Sheffield United originally started off as a cricket club, playing the sport at Bramall Lane, however profits from staging the 1889 FA Cup semi final persuaded the club to form a separate football team. Over the next 72 years, the Blades shared their ground with the Yorkshire cricket club.
In the year 1892, the Blades were one of twelve clubs that had been selected by the football league to form the second division. They immediately won promotion to the top flight in their first season. The turn of the century was a glorious era in the clubs history. From 1898 to 1902, the club won the league title and appeared in the FA Cup final on three occasions. Winning the competition in 1899 and 1902 and finishing runners up in 1901. In 1915, the Blades FA Cup final victory over Chelsea was watched by thousands of men in uniform in what became known as the ‘Khaki Final.’ Despite their FA Cup triumph, the Blades found the league hard going. In the year 1934, they were demoted to the second division after 40 years in the top flight. They reached the FA Cup final once again in 1936, finishing off as runners up. They won promotion back into the top flight at the end of the 1949-50 season under the guidance of their manager, Ted Davison who was in charge at the club for 20 years between 1932 and 1952.