Wrexham aim cheeky dig at Billy Sharp as Sheffield United controversy re-surfaces | OneFootball

The FA Cup replay between the two current Championship sides in 2023 caused plenty of drama

Former Sheffield United and EFL icon, Billy Sharp, has explained the reason behind his actions in a 2023 FA Cup replay between his old club and Wrexham at Bramall Lane.

With the Blades and Red Dragons now divisional rivals in the Championship, it has become a fixture we are now accustomed to seeing on the EFL schedule, but just three-and-a-half years ago, three leagues separated the Steel City and North Wales outfits, but they would pit their wits against each other in world football's most historic cup competition.

United, under the management of Paul Heckingbottom at the time, were also seeking a return to the Premier League having been relegated two seasons previous, with the squad at Bramall Lane at the time full of experience, epitomised by the fact Sharp was still heavily involved in the campaign at 37.

However, the 2022/23 season is also one where Wrexham's well-documented rise fully kickstarted under Phil Parkinson, with plenty of eyes across the world starting to take note of what was occurring at the Racecourse Ground.

But, it's fair to say that the documentary sideshow associated with the club hasn't always gone down too well, and Sharp certainly believed this led to a peculiar mentality from Parkinson's squad at the time.

Billy Sharp explains Sheffield United v Wrexham beef after 2023 FA Cup battles

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The Blades, who are four-time winners of the FA Cup were drawn against Wrexham in the fourth round of the competition in North Wales, which, given the Red Dragons' ambitions of promotion to League Two at the time, led to plenty of spotlight being cast on the tie.

In truth, the first game was a thriller in itself, ending 3-3, with Wrexham initially coming from behind to lead, before John Egan's 95th-minute equaliser denied a famous victory after Paul Mullin put the hosts back in front with four minutes to go.

However, much of the drama centered around Daniel Jebbison's 71st-minute red card for an off-the-ball incident with Ben Tozer, which then led to plenty of back-and-forth between himself and Sharp after the replay, which ended 3-1 courtesy of two late goals from the United forward and Sander Berge.

Explaining his 'beef' with Wrexham on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sharp said: "I never really got invited to be on the documentary, which I was a bit disappointed with.

"I just had Ben Tozer talking a load of nonsense. They were picking on Daniel Jebbison at the time, I'm not sure why when he's 6"4 and an absolute unit.

"They nearly knocked us out," he added. "We got the replay. John Egan scored late doors, and then there was a thing about our celebration which riled us up going into the second game.

"Just the way some of their players were disrespecting my teammates. I was captain of Sheffield United at the time.

"Oli Norwood came on, and some of the comments that I was hearing from some of their players. One did come true, he did give a penalty away off the ball.

"Our keeper saved Paul Mullin's penalty and I managed to score and we won the game, knocked them out and a few things happened on the pitch," Sharp continued.

"After the game, Phil Parkinson thought I was trying to wind the Wrexham fans up. He doesn't know that, god knows why, the families are sat right near the away fans and I'd go over after every game, win, lose or draw and show that I'm thankful for them being there.

"Wrexham (fans) are throwing coins at me and stuff like that. I've always had a thing where, if they 'give me some', I'll give it back.

"I gave a 'tear sign' and Parkinson's pushing me, saying 'what are you doing' etc. and, long story short, it all went off."

United then went on to make the FA Cup semi-final that season, where they would lose 3-0 to Manchester City whilst also achieving automatic promotion, whilst Wrexham returned to the EFL after a 15-year exile as National League champions.

Wrexham respond to Billy Sharp's latest round of comments

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Unsurprisingly, Sharp's latest comments have already caused a stir amongst supporters who were in attendance at Bramall Lane, with some claiming: "You were rattled because little old Wrexham nearly beat the massive Sheffield United."

Another, as part of his response, stated: "all good fun and games."

Meanwhile, with Sharp revealing he is fine with back-and-forth responses from sets of supporters and players, Wrexham's official account has hit back at the Championship's all-time leading scorer.

On X, a video has surfaced with a saxophonic version of Annie's Song, which United play before kick-off, over the top of Sharp's post-match interview from the replay, during which he admits: "(I) probably lost my head a little bit."

Sheffield United vs Wrexham will have added spice this season too

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As well as the aforementioned backdrop of drama provided by those FA Cup ties, the two matches this season between the Blades and Red Dragons have now been given extra spice due to late activity in the summer transfer window.

Indeed, United's Player of the Year for 2025/26 after scoring eight goals and eight assists in 45 matches, Callum O'Hare, has now joined the ambitious Welsh side for £7m.

"blanket bombing" as they looked to finalise a deal for the 28-year-old, which only adds to the frustration felt in S2 in recent weeks due to off-field issues.