Sheffield United pre-season highlights from Malta

Following Sheffield United’s successful pre-season training programme during a heat wave in Malta, the club has taken a look back at some Blades highlights on the Mediterranean island.

Saturday 4th July

Maltese singing sensation Ira Losco and Sheffield United's popular Maltese international goalkeeper Justin Haber launched the Blades’ pre-season tour of Malta by unveiling a giant 8m by 4m ‘Flag of Friendship’ in the colourful streets of Valletta.

Throughout the tour thousands of Maltese residents and visitors signed the flag that has been taken back to Bramall Lane and will now be proudly displayed at this season’s home games.

Ira Losco was in Valletta to sign the flag and help promote the Blades Charity evening on Thursday 9th July. The event will be hosted at the Excelsior Yacht Club in aid of the Maltese Inspire Foundation, with tickets priced at only €10 and available from The Grand Hotel Excelsior or via www.jaggedhouse.com. Guests will have the opportunity to meet Justin Haber and rest of the Blades squad, as well as enjoying a live performance from Ira Losco.

Sheffield United Executive Director Mike Farnan said: “Sheffield United is very appreciative of Ira Losco’s support for our charity event, and let’s hope many more people from the island sign the flag. We were really pleased that it was so well received by the public of Valletta.”

Monday 6th July

The Malta Junior Blades hosted a charity party at the Splash and Fun water park, in aid of the Inspire Foundation. The Maltese charity supports over 1,000 children and adults with learning and physical disabilities. The Malta Junior Blades activity was the first in a series of Blades events staged on the island in support of the new charity.

Over one hundred new Malta Junior Blades signed up to the island’s Blades academy programme. The event also marked the first appearance for the popular Sheffield band Craine, who flew out to Malta as guests of Sheffield United.

Tuesday 7th July

The Blades youth coach staged a training session with the nursery teams (Under-13, 14 & 15’s) from Maltese Premier League club, Floriana.

Tuesday evening sees Craine perform live at the ‘Malta Music week’ concert hosted in the main square of Bugibba. Over 1,000 locals were joined by a large assembly of Blades fans to cheer on the band, who recently launched their new single ‘Broken Strings’.

During the morning, Kevin Blackwell put his squad through a tough training session at the Blades’ training ground in Sheffield, before the team departed for the pre-season tour. Blackwell and the squad landed at Malta Airport just after midnight and were transferred to the Fortina Spa Hotel, where the team stayed for the duration of the trip.

Wednesday 8th July

The United squad set off for an early morning run around the port of Sliema, while a Blades celebrity side took on teams representing the Maltese hotels in six-a-side tournament. The all-star United team, featuring United’s Republic of Ireland youth international Travis Binnion, three members of the Sheffield band Craine and ex-Maltese international goalkeeper Saviour Darmanin, remain unbeaten to lift the trophy. Blades ambassador Brian Deane hosts the prize giving.

United boss Kevin Blackwell and his counterpart from Floriana Football Club, Roddy Collins, host an afternoon press conference with the Maltese media.

Blades squad was put through another rigorous evening fitness session at the training camp, based at Hibernians Football Club. After training the players were invited to attend the ‘Isle of MTV’ concert. An estimated 50,000 people attended the free concert, which featured headline acts The Black Eyed Peas, Lady Gaga, Metro Station and Esmée Denters.

Thursday 9th July

Kevin Blackwell opened up the summer training camp to fans and members of the public. The early morning session marked the first public appearance of new Blades signings Lee Williamson and Kyel Reid. Fans also got their first glimpse of United trialists Glen Little and Julian Gray.

While Blackwell put his squad through their paces, the Blades youth coach took Hibs nursery teams for a coaching session at the nearby training facilities.

After the afternoon rest period, Kevin Blackwell and the squad set off for a Blades Charity Evening on a cruise boat, suitably named ‘Captain Morgan’. The crew invited Blades skipper Chris Morgan to pilot the boat.

The prestigious charity event was hosted at the Grand Excelsior Hotel Yacht Club, in support of the Inspire Foundation. Guests lined up to get autographs from the players, as well as enjoying amazing views of the island and live performances from Ira Losco and Craine. The Blades squad left the charity event and headed straight back to the Hibs Stadium for an evening training session.

Friday 9th July

After the morning’s training session, players were given the option to spend their rest period on a powerboat. The ‘Sunseeker Experience Malta’ boats, that have previously featured in James Bond movies ‘Never Say Never’ and ‘Quantum of Solace’, pulled-up at the Portomaso Marina to take the players for a whistle-stop cruise around some the island’s most beautiful hotspots. The players enjoy cooling down with a quick dip in the secluded bay at Delimara.

Providing a perfect finale to the Blades’ pre-season tour of Malta, Brian Howard’s penalty secured a 1-0 victory over Maltese Premier League side, Floriana. A crowd of 1,800 were in attendance, which included over 400 Blades fans. The team ran out in the new Macron kit for the first time. After the game all the players signed their shirts, which were donated to Maltese charities for fundraising activities.

Saturday 10th July

Having received a warm welcome from the people of Malta throughout the tour, Kevin Blackwell and the squad departed early afternoon on the Air Malta flight back to Manchester Airport.