Sheffield United will always remember 10th August 2002 for one clear reason | OneFootball

Sheffield United will always remember 10th August 2002 as Paddy Kenny made his debut. The rest is history!

10th August 2002 will live long in the memory for Sheffield United as Paddy Kenny made his debut for the club before going on to make over 300 appearances for the Blades

Paddy Kenny made his Sheffield United debut on 10th August 2002 in a 2-1 away defeat to Coventry City at Highfield Road.

The keeper signed for the Blades on a three-month loan deal from Bury for the reason of covering for their current number one at the time, Simon Tracey, who was out due to injury, via BBC Sport.

Sheffield United boss Neil Warnock said, "I enquired about Paddy when we first arrived at Bramall Lane but were then quoted around £300,000 to £400,000."

With number 1 keeper Tracey reportedly out with a serious knee injury and Sheffield United unable to sign Alan Combe due to financial problems, it left the club having to take a punt on Kenny as their main man between the sticks.

In his tenure that followed, not many could've predicted the flourishing career that Kenny would go on to have for the South Yorkshire side.

From short-term loan to first choice goalkeeper

After making his debut on 10th August 2002, Kenny went on to play 45 games for Sheffield United that season in the formerly known Division 1.

His debut season was eventful to say the least, after making the step up to being first-choice keeper and featuring in Sheffield United's Division 1 play-off final defeat to Wolverhampton Wanderers.

From there on, Kenny cemented his position as the Blades' goalkeeper for a second consecutive season by making 27 league appearances in the 2003/04 campaign and subsequently made over 40 appearances in four of his next five seasons with the club before transferring to QPR in June 2010 for £750,000.

Key moments in red and white for Kenny

In Sheffield United's 2005/06 season, Kenny was a crucial part of the Blades side that earnt them automatic promotion to the Premier League after finishing 2nd in the Championship.

The highlight of Kenny's season that year came against promotion rivals Reading.

Kenny saved a 92-minute Dave Kitson penalty to keep the scores 1-1 at the Madejski Stadium in February 2006. This turned out to be a vital point on the board and a turning point in the Blades season.

The following season was Kenny's first taste of Premier League football, which marked his fourth season at the club under the management of Neil Warnock.

After earning the reputation of being a reliable shotstopper for the Blades, his fine form over the years shone through in the top flight of English football with an outstanding display against Arsene Wegner's Arsenal.

Kenny kept a clean sheet in a 1-0 home win against the Gunners in December 2006 to see out a shock result against one of the Premier League's in-form sides.

Dramatic end to almost 8 years at Sheffield United

After being first-choice goalkeeper for almost 8 years at Bramall Lane, Kenny's Blades career will most likely be remembered for the wrong reasons due to being suspended for nine months for a failed drug test.

With Kenny being positively tested for ephedrine, this cast a shadow on his final year at the club, which saw him leave for Loftus Road and sign for QPR on a three-year-deal from Sheffield United.