United's Academy did the club proud in a prestigious FA Premier League tournament in Warwick this week.

Against the vast majority of Premiership clubs, United's U15s reached the final of the Premier Cup 08, sponsored by Nike, only losing out to Middlesbrough on Thursday.

The Blades were invited to the four-day tournament, which contained 18 Premiership clubs, due to our involvement in the top league last season, and the youngsters were in fantastic form throughout the event.

After victories over Tottenham and Derby, a draw with Middlesbrough and a defeat to Reading, the Blades progressed from the group stages.

A 3-1 success over Blackburn in the quarter-final - thanks to goals from Adam Hinchliffe, Reece Hands and Corey Gregory - set up a semi-final against last season's winners, Everton, and two strikes from Hands and a third from Gregory secured an emphatic 3-0 success.

Thursday's final against Middlesbrough, played at Warwick University, saw the Teesiders take an early lead, whilst the Blades were denied two penalties by referee Keith Stroud - who has officiated in three United first team games this season.

With United pushing for an equaliser late on in the 20-minute each-way tournament, Boro added two breakaway goals to secure the title and a place in the World Premier Cup, which was won by Barcelona last season.

Coach Mark Smith commented: "It's been a great week for the lads, they have conducted themselves tremendously well and compared well with all the Premiership teams we have been up against.

"Tournament football is a big part of development of youngsters and through strength and desire we deservedly reached the final."

The United squad was...
Sam Andrew, Sam Buffon, Ben Montgomery, Matthew Darlow, Terry Kennedy, Callum McFadzean, Elliott Whitehouse, Corey Gregory, Harry Maguire, Connor Martin, Danny Deakin, Reece Hands, George Willis, Charlie Anderson, James Hamblin, Adam Hinchliffe.