2020–21 Sheffield United W.F.C. season

Sheffield United
2020–21 season
Chairman	Lee Walshaw
Head Coach	Neil Redfearn
Stadium	Technique Stadium, Chesterfield
Championship	4th
FA Cup	Fifth round
League Cup	Group stage
Top goalscorer	League: Katie Wilkinson (19); All: Katie Wilkinson (20)
	← 2019–20 2021–22 →

The 2020–21 Sheffield United W.F.C. season was the club's 19th season and their third in the FA Women's Championship, the second level of the women's football pyramid. Outside of the league, the club also contested two domestic cup competitions: the FA Cup and the League Cup.

Prior to the start of the season, on 7 July 2020, Sheffield United announced they had parted ways with manager Carla Ward after "both parties opted to go down a different path."^[1] Neil Redfearn was announced as the new manager on 28 August.^[2]

Squad

As of 23 April 2021.^[3]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
2	DF	ENG	Ellie Wilson
3	DF	NIR	Natalie Johnson
4	DF	ENG	Leandra Little (captain)
5	DF	ENG	Naomi Hartley
6	MF	ENG	Kasia Lipka
7	FW	ENG	Jade Pennock
8	MF	ENG	Maddy Cusack
9	FW	ENG	Katie Wilkinson
10	MF	ENG	Alethea Paul
11	DF	ENG	Chloe Dixon
12	MF	ENG	Rhema Lord-Mears


No.	Pos.	Nation	Player
13	GK	ENG	Emily Batty
15	MF	ENG	Tamara Wilcock
16	FW	ENG	Lucy Watson
17	MF	ENG	Katie Anderson
18	MF	ENG	Sophie Walton
19	FW	ENG	Charley Docherty
20	GK	ENG	Fran Kitching
21	MF	ENG	Bex Rayner
22	DF	ENG	Ocean Rolandsen
23	FW	ENG	Courtney Sweetman-Kirk
46	FW	ENG	Melissa Johnson

Preseason

12 August 2020 Friendly	Manchester City	6–0	Sheffield United	Manchester
	Kelly x2 White x2 Walsh Little (o.g.)	Report		Stadium: Academy Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

16 August 2020 Friendly	Tottenham Hotspur	2–0	Sheffield United	Enfield
	Dean 28' (pen.) Neville 51'	Report		Stadium: Hotspur Way Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

FA Women's Championship

Results summary


Overall								Home						Away
Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD
20	11	5	4	37	15	+22	38	4	4	2	16	7	+9	7	1	2	21	8	+13

Last updated: 2 May 2021.
Source: FA WSL

Results

6 September 2020 1	London City Lionesses	1–4	Sheffield United	Dartford
14:00	Priest 37' Ayisi 49'	Report	Pennock 34', 36', 56' Hartley 44' Dixon 45' Wilkinson 58', 64'	Stadium: Princes Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Sarah Garratt

13 September 2020 2	Sheffield United	2–2	Leicester City	Chesterfield
14:00	M. Johnson 30', 66' Wilson 75'	Report	Farrow 2' Flint 37', 90' (pen.)	Stadium: Technique Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

27 September 2020 3	Sheffield United	4–0	London Bees	Chesterfield
14:00	M. Johnson 30', 66' Wilkinson 57', 87'	Report	Robert Whinnett	Stadium: Technique Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Georgia Ball

11 October 2020 4	Coventry United	0–3	Sheffield United	Coventry
14:00		Report	M. Johnson 21', 25' Wilkinson 78' Sweetman-Kirk 79'	Stadium: Butts Park Arena Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Magdalena Golba

18 October 2020 5	Sheffield United	0–0	Lewes	Chesterfield
13:00		Report		Stadium: Technique Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Simon Simpson

1 November 2020 6	Sheffield United	3–0	Crystal Palace	Chesterfield
14:00	Pennock 48' Sweetman-Kirk 52' Wilkinson 77'	Report	Waldie 39' Johnson 64'	Stadium: Technique Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Tom Reeves

8 November 2020 7	Liverpool	1–0	Sheffield United	Birkenhead
14:00	Babajide 5' Laws 90'	Report		Stadium: Prenton Park Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Daniel Locker

15 November 2020 8	Sheffield United	0–1	Durham	Chesterfield
14:00	Dixon 53'	Report	Gears 54' Christon 71'	Stadium: Technique Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Andy Sykes

22 November 2020 9	Charlton Athletic	0–1	Sheffield United	Crayford
14:00		Report	Little 20' 38' Wilkinson 30' (pen.) Sarri 90'	Stadium: The Oakwood Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Simon Finnigan

13 December 2020 10	Sheffield United	3–3	Blackburn Rovers	Chesterfield
14:00	Wilkinson 26' (pen.), 43' (pen.) Sweetman-Kirk 82'	Report	Edwards 1' Jordan 6' Richards 37'	Stadium: Technique Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lucy Oliver

20 December 2020 11	Sheffield United	0–0	London City Lionesses	Chesterfield
14:00		Report	Ejupi 90+2'	Stadium: Technique Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Robert Massey-Ellis

10 January 2021 12	Leicester City	2–1	Sheffield United	Quorn
14:00	Plumptre 22' Flint 80'	Report	Cusack 21' Wilkinson 76' Dixon 88'	Stadium: Farley Way Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

17 January 2021 13	Sheffield United	3–0	Coventry United	Chesterfield
14:00	Hartley 32' Wilkinson 45', 90'	Report	Wilcox 76'	Stadium: Technique Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Amy Barber

24 January 2021 14	Lewes	0–2	Sheffield United	Lewes
13:00		Report	Wilkinson 27', 63' Lord-Mears 42' Little 79'	Stadium: The Dripping Pan Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Robert Whitton

7 February 2021 15	London Bees	2–4	Sheffield United	Canons Park
14:00	McLean 40' Estcourt 54' Robert 55' 90' Cruickshank 73'	Report	Brooks 14' (o.g.) Rolandsen 20' Sweetman-Kirk 34' Hartley 47' N. Johnson 67' Wilkinson 90'	Stadium: The Hive Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Simon Finnigan

14 March 2021 16	Sheffield United	1–0	Charlton Athletic	Chesterfield
14:00	Wilkinson 52'	Report		Stadium: Technique Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Lucy Oliver

28 March 2021 17	Durham	1–1	Sheffield United	Durham
12:00	Johnson 32'	Report	Sweetman-Kirk 29' Little 77'	Stadium: Maiden Castle Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Amy Fearn

4 April 2021 18	Crystal Palace	0–3	Sheffield United	Bromley
14:00		Report	Wilkinson 17', 59' Rayner 30'	Stadium: Hayes Lane Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Amy Barber

25 April 2021 19	Sheffield United	0–1	Liverpool	Chesterfield
14:00		Report	Thestrup 30' Hinds 84' 90+1' Foster 89'	Stadium: Technique Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Magdalena Golba

2 May 2021 20	Blackburn Rovers	1–2	Sheffield United	Bamber Bridge
14:00	Hodgson 55'	Report	Wilkinson 11' Rolandsen 75' Pennock 90'	Stadium: Sir Tom Finney Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Karl Buckley

League table

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
2	Durham	20	12	6	2	34	15	+19	42
3	Liverpool	20	11	6	3	37	15	+22	39
4	Sheffield United	20	11	5	4	37	15	+22	38
5	Lewes	20	8	4	8	19	22	−3	28
6	London City Lionesses	20	6	6	8	19	19	0	24

Source: ^{[citation needed]}
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored

Women's FA Cup

As a member of the top two tiers, Sheffield United will enter the FA Cup in the fourth round proper. Originally scheduled to take place on 31 January 2021, it was delayed due to COVID-19 restrictions.^[4]^[5]

18 April 2021 Fourth round	Middlesbrough	0–9	Sheffield United	Billingham
14:00		Report	Lord-Mears 30', 34', 68' Rayner 40' Sweetman-Kirk 45+2', 53', 57' Cusack 63' Watson 86'	Stadium: Bedford Terrace Attendance: Behind-closed-doors

16 May 2021 Fifth round	Tottenham Hotspur	2–1 (a.e.t.)	Sheffield United	Canons Park
14:00	Quinn 30' Graham 109'	Report	Watson 80'	Stadium: The Hive Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Abigail Byrne

FA Women's League Cup

7 October 2020 Group stage	Aston Villa	1–0	Sheffield United	Walsall
19:30	Hutton 38' (pen.)	Report		Stadium: Bescot Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Elizabeth Simms

3 November 2020 Group stage	Sheffield United	0–6	Durham	Chesterfield
19:45		Report	Hill 45+1' (pen.) Gears 58' Roberts 60' Robson 62', 67' Galloway 75' Sharpe 80'	Stadium: Technique Stadium Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Christina Hattersley

19 November 2020 Group stage	Coventry United	0–4	Sheffield United	Coventry
19:45		Report	Little 9' Wilkinson 33' Pennock 66' Johnson 77' Dixon 86'	Stadium: Butts Park Arena Attendance: Behind-closed-doors Referee: Callum Parke

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	WPEN	LPEN	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts	Qualification	AST	DUR	SHU	COV
1	Aston Villa	3	2	1	0	0	11	1	+10	8	Advanced to knock-out stage	—	—	1–0	—
2	Durham	3	2	0	1	0	12	3	+9	7	Possible knock-out stage based on ranking	1–1	—	—	5–2
3	Sheffield United	3	1	0	0	2	4	7	−3	3		—	0–6	—	—
4	Coventry United	3	0	0	0	3	2	18	−16	0		0–9	—	0–4	—

Source: thefa.com
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Number of goals scored; 4) Number of wins; 5) Head-to-head record

Squad statistics

Appearances

As of 16 May 2021

Starting appearances are listed first, followed by substitute appearances after the + symbol where applicable.

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		League		FA Cup		League Cup
No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
2	DF	ENG	Ellie Wilson	6	0	4+1	0	0	0	1	0
3	DF	NIR	Natalie Johnson	16	0	11+2	0	2	0	1	0
4	DF	ENG	Leandra Little	23	1	18	0	2	0	3	1
5	DF	ENG	Naomi Hartley	25	2	20	2	2	0	3	0
6	MF	ENG	Kasia Lipka	25	0	20	0	2	0	3	0
7	FW	ENG	Jade Pennock	20	5	11+7	4	0	0	2	1
8	MF	ENG	Maddy Cusack	23	1	18	0	2	1	3	0
9	FW	ENG	Katie Wilkinson	25	20	19+1	19	2	0	2+1	1
10	MF	ENG	Alethea Paul	5	0	1+2	0	0	0	0+2	0
11	DF	ENG	Chloe Dixon	13	0	9+2	0	0+1	0	1	0
12	MF	ENG	Rhema Lord-Mears	24	3	14+5	0	2	3	2+1	0
13	GK	ENG	Emily Batty	1	0	0	0	0+1	0	0	0
15	MF	ENG	Tamara Wilcock	1	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0
16	FW	ENG	Lucy Watson	15	2	3+8	0	0+2	2	2	0
17	MF	ENG	Katie Anderson	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
18	MF	ENG	Sophie Walton	14	0	4+5	0	0+2	0	1+2	0
19	FW	ENG	Charley Docherty	1	0	0+1	0	0	0	0	0
20	GK	ENG	Fran Kitching	24	0	20	0	2	0	2	0
21	MF	ENG	Bex Rayner	11	2	8+1	1	2	1	0	0
22	DF	ENG	Ocean Rolandsen	10	0	8	0	2	0	0	0
23	FW	ENG	Courtney Sweetman-Kirk	22	8	11+6	5	2	3	1+2	0
46	FW	ENG	Melissa Johnson	19	6	9+6	5	0+1	0	1+2	1
Players who appeared for the club but left during the season:
1	GK	NIR	Becky Flaherty	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
14	FW	ENG	Keri Matthews	12	0	1+7	0	0+2	0	1+1	0
15	DF	ENG	Hannah Coan	2	0	0+2	0	0	0	0	0
17	FW	GRE	Veatriki Sarri	13	0	9+1	0	0	0	2+1	0
24	DF	ENG	Ali Johnson	2	0	1+1	0	0	0	0	0
25	MF	NZL	Olivia Chance	3	0	1+1	0	0	0	1	0

Transfers

Transfers in

Date	Position	Name	From	Ref.
28 July 2020	FW	Melissa Johnson	Aston Villa	^[6]
7 August 2020	DF	Ellie Wilson	London Bees	^[7]
8 August 2020	MF	Sophie Walton	Nottingham Forest	^[8]
8 August 2020	DF	Natalie Johnson	Leicester City	^[9]
22 August 2020	GK	Fran Kitching	Liverpool	^[10]
26 September 2020	MF	Olivia Chance	Bristol City	^[11]
2 October 2020	FW	Courtney Sweetman-Kirk	Liverpool	^[12]
8 January 2021	MF	Bex Rayner	Nottingham Forest	^[13]
16 January 2021	DF	Ocean Rolandsen	Watford	^[14]
6 February 2021	MF	Katie Anderson	Derby County	^[15]

Loans in

Date	Position	Nationality	Name	From	Until	Ref.
12 September 2020	DF		Hannah Coan	Everton	4 November 2020	^[16]^[17]

Transfers out

Date	Position	Name	To	Ref.
12 June 2020	DF	Sophie Barker	Leicester City	^[18]^[19]
26 June 2020	FW	Izzy Ford	South Alabama Jaguars	^[20]
27 July 2020	MF	Sam Tierney	Leicester City	^[21]^[19]
27 July 2020	FW	Olivia Fergusson	Leicester City	^[21]^[19]
4 November 2020	DF	Ali Johnson	Blackburn Rovers	^[17]^[22]
23 November 2020	MF	Olivia Chance	Brisbane Roar	^[23]
7 January 2021	MF	Veatriki Sarri	Birmingham City	^[24]
17 March 2021	FW	Keri Matthews	Arizona State Sun Devils	^[25]
23 April 2021	GK	Becky Flaherty	Blackburn Rovers	^[26]^[27]

References

^ "Carla departs". www.sufc.co.uk.
^ "Neil Redfearn announced as women's head coach". www.sufc.co.uk.
^ "First Team - Sheffield United". www.sufc.co.uk.
^ "The Women's FA Cup Season 2020–21 List of Exemptions" (PDF). thefa.com. The Football Association. 10 August 2020.
^ "Women's FA Cup to remain suspended during coronavirus lockdown". Sky Sports.
^ "Mel Johnson signs". www.sufc.co.uk.
^ "Ellie Wilson signs". www.sufc.co.uk.
^ "Sophie Walton signs". www.sufc.co.uk.
^ "Nat Johnson signs". www.sufc.co.uk.
^ "Fran Kitching signs". www.sufc.co.uk.
^ "Olivia Chance signs". www.sufc.co.uk.
^ "Courtney Sweetman-Kirk signs". www.sufc.co.uk.
^ "Bex Rayner re-signs". Sheffield United FC.
^ "Ocean Rolandsen signs". Sheffield United FC.
^ "Katie Anderson signs". Sheffield United FC.
^ "Hannah Coan signs on loan from Everton". www.sufc.co.uk.
^ ^a ^b "Ali Johnson & Hannah Coan depart". Sheffield United FC.
^ "Sophie Barker and Ali Johnson depart". www.sufc.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-06-12.
^ ^a ^b ^c "LCFC Women: Meet The 2020/21 Squad". www.lcfc.com.
^ "Izzy Ford joins South Alabama". South Alabama Jaguars Women's Soccer twitter. Retrieved 26 June 2020.
^ ^a ^b "Tierney and Fergusson depart". www.sufc.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-07-27.
^ "Johnson returns". www.rovers.co.uk.
^ "Olivia Chance departs". Sheffield United FC.
^ "Striker Sarri signs for Birmingham". BBC Sport.
^ "National Team Player Joins 2021 Class". Arizona State University Athletics.
^ "Becky Flaherty departs". Sheffield United FC.
^ "Becky is a Blue!". www.rovers.co.uk.

[1] "Carla departs". www.sufc.co.uk.

[2] "Neil Redfearn announced as women's head coach". www.sufc.co.uk.

[3] "First Team - Sheffield United". www.sufc.co.uk.

[4] "The Women's FA Cup Season 2020–21 List of Exemptions" (PDF). thefa.com. The Football Association. 10 August 2020.

[5] "Women's FA Cup to remain suspended during coronavirus lockdown". Sky Sports.

[6] "Mel Johnson signs". www.sufc.co.uk.

[7] "Ellie Wilson signs". www.sufc.co.uk.

[8] "Sophie Walton signs". www.sufc.co.uk.

[9] "Nat Johnson signs". www.sufc.co.uk.

[10] "Fran Kitching signs". www.sufc.co.uk.

[11] "Olivia Chance signs". www.sufc.co.uk.

[12] "Courtney Sweetman-Kirk signs". www.sufc.co.uk.

[13] "Bex Rayner re-signs". Sheffield United FC.

[14] "Ocean Rolandsen signs". Sheffield United FC.

[15] "Katie Anderson signs". Sheffield United FC.

[16] "Hannah Coan signs on loan from Everton". www.sufc.co.uk.

[JohnsonCoan-17] "Ali Johnson & Hannah Coan depart". Sheffield United FC.

[18] "Sophie Barker and Ali Johnson depart". www.sufc.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-06-12.

[LCFCW-19] "LCFC Women: Meet The 2020/21 Squad". www.lcfc.com.

[20] "Izzy Ford joins South Alabama". South Alabama Jaguars Women's Soccer twitter. Retrieved 26 June 2020.

[TierneyFergusson-21] "Tierney and Fergusson depart". www.sufc.co.uk. Retrieved 2020-07-27.

[22] "Johnson returns". www.rovers.co.uk.

[23] "Olivia Chance departs". Sheffield United FC.

[24] "Striker Sarri signs for Birmingham". BBC Sport.

[25] "National Team Player Joins 2021 Class". Arizona State University Athletics.

[26] "Becky Flaherty departs". Sheffield United FC.

[27] "Becky is a Blue!". www.rovers.co.uk.

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