Sheffield has been described as 'the cradle of football'. In the early days, of course, the brand of football played there was a separate code- The Sheffield Rules- and a great number of clubs flourished and the earliest cup competitions in any sport in the world were contested. The Sheffield FC had a close relationship with the Football Association from 1863 onwards, and played matches under association rules against its London counterparts. Sheffield football had a strong influence on the development of the association game.
Two great association clubs emerged from the city, and here we trace their parallel achievements and the course of their rivalry.
Wednesday
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United
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1867
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Football branch of The Wednesday Cricket Club (est.1820) formed.
Sheffield Rules were played.
The Wednesday played in Highfield.
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1870
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Move to Myrtle Road.
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1871
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Sheffield Association joins the Football Association- making
Wednesday members of the FA (although Sheffield Rules continued).
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1872
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Charles Clegg represents England in the first ever International.
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1876
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James Lang – the first professional football player- joins club.
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1876-77
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Win first Sheffield Challenge Cup (Association rules).
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1877
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Move to Sheaf House.
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1880
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Matches played at Bramall Lane.
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1880–81
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Enter FA Cup.
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1882
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Spilt with cricket club.
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1887
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Club turns professional. Move to Olive Grove.
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1889
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Football Alliance.
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Sheffield United Cricket Club (est. 1854, president: Charles Clegg)
form a football branch as a means of income generation for their Bramall
Lane ground.
Enter FA Cup.
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1890
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15th December- The Wednesday beat United 2-1 in a friendly
at Olive Grove.
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1890–91
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Midland Counties League.
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1891-92
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Northern League.
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1892
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Join Football League, in Division 1.
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… and Division 2.
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1892–93
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United win promotion, beginning a 37 year run in Division 1.
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1899
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Move to Owlerton.
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1914
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Owlerton renamed Hillsborough.
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1929
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Officially renamed Sheffield Wednesday Football Club.
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Seasons
Sheffield United
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The Wednesday
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season
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League
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FA Cup
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League
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FA Cup
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1892–93
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Div 2. 2nd
(Promoted
via test match)
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R2
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Div 1. 12th
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R3
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1893–94
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Div 1. 10th
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R1
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Div 1. 12th
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Semi-finals
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1894–95
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Div 1. 6th
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R2
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Div 1. 8th
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Semi-finals
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1895–96
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Div 1. 12th
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R2
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Div 1. 7th
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Winners
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1896–97
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Div 1. 2nd
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R1
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Div 1. 6th
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R1
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1897–98
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Div 1. Winners
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R1
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Div 1. 5th
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R2
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1898–99
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Div 1. 16th
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Winners
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Div 1. 18th (relegated)
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R1
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1899–1900
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Div 1. 2nd
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R3
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Div 2. Winners
(promoted)
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R2
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1900–01
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Div 1. 14th
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Runners Up
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Div 1. 8th
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R1
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1901–02
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Div 1. 10
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Winners
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Div 1. 9
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R1
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1902–03
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Div 1. 4th
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R2
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Div 1. Winners
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R1
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1903–04
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Div 1. 7th
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R3
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Div 1. Winners
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Semi-finals
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1904–05
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Div 1. 6th
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R1
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Div 1. 9th
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Semi-finals
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1905–06
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Div 1. 14th
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R2
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Div 1. 3rd
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R4
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1906–07
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Div 1. 4th
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R1
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Div 1. 13th
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Winners
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1907–08
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Div 1. 7th
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R1
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Div 1. 5th
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R1
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1908–09
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Div 1. 12th
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R1
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Div 1. 5th
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R3
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1909–10
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Div 1. 6th
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R1
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Div 1. 11th
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R1
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1910-11
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Div 1. 9th
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R1
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Div 1. 6th
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R1
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1911-12
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Div 1. 14th
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R1
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Div 1. 5th
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R1
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1912-13
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Div 1. 15th
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R1
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Div 1. 3rd
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R3
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1913-14
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Div 1. 10th
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semi-final
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Div 1. 18th
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R4
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1914-15
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Div 1. 6th
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Winners
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Div 1. 7th
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R3
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1919-20
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Div 1. 14th
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R2
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Div 1. 22nd
(relegated)
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R1
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1920-21
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Div 1. 20th
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R1
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Div 2. 10th
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R2
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1921-22
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Div 1. 11th
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R1
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Div 2. 10th
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R1
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1922-23
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Div 1. 10th
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semi-final
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Div 2. 8th
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R3
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1923-24
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Div 1. 5th
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R1
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Div 2. 8th
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R2
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1924-25
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Div 1. 14th
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Winners
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Div 2. 14th
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R2
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1925-26
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Div 1. 5th
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R4
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Div 2. Winners
(promoted)
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R3
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1926-27
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Div 1. 8th
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R3
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Div 1. 16th
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R4
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1927-28
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Div 1. 13th
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semi-final
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Div 1. 14th
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R5
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1928-29
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Div 1. 11th
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R3
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Div 1. Winners
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R4
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Sheffield Wednesday
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1929-30
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Div 1. 20th
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R4
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Div 1. Winners
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semi-final
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1930-31
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Div 1. 15th
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R5
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Div 1. 3rd
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R4
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1931-32
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Div 1. 7th
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R4
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Div 1. 3rd
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R5
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1932-33
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Div 1. 10th
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R4
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Div 1. 3rd
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R3
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1933-34
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Div 1. 22nd (relegated)
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R3
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Div 1. 11th
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R5
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1934-35
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Div 2. 11th
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R4
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Div 1. 3rd
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Winners
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1935-36
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Div 2. 3rd
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Runners Up
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Div 1. 20th
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R4
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1936-37
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Div 2. 7th
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R4
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Div 1. 22nd
(relegated)
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R4
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Seasons in Div. 1
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Championships
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FA Cup Wins
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Sheffield United
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36
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1
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4
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The Wednesday
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34
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4
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3
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W
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D
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L
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F
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A
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GD
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Sheffield
United
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20
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16
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20
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77
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75
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+2
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The
Wednesday
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20
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16
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20
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75
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77
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-2
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FA Cup:
In the pre 1937 era the teams were drawn against each other in the FA Cup 3 times. United won all three ties.
In the pre 1937 era the teams were drawn against each other in the FA Cup 3 times. United won all three ties.
1899-1900 - R2: United 1 Wednesday 1
1899-1900- R2 (R): Wednesday 0 United 2
1924-25- R2: United 3 Wednesday 2
1927-28- R5: Wednesday 1 United 1
1927-28- R5 (R):
United 4 Wednesday 1
