Season Preview 20in20 - Sheffield United

6 of 20 - The Blades

Author

nick lochner
July 29, 2023

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2022/23 Finish - 2nd Place The Championship - Promoted

Medium sized club who was in League 1 (Level 3) in 2017, surged to the PL in 2021 and spent the last two seasons in the Championship (Level 2). Will be fighting to avoid relegation.

The Club

Located in Sheffield (Midlands, S Yorkshire)

Bramall Lane, 32,000 capacity

Rough estimates

$175M Annual Revenue (15th worldwide, 7th PL)

$25M Player Payroll

History on the Pitch

  • Highest finish, 6th in 1975

  • Founding members of the PL(1993), scored the first ever goal of the PL

  • 4 FA Cup titles, latest in 1925

Ownership

Abdullah bin Musaid Al Saud of the House of Saud bought 50% of the club from “Blades Leisure Ltd”. There was a unique clause in the contract - either side could declare a notice to end the arrangement when they no longer wanted to work together. In 2017, Kevin McCabe from BLL served the notice with an option - Prince Abdullah could buy the remaining 50% for $7M, or sell his 50%. The Prince decided to buy and then McCabe refused to sell. It went to court and Abdullah now owns 100% of the club. The club is now thought to be worth $85M.

Sponsorship

  • Kit: Errea

  • Shirt: tbd

  • Sleeve: tbd

Biggest Rival - Steel City Derby - Sheffield Wednesday

  • Tightly contested rivalry, 131 matches contested Sheffield United with 46W 42L 43D.

  • The rivalry really heated up as both teams were in the same division in the 2000’s.

  • As English Soccer goes, supporters are described as having a fierce but healthy relationship.

  • In 1889 S Wednesday left Bramall Lane in an argument over rent and the Cricket committee formed a new club, S United, who then took Bramall Lane as their home pitch.

The Culture

SU has a large international presence that started in 2006 when they became the first foreign club to take over a Chinese team, Chengdu FC (since sold). They now have affiliated clubs in 12 countries and benefit from kit sales revenue. Speaking of kits, SU is famous for the Red & White stripes they have worn for most of their history.

Expect a rivalry with Nottingham Forrest this year. In the 1980s there was a miners strike across the midlands, where workers in the pits of Nottinghamshire did not strike (scabbing) while miners in Yorkshire did.

Positivity & Obsession

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. 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.

Supporters You May Recognize

  • Joe Elliott - Def Leppard

  • Matt Fitzpatrick - Pro Golfer

  • Flea - Red Hot Chilli Peppers Bassist

  • Sean Bean - Actor - GoT, LotR

Song

You fill up my senses
Like a gallon of Magnet (Beer)
Like a packet of Woodbines (Cigs)
Like a good pinch of snuff
Like a night out in Sheffield
Like a greasy chip butty (sandwich w/ chips)
Like Sheffield United
Come fill me again

Bramall Lane

Game Day Pub Guide

Home fans only!

Fan Sites

Official Twitter

@SheffieldUnited (600k followers)

High Follows on Twitter

@RhianBrewster9 (287k)

@sufcdevelopment (17k)

The Team

The Gaffer

  • Paul Heckingbottom (England), since 2021 46yo.

  • Started managerial career in 2015 after a 20 year playing career across many teams.

ODDS

  • To Win League +250,000

  • To Be Relegated -175

  • To Finish Top 4 +25,000

  • To Finish Top 10 +1600

Roster Notes

Full Roster click link

Projected to finish 19th

  • No Americans on the roster.

  • Midfielder Iliman Ndiaye (Senegal) was voted SU Player of the Year for 22/23.

  • Sander Berge (Norway) and Anel Ahmedhodzic (Bosnia) are highest paid players.

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