Brian "Deano" Deane was a legend at Bramall Lane and by some sections of the Red & White faithful still considers him to be United's best ever striker in the clubs history.

He was signed by Dave Bassett in July 1988 from local club Doncaster Rovers for £30,000 and proved to be a very useful signing. Deane partnered Anthony (Tony) Agana upfront as they both tore through the opposition defence.

In 1990 Deane was part of the team that finished runners-up in Division Two, though they were only promoted on the last day of the season. United had to beat Leicester City at Filbert Street while others had to lose. The Blades won 5-2 with Deane getting on the score sheet with Agana scoring two (Paul Wood and Wilf Rostron scored the others).

Deane was also part of the 1991/1992 side had did the double over Sheffield Wednesday, at Bramall Lane United won 2-0 with Deane scoring the 2nd (Dane Whitehouse got the first). At Hillsbrough the Blades hammered the Owls 3-1 but Deane failed to score.

The following season The Red & White Wizards where the founder members of the FA Premier League and in their first game against Manchester United at home made living history as Deane got on the end of a Paul Rogers long range throwing to head home after five minutes. The goal was the first ever in the Premiership.

In the summer of 1993 Deane was sold to local rivals Leeds United for £2,900,000, he wanted to stay with the Blades and would have if United could have met his wages which United just could not afford while Leeds could.

While at Elland Road they reached the Coca-Cola Cup (now Worthington Cup) Final at Wembley, though it was not a happy ending as they crashed 3-0 to Aston Villa in 1995/1996 season.

Next season he played a major part in Premier League history on the last day. Middlesbrough where playing at Elland Road and had to beat Leeds to stay in the league, with five minutes left Boro were leading after Juninho had made it 2-1 but with minutes to spare Deane scored to make it 2-2, Middlesbrough were relegated.

During that summer though Howard Kendell had left Sheffield United and Nigel Spackman took charge but by the time Kendell had left he had already signed Brian Deane for £1,500,000. His stay was not long and only lasted several months.

In his short spell at Bramall Lane he scored within 18 seconds at Oxford United in a 4-2 win as well as a goal against Middlesbrough at BT Cellnet Riverside Stadium in a 2-1 victory.

His next move took him to Portugal for £1,000,000 but this spell only lasted nine months before in moved to Tee-Side in the shape of Middlesbrough for £3,000,000. He played 72 league games while scoring 18 goals within twelve months until being sold to Leicester City in November 2001 for a small fee of just £150,000.

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