Ball Sup Blog... SUFC Academy U21 v Wigan Athletic (h)

Ball_Sup (Phil) · Monday at 5:08 PM

Will it be streamed?

Ball_Sup (Phil) · Monday at 5:09 PM

Ball_Sup (Phil) · Monday at 5:10 PM

Ball_Sup (Phil) · 2026-02-17T09:05:43+0000

Ball_Sup (Phil) · 2026-02-17T13:01:47+0000

Champagneblade · 2026-02-17T13:16:23+0000

Who is playing where in that line up?

Betts
Colechin Hough Tahir Waldron
Matos Sidibe
Aston Rothwell Eyob-Abraha
Francis

?

Ukkonen · 2026-02-17T13:46:30+0000

Good to see Rothwell get some game time, brush off some of the rust and red card

South Sea Blade · 2026-02-17T14:10:53+0000

Where's Sai?

Chezzy Blades · 2026-02-17T15:59:29+0000

Won 3-2 after being 2-0 down at half time.

Grappler · 2026-02-17T16:53:14+0000

Chezzy Blades said:
Won 3-2 after being 2-0 down at half time.

Sam Aston, Marshall Francis and Archie Christie-Cranie with the goals.

Trigger Blade · 2026-02-17T18:09:08+0000

Grappler said:
Sam Aston, Marshall Francis and Archie Christie-Cranie with the goals.

Our third scorer has three names all ending in ie. I must get out more.

bakeblade · 2026-02-17T18:12:05+0000

Ball_Sup (Phil) said:

Haven't we got rid of Matos yet?

Bladesthorpe · 2026-02-17T19:07:17+0000

Ukkonen said:
Good to see Rothwell get some game time, brush off some of the rust and red card

Doesn't a 3 game ban count at all levels of football?
When I played on Saturday and got sent off I was automatically suspended from Sunday football as well.

Silent Blade · 2026-02-17T19:09:02+0000

Bladesthorpe said:
Doesn't a 3 game ban count at all levels of football?

When we were in the Central League, yes.

U21s are ok to play in

Bayingblade · 2026-02-17T19:52:02+0000

Trigger Blade said:
Our third scorer has three names all ending in ie. I must get out more.

Is he the love child of Agatha and Dave?

Greystones Blade · 2026-02-17T23:51:25+0000

Report here

Under 21s 3-2 Wigan - report

United's Under 21s staged a dramatic late comeback to overturn a two-goal deficit and record an important three points which extended their lead at the top of the league.

www.sufc.co.uk

bladesmanluke · 2026-02-18T01:39:14+0000

Why on earth are we playing our home games in York?

Ball_Sup (Phil) · 2026-02-18T08:29:47+0000

bladesmanluke said:
Why on earth are we playing our home games in York?

There's a number of possible answers. The basics are - York is the closest ground, which meets Premier League requirements for Academy football, which is consistently available "for hire" throughout the season.

In addition, I have been told by people who work for the club that the players like playing there. Because the facilities are good and professional.

The more jaundiced answer is - United, like many clubs, have prioritised spending on player wages, rather than on wider infrastructure that supports the club.

We have more teams, playing in more leagues, than our own facilities can support.

Balham · 2026-02-18T09:06:18+0000

bladesmanluke said:
Why on earth are we playing our home games in York?

Closest available ground with a hybrid (Desso-like) pitch. Chesterfield's is natural grass and won't take as many games and also, now they're back in the EFL they don't let us use their pitch.

I suppose in an ideal world Sheffield FC would move back over the border into a small stadium with a hybrid pitch but that's been a pipe dream for 10 years and doesn't seem any closer to fruition.

Maceyblade · 2026-02-18T09:12:42+0000

Ball_Sup (Phil) said:
There's a number of possible answers. The basics are - York is the closest ground, which meets Premier League requirements for Academy football, which is consistently available "for hire" throughout the season.

In addition, I have been told by people who work for the club that the players like playing there. Because the facilities are good and professional.

The more jaundiced answer is - United, like many clubs, have prioritised spending on player wages, rather than on wider infrastructure that supports the club.

We have more teams, playing in more leagues, than our own facilities can support.

I wonder if the plan is to build something at Shirecliffe when the First Team move to Dore?

Ball_Sup (Phil) · 2026-02-18T09:25:06+0000

Maceyblade said:
I wonder if the plan is to build something at Shirecliffe when the First Team move to Dore?

The guys n gala who regularly attend Academy games are a bit baffled by it all at times. United seem very protective of "our surfaces" at Bramall Lane and at Shirecliffe. Some clubs at our level of Academy football have "withdrawn" to just using the main stadium for the minimum number of games required, and their Academy pitches for the rest.

But, for some reason, United seem reluctant to do that, seemingly preferring York over Shirecliffe, as availability permits.

Financing (anything at) Dore looks problematic doesn't it? Although using it for the Women to train on is a good, important, existing breakthrough.

York City is also used by Leeds United for some of their Academy home games. And Hull City Academy have also used York for some home games in the past.

JOEYDEE · 2026-02-18T09:54:44+0000

Just out of interest, how did Rothwell and Matos perform ?

bladesmanluke · 2026-02-18T11:40:03+0000

Ball_Sup (Phil) said:
There's a number of possible answers. The basics are - York is the closest ground, which meets Premier League requirements for Academy football, which is consistently available "for hire" throughout the season.

In addition, I have been told by people who work for the club that the players like playing there. Because the facilities are good and professional.

The more jaundiced answer is - United, like many clubs, have prioritised spending on player wages, rather than on wider infrastructure that supports the club.

We have more teams, playing in more leagues, than our own facilities can support.

It's a decent little ground. It's just so far away if people want to go and watch

Ball_Sup (Phil) · 2026-02-18T11:49:28+0000

bladesmanluke said:
It's a decent little ground. It's just so far away if people want to go and watch

It's a very good spectator experience for United U21 games. Loads of free parking if you get your timing right. Nice & warm hospitality box to mooch in before and at HT. Cheap hot drinks. Food available downstairs in the leisure centre. Very welcoming "of course you can" stewards.

Much better than "you can't go there" Bramall Lane.

bornablade · 2026-02-18T14:42:44+0000

I thought the Blades had paid for a new pitch pre-season at Coach and Horses ground and under 21's would have played there

Ball_Sup (Phil) · 2026-02-18T15:08:02+0000

bornablade said:
I thought the Blades had paid for a new pitch pre-season at Coach and Horses ground and under 21's would have played there

I'm a little worried that story/rumour originates from me. I have certainly mentioned it somewhere. Maybe on here. Maybe on my "fake news" Blog. Obviously the playing there bit hasn't come to pass.

The Coach & Horses continues to suffer postponement after postponement across Sheffield FCs teams, age groups and Women's team. So that might have been an inelegant solution anyway.

Northyorksblade · 2026-02-18T17:03:28+0000

bladesmanluke said:
It's a decent little ground. It's just so far away if people want to go and watch

Not for me.

Ball Sup Blog... SUFC Academy U21 v Wigan Athletic (h)

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