2019/20 Yorkshire Round-up

Overall, it’s been a pretty good season for Yorkshire sides. Titles won, expectations smashed and survival achieved. There’s even a North Yorkshire newbie on the block.

Sheffield United

Towards the top of the English football pyramid lie Sheffield United, with an impressive ninth-placed finish in the Premier League. It’s a position achieved against the odds, with the Blades having been firm favourites to go down at the start of the season.

While much of these predictions were down to shoddy punditry, United have likely surpassed the expectations of even their most starry-eyed fans. A relegation battle has never been on the cards at any point this season.

They’re a hard-working side, but also an innovative one set up superbly by Chris Wilder to get the best out of his often underrated players.

Despite missing out on a Europa League spot, it’s still been a hugely successful season for the Blades. It could even be a blessing in disguise, judging at how some – such as Burnley – have fared when trying to juggle European competition with a lack of squad depth.

Leeds United

Joining them in the Premier League next season will be Leeds United, finally back after 16 years of disappointment. After play-off misery last season, the Whites have now stormed to the title by a margin of ten points under Marcelo Bielsa.

This time around, there has been no falling apart (again). Bielsa has coached his squad to the extreme with his intense style. It will be fascinating to see who they bring in to upgrade the squad, and how their style will work in the Premier League.

What is certain though is that while opponents may change and rise in quality, Bielsa’s and Leeds’ stylistic ideals will not budge.

Sheffield Wednesday

A little further up the table lie Sheffield Wednesday, seemingly bogged down in lower mid-table mediocrity. They are facing a squad revamp, with Steven Fletcher and Fernando Forestieri – two key men in recent years – leaving the club.

They have also been smacked with a 12 point deduction for the start of the 2020/21 season for breaching spending rules. They have gotten away with not having it applied this season, meaning they stay in the Championship for now. Unlike with administration, this deduction is one that is not applied immediately and has to wait for a disciplinary panel.

Huddersfield Town and Barnsley

Lower down in the Championship, both Huddersfield and Barnsley managed to escape relegation to League One.

The Tykes stayed up after an epic final day win against high flying Brentford. A stoppage-time winner from Clarke Odour sealed their spot in the second tier after Wigan’s points deduction plunged them into the relegation zone.

They will be hopeful that manager Gerhard Struber can continue his excellent work at Oakwell, and not be poached by a club higher up the pyramid. Since the Austrian took over, Barnsley improved immensely.

Huddersfield’s survival was a little more comfortable, effectively sealed by a 2-1 win over West Brom in the penultimate game of the season.

To drop down from the Premier League and straight into a Championship relegation battle is disappointing. But considering how many clubs over the years have shot down the divisions – such as Sunderland and Portsmouth  – after relegation from the top flight, the Terriers will be glad that they have maintained their second-tier status. A rebuild project under former Leeds assistant Carlos Corberan will surely be beginning now.

Rotherham United and Doncaster Rovers

League One also saw a promotion, with Rotherham making it back to the Championship at the first time of asking after finishing second. The Millers have firmly established themselves as a ‘yoyo’ club between League One and the Championship.

Since promotion to the third tier in 2013, Rotherham have never spent more than two consecutive seasons in either league.

Doncaster Rovers consolidated their playoff disappointment from last season with a strong mid-table finish. At the close of the season, however, they were just six points off the play-offs so could feasibly have made a late dash for a spot.

Bradford City

A division below, Yorkshire’s sole League Two representative – Bradford City – finished ninth, missing out on the play-offs after relegation from League One.

After making a number of notable signings last summer, the Bantams endured a disappointing campaign that ended up seeing manager Gary Bowyer sacked and replaced by Stuart McCall.

Harrogate Town

Bradford will be joined in the league this coming season by EFL newcomers Harrogate Town. A 3-1 victory at Wembley capped off a fine season for Town, sending them into League Two via the play-offs.

An exciting and dynamic side, it will interesting to see if they will ruffle any feathers in the fourth tier.