2008–09 Sheffield United F.C. season

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sheffield United F.C.
2008–09 season
ManagerKevin Blackwell
StadiumBramall Lane
Championship3rd (qualified for play-offs)
PlayoffsRunners-up
FA CupFifth round
League CupThird round
Top goalscorerLeague: James Beattie (12)
All: James Beattie (12)[1]
Highest home attendance30,786 (vs. Sheffield Wednesday, 7 February 2009)
Lowest home attendance23,045 (vs. Crystal Palace, 20 December 2008)
Average home league attendance26,023[1]

During the 2008–09 English football season, Sheffield United F.C. competed in the Football League Championship.

Season summary[]

Despite the sale of the previous season's top scorer, James Beattie, to Premier League newcomers Stoke City during the season, Sheffield United improved on the previous season's unsatisfactory form and were unlucky to finish the season in third place, three points behind Birmingham City. With this third-place finish came qualification for the playoffs: after narrowly defeating Preston North End 2–1 over two legs in the semi-final, United reached the playoff final, against Burnley, at Wembley. United lost 1–0, to a 13th-minute strike from Wade Elliott, which saw United consigned to a third consecutive season in the Championship.

Kit[]

Sheffield United continued their kit manufacturing agreement with French company Le Coq Sportif, who produced a new kit for the season, designed by United season ticket holder Ben Frost. A black away kit with silver trim, chosen by the club's players, was also introduced. The previous season's black and fluorescent green away kit was retained as the third kit.

The club ended their kit sponsorship agreement with American bank Capital One at the end of the previous season. The new kit sponsor for the season was visit Malta.com.

Players[]

First-team squad[]

Squad at end of season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Republic of Ireland IRL Paddy Kenny[notes 1]
2 DF England ENG Greg Halford (on loan from Sunderland)
3 DF Scotland SCO Gary Naysmith
4 MF Wales WAL David Cotterill
5 DF England ENG Chris Morgan
6 DF England ENG Matthew Kilgallon
7 FW England ENG Darius Henderson
9 FW Italy ITA Arturo Lupoli (on loan from Fiorentina)
10 FW England ENG Danny Webber
11 MF England ENG Lee Hendrie
12 DF China CHN Sun Jihai
13 GK England ENG Ian Bennett
15 MF Wales WAL Gary Speed
17 MF Scotland SCO Nick Montgomery[notes 2]
18 MF Northern Ireland NIR Jamie Ward[notes 3]
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 FW Scotland SCO Craig Beattie (on loan from West Bromwich Albion)
20 MF England ENG Brian Howard
21 MF Republic of Ireland IRL John-Joe O'Toole[notes 4] (on loan from Watford)
21 DF England ENG Gary Cahill (on loan from Aston Villa)
22 GK Malta MLT Justin Haber
24 FW England ENG Billy Sharp
25 MF Algeria ALG Aymen Tahar
26 DF England ENG Derek Geary
27 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Keith Quinn
28 MF Republic of Ireland IRL Stephen Quinn
30 DF England ENG Kyle Naughton
31 MF Poland POL Ben Starosta[notes 5]
32 DF England ENG Leigh Bromby (on loan from Watford)
33 DF England ENG Ugo Ehiogu
34 DF England ENG Kyle Walker

Out on loan[]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
14 DF Australia AUS David Carney (on loan at Norwich City)
No. Pos. Nation Player
29 FW England ENG Jordan Robertson (on loan to Ferencváros)

Left club during season[]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
8 FW England ENG Jon Stead (to Ipswich Town)
8 FW Republic of Ireland IRL Anthony Stokes (on loan from Sunderland)
9 FW England ENG James Beattie (to Stoke City)
18 MF England ENG Michael Tonge (to Stoke City)
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 FW England ENG Nathan Dyer (on loan from Southampton)
19 MF Northern Ireland NIR Keith Gillespie (released)
20 DF Scotland SCO Chris Armstrong[notes 6] (to Reading)
25 MF England ENG Matthew Spring (on loan from Luton Town)

References[]

  1. ^ a b FC, Sheffield United. "Sheffield United FC". Sheffield United FC.

External links[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ Kenny was born in Halifax, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally through his parents and made his international debut for the Republic of Ireland in June 2004.
  2. ^ Montgomery was born in Leeds, England, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally and represented them at U-21 level.
  3. ^ Ward was born in Birmingham, England, but also qualified to represent Northern Ireland internationally through his grandfather and represented them at U-18 and U-21 level before making his international debut for Northern Ireland in August 2011.
  4. ^ O'Toole was born in Harrow, England, but also qualified to represent the Republic of Ireland internationally through his grandparents and represented them at U-21 level.
  5. ^ Starosta was born in Sheffield, England, but also qualified to represent Poland internationally through his grandfather and represented them at U-20 level.
  6. ^ Armstrong was born in Newcastle upon Tyne, England, and represented England at U-20 level, but also qualified to represent Scotland internationally through his grandmother and represented them at B level.
Retrieved from ""