Sheffield United football club (The Blades)

Sheffield United was formed in March 1889 by members of Yorkshire County Cricket Club and Sheffield Cricket Club.

The Blades were elected to the Second Division of the Football League in 1892 and gained promotion to the First Division the following year.

They enjoyed an unbroken run of 37 seasons in the top division which remains as a record for a newly promoted team.

United became league champions for the only time in 1897-98. Their title-winning team featured legendary characters such as Bill 'Fatty' Foulke, their famous heavyweight goalkeeper, Ernest Needham and Walter Bennett.

Ten years after their formation, they won the FA Cup for the first time. They also lifted the trophy in 1902, 1915 and 1925.

Bramall Lane shares the distinction with the Kennington Oval of being the only two grounds to host England football internationals, an England cricket test match and an FA Cup Final.

Sheffield United shared the Lane with their cricket counterparts until 1973. The three-sided arena became a four-sided football ground two years later with the completion of the South Stand, situated in front of the old cricket pavilion.

The conversion came at a cost though as the Blades had sunk to the Fourth Division of the Football League by 1981 with debts of over a million pounds.

A steady recovery saw them become founder members of the Premier League in 1992.

Popular striker Brian Deane wrote his name into the history books with the new competition's first-ever goal after five minutes of the Blades' opening day win against Manchester United.

United began their third stint in the Premier League in 2019 under locally-born life-long Blades supporting manager, Chris Wilder.

Home ground history

Bramall Lane 1889 to date