With a 2-0 victory over Ipswich Town at the weekend, Sheffield United were on the cusp of being guaranteed Premier League football next season and when Leeds United could only draw with Aston Villa, automatic promotion from the Championship for manager Chris Wilder’s side was confirmed.
Boyhood Blades fan and soon to be legend, Billy Sharp, was obviously one of the players wheeled out to celebrate the occasion and speaking to the BBC this week, the 33-year-old admitted that promotion meant all the more to him having being ‘hurt’ by going so close previously when we lost out to Burnley in the 2009 Championship Play-Off Final.
“I knew I had to make it happen this time because it didn’t quite happen the last time I was at Sheffield United, and it hurt me. I was disappointed when I left. But I’m delighted I’m back now and I just want to enjoy the ride with the rest of the boys. To get one promotion with my boyhood club is something, but then do it twice and get to the Premier League is incredible and I’m going to enjoy every bit of it now. I’ve seen on TV that we are lacking in Premier League appearances. I’ve only got two, and Chris Basham and Enda Stevens have played there as well, so we’ll need to add some players who’ve got that experience and have the quality we will need to stay in the best league in the world.”
Despite his prolific goal rate, Sharp is yet to crack the top flight as his previous games at that level number only two matches from his time at St Mary’s Stadium and Southampton, so it’s a richly deserved reward for him given the years he’s spent waiting to get there.
I have no doubts he’ll make the most of it now.