2008–09 Sheffield United F.C. season

Sheffield United F.C.
2008–09 season
Manager Kevin Blackwell
Stadium Bramall Lane
Championship 3rd (qualified for play-offs)
Playoffs Runners-up
FA Cup Fifth round
League Cup Third round
Top goalscorer League: James Beattie (12)
All: James Beattie (12)[1]
Highest home attendance 30,786 (vs. Sheffield Wednesday, 7 February 2009)
Lowest home attendance 23,045 (vs. Crystal Palace, 20 December 2008)
Average home league attendance 26,023[2]

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.

Squad

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

No. Position Player
1 Republic of Ireland GK Paddy Kenny
2 England DF Greg Halford (on loan from Sunderland)
3 Scotland DF Gary Naysmith
4 Wales MF David Cotterill
5 England DF Chris Morgan
6 England DF Matthew Kilgallon
7 England FW Darius Henderson
9 Italy FW Arturo Lupoli (on loan from Fiorentina)
10 England FW Danny Webber
11 England MF Lee Hendrie
12 China DF Sun Jihai
13 England GK Ian Bennett
15 Wales MF Gary Speed
17 Scotland MF Nick Montgomery
18 Northern Ireland MF Jamie Ward
No. Position Player
19 Scotland FW Craig Beattie (on loan from West Bromwich Albion)
20 England MF Brian Howard
21 Republic of Ireland MF John-Joe O'Toole (on loan from Watford)
21 England DF Gary Cahill (on loan from Aston Villa)
22 Malta GK Justin Haber
24 England FW Billy Sharp
25 Algeria MF Aymen Tahar
26 England DF Derek Geary
27 Republic of Ireland MF Keith Quinn
28 Republic of Ireland MF Stephen Quinn
30 England DF Kyle Naughton
31 Poland MF Ben Starosta
32 England DF Leigh Bromby (on loan from Watford)
33 England DF Ugo Ehiogu
34 England MF 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. Position Player
14 Australia DF David Carney (on loan at Norwich City)
No. Position Player
29 England FW 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. Position Player
8 England FW Jon Stead
8 Republic of Ireland FW Anthony Stokes (on loan from Sunderland)
9 England FW James Beattie
18 England MF Michael Tonge
No. Position Player
18 England FW Nathan Dyer (on loan from Southampton)
19 Northern Ireland MF Keith Gillespie
20 Scotland DF Chris Armstrong
25 England MF Matthew Spring (on loan from Luton Town)

External links

References

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