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SCOTLAND

WHO ARE YA?! UNITED The Blades are on the up and looking for a return

Sheffield United were the first football team to be called “United”, which is the most popular name for clubs in the English leagues. They have played in all four divisions, were one of the founder members of the Premier League in and have played there for three seasons in total. The last time was in -. This season their target is to reach the Championship play-offs! THE MANAGER Chris Wilder became the United manager in  after getting Northampton Town promoted from League Two. In his first season he took United up too, from League One to the Championship. Wilder played for United as a defender and supported the team as a boy. Leon Clarke, NORTHERN and Jake Wright celebrate IRELAND MASCOT promotion at THE HISTORY CAPTAIN BLADE Sheffield United joined the Football League in ­€-€ƒ when its second division was created. This began a great crowned champions of England! They as ‰ stone. He was surely era for the club. They were promoted followed that up by winning the FA the heaviest goalkeeper straight away and then finished second Cup in ­€€, and again in €. United’s ever to play professional in the top division in ­€-€ . The next goalkeeper during this time was William football but was famous for season they went one better and were “Fatty” Foulke, who weighed as much making great saves! United have won the FA Cup four times so far, but they are ENGLAND all in the distant past – the most recent was a - win PREVIOUSLY over Cardiff in €Ž. More MANAGED recently they reached an FA ALFRETON TOWN Cup semi-final in †‡ while THE HALIFAX TOWN they were in League One, but OXFORD UNITED lost Ž-ƒ toto Hull.Hull. TheyThey alsoalso BOSS NORTHAMPTON TOWN CHRIS reached the League Cup semi- finals the next season but lost WILDER to Tottenham.

Jose Baxter celebrates Keeper William United’s first goal in the Foulke makes REPUBLIC OF †‡ FA Cup semi-final himself look big IRELAND 20

k1_Sheff_Utd.indd 20 WALES 15/03/2018 21:05 SCOTLAND

NICKNAME SHEFFIELD UNITEDTHE BLADES The Blades are on the up and looking for a Premier League return THE Bramall Lane was opened in ­ŽŽ and was a ground at first. Until THE RIVALS € ƒ the football ground only had three United have a huge rivalry with sides with part of the cricket pitch, used their neighbours Sheffield Wednesday. THE CLUB by the Yorkshire County Cricket team, When the two play it is called the Steel Founded 1889 taking up the fourth side! It was one of City Derby, because Sheffield is so Colours Red and HOME only two grounds to have hosted both well known for making steel. They have white stripes SHIRT England international football and played each other € times, with United Nickname The Blades cricket matches (the other is in winning ‰ matches to Wednesday’s Stadium Bramall Lane London). The first football game at the ‰. In €€ƒ the whole city had a big day stadium was between the two oldest out at Wembley when United played Record Attendance 68,287 clubs in the world, Sheffield FC and Wednesday in an FA Cup semi-final. Record Win 10-0 v Port Vale, 1892 Hallam, in ­. The record attendance The match was watched by ’, fans & v Burnley, 1929 is a whopping ‹,‹, which was set at but, unfortunately for United, they lost Record Defeat 13-0 v Bolton Wanderers, an FA Cup fifth-round tie against -. Blades fans will have been much 1890 United in €ƒ. These days the stadium happier about the derby this season Most Appearances holds Œ,. though – they thrashed Wednesday ‰- Joe Shaw, 714, 1945-66 away at Hillsborough! Most Goals NORTHERN Harry Johnson, 201, 1916-31 THE FANS Honours Sheffield United fans call themselves THE STAR PLAYERS IRELAND League: 1898 “Blades”, and that is also the club’s Experienced striker Leon Clarke is the FA Cup: 1899, 1902, official nickname. The name comes from top scorer this season. He has played for Sheffield’s biggest industry, which is  different clubs – including Sheffield 1915, 1925 making metal cutlery. United supporters Wednesday! United fans have high Top Fact United have are famous for belting out their club hopes for young attacking midfielder played in red and anthem, “Greasy chip butty”, from David Brooks. Another popular player white stripes for all Bramall Lane’s Kop stand in the build-up is Scottish midfielder , who of their 125 years in to a match! scored the goal that clinched promotion the League! ENGLAND from League One last season! FIFA 18 Rating LEGEND *** JOE SHAW PA PHOTOSš ›, GETTY IMAGES, SIMON GILL/WSC PHOTOS

DID YOU KNOW? In 1978, United nearly bought the Wednesday SOUTH legendary Diego Maradona, when he YORKSHIRE was only 17! But they decided that

United John Fleck he cost too much money and signed in action this another player from Argentina, Alex season Sabella, instead. REPUBLIC OF IRELAND 21

WALES k1_Sheff_Utd.indd 21 15/03/2018 21:05