The 1890–91 season was Sheffield United's second, and their first and only season playing in the newly formed Midland Counties League, as the club sought to establish itself as a major footballing force. The team was selected by the club's football committee and coached by a trainer, but day-to-day affairs were overseen by club secretary Joseph Wostinholm. The club saw a large influx of players during the season as it continued to bolster its numbers with amateurs loaned or signed from other teams in the local area, a policy that resulted in an unsettled side, indifferent league results, and a mid-table finish.

United (nicknamed the Blades) entered the FA Cup once more but were lucky to reach the first round proper, losing to Burton Swifts during qualifying only to see the Staffordshire club disqualified. They also competed in the Wharncliffe Charity Cup and the Sheffield Challenge Cup, in which they were beaten finalists for the second year in succession.

The development of the playing squad continued with the signings of John Drummond and Billy Hendry from Preston North End, who brought experience and a solid professionalism. Harry Lilley was recruited in the early part of the season, and became a regular in United's defence for several seasons.

After a first season of mixed fortunes on the field the football committee recognised the appetite amongst the Sheffield public for the game, as attendances at Bramall Lane had steadily increased. They recognised that league football was essential to grow that interest and offer a better standard of opposition, and had therefore joined the recently created Midland Counties League, although still insisting on organising numerous friendly fixtures. The committee continued to select the team, although J. B. Wostinholm oversaw the day–to–day running of the club.

Although United's jersey remained predominantly white, thin red vertical stripes were introduced for the first time, which evolved into the solid red and white stripes that the team still plays in today. The team retained the blue shorts and socks worn in the previous season.

The previous season had been considered reasonably successful, but United still looked to improve the quality of players in the squad. The players recruited from Scotland during the previous summer had failed to live up to expectations and the majority of them were released; only Calder and Robertson were retained. Billy Bridgewater and Edward Cross were signed from nearby Rotherham Town, and Harry Lilley arrived from Staveley during the close season, but the Blades persisted with their policy of utilising guest amateur players from the local area.

United were now playing in the Midland Counties League but results were indifferent, with the Blades winning only twice in their opening eight fixtures. Their fortunes began to improve in November and December however as they registered a series of victories including an impressive 4–0 win over Kidderminster at Bramall Lane and a 5–2 victory at Derby Midland. Despite the relative failure of their previous recruitment in Scotland, by the end of the year United had signed Gavin Crawford and Harry Munro from north of the border as the Blades entered 1891 in more positive form.

Following a league fixture break during January 1891 United resumed their campaign in February, but the form they had shown in the run up to Christmas deserted them, and results were inconsistent. In the midst of congested fixture list the Blades finished the season fifth in the league (out of ten sides) and once again resolved to improve the quality of players by recruiting established professionals ahead of the next season. They duly negotiated the transfers of John Drummond, Billy Hendry and Samuel Dobson from Preston North End, then one of the top sides in the country, and they arrived over a number of weeks through February and March to bolster United's first team options. The most significant signing during the season was that of a young Ernest Needham from Staveley in February 1891. Although he did not play for United in the 1890–91 season he went on to become one of the club's greatest players, making more than 500 appearances.

Having had relative success during their first FA Cup campaign the previous season United struggled to replicate that form and were fortunate to make it past the qualifying rounds in 1890. Having narrowly defeated Derby Junction they lost 2–1 to Burton Swifts in the next game, but the Staffordshire club was subsequently disqualified for fielding an ineligible player. Matlock and Loughborough were then easily despatched as United reached the first round proper of the cup for the second time. This was as far as the Blades would progress however, as they met Notts County at Bramall Lane in mid–January only to be trounced 9–1 by the visitors, a result that remains the club's worst in the competition.

United once again entered the Sheffield Challenge Cup and reached the final for the second season in succession. After a straightforward 7–1 victory over Attercliffe in round one the Blades made their way past Kilnhurst in the semi-final at the second time of asking. On 21 March they met near neighbours Doncaster Rovers in the final, but despite having home advantage, with the game being played at Bramall Lane, United lost 2–1.

The team entered the Wharncliffe Charity Cup at the semi-final stage but were drawn against established cross-city rivals The Wednesday. Despite increasing rivalry between the clubs, a relatively small crowd of just over 3,000 spectators were present at Wednesday's Olive Grove ground to watch them beat United 2–1.

Despite now playing competitive league football United continued to fill the fixture list with numerous friendlies, which ultimately led to them playing 64 first-team games over the course of eight months. There was a noticeable improvement in the quality of opposition however, as a number of the more established professional teams visited Bramall Lane during the first half of the season, drawing reasonable crowds in the process. Although there were early season losses to Everton and Preston North End, United secured victories against Bolton Wanderers and Derby County, both at the time members of the Football League First Division.

The second half of the season saw a continued run of exhibition games but the quality of opposition was, at times, not as high. Despite lesser opposition, results tailed off as the fixture congestion these games created began to take its toll on the squad, most notably at the point when United's involvement in the Sheffield Challenge Cup meant that they had two first-team games scheduled for the same day. Rather than cancelling the pre-arranged friendlies the Blades went ahead with both fixtures, splitting the first team between them. The highlight of the fixture calendar did result from a friendly match however, as a then record 14,000 Sheffielders were present at Bramall Lane in January to watch United beat local rivals The Wednesday for the first time, running out 3–2 victors. January also saw United take on their first ever non–English team when they played Scottish side Linthouse, although the match was limited to only 35 minutes each way owing to poor light.

Source:

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

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW  ENG Billy Bairstow — FW  ENG Billy Bridgewater — DF  ENG L. Brownlow — FW  SCO William Calder — MF  SCO Gavin Crawford — GK  ENG R. Creighton (guest player from Sheffield Club) — DF  ENG Edward Cross — MF  ENG Samuel Dobson — FW  SCO John Drummond — GK  ENG Richard Fenwick (guest player from Sheffield Club) — FW  ENG William Getliff — MF  ENG George Groves (captain)

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  ENG A. Hemmingfield — DF  SCO Billy Hendry — DF  ENG Rab Howell — GK  ENG Charlie Howlett — DF  ENG Jack Hudson — DF  ENG Harry Lilley — DF  SCO Harry Munro — DF  ENG Ernest Needham — FW  SCO W. Robertson — DF  ENG Ned Stringer — FW  ENG Arthur Watson — DF  ENG Michael Whitham

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

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW  ENG A.D. Barber (guest player from Sheffield Club) — FW  ENG T.B.A. Clarke — FW  ENG A.R. Elliman

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  ENG J. Jeeves (guest player from Sheffield Club) — FW  ENG Bernard Shaw (guest player from Sheffield Club) — DF  ENG Harry Thickett (guest player from Hexthorpe Wanderers)

Position	Player	Transferred from	Fee	Date	Source
FW	Billy Bridgewater	Rotherham Town	Signed	August 1890
DF	Edward Cross	Rotherham Town	Signed	August 1890
DF	A. Hemmingfield	Doncaster Rovers	Signed	August 1890
DF	Harry Lilley	Staveley	Signed	August 1890
FW	Gavin Crawford	Fairfield Rangers	Signed	November 1890
DF	Harry Munro	Somerton Athletic	Signed	December 1890
FW	William Getliff	Darnall	Signed	January 1891
MF	John Drummond	Preston North End	Signed	February 1891
DF	Billy Hendry	Preston North End	Signed	February 1891
DF	Ernest Needham	Staveley	Signed	February 1891
DF	George Groves	Sheffield Club	Signed	March 1891
MF	Samuel Dobson	Preston North End	Signed	14 March 1891

Position	Player	Transferred to	Fee	Date	Source
FW	James Duncan	Released	Free	June 1890
MF	Donald Fraser	Released	Free	June 1890
FW	Dugald Galbraith	Released	Free	June 1890
DF	L. Gilmartin	Released	Free	June 1890
DF	Walter Hobson	Owlerton	Free	June 1890
DF	S. Mack	Crewe Alexandra	Free	June 1890
FW	Billy Mosforth	Released	Retired	June 1890
FW	T.B.A. Clarke	Sheffield Club	Free	December 1890

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA	GD	Pts
3	Lincoln City	18	7	6	5	34	21	+13	20
4	Derby Midland	18	8	4	6	28	28	0	20
5	Sheffield United	18	8	3	7	32	25	+7	19
6	Burton Wanderers	18	7	4	7	25	33	−8	18
7	Rotherham Town	18	7	4	7	20	28	−8	18

As of the end of the season

No.	Pos	Nat	Player	Total		Midland Counties League		FA Cup
				Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
	FW	ENG	Billy Bairstow	14	3	14	3	0	0
	FW	ENG	Billy Bridgewater	22	9	18	9	4	0
	FW	SCO	William Calder	16	4	12	2	4	2
	MF	SCO	Gavin Crawford	5	4	5	4	0	0
	GK	ENG	R. Creighton	1	0	1	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Edward Cross	21	0	16	0	5	0
	MF	ENG	Samuel Dobson	5	1	5	1	0	0
	FW	SCO	John Drummond	5	1	5	1	0	0
	GK	ENG	Richard Fenwick	1	0	1	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	William Getliff	1	0	0	0	1	0
	MF	ENG	George Groves	13	0	10	0	3	0
	DF	SCO	Billy Hendry	7	0	7	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Jack Houseley	1	0	1	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Rab Howell	23	2	18	2	5	0
	GK	ENG	Charlie Howlett	24	0	19	0	5	0
	DF	ENG	Jack Hudson	2	0	1	0	1	0
	DF	ENG	Harry Lilley	20	0	15	0	5	0
	DF	SCO	Harry Munro	1	0	1	0	0	0
	FW	SCO	W. Robertson	20	5	16	3	4	2
	DF	ENG	G. Smith	2	0	2	0	0	0
	DF	ENG	Ned Stringer	5	0	5	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	Arthur Watson	24	13	19	10	5	3
	DF	ENG	Michael Whitham	26	0	21	0	5	0
Players who left before the end of the season:
	FW	ENG	A.D. Barber	1	0	1	0	0	0
	FW	ENG	T.B.A. Clarke	5	0	3	0	2	0
	DF	ENG	J. Jeeves	3	0	2	0	1	0
	FW	ENG	Bernard Shaw	16	2	11	0	5	2
	DF	ENG	Harry Thickett	1	0	1	0	0	0

Place	Nation	Position	Name	Midland Counties League	FA Cup	Total
1		FW	Arthur Watson	10	3	13
2		FW	Billy Bridgewater	9	0	9
3		FW	W. Robertson	3	2	5
4		FW	William Calder	2	2	4
		MF	Gavin Crawford	4	0	4
5		FW	Billy Bairstow	3	0	3
6		DF	Rab Howell	2	0	2
		FW	Bernard Shaw	2	0	2
7		MF	Samuel Dobson	1	0	1
		FW	John Drummond	1	0	1
Totals:				35	9	44

Source:

  Win   Draw   Loss   Void

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• Sheffield United F.C. Official Website