Sheffield United Football Club is an English professional football club who play at Bramall Lane in Sheffield. They were formed in 1889 and played their first competitive match in October of that year, when they entered the first qualifying round of the FA Cup. Since then more than 1,000 players have made a competitive first-team appearance for the club, of whom almost 200 players have made at least 100 appearances (including substitute appearances); those players are listed here.
Defender and at times captain Joe Shaw remains the club's record appearance maker, playing over 700 games for the club between 1944 and 1966. [2] The only other players who have made over 600 appearances for The Blades are Shaw's teammate and England goalkeeper Alan Hodgkinson, [3] and forward Alan Woodward who played from 1964 to 1978. [4] United's leading goalscorer is 'Young' Harry Johnson (his similarly named father had also played for the club) who remains the only player to have scored over 200 times for The Blades during his fifteen-year tenure from 1916 to 1931. [5]
The first player to play 100 competitive games for the club was the team's first goal keeper Charlie Howlett, [6] whilst the most recent player to achieve the feat is defender Jayden Bogle who reached that milestone in April 2024. [7] Of the current squad Ryan Flynn [8] and Neill Collins [9] feature on this list.
Players are listed in alphabetical order of their surname. Appearances, substitute appearances and goals are included but wartime matches and friendlies are excluded. Further information on competitions/seasons which are regarded as eligible for appearance stats are provided below (dependent on the years at which the player was at the club), and if any data is not available for any of these competitions an appropriate note should be added to the table.
Games included in the stats include appearances in:
Dates | Captain |
---|---|
1889–1890 | Jack Hudson |
1890–1892 | George Groves |
1892–1894 | Billy Hendry |
1894–1914 | Unknown |
1914–1916 | George Utley |
1916–1992 | Unknown |
1992–1996 | Brian Gayle |
1996–2001 | Unknown |
2001–2002 | Keith Curle |
2002–2004 | Rob Page |
2004–2005 | Unknown |
2005–2012 | Chris Morgan |
2012–2015 | Michael Doyle |
2015–2023 | Billy Sharp |
2023–2024 | John Egan |
2024–present | Jack Robinson |
Sheffield United Football Club is a professional football club based in Sheffield, South Yorkshire, England. The club competes in the EFL Championship, the second tier of English football, following relegation from the Premier League in 2023–24. They are nicknamed "the Blades" due to Sheffield's history of cutlery production. The team have played home games at Bramall Lane since their formation. For most of the club's history, United have played in red and white striped shirts with black shorts. Their main rivals are Sheffield Wednesday, with whom they contest the Steel City derby.
Christopher Paul Morgan is an English former professional footballer and football coach. An "uncompromising" defender, he scored 24 goals in 491 league and cup appearances in a 16-year career in English football.
Brian Christopher Deane is an English football coach and former player. His most recent managerial position was as the manager of the Norwegian side Sarpsborg 08.
David Barnes is an English former footballer who played as a left-back in the Football League for Coventry City, Ipswich Town, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Aldershot, Sheffield United, Watford and Colchester United. He was forced to retire in 1997 following a succession of injuries. Barnes represented England at under-19 level.
Alan Woodward was a professional footballer who played in the position of outside right for Sheffield United over a 16-year period between 1962 and 1978.
Philip Nikodem Jagielka is an English former professional footballer who played as a centre-back. He is primarily known for his lengthy tenures at Sheffield United and Everton.
Patrick Anthony Olozinka Agana is an English former professional footballer who played as a striker.
Leonard Badger was an English footballer who played as a right-back. He spent the majority of his career at Sheffield United before moving on to a shorter spell at Chesterfield where he finished his career.
Thomas Boyle was an English footballer who played as an inside right or right half. He played for Sheffield United, Manchester United and Northampton Town, winning the FA Cup with Sheffield United in 1925. He later spent a season as player-manager of Scarborough.
William Anderson was the manager of Lincoln City from 1946 to 1965. He led the club to the Third Division North title in 1947–48 and 1951–52, as well as twelve Lincolnshire Senior Cup finals. As a player he appeared for Nottingham Forest, Sheffield United and Barnsley before an injury at Oakwell forced him to retire in November 1935. He came out of retirement to join Bradford in March 1938, but in two months at Park Avenue failed to break into the senior side and was released.
The 1889–90 season was the first in existence for Sheffield United. Having not been elected to any organised league at that point they predominantly played friendly fixtures but did enter the FA Cup for the first time as well as locally arranged cup competitions The Sheffield Challenge Cup and the Wharncliffe Charity Cup. The club did not employ a manager in this period; tactics and team selection were decided by The Football Committee and the players were coached by a trainer. J.B. Wostinholm held the position of club secretary, dealing with player transfers and contracts, arranging matches and dealing with the FA. The first season was deemed a reasonable success with steady attendances to home games and progress in the FA Cup although the fluctuating nature of the team meant that consistency was never really achieved.
The 1890–91 season was Sheffield United's second, and their first and only season playing in the newly formed Midland Counties League, as the club sought to establish itself as a major footballing force. The team was selected by the club's football committee and coached by a trainer, but day-to-day affairs were overseen by club secretary Joseph Wostinholm. The club saw a large influx of players during the season as it continued to bolster its numbers with amateurs loaned or signed from other teams in the local area, a policy that resulted in an unsettled side, indifferent league results, and a mid-table finish.
The Sheffield United F.C. Player of the Year is an annual award presented to players of Sheffield United on behalf of the club's fans to recognise an outstanding contribution to the previous season. First presented in 1967 the award was organised by the Official Supporters Club and voted for by its members. The award was officially recognised and commemorated by the club and since the late 1990s has been presented at a gala dinner. From around 2000 the award was widened to include voting from the general fanbase and various other awards have also been presented including Young Player of the Year and Goal of the Season.
The 1891–92 season was the third in existence for Sheffield United. This was their first season playing in the recently formed Northern League as the club sought to establish itself as a major footballing force. The Blades had a reasonably successful season, finishing third in the league, and registering some comprehensive victories along the way. They improved on the previous season by reaching the second round proper of the FA Cup and were victorious in the local cup competitions, winning both the Sheffield Challenge Cup and the Wharncliffe Charity Cup for the first time.
The 1892–93 season was the fourth in existence for Sheffield United. This was their first season playing in the recently formed Football League Second Division as the club sought to establish itself as a major footballing force. With some members of the football committee unconvinced of the long-term future of the Football League, the club also retained its membership of the Northern League.
Jayden Ian Bogle is an English professional footballer who plays as a right-back or right midfielder for EFL Championship club Leeds United.