2=Kirkham |title=Sheffield United Who's Who |publisher=Hallamshire Press |year=2008|pages=25 |isbn=978-1-874718-69-7}}</ref> He had an immediate impact, winning the Division Four championship in his first season and taking the club back into the second tier two years later on a meagre budget.<ref name="porterfieldrobson" /> Despite this many fans were unhappy with the style of football and odd team selections and Porterfield was sacked in 1986 following supporter protests.<ref name="porterfieldrobson" /> Coach [[Billy McEwan (footballer, born 1951)|Billy McEwan]] was promoted to the position of manager but failed to improve the standard of play and with attendances falling and the team in danger of relegation once more he was sacked in January 1988.<ref name="kendallmcewan">{{cite book |first1=Denis |last1=Clarebrough |first2=Andrew |last2=Kirkham |title=Sheffield United Who's Who |publisher=Hallamshire Press |year=2008|pages=23 |isbn=978-1-874718-69-7}}</ref> United now turned to the colourful character of [[Dave Bassett]] who had most recently had a short, unsuccessful spell as manager of [[Watford F.C.|Watford]].<ref name="bassett">{{cite book |first1=Denis |last1=Clarebrough |first2=Andrew |last2=Kirkham |title=Sheffield United Who's Who |publisher=Hallamshire Press |year=2008|pages=18 |isbn=978-1-874718-69-7}}</ref> It was to prove an astute appointment as although he could not prevent relegation in his first season he built a solid, hard working team on a small budget and won back to back promotions, returning the club to the top flight and achieving regular mid-table finishes.<ref name="bassett" /> With the formation of the [[Premier League]] United's old financial problems and willingness to sell star players without replacing them meant the side eventually succumbed to relegation and when an immediate return was not forthcoming Basset was sacked in December 1995.<ref name="bassett" />
=== Comings and goings ===
The following years proved a turbulent time for United as they chased the ambition of Premiership football. Experienced [[Howard Kendall]] was recruited as manager and undertook a complete rebuilding of the side but left in June 1997 to take over at [[Everton F.C.|Everton]].<ref name="kendallmcewan" /> Player-coach [[Nigel Spackman]] was promoted to replace Kendall but after initial promise he quit after only eight months citing boardroom interference.<ref name="spackman">{{cite book |first1=Denis |last1=Clarebrough |first2=Andrew |last2=Kirkham |title=Sheffield United Who's Who |publisher=Hallamshire Press |year=2008|pages=26–27 |isbn=978-1-874718-69-7}}</ref> This was to become a recurring theme and replacement [[Steve Bruce]] would leave after only one season citing the same reasons.<ref name="davison"/> [[Adrian Heath]] then proved a disastrous appointment and lasted only six months before being sacked with United looking more likely to be relegated than promoted.<ref name="haslamheath" /> The Blades then turned to experienced lower league manager [[Neil Warnock]] who managed to stave off relegation and began to rebuild the side on a meagre budget.<ref name="warnock">{{cite book |first1=Denis |last1=Clarebrough |first2=Andrew|last2= Kirkham |title=Sheffield United Who's Who |publisher=Hallamshire Press |year=2008|pages=28 |isbn=978-1-874718-69-7}}</ref> Warnock proved a divisive figure with fans, but after a number of mid-table finishes he achieved promotion back to the Premiership in 2006. The side were relegated the following season, prompting the board not to renew Warnock's contract.<ref name="warnock" />
Just like Adrian Heath, the appointment of [[Bryan Robson]] in 2007 proved an unpopular and unsuccessful one and he was sacked after less than a year following poor results and intense fan pressure.<ref name="porterfieldrobson" /> Former assistant manager [[Kevin Blackwell]] was appointed as Robson's replacement<ref name="blackwell">{{cite book |first1=Denis |last1=Clarebrough |first2=Andrew |last2=Kirkham |title=Sheffield United Who's Who |publisher=Hallamshire Press |year=2008|pages=18–19 |isbn=978-1-874718-69-7}}</ref> but despite reaching the play-off finals in his first full season, the team was in decline and he was sacked after only two games of the 2010–11 season. Worse was to come, however, as player-coach [[Gary Speed]] was briefly promoted to manager but left after only a few months to take over [[Wales national football team|the Welsh national side]]. [[Micky Adams]] then became the third full-time manager of the season, overseeing a disastrous run of results which saw United relegated and Adams sacked after only six months in charge.
With United in the third tier once more, [[Danny Wilson (footballer, born 1960)|Danny Wilson]] was appointed as manager in June 2011, despite protests from United fans over his previous association with cross-town rivals [[Sheffield Wednesday F.C.|Sheffield Wednesday]].<ref name="wilson">{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2011/may/27/danny-wilson-sheffield-united-protests|title=Danny Wilson's Sheffield United appointment greeted with protests|work=The Guardian|date=27 May 2011|access-date=10 April 2013}}</ref> Wilson guided the club to the [[2012 Football League One play-off final|League One play-off final]] in his first full season in charge, only to lose to [[Huddersfield Town F.C.|Huddersfield Town]] after a famous penalty shootout in which Huddersfield missed their first three penalties. Despite the club challenging for promotion the following season, a poor run of results led to Wilson's departure in April 2013,<ref name="morgan">{{cite web|url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/20130410-club-statement-765193.aspx|title=Club Statement|date=10 April 2013|access-date=20 April 2013|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.}}</ref> being replaced by [[Chris Morgan (footballer)|Chris Morgan]] until the end of the season.<ref name="morgan" />
After a long search for a new boss, former Scotland defender [[David Weir (Scottish footballer)|David Weir]] was appointed as Wilson's long-term replacement.<ref name="weir appointment">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22843168|title=David Weir: Sheffield United appoint Everton coach as boss|work=BBC Sport|date=10 June 2013|access-date=10 June 2013}}</ref> Weir's tenure was short-lived however, as he was sacked in October of the same year, having won only one of 13 games in charge.<ref name="weir out">{{cite web|url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/20131011-weir-departs-1110494.aspx|title=Manager Weir departs as Blades Boss|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=11 October 2013|access-date=11 October 2013}}</ref> After Chris Morgan had overseen the team for a brief time, [[Nigel Clough]] was appointed as Weir's permanent successor in October 2013.<ref name="clough">{{cite web|url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/20131023-nigel-clough-appointed-1130477.aspx|title=Nigel Clough appointed|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=23 October 2013|access-date=23 October 2013}}</ref> Clough guided the Blades to finish seventh in the table narrowly missing the play-offs after having been bottom of the table at the start of February and also led United to an FA Cup semi-final against [[Hull City A.F.C.|Hull City]] which the Blades lost 5–3 after twice taking the lead in the first half.
The following season saw Clough guide the Blades to fifth place in the league, thus qualifying for the play-offs and also led them to a first League Cup semi-final in 12 years, with the Blades ultimately losing to [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] 3–2 on aggregate. United failed to gain promotion through the play-offs after losing to [[Swindon Town F.C.|Swindon Town]] 2–1 in the first leg and drawing 5–5 in the second leg (7–6 on aggregate).
Following their failure to gain promotion, Clough was sacked on 25 May 2015 and on 2 June 2015, former [[Scunthorpe United F.C.|Scunthorpe United]], [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] and [[Reading F.C.|Reading]] boss [[Nigel Adkins]] was appointed as the new Blades manager. However, his appointment only lasted one season as the Blades (who were in 2nd place after the first five matches) ultimately finished in 11th place, the club's lowest finish in the third tier since 1983. Adkins was duly sacked on 12 May 2016.
Atkins was quickly replaced by former [[Northampton Town F.C.|Northampton Town]] manager and former Blades player [[Chris Wilder]], who oversaw United's promotion from League One in 2017, after six years in the division,<ref name=":0" /> and its subsequent return to the Premier League in 2019.
United went on to finish ninth in their first season back in the top flight, but the following 2020–21 season was a completely different story. On 13 March 2021, Wilder left the club by mutual consent, with the club bottom of the Premier League, with 14 points from 28 games.<ref>{{cite news |title=Sheffield United confirm manager Chris Wilder's departure |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/56387640 |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=13 March 2021}}</ref> U23 coach [[Paul Heckingbottom]] took interim charge of the team until the end of the season but United were still relegated.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Sutcliffe |first1=Richard |title=Sheffield United relegated from Premier League after 1–0 defeat by Wolves |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/4217241/2021/04/16/sheffield-united-relegated-from-premier-league-after-1-0-defeat-by-wolves/ |website=The Athletic |publisher=The Athletic Media Company. |access-date=16 April 2021}}</ref>
On 27 May 2021, former Fulham boss [[Slaviša Jokanović]] was appointed by United on a three-year deal, becoming the club's first manager from overseas.<ref>{{cite news |title=Championship specialist Jokanovic takes charge at Sheffield United |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2021/may/27/championship-specialist-jokanovic-takes-charge-at-sheffield-united |website=The Guardian |date=27 May 2021 |access-date=27 May 2021 |last1=Media |first1=P. A. }}</ref> However he was sacked on 25 November 2021, after United had only won six of 19 Championship games.<ref name="British Broadcasting Corporation">{{cite news |title=Sheffield United replace Slavisa Jokanovic with Paul Heckingbottom |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59405002 |publisher=British Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=25 November 2021}}</ref>
Heckingbottom was subsequently appointed manager of Sheffield United,<ref name="British Broadcasting Corporation"/> this time on a permanent basis, and eventually guided United to the FA Cup semi-finals in 2023,<ref>{{cite news |last1=Liew |first1=Johnathan |title=Sheffield United into FA Cup semi-finals as Doyle's late stunner sinks Blackburn |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/mar/19/sheffield-united-blackburn-fa-cup-quarter-final-match-report |website=The Guardian |date=19 March 2023 |access-date=19 March 2023}}</ref> and back to the Premier League for the 2023–24 season.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Bower |first1=Aaron |title=Sheffield United seal promotion to Premier League after sinking West Brom |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/apr/26/sheffield-united-west-brom-championship-match-report |website=The Guardian |date=26 April 2023 |access-date=26 April 2023}}</ref>
United struggled on their return to the Premier League for the 2023–24 season and by early December the team was bottom of the League. Paul Heckingbottom was sacked and replaced by former Blades manager, Chris Wilder.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Baker |first1=Luke |title=Sheffield United owner explains decision to sack Paul Heckingbottom and re-sign Chris Wilder |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/paul-heckingbottom-sacked-sheffield-united-next-manager-chris-wilder-b2457926.html |website=The Independent |date=5 December 2023 |access-date=5 December 2023}}</ref>
==Honours==
'''League'''
*[[Football League First Division|First Division]] (level 1)<ref name=league>Up until 1992, the top division of English football was the Football League First Division; since then, it has been the FA Premier League. At the same time, the Second Division was renamed the First Division, and the Third Division was renamed the Second Division.</ref>
**Champions: [[1897–98 Football League|1897–98]]
**Runners-up: [[1896–97 Football League|1896–97]], [[1899–1900 Football League|1899–1900]]
*[[Football League Second Division|Second Division]] / [[EFL Championship|Championship]] (level 2)<ref name="league" />
**Champions: [[1952–53 Football League|1952–53]]
**2nd place promotion (8): [[1892–93 Football League|1892–93]], [[1938–39 Football League|1938–39]], [[1960–61 Football League|1960–61]], [[1970–71 Football League|1970–71]], [[1989–90 Football League|1989–90]], [[2005–06 Football League Championship|2005–06]], [[2018–19 EFL Championship|2018–19]], [[2022–23 EFL Championship|2022–23]]
*[[Football League Third Division|Third Division]] / [[EFL League One|League One]] (level 3)<ref name="league" />
**Champions: [[2016–17 EFL League One|2016–17]]
**2nd place promotion: [[1988–89 Football League|1988–89]]
**3rd place promotion: [[1983–84 Football League|1983–84]]
*[[Football League Fourth Division|Fourth Division]] (level 4)
**Champions: [[1981–82 Football League|1981–82]]
*[[Football League North]]
**Champions: [[1945–46 in English football|1945–46]]
Sheffield United are the fourth club to have won a championship title in each of England's four professional leagues after Burnley, Preston North End and Wolverhampton Wanderers.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2017/04/15/sheffield-united-completes-set-of-titles-with-3rd-tier-win/100499510/|title=Sheffield United completes set of titles with 3rd-tier win|work=USA Today|access-date=25 July 2018|date=15 April 2017}}</ref>[[File:Sheffield united facup 1915.jpg|thumb|Sheffield United posing with the 1915 FA Cup]]
'''Cup'''
*[[FA Cup]]
**Winners: [[1898–99 FA Cup|1898–99]], [[1901–02 FA Cup|1901–02]], [[1914–15 FA Cup|1914–15]], [[1924–25 FA Cup|1924–25]]
**Runners-up: [[1900–01 FA Cup|1900–01]], [[1935–36 FA Cup|1935–36]]
*[[Sheriff of London Charity Shield]]
**Winners: [[1898 Sheriff of London Charity Shield|1898]] (shared)
==In media and popular culture==
[[BBC Radio Sheffield]] is the current radio broadcaster of live commentaries of matches within the catchment area of the station. Available on FM Radio frequencies: 88.6 MHz, 94.7 MHz & 104.1 MHz. DAB Radio and Freeview channel 734.
Sheffield United's in-house media label SUTV broadcast matches available to stream through their website.
United were, along with [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]], the first team to be featured in a live [[Radio broadcasting|radio]] commentary.<ref name="radio">{{cite web|url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/20140122-anniversary-of-making-history-1309894.aspx|title=Anniversary of making history|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=22 January 2014|access-date=22 January 2014}}</ref> The [[Football League First Division|Division One]] fixture between the two sides on 22 January 1927 was broadcast by the [[BBC]].<ref name="radio" /> Club captain [[Billy Gillespie]] scored United's goal in the 1–1 draw and listeners were provided with a numbered map of the pitch via the [[Radio Times]] to aid their understanding of where play was taking place.<ref name="radio" /> The area in front of the [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] was numbered 1, with the game providing the first use of the phrase "back to square one."<ref name="radio" />
A number of films and television programmes have included references to Sheffield United:
* 1977 Sheffield United are referenced by [[Brian Blessed]]'s character in a third series episode of the BBC post-apocalyptic drama series ''[[Survivors (1975 TV series)|Survivors]]'' from the 1970s. Blessed's character also wears a Sheffield United scarf throughout.
* 1990, the [[BBC]] produced a six-part documentary series named ''[[United (TV series)|United]]'' that followed the fortunes of the club towards the end of the [[1989–90 Football League#Second Division|1989–90]] season, in which they achieved automatic promotion to the top flight of English football.
* 1996 film ''[[When Saturday Comes (film)|When Saturday Comes]]'' stars real-life United fan [[Sean Bean]] as a part-time [[Hallam FC]] player who is scouted by Sheffield United, who then goes on to play in a [[FA Cup]] semi-final.
* 1997 British comedy film ''[[The Full Monty]]'' is set in Sheffield and the character Gaz is seen wearing a replica United shirt at one part of the film, and promises his son a ticket for a game at Bramall Lane between Sheffield United and Manchester United.
* 2004 Walt Disney film ''[[National Treasure (film)|National Treasure]]'' which stars Sean Bean, and [[Nicolas Cage]] as the lead character. There is a scene where Bean's character is writing on a yellow notepad. Near the top right corner of the notepad is a doodle of the Sheffield United club emblem, the crossed blades and a dot to represent the Yorkshire rose.
* 2005 film ''[[Batman Begins]]'' features a child wearing a 1990s Blades shirt.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0372784/trivia|title=Batman Begins – Did you know?|publisher=IMDb|access-date=17 May 2012}}</ref>
* 2012 television drama ''[[Prisoners' Wives]]'' also references the club.
==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|work=People's Daily|date=13 January 2006|access-date=31 October 2007}}</ref> when they purchased the football club [[Chengdu F.C.]], 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|access-date=31 October 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070117055241/http://www.shef.ac.uk/chengdublades/blades.html|archive-date=17 January 2007}}</ref> The club was renamed the [[Chengdu Blades]], after their new owners. Sheffield United shirts were sold in China, and Chengdu shirts were sold in Sheffield, increasing revenue streams for both clubs. United sold on their share of the Chinese side in 2010, following Chengdu's implication in a match-fixing scandal and increasing financial pressures on the English club.<ref>{{cite web|title=Chengdu Blades – The Failed Experiment|url=http://wildeastfootball.net/2012/09/chengdu-blades-the-failed-experiment/|website=wildeastfootball.net|date=4 September 2012 |publisher=Wild East Football|access-date=15 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|script-title=zh:英投资方决定成都谢菲联不出售 尽快解决欠薪稳军心|url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/s/2010-12-09/06071693872s.shtml|access-date=15 November 2015|publisher=Sina Sports|date=9 December 2010}}</ref>
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 news|url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/s/sheff_utd/7243262.stm|title = Blades chief wins Ferencvaros bid|work=BBC Sport|date = 13 February 2008|access-date =7 October 2008
}}</ref> 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=27 March 2008|access-date=7 October 2008|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113020350/http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/FerencvarosDetail/0,,10418~1275433,00.html|archive-date=13 January 2009}}</ref> McCabe left the Fenecváros board in January 2011.<ref>{{cite news|title=A Fradi sorsa a politika kezében|url=http://mindennapi.hu/cikk/sport/a-fradi-sorsa-a-politika-kezeben/2011-01-31/1380|access-date=15 November 2015|publisher=Mindennapi|date=31 January 2011}}</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=26 February 2008|access-date=27 March 2008|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080411080610/http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~1250361,00.html|archive-date=11 April 2008}}</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=7 December 2007|access-date=27 March 2008|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112220231/http://www.sufc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/WhiteStarWoluwe/0,,10418~1185107,00.html|archive-date=12 January 2009}}</ref> of [[Belgium]]. In November 2020, they took over the [[Kozhikode|Calicut, Kerala]] based club [[Quartz FC]] which plays in the third tier of [[Football in India|Indian Football]] and rebranded it as [[Kerala United FC]].<ref>{{cite web|last=Hemmingham|first=Nathan|date=20 November 2020|title=Sheffield United owners complete takeover of Indian club|url=https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/sport/football/news/kerala-united-calicut-quartz-sheffield-19314578|access-date=20 November 2020|website=YorkshireLive}}</ref>
===Affiliated clubs===
* {{flagicon|Ireland}} [[Arklow Town F.C.|Arklow Town]]<ref name="Arklow Town">{{cite news|title=Aaron Barry|url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/20120630-aaron-barry-230773.aspx|access-date=5 August 2013|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=30 June 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130703113240/http://www.sufc.co.uk/news/article/20120630-aaron-barry-230773.aspx|archive-date=3 July 2013}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Belgium}} [[K Beerschot VA|Beerschot]]
* {{flagicon|England}} [[Buxton F.C.|Buxton]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.derbyshiretimes.co.uk/sport/football/bucks-looking-into-possibility-of-lending-blades-young-guns-1-5908547|title=Bucks looking into possibility of lending Blades' young guns |date=2 August 2013 |access-date=2 August 2013}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Australia}} [[Central Coast Mariners]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ccbusinessreview.com.au/articles/239|title=Mariners take Coast brand to the world|publisher=Central Coast Business Review|access-date=17 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090314000005/http://www.ccbusinessreview.com.au/articles/239|archive-date=14 March 2009}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Argentina}} {{Lang|es|[[Estudiantes de La Plata|Estudiantes]]|italic=no}}<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2424216,00.html|title=Parrino signs|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=18 August 2011|access-date=17 May 2012|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120916231133/http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~2424216,00.html|archive-date=16 September 2012}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Fenerbahce SK]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Blades look to establish partnership with giants|url=http://www.thestar.co.uk/sport/sheff-utd/sheffield-united-blades-look-to-establish-partnership-with-giants-1-6637856|access-date=15 November 2015|newspaper=The Sheffield Star|date=27 May 2014}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Brazil}} [[São Paulo FC|São Paulo]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~1163226,00.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513022820/https://www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0,,10418~1163226,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 May 2021|title=Sao Paulo link is a benefit|publisher=Sheffield United F.C.|date=8 November 2007|access-date=17 May 2012}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Norway}} [[Strindheim IL]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.footballpress.net/?action=read&idsel=78858|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120730125058/http://www.footballpress.net/?action=read&idsel=78858|url-status=usurped|archive-date=30 July 2012|title=Four players join Sheffield United|publisher=footballpress.net|date=10 February 2010|access-date=17 May 2012}}</ref>
* {{flagicon|Belgium}} [[White Star Woluwé]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.whitestar.be/_v2/index.php |title=White Star Woluwe |publisher=whitestar.be |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105100610/http://www.whitestar.be/_v2/index.php |archive-date=5 January 2016 }}</ref>
* {{flagicon|India}} [[Kerala United FC]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Indian football: Kerala's football passion gets the Sheffield United seal of 'approval'! {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/kozhikode-quartz-fc-indian-football-kerala-sheffield-united/1r8n8ywgeqvta1kudm0g9euuik|access-date=20 November 2020|website=goal.com}}</ref>
*{{flagicon|UAE}} [[Al-Hilal United FC|Al Hilal United]] (2020–present)
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[LB Châteauroux]] (2021–present)
==References==
{{Reflist}}
==Bibliography==
* {{cite book
| last = Clarebrough
| first = Denis
| title = Sheffield United Football Club
| publisher=Chalford Publishing
| date= 30 September 1997
| isbn = 0-7524-1059-8}}
* {{cite book
| last1 = Clarebrough
| first1 = Denis
| last2 = Kirkham
| first2 = Andrew
| title = Sheffield United Football Club 1889–1999: A Complete Record
| publisher=Sheffield United Football Club
| date= 1 January 1999
| isbn = 978-0950858821}}
* {{cite book
| last = Matthews
| first = Tony
| title = The Official Encyclopaedia of Sheffield United Football Club
| publisher=Britespot Publishing Ltd
| date= 15 December 2003
| isbn = 1-904103-19-7}}
* {{cite book
| last1 = Pack
| first1 = Andy
| last2 = Cookson
| first2 = Kevin
| title = Destination Premiership
| publisher=J W Northend Ltd
| date= 1 June 2006
| isbn = 978-0901100672}}
* {{cite book
| last1 = Armstrong
| first1 = Gary
| last2 = Garrett
| first2 = John
| title = Sheffield United Football Club – The Biography
| publisher=Hallamshire Publications Ltd
| date= 1 December 2007
| isbn = 978-1-874718-65-9}}
* {{cite book
| last = Phillips
| first = Darren
| title = The Sheffield United Miscellany
| publisher=The History Press Ltd
| date= 22 October 2010
| isbn = 978-0752457185}}
* {{cite book
| last1 = Clarebrough
| first1 = Denis
| last2 = Kirkham
| first2 = Andrew
| title = Sheffield United: The Complete Record
| publisher=DB Publishing
| date= 1 September 2012
| isbn = 978-1780910192}}
* {{cite book
| last = Johnson
| first = Nick
| title = Match of My Life: Twelve Stars Relive Their Greatest Games Sheffield United
| publisher=Pitch Publishing Ltd
| date= 17 September 2012
| isbn = 978-1908051721}}
* {{cite book
| last = Hall
| first = Danny
| title = He's One Of Our Own: The Story Of Chris Wilder's Blades Revolution
| publisher=Vertical Editions
| date= 8 September 2018
| isbn = 978-1908847102}}
* {{cite book
| last = Gillan
| first = Don
| title = Sheffield United Season Scrapbook 1897/98: T'First Proper Champions
| date= 2 March 2019
| publisher = Independently Published
| isbn = 978-1798567364}}
* {{cite book
| last = Allsop
| first = Alan
| title = You Fill Up My Senses: The Joy and Despair of Following Sheffield United
| date= 9 May 2019
| publisher = CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform
| isbn = 978-1097573707}}
* {{cite book
| last = Hall
| first = Danny
| title = 'We're not going to Wembley'
| publisher=Vertical Editions
| date= 31 July 2019
| isbn = 978-1908847140}}
* {{cite book
| last = Anson
| first = Matt
| title = Greatest Games Sheffield United Blades' Fifty Finest Matches
| publisher=Pitch Publishing
| date= 16 September 2019
| isbn = 9781785315503}}
==External links==
{{Commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
=== Independent websites ===
* {{BBC football info|sheffield-united}}
* [https://www.skysports.com/sheffield-united Sheffield United] at Sky Sports
* [https://www.premierleague.com/clubs/18/Sheffield-United/overview Sheffield United FC] at Premier League
* [https://www.uefa.com/nationalassociations/teams/68215--sheff-united/ Sheffield United FC] at [[UEFA]]
{{Sheffield United F.C.}}
{{Premier League}}
{{Football League Championship}}
{{EFL League One}}
{{Sheffield & Hallamshire County FA}}
{{Authority control}}
[[
[[Category:1889 establishments in England]]
[[Category:Association football clubs established in 1889]]
[[Category:Sports clubs and teams in Sheffield|United]]
[[Category:Football clubs in South Yorkshire]]
[[Category:Football clubs in England]]
[[
[[Category:English Football League clubs]]
[[Category:Premier League clubs]]
[[Category:FA Cup winners]]
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