Sheffield United responds to enquiries about Maddy Cusack tribute plans, preseason, and tickets.
It’s been just over a week since Sheffield United’s 2024/25 season was cruelly terminated in the play-off final at Wembley Stadium, and thoughts are gradually moving to the following season. United will reveal their fixture list later this month, which is typically a momentous occasion for football fans.
Those players still under contract at Bramall Lane, as well as those on United’s recruitment list, are making the most of their delayed summer holidays before returning to pre-season training later this summer, with the season kicking off in early August as the Blades look to improve on last season.
United has had a summer camp at the Portuguese FA’s training centre in Lisbon for the past two seasons, but last year’s preparations were a little more low-key. United are set to travel abroad again this year ahead of the new season, with finishing touches being made to the arrangements before they are announced to supporters.
As things stand, that particular trip is unlikely to feature a scheduled friendly match, as it has in the past, with United facing Casa Pia and Estoril in 2022 and 2023. The current domestic pre-season schedule includes a number of friendlies away from home as the field at Bramall Lane, which is being relaid this summer after the Desso surface reached ten years old, settles in.
Discussions have also taken place about a possible overseas friendly unrelated to the pre-season trip, with United hoping to give fans as much notice as possible if a fixture is confirmed. The pre-season topic was addressed in the most recent Fan Advisory Board minutes, which also saw the group ask club staff about ticket allocations, the player of the year dinner, and preparations for any long-term tributes to Maddy Cusack.
The former Blades vice-captain died tragically in 2023, and the subsequent inquest was repeatedly postponed due to the coroner’s workload. “Until the inquest is concluded, there is unlikely to be any progress,” the minutes of the most recent FAB meeting stated. “However, once finished, conversations can be had.”
Sheffield United answers queries about tickets, pre-season, and Maddy Cusack’s tribute plans.
Hayley Wheeler, United’s ticket office manager, was also asked to clarify the percentage of away tickets reserved for players, sponsors, and commercial purposes, which is a common question among fans when popular away games sell out rapidly.
“Players receive tickets on a reciprocal basis, which is standardised across all clubs in the league,” Wheeler said, according to the minutes. “The allocation normally ranges from 50 to 60 tickets every game.
“Commercial clients and sponsors typically account for around 5% of away ticket allocations. This ratio represents the proportion of season ticket holders and sponsors as compared to our general admission (GA) season ticket holder data.”
Supporters also argued over the price of tickets to United’s end-of-season awards ceremony, which was held at Ponds Forge. Individual seats cost £150 plus VAT, and there was no reduction for a table of ten.
In the minutes, executives Stephen Bettis and Paul Fielder, the head of commercial, rationalised the venue and pricing choices, stating that “the club [had] chosen an external venue for this year’s event to accommodate more attendees and improve accessibility.”
“The goal of the end-of-season awards is to simply cover the associated expenditures; the club does not profit from them. The event was previously hosted in Bramall Lane, which meant that although it cost less, fewer people could attend.
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