Sheffield United

Sheffield United - Blade for Life

For those who do not follow the sport, I think it is quite hard to appreciate just how mental draining watching football matches can become for those passionate fans who follow their club or country wherever they may play. Over time, football has captivated the hearts over the international arena and it is now the most if not one of the most widely played and followed sports in the world!

...me from supporting my beloved Sheffield United, a club that I have now been a season ticket holder at for twelve years since I was just two years old, sitting sleepily on my Dad's knee in those days, oblivious to the fact that the arena which is fortress Bramall Lane, would soon by the place where I would experience so many contrasting emotions when I got older.

United are currently placed 5th in the second tier of English football ... more

Sheffield United - Blade for Life

For those who do not follow the sport, I think it is quite hard to appreciate just how mental draining watching football matches can become for those passionate fans who follow their club or country wherever they may play. Over time, football has captivated the hearts over the international arena and it is now the most if not one of the most widely played and followed sports in the world!

I myself played football until the age of eleven or twelve and would have liked to have continued, but my cricketing playing commitments had got too high, and I could no longer give my team the drive that I needed to perform. Despite the fact that my cricket commitments got too much for me to continue playing the sport, there was no chance whatsoever that anything was going to stop me from supporting my beloved Sheffield United, a club that I have now been a season ticket holder at for twelve years since I was just two years old, sitting sleepily on my Dad's knee in those days, oblivious to the fact that the arena which is fortress Bramall Lane, would soon by the place where I would experience so many contrasting emotions when I got older.

United are currently placed 5th in the second tier of English football with a firm objective of gaining promotion back up to the top flight this season. Their manager is currently Kevin Blackwell and their club captain - Chris Morgan.

Just a few bits of information about United:

**History**

United formed back in 1889, where they played on their present ground, Bramall Lane, as a way of keeping the Sheffield United cricket club, who played there during the summer, together as a team! It was also used for generating income for the cricket club to use! Gradually, the football team took over and supplanted the cricket team, such that by 1975, cricket was no longer played at Bramall Lane! The Blades most successful period was arguably a 30-year period from 1895-1925, when they were champions of England in 1897-98 and runners up in 1896-97 and 1899-1900, and FA Cup winners in 1899, 1902, 1915 and 1925, finishing runners up in 1901, and also eleven years after their cup final win in 1936. Despite much success in their time, United obviously had to contend with much disappointment also. Their darkest days were the 1975-76 to 1981-82 seasons, where three relegations in six seasons saw The Blades drop from the top-flight to the fourth division. The Blades managed to climb up the football rankings again with Dave Bassett as manager masterminding successive promotions in the 1988-89 and 1989-90 seasons, to put United back in the top flight in time for the beginning of the Premiership's inception in 1992. Sheffield United have also a unique bit of history, their player Brain Deane back in 1992 scored the first ever goal scored in the Premier League; a record that cannot be taken away!

**Ground**

Sheffield United play their home games, as stated above, at Bramall Lane, in the suburb of Sheffield. The stadium can boast being the oldest stadium in the country that hosts professional football, marking its 150th anniversary in 2005! The stadium has been expanded, but it still remains the oldest ground! Bramall Lane is a typical stadium for the level of football it hosts; stands on all four sides of the ground. To the north is the John Street Stand, the south is named through its position - the south stand, to the east is the Kop and the west, the Bramall Lane stand. The stadium has a capacity of 32,609, which despite never being totally filled, is usually right up there at around 27,000 people. When the Blades are in the Premiership, it will touch 32,000!

**Kit**

Sheffield United play in red and white stripes, but the colour of their away kit does vary over seasons. Like most teams, the Blades have their sponsor across the front of the shirt! 

...less