Blades present donation to MCCF

The United officials presented Margaret Abela, the wife of Malta’s president, with a cheque for GBP 2,500 towards the Malta Community Chest Fund (MCCF). The donation was raised at the end of last season, as part of the club’s Player of the Year awards.

Abela was also presented with a Sheffield United shirt that had been signed by the squad of players attending this year’s Blades pre-season tour of Malta. The shirt would now be auctioned off for the MCCF.

Farnan said: “It was a great honour to meet the wife of Malta’s President at such a notable location. This occasion reflects the special bond that has grown between Sheffield United and the country of Malta.”

Earlier in the day the Blades supporters were invited to attend the Thursday morning training session. United opened the doors to the public at the Malta FA training grounds in Ta’ Qali, which had been acting as the team’s base camp.

The session gave supporters an early glimpse of new signings Daniel Bogdanovic, Steve Simonsen, Johnny Ertl and Leon Britton. There was also a warm welcome for the Blades regulars, that included the likes of club captain Chris Morgan and Blades 2009-10 Player of the Year, Nick Montgomery and striker Richard Cresswell. All three players had recently signed contract extensions with the Blades.

The training session granted Blades supporters a rare insight into the intense training programme the players undergo pre-season. The crowd watched on as the players completed a series of warm-up, crossing and shooting exercises before playing in a nine-a-side match.

United’s new Maltese signing Daniel Bogdanovic said: “It is great to be back so close to home and have a chance to meet up with some friends and the fans. The main focus is to get fit, so I am ready to challenge for a place in the Blades side.

“Conditions are very hot, which is less of a problem for me, but the lads are giving it everything in training and coping well,” he added.

Yesterday’s triangular tournament between United and Maltese opposition kicked off at 7.30pm. The first game pitted the two local sides Hibernians and Vittoriosa Stars against each other, before they took on Sheffield United in the round-robin 45 minutes' fixtures.