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Tactics and ‘a game of poker’: An insight into Sheffield FC’s cup final glory 
Oliver Pallas

Victories, no matter the occasion, are important for a club, but none are more significant than a league-cup double, as Sheffield FC Women’s manager Graham Abercrombie knows. 

Sheffield FC Women completed the league-cup double with victory over Rotherham United Women in May, where they were crowned champions of the East Midlands Women’s Regional Football League Cup. 

Abercrombie, in his second spell at the club, joined Sheffield FC in October, driving the club to a two-nil victory over Adam Rawlings’ Rotherham United at Eagle Valley in Nottinghamshire. 

Tactical Insight 

Tactically, it is a delicate balance between attack and defence, with research and scouting the opposition weeks’ prior an important structural platform for success. 

“We played Rotherham United a few weeks prior after we had won the league,” said Abercrombie. “We did not want to give anything away in terms of our cup final line-up. We used the day to scout them, and I also watched their two-two draw at Mansfield, to get a feel for their style of play. 

“I learnt everything about them in that game against Mansfield. I knew we needed to stop their strikers getting the ball, as well as the areas we delivered from and to in order to use our strikers to our advantage. 

“The goals we scored were from weeks’ worth of preparation on the training ground.”

Attack and defence work simultaneously across all facets of the pitch. For Sheffield FC, this was no different. The midfield battle, for a former midfielder himself, is the most important area of the pitch for Abercrombie to tactically focus on. 

“It is about players putting their bodies on the line and buying into what myself and my staff ask of them. I know that if we can win the ball back in the middle of the park, we will spend the next 20 to 30 seconds at their end of the pitch. 

“Crucially it is about retaining the ball and that is where the game is won and lost for me. There is a lot of defensive work as well which starts from the front. We ask our strikers to press and put in the hard yards, which then filters down to other areas of the pitch. 

“We have played with a three at the back all season. We play to our strengths and I feel that is most suited to our players. It allows us to be dynamic across the pitch, playing positively and most importantly, ensuring the players do not feel like they are being asked to do something they feel like they cannot do. 

“We have our wingers and our full backs running up and down. That’s our secret. It is a bit of a game of poker really.”  

The structure of the club has allowed for the foundations of success to be set. Graham and his staff, as well as the board and members of the club, have set a precedent for clear messaging and standards which are met by the players. 

“There is only one voice from the sidelines. We have a lot of trust between ourselves as staff. So, there may be a quiet whisper in the ear to see if we have seen something, but communication happens between myself and the staff at half-time. 

“We have a very quick chat about the message we want to deliver to the players. Key talking points, any slight tweaks or changes, but mostly, we go into detail on some specific ideas during the week, but it is about making sure everyone is happy and on the same wavelength. 

“My staff are crucial, beyond the realms of what anyone would know besides me.” 

Joining mid-season also brings its challenges. Abercrombie joined the club towards the end of October, which, without a pre-season to implement a style and tactics, brings different challenges for a manager. 

“I picked up a team in a tricky run of form. It is tricky but we have adaptable tactics and we simplified what we asked of the players. We had a good run of games with our back three, and so we stuck with what was working for the players. 

“We were playing a four up top, so the messaging to our players was clear – if their full back steps out, we told our wingers to follow our player, and, as a result, we would naturally pin back their defenders with our attacking style.”

Abercrombie’s role at the club, alongside duties as Women’s First Team manager, is Head of Community. A full-time member of the club, who has been involved in women’s football for nearly 18 years, Abercrombie’s first season in his second stint at the club has ensured the women’s side will play their football in the National League next season. 

“Women’s football means everything to me,” said Abercrombie. “I have always tried to promote the women’s game as much as possible and raise the profile of the game through people around me. 

“I thought to myself, not only am I fulfilling my dreams, but also the dreams of my players, and the opportunity to coach in the women’s game is not something I take for granted.” 

Looking Ahead to the Future

Preparations for the 2025/26 season are well underway at the club, with discussions surrounding new recruitment ongoing. 

“The communication and relationship with the board is fantastic. We already have six new faces through the door, with three further players currently in discussions. 


“The club are unbelievably supportive of the women’s team, and the opportunities women’s football brings both locally and regionally and we have the stepping stones in place for another successful season next year.”