White Rose Premier League derbies back on for Sheffield United and Leeds United

It has been a long time between drinks. Much too long.

You have to go way back to May 13, 2001 for the last bonafide White Rose derby in the big time – with due respect to Hull City and Middlesbrough, who convened in 2008-09 and 2016-17 – when Leeds swept aside West Yorkshire neighbours Bradford City 6-1 at Elland Road.

Already relegated, City’s fight was all but over, but it famously did not stop City legend and current manager Stuart McCall and team-mate Andy Myers from coming to blows in an ugly on-pitch bust-up.

In the final analysis, it was a game that was hopelessly one-sided between sides at the opposite ends of the table.

Given the rivalry between the Blades and Leeds during the 2018-19 Championship campaign when no love was lost between them in an absorbing battle for promotion – with both sides prevailing at the home of their rival by a single goal in two tight contests – the hope is that the inter-county competition will now flourish again on a grander stage.

Leeds and Sheffield; two great footballing cities that deserve their place at football’s top table, with the tantalising potential for a top-flight rivalry to germinate.

For Leeds, there was understandable excitement when the fixtures were revealed for the club’s first foray in the top tier since 2003-04.

An opening weekend trip to Anfield – where Leeds were famously crowned champions for the first time in April, 1969 – arrives with a whiff of nostalgia and represents a juicy first course at the banquet.

An early trip to Bramall Lane and a home encounter with Manchester City on October 3 – when Pep Guardiola pits his wits against a footballing grandee whom he has idolised throughout his career in Marcelo Bielsa –provides a further fascinating narrative as Leeds reacquaint themselves with a division they used to know so well.

December trips to ‘enemy territory’ at Stamford Bridge and Old Trafford will also leap out from the page for Leeds followers. But the fixture list in April is something else entirely.

It has thrown up three Elland Road occasions to savour, with the devout hope being that spectators will be there to witness the sort of raucous occasion that United’s home was truly made for.

Arch-rivals Manchester United, champions Liverpool and those combatants from down the road in the Blades call in at LS11 that month, with a trip to the Etihad Stadium also on the roster for good measure.

What a pity it would be if supporters were denied active participation at those marquee fixtures due to the ghastly impact of Covid-19.

Expect plenty of re-runs of goals from the likes of Marc Viduka and David Wetherall all the same.

On that mouth-watering prospect, managing director Angus Kinnear, who confirmed that the club are ‘very, very close’ to confirming a new deal with Bielsa, said: “We would love crowds to be back by that stage.

“We are very pleased to be here, the boys are at the training ground now and looking at the fixtures and are excited and up for the challenge and we are not daunted.”

Do not expect Blades chief Chris Wilder to be cowed either with his side claiming some impressive scalps including Spurs, Chelsea and Arsenal during an outstanding 2019-20.

The Blades must wait for a Monday night to start their season at home to Wolves, with Leeds and both Manchester clubs visiting before Christmas.

The Premier League is quite simply, the place to be.

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Thank you

James Mitchinson