Academy is On Schedule

By Paul Holland
June 14 2002

Sheffield United have announced that the 22 acre academy is ahead of schedule, which is being built in Shirecliffe area of Sheffield.

The Blades academy will cost around £5,000,000 and is expected to be finished by the end of year 2002.

Through United Youth Training System (YTS) many players have become successful after playing in Blades first team. Lee Morris is one example, he made only a hand full of first team appearances at the end of the 1998/99 season before being sold to Premier League side Derby County for £2million (could rise to £3million).

Last season Sheffield United saw Michael Tonge and Ben Doane make huge impacts in the first team and are expected to do the same next season, while a future prospect for next season is Defender Colin Cryan who played in the 2-0 defeat against Birmingham City at St Andrews last season.