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.
Competitions Championship
League table
Matches + Championship match detailsDateOpponentVenueResultF–AScorersAttendanceLeagueposition9 August 2008Birmingham CityAway0–1 24,01919th16 August 2008Queens Park RangersHome3–0Sharp 3', 13', 51'25,27311th23 August 2008BlackpoolAway3–1S. Quinn 21', Speed 57' pen., Halford 78'8,6115th30 August 2008Cardiff CityHome0–029,2265th13 September 2008Derby CountyAway1–2Henderson 26'28,4736th16 September 2008Coventry CityHome1–1Sharp 56'24,1309th20 September 2008Norwich CityAway0–124,17515th27 September 2008WatfordHome2–1Speed 1', Beattie 66'24,42710th30 September 2008Doncaster RoversAway2–0Roberts 14' o.g., S. Quinn 60'14,2426th4 October 2008Bristol CityHome3–0Beattie 45', 69', Fontaine 56' o.g.24,7124th19 October 2008Sheffield WednesdayAway0–130,4416th21 October 2008SouthamptonHome0–025,6427th25 October 2008Preston North EndHome1–0Ehiogu 50'24,4455th28 October 2008Bristol CityAway0–016,7986th1 November 2008Plymouth ArgyleHome2–0Beattie 49' pen., 57'25,6015th8 November 2008BarnsleyAway2–1Beattie 20', 85' pen.19,0024th15 November 2008ReadingHome0–225,0655th22 November 2008Charlton AthleticAway5–2Beattie 7', Speed 29', Kilgallon 45', Youga 48' o.g., S. Quinn 53'20,3284th25 November 2008Wolverhampton WanderersHome1–3Spring 75'27,1114th29 November 2008Ipswich TownAway1–1Beattie 90' pen.19,7855th6 December 2008BurnleyHome2–3Beattie 36' pen., S. Quinn 87'24,7026th9 December 2008Nottingham ForestAway1–0Howard 31'19,5415th13 December 2008Swansea CityAway1–1Morgan 87'14,7447th20 December 2008Crystal PalaceHome2–2Dyer 41', Beattie 88' pen.23,0456th26 December 2008Wolverhampton WanderersAway1–1Beattie 22'27,1068th28 December 2008Charlton AthleticHome3–1S. Quinn 65', 79', Webber 72'24,7176th10 January 2009Norwich CityHome1–0Henderson 17'27,2674th17 January 2009WatfordAway2–0Webber 52', Henderson 67'14,5554th27 January 2009Doncaster RoversHome0–126,5554th31 January 2009Preston North EndAway0–014,8895th3 February 2009SouthamptonAway2–1Halford 35', Ward 90'13,2574th7 February 2009Sheffield WednesdayHome1–2Lupoli 5'30,7865th21 February 2009Plymouth ArgyleAway2–2Webber 63', Halford 72'10,0446th1 March 2009Birmingham CityHome2–1Webber 44', Cotterill 83' pen.24,2325th4 March 2009Coventry CityAway2–1Bromby 45', Morgan 54'16,3004th7 March 2009Queens Park RangersAway0–013,7185th10 March 2009BlackpoolHome2–2Coid 5 o.g., Cotterill 73 pen.25,2734th14 March 2009Derby CountyHome4–2Naughton 7', Henderson 21', 62', Beattie 90'27,5654th22 March 2009Cardiff CityAway3–0Cotterill 25' pen., Ward 46', S. Quinn 87'17,9424th4 April 2009Ipswich TownHome2–0Halford 19', Henderson 27'25,3154th7 April 2009BarnsleyHome2–1O'Toole 82', Lupoli 87'27,0613rd10 April 2009ReadingAway1–0Howard 59'20,7562nd13 April 2009Nottingham ForestHome0–028,3743rd20 April 2009BurnleyAway0–114,8843rd25 April 2009Swansea CityHome1–0Cotterill 37' pen.28,0103rd3 May 2009Crystal PalaceAway0–022,8243rd
Play-offs + Play-off match detailsRoundDateOpponentVenueResultF–AScorersAttendanceSemi-final first leg8 May 2009Preston North EndAway1–1Howard 46'19,840Semi-final second leg11 May 2009Preston North EndHome1–0 (2–1 agg.)Halford 59'26,354Final25 May 2009BurnleyNeutral0–180,518
FA Cup + FA Cup match detailsRoundDateOpponentVenueResultF–AScorersAttendanceThird round13 January 2009Leyton OrientAway4–1Halford 59', 78', Sharp 62', Naughton 69'4,527Fourth round24 January 2009Charlton AthleticHome2–1Webber 26', Hendrie 62'15,957Fifth round14 February 2009Hull CityHome1–1Halford 7'22,283Fifth round replay26 February 2009Hull CityAway1–2Sharp 32'17,239
League Cup + League Cup match detailsRoundDateOpponentVenueResultF–AScorersAttendanceFirst round13 August 2008Port ValeHome3–1Hendrie 41', S. Quinn 71', Webber 90' pen.7,694Second round27 August 2008Huddersfield TownAway2–1Henderson 82', Naughton 83'15,189Third round23 September 2008ArsenalAway0–656,632 Players First-team squad Squad at end of season
Out on loan
Left club during season
Statistics Appearances and goals
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Goalkeepers
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Defenders
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Midfielders
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Forwards
! colspan=14 style=background:#dcdcdc; text-align:center| Players left during the season
Source:
Transfers
In +DatePositionNameClub FromFeeReference2 July 2008DFSun JihaiManchester CityFree23 July 2008FWDarius HendersonWatford£2,000,00031 July 2008MFDavid CotterillWigan AthleticUndisclosed31 July 2008GKJustin HaberHaidari F.C.Free19 January 2009MFJamie WardChesterfield£400,000
Out DatePositionNameClub ToFeeReference4 July 2008DFChris LuckettiHuddersfield TownFree21 July 2008FWRob HulseDerby County£1,750,00024 July 2008FWLuton SheltonValerenga£1,000,0002 September 2008MFMichael TongeStoke City£2,000,00015 September 2008FWJon SteadIpswich TownUndisclosed12 January 2009FWJames BeattieStoke City£3,500,00030 January 2009MFKeith GillespieNoneReleased
Loan In DatePositionNameClub FromLengthReference2 July 2008DFGreg HalfordSunderlandFull-Season31 July 2008MFMatthew SpringLuton TownFull-Season (ended 9 January)2 February 2009FWArturo LupoliFiorentinaUntil end of season
Loan Out DatePositionNameClub ToLengthReference23 July 2008DFBen StarostaAldershot TownOne Month1 September 2008FWJon SteadIpswich TownSix Months (made permanent 15 September)2 September 2008DFBen StarostaLechia GdanskSix Months28 January 2009MFDavid CarneyNorwich CityUntil end of season
References
External links Sheffield United squad for 2008–09 season Kits for 2008–09 Championship clubs
Notes