Season overview 1889–90 Sheffield United F.C. season

j.b. wostinholm club secretary , responsible football matters

with team assembled on summer months, united played first ever fixture against notts rangers on 7 september 1889, game lost 4–1. not part of organised league club arranged series of friendly , exhibition games fill schedule of fledgling club. opponents drawn both local area (sheffield having number of established teams @ time) , further afield, particularly north-west , west midlands.

the establishment of new, well-financed, football team in city had caused consternation amongst local fa , united undertook low-key start, not playing first game @ bramall lane until end of september, against birmingham st. george s. team continued play regularly , attendances @ bramall lane steadily increased interest in new side grew. team performed against local sides fluctuating nature of squad during period meant there little consistency in results. december however, had become clear better quality of players required if club develop , take on more established sides playing in football league. initial plan of maintaining core of players boosted ranks of local amateur game had not borne fruit players appeared ageing , past best. players recruited scotland had largely failed impress , football committee looked bring in fresh players strengthen team.

rab howell signed rotherham swifts in march 1890

ironically, first 2 new signings scot, william calder, , local amateur, t.b.a. clarke, both arrived in december 1889 team beginning take on more professional image. team continued campaign of friendly fixtures 1890, varying degrees of success, whilst competing in fa cup first time. club hoping accepted newly formed midland counties league following season committee made number of additions squad in march, signing billy bairstow local side sheffield club more signing trio of players nearby rotherham swifts. rab howell, arthur watson , michael whitham become stalwarts of team in coming seasons, both howell , whitham subsequently going on represent england. represented united s first reported entry transfer market, arriving combined fee of £200, , signalled new era of full professionalism club.

fa cup

united made debut in fa cup in away fixture against scarborough on 7 october 1889, game comprehensively won 6–1. required play number of qualifying games went on play various local sides before reaching first round proper when took on burnley in january 1990. having dispatched clarets, united drawn against lancashire side in next round – bolton wanderers. giving home advantage in return payment of £40 (a practice against rules of competition) travelled across pennines trounced 13–0, result remains united s worst ever cup defeat.

local cup competitions

united entered both sheffield challenge cup , wharncliffe charity cup during course of season. both competitions ratified sheffield fa , such viewed competitive fixtures within local area. united progressed through 3 rounds of challenge cup, beating sheffield exchange, heeley , attercliffe before facing staveley @ bramall lane in semi-final. 2–0 victory enough see them progress team s first ever cup final took on experienced rotherham town side on 2 legs. united held 0–0 draw in first fixture @ bramall lane succumbed single goal in return leg played @ ground of rotherham swifts.

the wharncliffe cup smaller affair , blades needed beat doncaster rovers in home game progress semi-final. travelled staveley beaten 2–1 hosts.