Why Sheffield United's friendly against Mansfield is being played behind closed doors

Sheffield United fans have been denied the chance to come up against familiar faces when they take on Mansfield in a pre-season friendly later this month. The Blades will play the Stags on Tuesday, July 19, in a behind-closed-doors fixture.

United's opponents are managed by former boss Nigel Clough, who led the team to an FA Cup semi-final at Wembley and the League One play-off final during a two-year stint at Bramall Lane between 2013 and 2015.

United also reached the semi-final of the league cup too under Clough and secured a number of scalps along the way in both cup runs.

Also in the Mansfield team is Stephen Quinn. Now 36, the former Republic of Ireland international progressed through the academy at Shirecliffe before going on to pull on the red and white shirt 239 times.

He broke into the United team during the Premier League campaign in 2006-07 and found the net on 22 occasions in all competitions.

The pair would no doubt have been looking forward to the reunion but that will no longer be the case after the fixture was moved to behind closed doors.

Yorkshire Live understands the decision was made after consultation between Mansfield and Nottinghamshire Police.

Sheffield United, who would have brought a large following, were not involved in the decision as responsibility for policing the fixture falls on the home club and relevant authorities.

Only following those consultations between Nottinghamshire Police and Mansfield was the decision taken to play without fans in attendance.

The fixture completes United's pre-season schedule. It kicks off with a match against newly promoted top flight side Casa Pia in Portugal next week, before matches in the UK against Lincoln City, Scunthorpe United, Mansfield, Burton