Wrexham show they're still rattled by Sheffield United icon Billy Sharp more than three years after FA Cup epic
Billy Sharp, the former Sheffield United captain, revisited a fiery 2023 FA Cup clash this week – and Wrexham were quick to show he still lives rent free in their heads
It’s been three and a half years since the full-time flashpoint between Billy Sharp and half the Wrexham team, but the Sheffield United saga has not been forgotten. The former Blades captain found himself revisiting one of the more entertaining chapters of his career earlier this week.
Speaking to the BBC, Sharp recalled that fiery FA Cup clash back in 2023 when United drew 3-3 at the Racecourse Ground, before United ran out 3-1 winners in the replay at Bramall Lane.
At the time, there was plenty of needle. United players and staff felt disrespected by the then-non leaguers on a few fronts, including a post from Wrexham’s Twitter account eyeing up Tottenham in the next round before they had beaten the Blades.
Wrexham fans in the away end allegedly threw coins at Sharp at full-time, who responded by wiping his eyes in front of them and was confronted by Phil Parkinson. The Wrexham boss later aggressively confronted a member of United’s media staff after the game, while a tunnel fracas was sparked by Sharp referring to the Welshmen’s documentary in a less-than-positive way.
Speaking this week, Sharp said: “I never really got invited to be on the documentary, which I was a bit disappointed with! They just had Ben Tozer on, talking a load of nonsense.
“They were picking on one of our young lads at the time, Daniel Jebbison. Not sure why, he's 6'4" and he's an absolute unit. They nearly knocked us out. We got the replay and then there was all a bit of a thing about this celebration, which riled us a little bit, going into the second leg.
“It was just the way some of their players were disrespecting my teammates. Our keeper saved Paul Mullins' penalty, and I managed to score. And we won the game, knocked them out.
“Then a few things happened on the pitch after the game. Phil Parkinson thought I was trying to wind the Wrexham fans up. He didn’t know that - and God knows why United do it - the families are sat right near the away fans.
“And win, lose or draw, I went over to show that I'm thankful for them being there. Wrexham fans were throwing coins at me and stuff like that. And I've always had a bit of a thing that, if they give me something, I give it back.
“I gave a little bit of a tear sign, and Parkinson's pushing me, saying: ‘What are you doing? blah, blah, blah.’ And, long story short, all went off. Then when I signed for LA Galaxy and landed in LA, the first thing I saw was the biggest billboard: ‘Welcome to Wrexham.’
“I just started laughing to myself. But from my side, I just wanted to get through the FA Cup. And we got beat by Man City in the semi-final at Wembley, 3-0. So they probably had the last laugh.”
A lot has happened in the years since. Wrexham are now United’s Championship rivals and signed one of their best players, Callum O’Hare, for £7m on deadline day. But Sharp still clearly triggers then, with the official club account reposting his comments to the BBC on Twitter.
Alongside a video of Sharp’s post-match interview, the post read: “Probably lost my head a little bit,” along with a violin emoji. A lot of water may have passed under the bridge since, but Sharp is clearly still on their minds.