Real clash of Uniteds

Tuesday, 24/05/2011

by Sean Dungworth, Shoot's Sheffield United blogger

The mainstream media led us all to believe the domestic season had finished, and most of the country followed the herd. However, in the home of the modern game, Sheffield, the season was, unusually, not over.

There was the relatively small matter of the FA Youth Cup Final, to be played over two legs. This final would feature the home-grown talent of Sheffield (United), against the world-wide talen harvest of Salford.

This was a real David and Goliath contest. But, this contest had rules and, in the main, they were abided by, in what proved to be a very entertaining and heart-warming version of the ‘beautiful game’.

The first leg took place at Bramall Lane, where the young representatives of the original ‘United’ took on the young guns from across the Pennines. I can not begin to tell of the contest that took place, it really had everything, except malice, or mis-intent, or cheating, or all the things that blight today’s ‘top games’.

It was a contest between two young sides that played the game with freedom, expression, and flair and without fear. It was a top notch game to watch, in front of a near capacity crowd who showed our chairman what success can bring (in terms of crowd revenue).

At the close of ‘hostilities’ both teams left the field of play even, 2–2, to the appreciative applause from ALL quarters, FOR both teams.

The return leg at Old Trafford was bound to be a firecracker, I don’t care if you are one of the prima-donna premiership stars, or a pub team slugger, a cup final is a cup final, and what a venue to host it, Old Trafford.

At this point, well; this point plus 90-odd minutes, United came undone. Manchester United’s first goal in Sheffield clearly didn’t cross the line, but was awarded. The football gods stuck with them and they, along with the young Blades, put on a football show.

It was littered with mistakes, bad passes, poor shooting, bad (but not malicious) tackles. It was also showered with great free flowing moves, hints of South American skill, ENJOYMENT that only comes from a love of the game (not the love of a JOB). It was a spectacle to enjoy, regardless of which team you followed.

I must also highlight the ‘respect’ given to Harry McGuire by BOTH sets of fans, after he went down following what looked to be a fairly innocuous ‘clash’ of heads, what you and I may call a ‘bump’. He was carried off the field of play by paramedics and physio staff from both camps. Both Sheffield AND Manchester United supporters  applauded him from the field, not unlike a rugby match. Perhaps all football fans can learn something there.

Yes it hurts that United didn’t win the final, especially against Manchester United. We (or rather the young lads from Sheffield) had the chance to make a bit of history and beat the rich kids from over the hill (for you Manchester United supporters that live in London, that’s the range of hills (The Pennines) that separates Sheffield from Manchester/Salford).

I may sound bitter, like my Barnsley counterpart, but I’m not, because I’m happy to wish every player, in either team’s colours, a long and happy career, as long as they can keep entertaining like those youngsters did, because that is what football SHOULD be about.

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