Football Season Review

Sheffield United finished the season seventh in League One table, which was an excellent result, given the horror first half of the season they had. The Blades started the season with an air of optimism surrounding them, as rookie manager David Weir looked determined to get them playing some good football, and made a promising start at the helm, as the Blades overcame Notts County with a 2:1 scoreline in a televised game that opened the League One season. Few Sheffield United fans would have imagined that the win over the Magpies would be the Blades' only victory in their opening eleven league fixtures. Weir's men went on to record two draws and eight league games between rounds three and eleven, with the run of results costing Weir his job. The board opted for experience when choosing their manager, and brought in Nigel Clough, who was available after his four-year stint at the helm of Derby had ended. Sheffield United needed some time to find their feet under their new manager, but they gradually got better and better, and went on to display promotion form between early February and the end of the season, as they lost only two of their final 19 league games. The highlight of Clough's first season in charge was certainly the Blades' FA Cup run, as they managed to knock out three Premier League sides out of the competition and were only eliminated in the semi-finals, where Hull proved too strong. With the club having money to invest over the summer and Clough showing great promise in his time in charge, next season's kick-off cannot come soon enough for the Blades' fans, who will be expecting their side to push for direct promotion.

Player of the Season: Harry Maguire