Blades Kick-Off 2003/04 Season At Home To Gillingham

Last updated : 19 June 2003 By @blades_mad1889

Carl Asaba: Looking to shine against old club Gillingham on first day of the season
August: As mentioned in the introduction we face Gillingham at home on first day on 9th while the month of August involves two trips to the capital, West Ham United at Upton Park is our next game while Crystal Palace away is the other. Only Norwich City at home splits the two away games up and Coventry City at home is the last fixture of the month.

September: New comers to Division One is Paul Jewell's Wigan Athletic, but its the Blades have to travel, and are on their travels again as they return more closer to home in a fierce game against Nottingham Forest to contest with.

Ronnie Moore's Rotherham United travel to Bramall Lane on 16th as the South Yorkshire derby is played for pride with all the points being second best, Cardiff becomes the Cutlers second home game in a row before they travel to Valley Parade to face Bradford City. Wimbledon away is our last game of September but nobody knows if it will be at Selhurst Park or Milton Keynes.

October: Sunderland, who hope to storm the division are at home on 4th before Crewe travel up to Sheffield, two away games follow in shape of West Bromwich Albion and Millwall while Reading are at home at the end of the month.

November: Stoke City only just escaped relegation last season and hope to finish mid-table next time round, they become first opponents of the month but it is the Blades who will travel and Warnock's friend Burnley visit the Lane for a welcoming reception. Meanwhile Walsall (home), Ipswich (away) and Preston North End (home) complete Novembers fixtures.

December: Our Christmas line up starts with a return trip to Burnley and watford at home, a trip to Pride Park is on the cards in the name of Derby County and Coventry City away completes our Midlands trip while the Blades are at home to Wigan Athletic on Boxing Day.

January: The first game and hopefully victory starts the same as the beginning of the season against Gillingham but at Priestfield Stadium this time and West Ham United at home. Norwich City away is the last of three league games this month, though there will be an FA Cup Round Three tie at the beginning of it.

February: Londoners Crystal Palace visit Bramall Lane and a trip to Alexandra Stadium (Gresty Road) against Crewe Alexandra follows, West Bromwich Albion at home is the next though fans are not wishing for another 'Battle of Brammall Lane' before we travel to Reading.

March: Having played in December Derby County come to South Yorkshire but Millwall must play the Blades first at home and an away trip to Watford follows the Rams clash. Two Yorkshire derby's in a row set up an exciting march, Rotherham United (away) first then Bradford City (home) follows, the Welsh club, Cardiff City (away) are the last club of that month.

April: Five different fixture makes up the month of April and starts with a home game against Nottingham Forest and I for one hope it will be a cracker just like the 4-3 win in play-offs last season, United then travel to Tee-Side to face Sunderland before Wimbledon and Stoke come to Bramall Lane, then an away trip to Walsall follows.

May: There are only two league fixtures in May as United hope to be in automatic or at least play-offs by then, but if not points against Ipswich Town (home) and Preston North End (away) could take us there on our way to the Premier League (touch wood!).

All these fixtures are not quite set in stone as television and postponements will change the dates of these games.