Fourteen years ago Sheffield United endured one of the longest and most dramatic seasons in English football history and this is how it happened.
Sheffield United currently reside in League One after a disappointing last few years. However at one stage they were on the verge of unprecedented success.
Following a financial crisis in late 1999 which prevented the club from purchasing any players, the arrival of Neil Warnock gave the Blades renewed hope of future success as within a few years the new manager had begun to turn their fortunes around.
After a confident start to the season Blades fans were already beginning to talk about a potential promotion push, which would see them reach the Premier League for the first time if successful. With youngster Phil Jagielka making a name for himself at the heart of the defence and the likes of Michael Brown and Steve Kabba leading the side, there seemed to be no limit to what this team could achieve.
Despite a loss to bitter rivals Sheffield Wednesday, the club maintained their composure and went on a 15-game unbeaten run throughout the winter.
Throughout this time they were also picking up wins in the domestic cup competitions, eventually finding themselves in the semi-finals of the League Cup against Liverpool. Despite losing over two legs, the determination and quality within the squad was a great indication of the potential they had.
As the season went on and the Blades progressed in both the league and the FA Cup, it became apparent that this was going to end up being a long campaign for the team. Towards the end of the season they managed to secure their place in the play-offs as well as booking yet another semi-final, this time against Arsenal. It was in that game that David Seaman pulled off what is still considered to be one of the best saves of all time as the Gunners defeated United 1-0 to reach the final.
The respect, recognition and money that the club gained from those successes was invaluable, but the most important test was yet to come. After defeating Nottingham Forest over two legs in the semi-final, Sheffield United found themselves with one more mountain left to climb in this mammoth season as they prepared to face Wolverhampton Wanderers in their 61st game of the campaign. The stage was set at the Millennium Stadium for a classic play-off final between two of the best teams in the league.
The story was set for a grand finish to United’s story, however as the final whistle blew it was Wolves who were celebrating a comfortable 3-0 victory and a place in the Premier League. After going through so many different emotions from August to May, the Blades fell short once again. It will always be considered one of the greatest seasons in the club’s history, but one wonders whether fans will look back at the three losses and think what could have been.
General view of Bramall Lane stadium
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