A disappointing season for Sheffield United Women ended their seven season stay in the Women’s Championship.
Sheffield United Women are currently set to kick off the 2025-26 season in the National League Northern Premier Division, although this is now pending a decision following the resignation of Blackburn Rovers.
The Blades begun the season poorly with six straight defeats to begin the league season, only being kept off the bottom of the league throughout September and October by Portsmouth, who had newly turned professional.
Maria Farrugia’s 80th minute winner away against Blackburn Rovers on 20 October would turn out to be the sole league victory in the entire season, and propelled them three points clear of Portsmouth who continued to suffer a torrid run of form.
A second win of the season would come in the FA Cup in early December, with a 2-0 victory over third-tier Liverpool Feds courtesy of another Farrugia double to set up a tie with Super League side Crystal Palace.
This would prove to be the final victory in all competitions for Ash Thompson’s side. A 6-1 reverse at Palace would set the tone for the final half of the league season which saw the team draw three and lose seven of their final 10 league games, culminating in a 2-1 defeat at the Stadium of Light against Sunderland on 4 May.
As the Blades faltered after Christmas, Portsmouth went from strength to strength to increase the pressure on United with a run of two wins and two draws in five games.
Coming into the penultimate matchday, Portsmouth knew that they would be safe if their bitter rivals Southampton secured a win at Bramall Lane.
Following the Saints 3-2 victory over Sheffield United, Portsmouth duly won 4-0 to send United into the third tier for the first time in seven years, and leave South Yorkshire without a club in the top two tiers for the first time in decades, owing to the relegation of Doncaster Rovers Belles and Sheffield FC in recent years.
The season came to a close for the Blades with a 2-1 defeat away at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light.
On a more positive note, Farrugia picked up the club’s top scorer accolade, with four goals in nineteen games, while the Maltese international also picked up the league’s ‘goal of the season’ award at the Women’s Football Awards in April, following a sensational strike at home to Bristol City in October.
Following some great performances in the net this season, goalkeeper Sian Rogers picked up the Blades’ Player of the Season.
It is understood that despite the threat of relegation pending the outcome of Blackburn Rovers’ league placement, Sheffield United have no plans to move games away from Bramall Lane, and will continue operating as a WSL2 standard team.
