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Sheffield United

Formed in March 1889 on the suggestion of Sir Charles Clegg to run in conjunction with Sheffield United Cricket Club, Sheffield United played their first game in August of that year, beating Sheffield Club 3-1. That season also saw them make their FA Cup bow and they reached the second round before suffering a 13-0 defeat to Bolton Wanderers, which still remains United's record loss. In May 1892, they were handed a place in the newly-formed Second Division and won promotion at the first attempt, remaining in the top division until 1934. During this period, United won the FA Cup four times, in 1899, 1902, 1915, and 1925, plus the First Division Championship in 1898.

Sheffield Utd returned to the top flight in 1939 and the period after the Second World War saw the emergence of Jimmy Hagen, who many consider to be United's greatest-ever player. 1949-1976 saw the Bramall Lane outfit move between the top two divisions seven times but by 1981, they were languishing in the old Fourth Division.

However, by 1990 they were once again back in the top flight thanks to the leadership of Dave Bassett and became one of the founding members of the Premier League in 1992, when they finished 14th. Unfortunately, the Blades were relegated the following season and remained in the old First Division, which subsequently became the Championship, until promotion after finishing second in the 2005/06 campaign.

The Premiership League Founding Members Sheffield United hold the unique honour of scoring the first-ever goal in the Premier League when, on August 15, 1992, Brian Deane found the net after only five minutes in a 2-1 victory over eventual champions Manchester United at Bramall Lane. It proved to be a season of incredibly mixed fortunes for United as, bottom of the table by February 6 after a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford, they then displayed title-winning form, which included a 6-0 thrashing of Tottenham Hotspur, to comfortably escape relegation.

Dave Bassett's side also reached the FA Cup semi-final during the 1992/93 season but were beaten 2-1 by local rivals Sheffield Wednesday at Wembley. The following campaign again proved a test and the Blades were in the bottom three towards the end of February. However, a run of one defeat in 12 games seemed to have provided the late surge to secure Premier League survival. But a last-gasp Chelsea goal in a 3-2 defeat at Stamford Bridge, coupled with Everton's dramatic comeback home win over Wimbledon, sent the Blades down to Division One, from which they did not return until the 2005/06 season.