Firstly, Gareth Evans’ side will take on the Blades’ U18s side at 2pm on Tuesday 12 July, 2022.
Then on the following day, Wednesday 13 July, 2022, Steve Kean’s Development Squad will face Sheffield United’s U23s at our training ground, in a 2pm kick-off.
Sheffield United will be the first English team that the Development Squad face and are a different type of challenge from their first two pre-season friendlies against Tranent Juniors and Preston Athletic.
Facing a variety of opposition is the beauty of the games’ programme as it develops different elements of our youngsters’ game.
Ahead of facing the Blades, Academy Director Steve Kean commented: “Sheffield United’s Academy is awash with very good youth players. They’re up here on pre-season and the fact we can play them at U18 and U23 level is an added bonus.
“Some of our young players will be on the bench for the First Team on Tuesday evening and will then turnout for the Development Squad against them on Wednesday; that’s the beauty of controlling our own fixture schedule as it means they will have exposure to the First Team set-up and gain regular, valuable gametime with us.”

After returning for pre-season, Kean has been working hard with our Wee Hibees, teaching them the fundamentals of Lee Johnson’s style of play.
We have already seen Jacob Blaney – who made his First Team debut on the final day of the 2021/22 cinch Premiership season – involved in a match day squad this season as the Club aims to show a real pathway for young players into the First Team.
“The whole point of the Development Squad is to bridge the gap between U18 football and the First Team,” added Kean.
“As coaches we’ve spent a lot of time speaking to, and working with, the First Team staff to understand their style of play, game plans, and terminology.
“We are trying to implement the same philosophy, so there’s a club style of football and club vocabulary. If we do that, then when the young players’ transition from U18s to the Dev Squad, or from the Dev Squad to the First Team, they understand what’s expected from them in their position, and what certain terminology means.”