Sheffield United

Sheffield United’s formation sounds a bit like that of Liverpool FC. The ground, Bramall Lane, had a tenant called Sheffield Wednesday. But a financial dispute led Wednesday to depart for another location, leaving the owners of Bramall Lane looking for a club. They started United in 1889.

But since Bramall Lane is the oldest location in the world still hosting professional football, let’s back up a minute for some perspective. People have been playing football on this spot since 1855! It was an important place. In the early formation of football, there were many sets of rules, the biggest two being the Sheffield Rules and the Cambridge Rules. A series of matches held at Bramall Lane between the Sheffield and London Football Associations eventually convinced everyone that a common set of rules was needed; hence the Football Association was formed (we have a fuller history of all this here).

Also, local amateur club Sheffield FC are the oldest club in the world still playing football. They are at level 8 on the football pyramid and are actually now based in Dronfield, Derbyshire.

United’s first glory years were right at the start. They won the Football League in 1898 and the FA Cup in 1899, 1902, 1915, and 1925. They lost the final two other times in that stretch. They were in the top two divisions until they bottomed out in the 1970s, dropping as far as the Fourth Division for the 1981-82 season. But they rallied back to the top flight and were founder members of the Premier League in 1992. They were relegated after two years.

Another bad stretch saw them sent down to League One from 2011 to 2017. They failed in the playoffs three times in that stretch, but then, in 2016, cometh the hero. Chris Wilder was born in Sheffield, supported the Blades, played for them, and then became a manager. He got United from League One to the Championship in 2017, and damned if in 2018-19 they didn’t go and finish second, getting themselves back to the top tier for the first time in 12 years. Pipping Yorkshire rival Leeds for the second automatic promotion spot, and winning a late-season derby at Elland Road was that much sweeter. And what did this scrappy club do in the Premier League? Oh, just finish ninth and contend for European places until the last weeks of the season, all on by far the smallest budget in the division.

Sadly, it all fell apart in the 2020–21 season, as Wilder left and they were relegated back to the Championship. They have since done the yo-yo thing in the league, though they did make the 2023 FA Cup semifinals, losing to the eventual winners Manchester City. Wilder is back now, and last season they lost the promotion final to Sunderland despite leading 1-0, with 15 minutes to go.

2024–25 SEASON: 3rd in the Championship (lost promotion final), 3rd Round FA Cup, 2nd Round League Cup

2025–26 SEASON: The Championship (relegated in 2024)

United and Sheffield Wednesday share the Steel City derby, one of the most passionate in the country. With just the two clubs in town, usually nothing major on the line beyond pride, and no one outside Sheffield paying attention, it is strictly personal with this one. It’s also incredibly even: In 146 meetings since 1891, United have 51 wins, Wednesday 48, and there have been 47 draws. And it’s back on for this season!

Other Yorkshire clubs, especially Leeds, are also considered rivals. Two other rivalries come from interesting reasons: West Ham because of a legal dispute over West Ham player Carlos Tevez, whom United claimed was signed illegally; and Nottingham Forest, because of a series of miners’ strikes in the 1980s when Nottinghamshire miners didn’t join in.

Agony and Ecstasy: <br>The 2017 Steel City Derby

Perhaps the reason we go to football games is because we just might have an experience people will talk about for generations. We sit through countless forgettable affairs because someday we’re going to see a world-class game-winner, or a stunning...

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Back in Sheffield for Another Steel City Derby

Somewhere, in the streets near my hotel, a small band of lads are giving it one last “We are BLAAAADES!” The result is a kind of echoing silence. No “We are Wednesday” response, no clopping of police horse hooves, no...

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Sheffield United Women were just relegated from the FA Women’s Championship, so it’s the third-tier National League North this season. Their games are at Bramall Lane.

United sings one of the great songs in football; in fact their PA announcer says it’s the greatest. It’s called “Greasy Chip Butty,” is set to John Denver’s “Annie’s Song,” and celebrates various pleasures of Yorkshire life:

You fill up my senses

Like a gallon of Magnet

Like a packet of Woodbines

Like a good pinch of snuff

Like a night out in Sheffield

Like a greasy chip butty

Like Sheffield United

Come thrill me again!

To fill in for you: Magnet is a strong beer; Woodbines are strong cigarettes; and a chip butty is considered a defining dish of the area. It is what foreigners might call a french fry sandwich on a white roll with butter. And yes, that’s all it is: a fries sandwich.

“Beautiful Downtown Bramall Lane,” as the United fans call it, sits square in the middle of Sheffield. It is the longest-serving football stadium in the world; the first game here was played in 1855. Of course, it has been through many changes since, but it still has an old feeling to it. And despite holding 32,702 people, it feels cozy, and it can get very loud.

Away fans will be in the lower level of the Bramall Lane stand, with a protective screen over their heads since there are United fans in the upper tier. Behind the opposite goal is the Kop, which hosts the most passionate United folk. Try to sit there or on the side. The South, or Main Stand, oddly didn’t exist until 1975; before that it was the outfield for cricket matches.

TOURS: They have a standard tour, one led by a former player (they are all called “legends”), and even a version on game day. Check the website for more.

GETTING THERE: It’s about a 20-minute walk from the main Sheffield train station. This takes you right through the center of town. A taxi should be less than £10.

PUBS: As it’s in the middle of town, Bramall Lane is near quite a few pubs, all of which will be jumping on match day. Look in particular for Sheaf House, Railway Hotel, the Golden Lion, and The Cricketers Arms. As you walk away from the station, you will see The Globe and The Howard.

GRUB: When Groundhopper Paul got connected with a bunch of Blades fans, they all insisted on a proper chip butty before a home game. Check them out at Mother Hubbard’s on London Road, generally a hub of food and bevvies, or at Man Friday just across from the ground. Of course, this topic inspires some debate, but it seems that both Brenda’s, the Commercial and the Rutland Arms are well thought of.

AROUND TOWN: Sheffield is a cool city. It’s essentially England’s Pittsburgh, which means it was huge in steel—stainless steel was invented here—and then it crashed with the industry. But now it’s coming back in the same way Pittsburgh is, with a lot of young professionals moving in to take advantage of its central location, budding social scene, and (in Sheffield’s case) the proximity of the Peak District National Park on the edge of town. In fact, technically a third of the city is in the park, and 61 percent of it is green space.

Take a walk around downtown for a bit, check out the Winter Garden, and then take a local train or bus out to the Peak District. The village of Grindleford is particularly nice, with lovely walking in the area and a shop in the old train station making a fine chip butty. See visitpeakdistrict.com for suggestions and details.