Over the years there have been many professional encounters between the Blades and the Shakers, however they have met in all four (pre-Premiership) Divisions in England as well as minimal involvement in FA Cup and League Cup campaigns despite both having quality sides in and around the turn of the 1900’s.
Bury hold the upper hand in claiming the first victory between the two clubs when on 21 September 1895 they beat United by a single goal at Gigg Lane. For United it was a bad start away from home that season, they had previously lost by the same score-line at rivals Wednesday’s Olive Grove Ground and had to wait until 14 March (2-0 at Derby) until they registered a win away from Bramall Lane.
United extracted revenge (see image, left) in the sweetest possible manor in the return fixture at the Lane on 6 April; a 8,000 crowed saw United lead half-time by a goal to nil, United were without Ernest Needham through injury whilst the opposition had four of their top notch players absent, William Egan’s strike was all that separated the pair at the break. Soon after the re-start the Cutlers began an onslaught and little would have predicted that this game would produce a further seven goals in favour of the home side. Harry Hammond, a prolific scorer in his days netted within four mi9nutes to double the host’s advantage and within a minute a fumble from Bury keeper Archie Montgomery allowed Egan to score once more; 3-0. Hammond added a further three to his tally for the day whilst Egan completed his treble – a single goal from Bob Cain wrapped up an 8-0 victory for United in this First Division match.
At the time the pair were neck and neck in the table and this win leapfrogged United above by only a point, they ended the season in defeat at Small Heath, but Bury lost (0-1) a day later at Wolverhampton but sounded the season off with a victory to Blackburn (2-0) and finished in 11th spot, just one point (and position) above the Blades – Aston Villa won the league.
The 8-0 defeat is twinned as the Shakers biggest league defeat, they were also beaten by the same score-line in later years when on 8 December 1979 Swindon Town won.
This would continue to be a First Division fixture for a further 33 years, until 1929 when Bury were relegated. During which time the Blades had won the FA Cup on four occasions (1899, 1902, 1915 and 1925) whilst they were losing finalists in 1901. Either side of United’s success and failures the Lancashire club had gained victory in their only two finals; in 1900 they beat Southampton by four goals to nil and in 1903 beat Derby County by a record breaking six goals without reply victory.
There were some pretty big scoring matches too between these two clubs. In October 1897 United won 5-2 at Gigg Lane and on the same ground in November 1904 Bury claimed a 7-1 victory – on 11 November 1905 United again won 5-2 in Lancashire.
Gigg Lane again produced some high scoring matches, in September 1925 Bury recorded their biggest victory over the Blades in a 7-4 win and in December twelve months later they drew 4-4. On 9 February 1929 – the last time the pair met one another in a top flight match was won 6-1 by Sheffield United at Bramall Lane with Harry Johnson scoring 4!
In recent years the two have met for the past two seasons in League One, owing much to the Blades relegation to this level in 2011, but unfortunately under the leadership of Kevin Blackwell and lack of finances the Shakers will compete in League Two next season following relegation last May.
Prior to the Blades relegation to the third tier they had played out two friendlies in successive seasons under the leadership of Blackwell. In 2008 United won by two goals to one and only just won this fixture despite taking the lead through Academy prospect Ryan Cresswell before his bundled into his own net to level the scores, with the clock ticking, on the 90th minute Billy Sharp pounced to seal the win for the S2 club. In our second encounter in 2009, the Blades recorded a comfortable 3-0 victory – defender Leigh Bromby headed home the opener before Jordan Robertson and Connor Brown both netted. The reports from both matches can be found at the links below.
- 29 July 2008 Bury 1-2 Blades
- 25 July 2009 Bury 0-3 Blades
Last season the pair played out a 1-1 draw at Bramall Lane on 15 September. United were unbeaten when the two sides met, but had won just twice out of the five matches played to date and a draw against Bury would extend that run but leave the Blades faithful frustrated at yet another draw. The match was a typical example of United's inability to take advantage of dominating games but early quick-fire goals from Nick Blackman (10 minutes) who chest down and struck home on the volley from close range before Peter Sweeney (12) fired home a timed free-kick to draw level.
United won the return fixture across the Pennines on 12 February by two goals to nil after the initial fixture was called off. Goals from Jonathan Forte (38 minutes) and Jamie Murphy (60) wrapped up the win for the visitors.
|
At Sheff. Utd. (44) |
At Bury (43) |
|||||
|
Results |
Total |
% |
Results |
Total |
% |
|
|
Sheff. Utd. |
28 |
63.64 |
Bury |
19 |
44.19 |
|
|
Bury |
3 |
6.82 |
Sheff. Utd. |
16 |
37.21 |
|
|
Draws |
13 |
29.55 |
Draws |
8 |
18.60 |
|
|
Goals |
Total |
Av.pg |
Goals |
Total |
Av.pg |
|
|
Sheff. Utd. |
104 |
2.36 |
Bury |
77 |
1.79 |
|
|
Bury |
35 |
0.80 |
Sheff. Utd. |
73 |
1.70 |
|
|
On Neutral Ground (0) |
Overall (87 matches) |
|||||
|
Results |
Total |
% |
Results |
Total |
% |
|
|
Sheff. Utd. |
0 |
0.00 |
Sheff. Utd. |
44 |
50.57 |
|
|
Bury |
0 |
0.00 |
Bury |
22 |
25.29 |
|
|
Draws |
0 |
0.00 |
Draws |
21 |
24.14 |
|
|
Goals |
Total |
Av.pg |
Goals |
Total |
Av.pg |
|
|
Sheff. Utd. |
0 |
0.00 |
Sheff. Utd. |
177 |
2.03 |
|
|
Bury |
0 |
0.00 |
Bury |
112 |
1.29 |
|
|
Records |
|||||
|
Highest Aggregate |
11 |
Bury |
7 - 4 |
Sheff. Utd. |
1925/1926 |
|
Highest Sheff. Utd. score: |
8 |
Sheff. Utd. |
8 - 0 |
Bury |
1895/1896 |
|
Highest Bury score: |
7 |
Bury |
7 - 4 |
Sheff. Utd. |
1925/1926 |
|
Season |
Date |
Home |
Score |
Away |
Competition |
|
2012/2013 |
Tue 12 Feb |
Bury |
0 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League One |
|
Sat 15 Sep |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 1 |
Bury |
League One |
|
|
2011/2012 |
Sat 14 Jan |
Bury |
0 - 3 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League One |
|
Sat 03 Sep |
Sheff. Utd. |
4 - 0 |
Bury |
League One |
|
|
2006/2007 |
Tue 19 Sep |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 0 |
Bury |
League Cup |
|
1998/1999 |
Fri 11 Dec |
Bury |
3 - 3 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Division One |
|
Sat 14 Nov |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 1 |
Bury |
League Division One |
|
|
1997/1998 |
Sat 18 Apr |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 0 |
Bury |
League Division One |
|
Tue 13 Jan |
Bury |
1 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
F.A. Cup |
|
|
Sat 03 Jan |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 1 |
Bury |
F.A. Cup |
|
|
Sat 20 Dec |
Bury |
1 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Division One |
|
|
1995/1996 |
Tue 03 Oct |
Bury |
4 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Cup |
|
Bury won 5-4 on aggregate |
|||||
|
Wed 20 Sep |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 1 |
Bury |
League Cup |
|
|
1988/1989 |
Tue 14 Mar |
Bury |
1 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Third Division |
|
Sat 29 Oct |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 1 |
Bury |
Third Division |
|
|
1987/1988 |
Wed 07 Oct |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 1 |
Bury |
League Cup |
|
Bury won 3-2 on aggregate |
|||||
|
Tue 22 Sep |
Bury |
2 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
League Cup |
|
|
1981/1982 |
Tue 27 Apr |
Bury |
1 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Fourth Division |
|
Sat 10 Apr |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 1 |
Bury |
Fourth Division |
|
|
1979/1980 |
Sat 01 Mar |
Sheff. Utd. |
0 - 0 |
Bury |
Third Division |
|
Sat 20 Oct |
Bury |
1 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Third Division |
|
|
1968/1969 |
Sat 01 Feb |
Sheff. Utd. |
5 - 0 |
Bury |
Second Division |
|
Sat 16 Nov |
Bury |
0 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
|
1956/1957 |
Sat 23 Mar |
Bury |
0 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
Sat 10 Nov |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 1 |
Bury |
Second Division |
|
|
1952/1953 |
Sat 21 Mar |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 1 |
Bury |
Second Division |
|
Sat 01 Nov |
Bury |
0 - 4 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
|
1951/1952 |
Tue 01 Jan |
Bury |
1 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
Mon 10 Sep |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 0 |
Bury |
Second Division |
|
|
1950/1951 |
Sat 10 Mar |
Bury |
1 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
Sat 21 Oct |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 0 |
Bury |
Second Division |
|
|
1949/1950 |
Sat 25 Mar |
Bury |
1 - 5 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
Sat 05 Nov |
Sheff. Utd. |
4 - 4 |
Bury |
Second Division |
|
|
1938/1939 |
Sat 08 Apr |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 1 |
Bury |
Second Division |
|
Sat 03 Dec |
Bury |
2 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
|
1937/1938 |
Mon 06 Sep |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 1 |
Bury |
Second Division |
|
Mon 30 Aug |
Bury |
1 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
|
1936/1937 |
Mon 28 Dec |
Bury |
2 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
Fri 25 Dec |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 0 |
Bury |
Second Division |
|
|
1935/1936 |
Mon 09 Sep |
Bury |
3 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
Mon 02 Sep |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 0 |
Bury |
Second Division |
|
|
1934/1935 |
Sat 13 Apr |
Sheff. Utd. |
5 - 3 |
Bury |
Second Division |
|
Sat 01 Dec |
Bury |
3 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
Second Division |
|
|
1928/1929 |
Sat 09 Feb |
Sheff. Utd. |
6 - 1 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
Sat 29 Sep |
Bury |
4 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1927/1928 |
Mon 12 Mar |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 1 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
Sat 17 Sep |
Bury |
1 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1926/1927 |
Thu 05 May |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 0 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
Sat 11 Dec |
Bury |
4 - 4 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1925/1926 |
Sat 06 Feb |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 1 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
Sat 26 Sep |
Bury |
7 - 4 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1924/1925 |
Sat 07 Feb |
Sheff. Utd. |
0 - 1 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
Sat 04 Oct |
Bury |
1 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1911/1912 |
Sat 16 Mar |
Sheff. Utd. |
4 - 0 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
Tue 20 Feb |
Bury |
3 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1910/1911 |
Sat 29 Apr |
Bury |
1 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Sat 24 Dec |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 0 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
|
1909/1910 |
Sat 02 Apr |
Bury |
2 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Sat 20 Nov |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 0 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
|
1908/1909 |
Mon 01 Mar |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 2 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
Tue 01 Sep |
Bury |
1 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1907/1908 |
Sat 11 Apr |
Sheff. Utd. |
0 - 2 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
Sat 14 Dec |
Bury |
3 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1906/1907 |
Sat 16 Mar |
Bury |
2 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Sat 10 Nov |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 0 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
|
1905/1906 |
Sat 17 Mar |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 1 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
Sat 11 Nov |
Bury |
2 - 5 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1904/1905 |
Sat 11 Mar |
Sheff. Utd. |
4 - 0 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
Sat 12 Nov |
Bury |
7 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1903/1904 |
Sat 19 Mar |
Sheff. Utd. |
0 - 0 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
Sat 21 Nov |
Bury |
0 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1902/1903 |
Sat 03 Jan |
Bury |
3 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Sat 06 Sep |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 0 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
|
1901/1902 |
Sat 11 Jan |
Bury |
1 - 2 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Sat 14 Sep |
Sheff. Utd. |
3 - 1 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
|
1900/1901 |
Sat 29 Dec |
Bury |
1 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Sat 01 Sep |
Sheff. Utd. |
0 - 3 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
|
1899/1900 |
Sat 20 Jan |
Bury |
2 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Sat 23 Sep |
Sheff. Utd. |
4 - 0 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
|
1898/1899 |
Sat 04 Feb |
Sheff. Utd. |
4 - 1 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
Sat 08 Oct |
Bury |
1 - 3 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
|
1897/1898 |
Sat 09 Oct |
Bury |
2 - 5 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Sat 25 Sep |
Sheff. Utd. |
1 - 1 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
|
1896/1897 |
Sat 20 Mar |
Bury |
0 - 1 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|
Sat 21 Nov |
Sheff. Utd. |
2 - 2 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
|
1895/1896 |
Mon 06 Apr |
Sheff. Utd. |
8 - 0 |
Bury |
First Division |
|
Sat 21 Sep |
Bury |
1 - 0 |
Sheff. Utd. |
First Division |
|