Radio debate on state of Sheffield football

Posted on May 5, 2011 by Emma McHale

Sheffield Wednesday are to face Sheffield United in League One next season. Image via geograph.

BBC Radio Sheffield is holding a live debate on the state of Sheffield football on Tuesday May 10.

The live debate, which will air on BBC Radio Sheffield’s Football Heaven, is to be held at Sheffield Hallam University.

The programme will be hosted by Seth Bennett and Paul Walker, who host sports coverage on BBC Radio Sheffield.

The issues will be debated by former Sheffield United striker Keith Edwards and ex-Owls defender Lawrie Madden. Former Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley striker David Hirst will also take part in the debate, as well as sports journalists Mike Morgan and James Shield.

Derby County Reserves win title after beating Sheffield United

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Chris Ledger

Derby County striker Chris Porter scored a hat-trick in the Rams' 4-0 victory over Sheffield United.

Sheffield United Reserves 0 Derby County Reserves 4

Sheffield United’s reserve team finished the totesport.com League Central Division season as runners-up, after yesterday’s heavy defeat to newly-crowned champions Derby County at Bramall Lane.

Sheffield United could have won the title with a victory, while the Rams’ reserves only needed a draw to secure a first-place finish.

First half goals

The visitors made a positive start to the match when they went in-front, after just six minutes, when Callum Ball’s defence splitting pass found Chris Porter, who rounded goalkeeper Mihkel Aksalu to tap the ball into the net. The former Oldham Athletic striker’s finish was controversial, as there were calls for the goal to be ruled offside, but it stood to give Derby County a 1-0 lead.

Ball had the opportunity to extend the visitors’ lead, just a couple of minutes later, after linking well with Porter, but his long-range shot was comfortably saved by Aksalu. The home side also had an opportunity to equalise but Kingsley James’ shot went wide, after he connected well with Jordan Chapell’s cross. Derby County continued to build pressure and Lee Croft’s strike went over the bar, on the 15th minute, after some good link-up play with Ball and Porter.

Croft doubled the Rams’ lead, on the 19th minute, after Porter latched onto a long-ball from Ben Pringle. Aksalu saved Porter’s shot with his leg, but the rebound fell into the path of Croft and the former Manchester City winger’s lob beat the Estonian goalkeeper.

The Blades nearly got a goal back, just two minutes later, when Erik Tønne was set up by Marc Warren to slot the ball past goalkeeper Ross Atkins. The young Norwegian midfielder’s effort, though, was ruled out for offside. Aksalu then had to be at his best to save efforts from Jeff Hendrick and Porter, as the first half drew to a close.

A dominant display

Derby County continued to dominate and they scored their third goal, just two minutes into the second-half, when Porter headed home Croft’s deflected cross from close range. The away side created more chances as Aksalu, on the 50th minute, tipped away Conor Doyle’s effort. Former Crystal Palace midfielder David Martin also wasted a chance to extend the Rams’ lead, after 53 minutes, when his tame attempt went wide.

Aksalu was forced to make an outstanding double save for the Blades, after 59 minutes, when he made a point-blank save from Porter and then parried away substitute Alex Witham’s rebound. Porter managed to complete his hat trick on the 61st minute, to further Sheffield United’s misery, when he connected with Davies’ through-ball and scored from 17 yards.

The Rams could have got a fifth goal, on the 76th minute, when Miles Addison’s header forced a fine save from Aksalu. András Gárdos and Danny Philliskirk, meanwhile, squandered late chances for the Blades, as Derby County’s victory ensured that they finished the season six points ahead of Sheffield United.

Starting line-ups

Sheffield United Reserves: Aksalu, Brown, Roe, Løkberg, James, Warren, Chapell (Gárdos, 55), Philliskirk, Tønne (Pennycooke-Morgan, 79), Adams (Ahmadi, 65), Edgar.

Derby County Reserves: Atkins, Davies, Pringle, Hendrick (Jones, 74), Addison, Leacock, Croft, Porter, Ball (Witham, 46), Doyle (Connolly, 74), Martin.
Goalscorers: Porter (6, 47, 61), Croft (19)

Blades board: ‘we got it wrong’

Posted on May 3, 2011 by Tom Wright

Blades boss Micky Adams could not prevent relegation

The Sheffield United board have accepted the blame for the team’s relegation from the Championship.

Principal owner Kevin McCabe, club chairman Chris Steer and chief executive Trevor Birch apologised to fans after the club slid into League One.

“The club has to hold its hands up and acknowledge that we got it wrong. We apologise to the fans that have so steadfastly stood by us,” said Mr Birch.

“We are a distance from the top flight and it may take some time to get back, there but this is the beginning of that exciting journey,” he said.

Sheffield United’s relegation was confirmed last weekend after a 2-2 home draw with South Yorkshire rivals Barnsley.

The result sees the club slip into the third tier for the first time since 1989.

Mr Birch said the club would undergo massive changes to ensure the club are competitive next season.

“Relegation means a significant drop in TV revenues and commercial hospitality and sponsorships,” he said.

“Costs will need to be reduced significantly with player wages facing the brunt of those cuts. It won’t be easy but we have to re-balance the squad budget which will inevitably mean a number of our higher earners moving on,” said Mr Birch.

Chris Morgan, Nick Montgomery, Darius Henderson and Ched Evans – a record £3m signing in 2009 – are likely to lead the exodus if United need to balance the books.

The statement on the club’s website gave a damning assessment of the club’s running since their Premier League relegation in 2007.

“We have relied too heavily on attempting short term solutions and, if anything, indulging managers with too many quick fixes and short term signings,” said Mr McCabe.

“In hindsight the over reliance and use of the loan market has had a debilitating rather than strengthening effect on the first team.”

Chris Steer said the board would work tirelessly to get the club back to where he feels it belongs.

“It hurts to be relegated and, as a lifelong Blade, I fully understand just how much our present position pains everyone,” he said.

“However long it may take, we have to build with a strong and coordinated structure. It must be underpinned with an unwavering, robust belief that we can take this historic club forward with renewed vigour and enthusiasm – and get back to winning ways.”

Blades deny Adams is on the brink of quitting United

Posted on March 14, 2011 by Liam Blackburn

Sheffield United media manager Andy Pack has denied that manager Micky Adams is on the brink of quitting the club less than three months into his time at Bramall Lane.

A dejected Adams said he would consider walking away if things didn’t improve after Saturday’s 3-0 loss at Watford left the club six points off safety.

“If things continue on this vain he (Adams) would have to question himself,” said Pack.

“I don’t think that was a knee jerk reaction on Micky’s part and I don’t think it was particularly an admission that he’s going to quit, simply an acknowledgment that he has some responsibility.”

The Blades have won only one game since Adams took over at the end of December and they have just nine games left to preserve their Championship status.

“There isn’t any other way of looking at this but to be positive and to hope and to pray and to make sure the team can find levels of consistency and enjoy a little bit of luck along the way too,” said Pack.

Clegg visits football project

Posted on February 21, 2011 by Ruth Etherington

Nick Clegg has enjoyed a kick-about on a visit to an inner city football project in Sheffield.

Clegg is spending the whole day in Sheffield

The Deputy Prime Minister met staff and youngsters involved in the Kickz scheme run by Sheffield United FC.

The DPM failed to hit the back of the net when he took part in a penalty shoot-out with youngsters at the scheme.Around 600 children are currently involved in Kickz, which works to keep them occupied, off the streets and out of trouble.

Sue Beeley, head of community at Sheffield United, said: “This is all about building safer, stronger communities.
“A lot of the kids on this project come from very difficult backgrounds. We use sport, dance and music to attract the kids to our youth club.”

The project also has its serious side, educating the youngsters about guns and knife crime as well as assisting with school work and job applications.
It is funded by a range of organisations including the Premier League and Sheffield City Council.

Later Mr Clegg, a Sheffield MP, will take part in his first Town Hall public meeting since last year’s General Election.The event, hosted by the Sheffield Star newspaper, could see Mr Clegg face tough questions from voters about the Coalition Government’s policies.