United (nicknamed the Blades) entered the FA Cup once more but were lucky to reach the first round proper, losing to Burton Swifts during qualifying only to see the Staffordshire club disqualified.

After a first season of mixed fortunes on the field the football committee recognised the appetite amongst the Sheffield public for the game, as attendances at Bramall Lane had steadily increased.

[3] Billy Bridgewater and Edward Cross were signed from nearby Rotherham Town,[4][5] and Harry Lilley arrived from Staveley during the close season,[6] but the Blades persisted with their policy of utilising guest amateur players from the local area.

[3] Despite the relative failure of their previous recruitment in Scotland, by the end of the year United had signed Gavin Crawford and Harry Munro from north of the border as the Blades entered 1891 in more positive form.

[1] They duly negotiated the transfers of John Drummond, Billy Hendry and Samuel Dobson from Preston North End,[9][10][11] then one of the top sides in the country, and they arrived over a number of weeks through February and March to bolster United's first team options.

[12] Having had relative success during their first FA Cup campaign the previous season United struggled to replicate that form and were fortunate to make it past the qualifying rounds in 1890.

[3] There was a noticeable improvement in the quality of opposition however, as a number of the more established professional teams visited Bramall Lane during the first half of the season, drawing reasonable crowds in the process.

Although there were early season losses to Everton and Preston North End, United secured victories against Bolton Wanderers and Derby County, both at the time members of the Football League First Division.

[3] The highlight of the fixture calendar did result from a friendly match however, as a then record 14,000 Sheffielders were present at Bramall Lane in January to watch United beat local rivals The Wednesday for the first time, running out 3–2 victors.