It’s World Cup season, sort of, so Memory Lane has decided to borrow the format and apply it to something far more important: Sheffield United players from history.

Join Andrew Hague, David Beeden, Paul Kemp and Sam Parry as they each take charge of one section of the draw, defending their players on whatever grounds they choose: ability, stats, memories, cult status, vibes, or outright nonsense.

Oh, and we’re going to record another one. Help us decide the position?

Hello. Sam here.

Like any sane person, I’ve been itching to combine my spreadsheet addiction with my overwhelming excitement for a World Cup I’ll barely be able to watch. Thankfully, David Beeden, Paul Kemp and the main man Andrew Hague have indulged my deepest desire.

Welcome to the World Cup of… what?

You’ll have to listen to this Memory Lane special to find out.

We’ve borrowed the World Cup format, and Sam’s spreadsheet has generated 48 Blades, sorted by position, then thrown them into a full tournament structure of groups, knockouts, arguments and inevitable injustice.

Andrew, David, Paul and Sam each take charge of one section of the draw, defending their players on whatever grounds they choose: ability, stats, memories, cult status, vibes, nostalgia or outright nonsense.

This is quick-fire remembering, World Cup-style. We aren’t simply pitting best against best. There are minnows, underdogs and, yes, a few actual dogs in the fight.

Part One takes us from the live draw through to the Round of 32. Episode Two will take us all the way to the final.

Oh, and whilst you’re here - we’re doing a fanzine again.

DEM Blades is back after three years away. The Summer 2026 fanzine is available to pre-order now, packed with Blades writing, photos, memories, nonsense and plenty more. You can order DEM Blades fanzine here.

One final Formline before we disappear for a summer lie down.

Sam, Riley and David review the season and answer listener questions before handing out the highly unofficial Pinch end-of-season awards — from best goal and biggest head loss to MVP and best win.

Along the way we revisit a Goldilocks season that somehow contained a six-game losing start, a 20-game spell as one of the Championship’s best teams, and a 13th-place finish that somehow felt both completely wrong and just right.

In Part Two of our look back at Sheffield United on VHS, we move into the 1990s. It’s a decade of survival acts, Wembley appearances, relegation heartbreak, and increasingly strange club videos.

Joined again by Paul Kemp and DeadBat, we revisit the season reviews, Christmas cash-ins, Brian Dean specials, and the gradual shift from grainy VHS tapes to the Sky Sports era. Along the way there’s Martin Tyler nostalgia, Dave Bassett appreciation, and stories of Wembley in 1993.

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In this episode of Memory Lane, we revisit the golden age of Sheffield United on VHS. It’s often weird, sometimes wonderful and unusually pricey. Join Andrew, Paul and David to chat through grainy tapes, nostalgic highlights, and worn-out rewind buttons.

This is the first of two parts. See you next week for part two.

Oh, and if you want to hear the Tufty Club series on UNITED…👇

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Sam, David and Riley run through their pre-season predictions. Many were bad. Some were very bad. The rest? They were less bad. Join us to roast our past hot takes and toast the closing of the 25-26 season.

Take a trip down Memory Lane, walk past Better Day Alley, swing a left by Wistful Road, then a right by Sentimentality Street, then arrive on Commentary Corner. You have reached your destination: here there be Mann and Motson and more.

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Cutting a squad is easy in theory, until you actually start doing it and realise it’s actually quite hard, in theory. In Part Two, Sam, David and Riley turn to the contracted core of Sheffield United and ask the uncomfortable questions: who do you build around, who do you cash in on and who simply isn’t worth keeping? From the Sydie Peck dilemma to the Gustavo Hamer debate, this is where the rebuild becomes trickier.

In this episode of Memory Lane, we revisit some of Sheffield United’s most iconic commentary moments: the lines that instantly bring goals, players, and matches flooding back.

Joined by commentator Chris MacMillan, we explore what makes great football commentary before diving into the calls that have defined Blades memories. From unforgettable goals to perfectly delivered one-liners, this is a celebration of the voices behind the moments — mostly, Daniel Mann.

This episode covers Chris’ pick from 14-8. Next week we’ll cover 7-1.

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Chris Wilder has already spoken about cutting 15 players — but when you factor in expiring deals, returning loanees and outgoings, the true scale of Sheffield United’s rebuild is far bigger.

In the first part of this Squad Reset podcast, we’re looking at who is either returning from loan or whose deals are expiring.

On this episode of Hang It in the Louvre, we welcome lifelong Blade David Pendlebury into the Pinch Wing to curate his three defining Sheffield United images. From a wide-eyed first view of Bramall Lane in the late ’80s, to the eerie emptiness of lockdown football and Chris Wilder at his lowest, to one of the most visceral moments in modern Blades history—Basham arriving at Elland Road.

David’s back: hooray.

The Blades’ season is cooked: boo.

In the latest Formline pod we review the Easter weekend and take stock of where Sheffield United are right now. We get into the full-back situation, what’s working (and what isn’t), and dig into a strange pattern — why United look so comfortable at 0-0 but struggle when ahead.

In this episode of Memory Lane, Ben Meakin joins Andrew and Sam to revisit Sheffield United’s infamous FA Cup tie with Arsenal, and the extraordinary (literally) decision to replay the game.

From Kanu’s controversial goal to Arsène Wenger’s and David Dean’s offer to do it all again, we unpack the fallout of a true “you’ll never sing that” moment.

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Part Two of our Q&A special with the LEGENDS Ben Meakin and Andrew Hague.

We dig into Chris Wilder’s future, long-term planning, recruitment strategy, and whether United should stick with stability or take a bigger swing - plus the usual tangents along the way.

Thanks as ever for listening!

Oh, and if you don’t already, sign up to Ben’s Substack here:

Women of Steel

Covering Sheffield United Women in 2023/24 and beyond.

By Ben Meakin

In this episode of Memory Lane, Andrew, Sam and David dive into the world of Sheffield United players you may have forgotten ever played for the club.

From brief loans and reserve appearances to names that barely registered at the time, we each build our own XIs and try to settle on the most forgettable Blades players of the modern era.

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First off, we’ve not recorded Part Two yet — so if you’ve got any questions, drop them in the comments, on Twitter, or by replying to any Pinch email.

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In Part One of our Q&A special, we’re joined by Ben Meakin and Andrew Hague to tackle your questions… but also some of mine (Sam). We traverse the expected: Chris Wilder’s future and all-round long-term strategy, and the unexpected: air fryer chat and Mount Fuji hypotheticals.

Part Two will likely be a little longer. As you may notice, there’s some patchy audio towards the end where Andrew briefly turns into a Dalek or, if you prefer, a RoyBot. So we cut this one a touch short.

Thanks as ever for listening!

In this episode of Memory Lane, we take a nostalgic trip through the history of Sheffield United shirt sponsors from Cantor’s and Arnold Laver to the bizarre and short-lived deals along the way.

Joined by David Beeden (Deadbat), we explore United’s early role in football sponsorship, the 27 brands to feature on the shirt, and the stories behind them. Of course, DB’s only gone and done us a quiz to kick it all off…

Let us know your memories in the comments.

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Have things actually dipped, or just feel like they have?

Sam and Riley dig into the numbers behind the last 10 games, where results have improved (really!?) but underlying performances tell a more complicated story. From being outshot regularly to conceding too many chances, we explore whether this is a genuine drop-off or just regression to the mean.

There’s also a look at tactical shifts under Wilder, whether a more possession-heavy approach is helping or hurting, and if January signings hint at a longer-term change in direction.

Plus, we answer a couple of your listener questions — and tease a Q&A special next week with a very special guest.

Thanks for all your questions: we answered a couple and will be answering the rest next week in a Q&A special with an appropriately special guest.

Freelance football commentator Chris MacMillan joins us in the Pinch wing to nominate three Sheffield United images for eternity: a childhood Brian Deane celebration, the agony of Seaman’s save, and David Brooks humiliating Jack Hunt at Hillsborough.

Which moment deserves to hang in the Louvre?

In Part Two of Clough Actually, Andrew Hague, Sam Parry and Ben “Travelling Blade” Humphries pick up where the story left off.

After an FA Cup semi-final and a promising finish to the previous season, expectations were high for Nigel Clough’s Sheffield United. Instead, the campaign quickly descended into confusion. There were strange selections, constant team changes and a squad that never quite fit together.

Despite flashes of brilliance in the cups, the league form lurched from win to loss, momentum never arrived, and optimism slowly evaporated. As United failed in the play-offs and Clough left, what legacy did he leave behind?