Here at our pick of the fixtures for the weekend coming...

Sheffield United vs Sheffield United Friday Night
The famous steel city derby is sure to be a tense and exciting affair. Wednesday did the double over United last year for the first time in ninety-something years and Kevin Blackwell's boys will be looking to avenge that.

OK, so my title may be a bit misleading. The two sides will meet on Monday May 25 for the Championship play-off final for the chance to play in the Premier League next season. In terms of financial reward there really is no greater prize in world football, with the winner set for a £40million+ windfall and the chance to take on Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and the rest of the Premier League's big boys.

Congratulations to Burnley, who today beat Sheffield United 1-0 in the Championship Play-Off Final at Wembley.

Wade Elliot's stunning strike after 13 minutes was enough to see The Claret's into the Premier League, for the first time in 33 years.

What an end to a fantastic season for Owen Coyle and Burnley.

"No comment."
"Stupid."
"Inexplicable."
"Everyone is telling me they were penalties."
The procession of statements from Kevin Blackwell as it slowly dawned on him that the Premier League don't want the likes of Sheffield United in the lodge, thank you very much.

Patrick (Paddy) Kenny has been with Sheffield United for the six seasons already, the man is a genuine legend and an irreplaceable keeper in their on and off days. When, some time before Christmas, Kenny arrived late to practice, he couldn't even imagine what was in store for him... No one actually knows everything that happened [.

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Today saw the Championship season come to a close, with Birmingham City booking their place alongside Wolves in the Premier League next season.
With both those sides now up, that leaves just one more team to join them out of four. The four clubs to book their place in this season's play-off's are Sheffield United, Reading, Burnley and Preston, however only one can go up, so who will it be.

Hello and welcome to a 'special' edition of my guest blog, previewing this weekend's 1st leg play-off fixtures, and in particular looking at The Championship as four teams fight it out for that lucrative final promotion place, that will ultimately take them to the 'promise land' - The Premier League.

It has been a busy month for Wembley. So stratopheric were the costs of building it that there is an element of danger that it will lose its sense of mystique before it has the chance to develop one. This month alone it has already played host to three play-off finals, the FA Trophy and FA Vase finals and has the FA Cup final yet to come.

With the English Premier League 2008/09 finished, several players have signed extensions including Stephen Ireland for Manchester City and Fernando Torres with Liverpool. Here's the latest transfer news in the English Premier League.

Torres signs extension - "Liverpool striker Fernando Torres has agreed a new contract at Anfield until 2013, with an option for an additional year.

Confirmation of the move following the news yesterday that a fee had been agreed.
Sheffield United boss Kevin Blackwell on Evans:

"He's a young striker and we are delighted to have won the race for him because there was significant interest in him from two Premiership clubs and two from the Championship," he told sufc.

Rebecca Blackwell/Associated Press

"Yikes" is what I said when I saw Ricardo Clark throw his legs at Gennaro Guttuso.

"Awwwww," is what I said when I saw the red card above Clark's head.

I talked myself into the United States getting a draw against Italy (maybe even winning) but all my hope burst out of me when Clark was ejected in the 32nd minute.

Normal service resumes this Saturday when finally the new football league season kicks-off! No more Saturdays wondering round Bluewater or at some random friends BBQ, cos ladies and gents football is back! And what an interesting season the Championship throws up this campaign, with quite possibly the most evenly matched league there's ever been.

Soccerlens' Football League preview reaches its climax ahead of the big kick-off this weekend, with The Championship playing a starring role.

There's plenty of big names battling it out for a money-spinning place in the Premiership, so read for our views on who'll be mixing it with Manchester United next season, who'll be lowering themselves into League One, and our prediction for Newcastle's season.

Gary Speed, the former great Newcastle midfielder, is now assistant manager to Kevin Blackwell at Sheffield United. Gary Speed - assistant manager at the Blades Gary will be planning the downfall of Newcastle United, his former club, tonight and we have to hope he will not be successful. Gary, who is best friends of course with a [.

Newcastle United regained the top spot in the Coca Cola League Championship after edging Sheffield United 1-0 away from home. The Magpies went into Monday evening a point behind West Bromwich Albion but an own goal from Blades skipper Chris Morgan stunned Bramall Lane.

Fortunately for Newcastle, there was no coming back from the hosts.

Kevin Blackwell's team are a Wembley final away from landing a £60 million return to the Barclays Premier League after the United midfield player, on loan from Sunderland, headed in the winning goal but only once he had sufficiently recovered from receiving Jon Parkin's studs into his lower midriff.

Hello and welcome to my final betting preview of the season as we look forward to the three play-off finals, with a particular focus on the Championship Play-Off Final I correctly predicted that it would be Burnley and Sheffield United who would meet at Wembley this Monday, to contest the £60 million prize that awaits the winners.

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This time, it was Sacha Kljestan with the honors. Another late tackle, another costly red card, another loss by the United States in Confederations Cup. The Americans fell to No. 5 Brazil 3-0 in Group B action Thursday. Rebecca Blackwell...

(All times - UK)

Friday 7 August
19:30 Wolfsburg v Stuttgart, Bundesliga, ESPN
The Bundesliga gets underway with a blue ribbon event at the home of the Champions, Wolfsburg. The Wolves may have lost their coach but have retained their forwards who helped spectacularly to deliver the title last May.

Here's Chris Hughton's interview after the tough win at Sheffield United last night. If the Blackwell interview comes up first (he may be in trouble) look to the right and click on Chris' interview. It's a good interview and Chris is down to earth as usual, and he's taking absolutely nothing for granted.

According to Jon Owen at WhyDelilah, Stoke City defender Andrew Davies would like to go back to Sheffield United after his loan with the club ended. Davies said,

"I'm happy at Stoke and I've been working hard in training in a bid to get back into the manager's plans .

After our inability to put away our chances yesterday, Chris Hughton (after speaking with the Chronicle), has admitted that Jermaine Beckford is one of a few players that Newcastle United are interested in signing. Beckford has always been fancied by Newcastle Kinnear wanted him, Shearer wanted him, now it looks like it's Hughton's turn.