15 years ago

[Beefy]

It is 16 years since Sheffield United last won promotion to the top flight.

Dave Bassett was in charge as the Blades clinched a place in the old Division One with a 5-2 thrashing of Leicester City at Filbert Street on 5 May 1990.

Tony Agana scored twice and Paul Wood, Brian Deane and Wilf Rostron also found the net in front of a crowd of 21,134.

United stayed in the top flight for four years before returning to the second tier of English football.

Here's what's happened to the team since.






Manager - Dave Bassett Was famously stripped down to his underpants by celebrating fans at Filbert Street after his side's second successive promotion and gained a reputation for keeping the club in the top flight against the odds.

He stayed in charge at Bramall Lane until December 1995 and has since had spells at Crystal Palace, Nottingham Forest, Barnsley and Leicester.

He became Harry Redknapp's assistant at Southampton in the summer of 2005 and then caretaker manager following Redknapp's departure in December before leaving the club when George Burley was appointed boss.





Simon Tracey Stalwart goalkeeper who joined United in 1988 for £75,000 from Wimbledon and stayed until he retired in 2003, playing 382 games for the club.

Also had less than successful loan spells at Manchester City - where he conceded five goals in a derby in 1994 - and Norwich. Now goalkeeper coach at Rotherham.




David Barnes Talented left-back who was affected badly by injury in the latter years of his career. Won England Under-21 honours when at Coventry and eventually joined United for £50,000 from Aldershot, playing 107 games before leaving to join Watford for the same fee.

Still lines up in the red and white stripes when he plays for the Blades' Masters team.







Mark Morris Centre-back who joined United from Watford for £175,000 in July 1989. Morris moved to Bournemouth in 1991 and had a brief spell at Hastings United in 1997 before leaving because of the club's financial problems.

He quickly joined Dorchester Town and saw out his playing career there before becoming manager of the Conference South side in 2003, where he remains in charge.





Wilf Rostron Much-loved wide man who played for both Sheffield clubs before moving to Brentford, where he ended his full-time career aged 37 in 1993.

Has returned to his native north-east where he coached Gateshead and continued playing in the Sunderland Catholic Club Over-40s League for Oddies.





Colin Hill Northern Ireland international who left United to join Leicester in 1992 and rejoined the Foxes after ending his playing career in 1999 to work for their promotions department as the club looked to develop their new stadium project.



Left to set up his own corporate hospitality company soon afterwards and still works in that business - covering music concerts and large sporting events as well as collating match statistics for the Press Association at games.





Chris Wilder Had two spells at Bramall Lane - from 1986 to 1992 and 1998 to 1999. Forced to retire from full-time football aged 33 because of a back injury in the summer of 2001.

He began his managerial career in style as player-boss of Northern Counties (East) League side Alfreton Town, winning four trophies the following season before returning to another of his former clubs, Halifax, as manager - where he remains in charge.






Paul Wood Hard-working forward who left United in 1991 to team up with Mark Morris at Bournemouth.

He ended his playing career with Havant and Waterlooville in 2004 but was briefly tempted out of retirement to play under Morris at Dorchester Town. Wood continues to play for the United Masters team.





Bob Booker Veteran midfielder and lower-League stalwart, who was made captain after being snapped up from Brentford by Bassett.

He later returned to the Bees where he became youth-team boss after injury ended his career and became assistant manager of Brighton in 2000. Booker remains at the Withdean as boss Mark McGhee's number two.







Ian Bryson Left for Preston in 1993 where he became a favourite of the fans. Best remembered for a spectacular overhead kick in North End's defeat in the old Division Three play-off final by Wycombe in 1994.

Ended his professional career with Rochdale in 1999 and later played for Bamber Bridge as well as coaching youngsters at North End's academy.






Tony Agana Scored 51 goals in 147 games for United before present Blades boss Neil Warnock signed him for Notts County in 1991. Later played for Hereford, Cliftonville, Leek Town and was player-manager at Guiseley.

After ending his playing days, Agana took an IT course at a local college and graduated with a degree in computer visualisation from Sheffield Hallam University in 2004.

He now works as a distance learning technology officer for Manchester University but is still a regular fixture at Bramall Lane as part of the club's match-day hospitality.





Brian Deane Popular target-man who left United for Leeds in a record £2.9m deal in 1993.
Deane won three England caps and went on to enjoy a nomadic playing career, which included a brief return to Bramall Lane in 1997 and spells in Portugal and Australia before he rejoined the Blades in December 2005.

Now 38 he has only made one substitute appearance in his third stint at the club.



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Substitutes


Billy Whitehurst Popular and much-travelled striker with a hard-man reputation. Since retiring has been a pub landlord and greyhound owner.



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Carl Bradshaw Another who played for both Sheffield clubs, Bradshaw became a qualified bricklayer after ending his career with Alfreton Town in 2004 and has been working on the modernisation of the city's Arbourthorne estate.

[Super6]

i think that sheffield utd will go straight back down like sunderland

[Kaiser Chief]

It depends how they prepare for next season Super 6, if they don't spend £10 million plus they will struggle. You've got to give it your best shot when you get into the Premiership, Sunderland didn't and were always going to come straight back down.