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Ahead of our return to the Sky Bet Championship, learn more about all 23 of our opponents

2024-07-14T08:00:00.000Z

IN FOCUS: SHEFFIELD UNITED

Ahead of our return to the Sky Bet Championship, learn more about all 23 of our opponents

2024-07-14T08:00:00.000Z

Ahead of our return to the Sky Bet Championship, learn more about all 23 of our opponents

Relegated from the Premier League last season alongside the Clarets, the Blades were initially formed by members of the Sheffield United Cricket Club in 1854 and they became the first English sports club to use ‘United’ in their name.

Officially however, they were founded in March 1889 by the cricket club’s president, Sir Charles Clegg. City rivals Sheffield Wednesday had vacated Bramall Lane, so the Blades occupied it.

The Blades’ greatest period of sustained success came in a 30-year spell from 1895 to 1925. In that time, they became champions of England and won the FA Cup four times. The last of those FA Cups, won in 1925 is the last major honour that United won.

Floating between the top flight and second tier, United’s darkest days then came between 1975 and 1981 as they tumbled into the Fourth Division. Back-to-back promotions did however see them return to the top table in 1990 after a 14-year absence.

In turn, they were founder members of the Premier League and United actually netted the first ever Premier League goal as Brian Deane scored the opener in a 2-1 victory over Manchester United. Relegated in 1994, the Blades remained outside the top-flight for 12 years despite being Second Division play-off final runners up twice and reaching the play-off semi-finals.

Promoted back to the Premier League in 2006 under the guidance of Neil Warnock after finishing 2nd, United lasted just one season though after being relegated on the final day of the season.

Following just four seasons in the Championship, things got tougher as United then suffered relegation in 2011 to League one.

After five seasons in the third tier, Chris Wilder then arrived at Bramall Lane in 2016 in a bid to get the Blades back up and that's exactly what he did, as the former Blade guided the club to the League One title in his first season at the club.

United were then back in the top-flight in 2019, as Wilder's side secured a second promotion in just three seasons. The Covid-19 pandemic brought a holt to the Blades' first season back in the top-flight, but the Yorkshire side secured an impressive 9th place finish following 'Project Restart' in the summer of 2020.

However, relegation followed the next season in 2021 and it took United two seasons to return to the Premier League, after securing 2nd place two years ago behind the Clarets. Though the Blades were relegated once again this year

Stadium: Bramall Lane (32,050) – John Street, Highfield, Sheffield, S2 4QX

Nickname(s): The Blades

Manager: Paul Heckingbottom

2023/24 finishing position: 20th

2023/24 top scorer (all competitions): Ben Brereton Diaz (6)

Played for both –

Gary Cahill –

Cahill joined the Clarets on loan from Aston Villa as a youngster for the 2004/05 Championship season. The young centre-back enjoyed a successful spell at Turf Moor, which saw the defender score his first career senior goal and go on to win the Club’s Player of the Year & Young Player of the Year awards. The defender returned to Villa Park following his loan move with Burnley and spent time with the Villans in the Premier League, before a three-month loan move to the Blades in September 2007.The defender made his debut against Crystal Palace and scored his first goal for United in a win at Stoke City. Cahill returned to Villa having made 16 appearances and scoring twice.

Matt Lowton –

Born in Chesterfield, Lowton joined Sheffield United’s academy as a youngster from Leeds United. After progressing through the youth system with the Blades, including a loan spell with Sheffield FC and United’s Hungarian sister club Ferencvaros, the defender made his first team debut in March 2010 against Cardiff City. The right-back was then a regular among the starting XI the following season and went on to play 32 games in the Championship, although the Yorkshire side were relegated that same season. Lowton played nearly 50 matches in the 2011/12 League One campaign before leaving in the summer to join Premier League side Aston Villa. Three years in the Midlands followed before arriving at Turf Moor ahead of the 2015/16 season. The full-back quickly became a regular in the Clarets’ title-winning campaign in his first season at Turf Moor which sealed top-flight status. After over 150 games in the Premier League for the Clarets, including qualification for the UEFA Europa League in 2018, Lowton left the Club last summer.

Kevin McDonald –

The Carnoustie-born midfielder began his career with Dundee in 2005, before leaving Scotland and signing for the Clarets in the summer of 2008. McDonald spent two seasons at Turf Moor, with the Scotsman helping Owen Coyle’s side secure promotion to the Premier League in his first year. The central midfielder scored five goals during his 64 games in east Lancashire before leaving in 2011 for Sheffield United. Playing alongside Lowton in his final year at Bramall Lane, McDonald played over 30 games in his first campaign with the Blades in League One. The following season saw the midfielder only miss one league game but United missed out on promotion to the Championship which saw McDonald depart in the summer of 2013 to join Wolverhampton Wanderers.