THE GROUND
Bramall Lane
Sheffield
S2 4SU
Bramall Lane started life as a cricket ground and was also home to Sheffield Wednesday before Sheffield United were formed in 1889.
The 32,702 stadium has been all-seater since 1994 and is the biggest in League One.
Visiting supporters are usually housed in the lower tier of the Bramall Lane Stand – now known as The Jessica Ennis Stand – and there is room for nearly 3,000 away fans.
THE TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
Bramall Lane is approximately 161 miles from Griffin Park by road.
Most drivers will head to the ground from the M1 – from junction 29 drivers should take the A617 towards Chesterfield and then the A61, Bramall Lane is to the south of the city centre close to the A61.
Drivers can also leave at junction 33 and take the A630 to the city centre, then the A57 and A61 to meet the A621, Bramall Lane.
There is no specific parking at the ground so drivers will have to park in nearby roads or private car parks.
The nearest station is Sheffield, which is less than a mile from Bramall Lane.
Supporters can also catch the Sheffield Supertram from Sheffield station to Granville Road, which is slightly nearer.
Sheffield station is served by East Midlands Trains, from London St Pancras.
The Supporters’ Association will be running coaches to every game this season – details of times and prices will be announced in due course.
THE RECENT HISTORY
Sheffield United lost in the League One Play-Offs for the second successive year last season.
The Blades competed for promotion for most of the season but could not put together a consistent run of wins to take them clear at the top.
They were unbeaten until November 10, and lost their second game of the season at Griffin Park two weeks later, but won eight and drew eight of their first 16 games.
The Blades were top of the table just before Christmas but then failed to win from December 26 until February 9 and lost ground.
They climbed back in to contention with a seven game unbeaten run but then won once between March 2 and April 9, a run that cost Danny Wilson his job as manager.
Chris Morgan took temporary charge but United won just one of their last six games and finished fifth.
They lost in the Play-Off Semi-Finals to Yeovil Town, despite winning the home leg and now face a third season at League One level.
The Blades had looked strong favourites for promotion towards the end of 2011/12 but finished third, behind rivals Sheffield Wednesday, and lost the Play-Off to Huddersfield Town in a penalty shoot-out.
Given their stadium and resources, League One will still feel unfamiliar to Blades fans, having sat at the top table only six years ago.
They were in the top flight between 1990 and 1994 and reached the second tier Play-Offs three times, losing two finals, before they won their way back in to the Premier League in 2006.
But they came straight back down a year later, on goal difference, after losing on the final day of the season to Wigan Athletic.
United subsequently sued West Ham United as The Hammers had stayed up due to not being deducted points when breaching rules over the signings of Carlos Tévez and Javier Mascherano and reached a financial settlement with the London club.
On the pitch, United lost the Championship Play-Off Final in 2009 and narrowly missed out on the top six on two other occasions.
But they were relegated in 2010/11 and are still trying to get back.
THE MANAGER
David Weir took his first steps in to football management when he was appointed Sheffield United boss last month.
He had previously been on the coaching staff at Everton.
The 43-year-old, who won 69 caps for Scotland, had a long career as a central defender.
He started out at Falkirk and played for Heart of Midlothian, Everton and Rangers before retiring at the age of 41.
After just over a year at Everton he took up the reins at Sheffield United.
THE TOP SCORER
Two men scored 11 League One goals for Sheffield United last season and neither of them are still at Bramall Lane.
Nick Blackman scored his 11 in 28 games and 14 in 33 in all competitions before a moved to Reading in January.
Dave Kitson scored 11 in 33 League One games and 12 in 37 in all competitions.
Kitson left Bramall Lane when his contract expired at the end of the 2012/13 season and has now joined Oxford United.
THE KEY MEN
New manager David Weir released five players after taking charge at Bramall Lane.
Joint top-scorer Dave Kitson, wide midfield player Barry Robson and back-up goalkeeper Danny Coyne were among those to depart.
The new boss has yet to add too much to the squad that ended 2012/13 so United are set to start the new season with the nucleus of the squad from last term.
Goalkeeper George Long will be between the sticks after spending the summer with the England Under-20 squad while Tony McMahon, Neill Collins and Matt Hill will provide experience in defence.
They played most of last season at the back with highly-rated Harry Maguire, who played 44 League One games last season.
Left sided defender Danny Higginbotham has signed a new contract and will also be in the squad.
The midfield usually contained Captain Michael Doyle, who played 52 games in all competitions last season, and Kevin McDonald, who played 51.
Ryan Flynn, who played 43 games in all competitions, was often used on one flank or the other.
United have added to their attacking options by signing Fabian Brandy after his contract at Walsall expired while Shaun Miller and Chris Porter are also options in attack.
Also new to Bramall Lane this summer are midfield player Stephen McGinn, who left Watford this summer, defender Sean McGinty, who came through the ranks at Manchester United, and former Everton midfield player Jasper Johns.
THE FIRST MEETING
December 22 1934, Football League Division Two – Sheffield United 1 Brentford 2
Brentford line-up: Mathieson; Bateman, Poyser; McKenzie, James, Burns; Hopkins, Robson, Holliday, Scott, Fletcher
Brentford goal scorers: Fletcher, Hopkins
Brentford continued their push for promotion from Division Two win a pre-Christmas win at Bramall Lane.
THE LAST MEETING
April 16 2013, npower League One – Sheffield United 2 Brentford 2
Brentford line-up: Moore; Logan, Dean, Craig, Bidwell; Diagouraga; Hodson (sub O’Connor), Reeves, Forshaw (sub Saunders), Donaldson; Trotta (sub Wright-Phillips)
Subs (not used): Gounet, Dallas, Forrester, El Alagui
Brentford goal scorers: Trotta, Wright-Phillips
Brentford’s automatic promotion hopes remained in their own hands after a night four penalties, three red cards and high drama in South Yorkshire.
Click here for a full report.
THE MEMORABLE DAY
May 4 1935, Football League Division Two – Brentford 3 Sheffield United 1
Brentford line-up: Mathieson; Bateman, Poyser; McKenzie, James, Watson; Hopkins, Robson, Holliday, Scott, Fletcher
Brentford goal scorers: Fletcher, Holliday, Scott
Brentford’s final Division Two game before they are promoted to the First Division for the first time in their history.