Thirty five years ago I watched in awe as Sheffield United romped through the fourth division finishing a fantastic season as champions, breaking records along the way. As a member of the junior Blades I was able to watch in wonder from the terribly named “pen” for just 70 pence a game. My hero, Keith Edwards was top scorer in all four divisions notching up 36 in all competitions. I had the pleasure of interviewing him a couple of years ago for a blog article and he remembered the season as warmly as I did.  It was the first season that 3 points for a win was introduced and United managed to reach 96 points, winning 27 matches and scoring 94 goals. They lost just 4 games all season and were unbeaten at home. Liverpool were crowned League champions that year, with 87 points after scoring 80 goals and winning 26 games. Obviously one could argue that Liverpool were playing against much better teams but most Blades fans of a certain age remember that season fondly as it was the first trophy they had won for 29 years and the last trophy the club lifted. In the final game of the season away at Darlington the attendance was in excess of 11,000 with some claiming 10,000 of those were travelling Blades fans. In the previous game some 23,923 packed into Bramall Lane to see the final home game. I knew that day that I too would one day be a professional footballer – I was wrong.

The previous season had been a disastrous one. Neighbours Wednesday finished 10^th in the old 2^nd division while United finished 4th from bottom in the 3^rd division (in those days the bottom 4 went down). In the final game of the season, just needing a point for safety against a Walsall side also in the relegation battle, former Republic of Ireland international Don Givens missed a penalty in the dying minutes consigning the Blades to a 0-1 defeat and relegation to the bottom tier for the first (and only) time in their history.

Last season Sheffield United finished 11^th in league 1, winning 18 games and struggling to 66 points. They scored 64 times. After 6 years in league one the fans were becoming hostile and the club seemed in trouble. Following the appointment of Stocksbridge born, former player Chris Wilder, this season has been reminiscent of those 4^th division glory days.

With two games remaining United have already been crowned champions, and have won 28 games. If they win the last two matches they will reach 100 points. They have scored 86 league goals. Top scorer Billy Sharp has netted 27 times and is just one away from his 200^th career goal. He is the top scorer in all 4 divisions and the team have more points than any other. Their average home gates have been in excess of 21,000 with that number set to rise even higher with a sold out last game of the season against relegated Chesterfield.

Hopefully it wont be another 35 years before Sheffield United fans experience another title winning season but I wonder if Wilder, Sharp and the team realise the size of their achievement and the impact a season like this could have on thousands of young fans that have adored their heroes this term.