Reight hard Barstewards......

[The_Green_Man]

After watching a youthful, lightweight, Blades team take to the punchbags at EIS yesterday.....I couldn't help but think??

Who are United's toughest Starting XI of all time? Whether they were tough as old boots or complete nut jobs, who makes the cut and secures this accolade?

A few candidates being the ones below however I am sure the "veterans" amongst us can name a few as well.....After all, they watched United when football was actually a contact sport!.

 

[shorehamview]

Billy Whitehurst. As told by Martin Keown.

 

[Blade for Sale]

1) Billy Whitehurst's left leg
2) Billy Whitehurst's left arm
3) Billy Whitehurst's right leg
4) Billy Whitehurst's right arm
5) Billy Whitehurst's left tezzer
6) Billy Whitehurst's right tezzer

I could go on....

 

[Jonboy60]

Trevor hockey, on the pitch anyway. Oh and bradders.

 

[boo radley]

1) Billy Whitehurst's left leg
2) Billy Whitehurst's left arm
3) Billy Whitehurst's right leg
4) Billy Whitehurst's right arm
5) Billy Whitehurst's left tezzer
6) Billy Whitehurst's right tezzer

I could go on....

You could go on to Billy Whitehurst!! Tha wunt even get near..

 

[Lt. J Dangle]

When I was a ball-boy in the 80s I saw John Burridge take on 3 Charlton players in the tunnel

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

We've never had much problem with hard nuts, Hockey, Whitehurst, Downes, Pike, Jones, Bradshaw, Phelan, Curle. Can't name a keeper though.

 

[Silent Blade]

We've never had much problem with hard nuts, Hockey, Whitehurst, Downes, Pike, Jones, Bradshaw, Phelan, Curle. Can't name a keeper though.

Fatty Foulke!

 

[ZoneManWilf]

Billy clearly the number one here.

Wally Downes, Doug Hodgson.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Fatty Foulke!

Aye, according to folklore he liked a ruck or two.

 

[Silent Blade]

1890s Rab Howell
1900s Fatty Foulke
1910s Bill Brelsford
1920s Harold Pantling
1930s Fred Jessop
1940s Albert Cox
1950s Harry Latham
1960s Brian Richardson
1970s Trevor Hockey
1980s Joe Bolton
1990s Billy Whitehurst
2000s Chris Morgan
2010s Harry Maguire

 

[Silent Blade]

Billy clearly the number one here.

Wally Downes, Doug Hodgson.

Agree Downes was the psycho and Hodgson the bravest

 

[Esablade]

We've never had much problem with hard nuts, Hockey, Whitehurst, Downes, Pike, Jones, Bradshaw, Phelan, Curle. Can't name a keeper though.

Didn't Paddy Kenny bite his mates ear off or summat!?!?

Dunno whether that's 'hard' or just 'nuts'

 

[SwissBlade]

My Mate was working back in Yorkshire a year or so ago and he posted a picture of him and Billy Whitehurst on Facebook as he'd met him through work.

36 years old (at the time) and I've never been so jealous...

 

[ZoneManWilf]

You could add a few more from Bassett's team.

Bradders, Charlie Hartfield.

 

[The_Green_Man]

Didn't Paddy Kenny bite his mates ear off or summat!?!?

Dunno whether that's 'hard' or just 'nuts'

Nah Paddy Kenny had his eyebrown bitten open / off after a fight over a bird In Halifax apparently.

I remember Warnock's reaction was typically Warnock...Something like "He's really embarrassed more than owt and he won't be letting it happen again". As if to say that he should have got a left hook in early .

 

[Esablade]

Nah Paddy Kenny had his eyebrown bitten open after a fight over a bird apparently.

Eyebrows...ears...least he got 'stuck in' eh?

 

[TonyAgana]

Bradders > Vinnie

 

[The_Green_Man]

Eyebrows...ears...least he got 'stuck in' eh?

Does it count though? He was under the influence of half of fosters and 2x5ml spoonfuls of Benadryl at the time

 

[1danewhitehouse]

In my lifetime I'd go for


------------------Kenny

Bradders--Morgs--Gayle--Unsworth

Devlin----Santos--Jones---Whitehouse

-----------Whitehurst--Cresswell


There's different types as well. Ade Akinbiyi for example was probably physically the strongest player I've ever seen play for us and fronted out a razor wielding Claude Davis but didn't seem particularly aggressive. Maguire also very physically imposing but wouldn't say -boo to a goose. Same as Deano.

Del Geary on the other hand could blow away in a gust of wind but was very tough in terms of his character.

Brown was dirty player not scared to put his foot in but it wasn't the main aspect of his game. Same goes for Hodges.

 

[Bert]

Steve Thompson told Bert that Roger Nilsen was a very hard nut, he'd been in the army and carried on as if he still was.

 

[Bayingblade]

Another from the 80's. Mick Henderson.

And for some guile in the team, old 'eadbut himself, Glyn Hodges. Deceptively Hard

 

[BushBlade]

Another from the 80's. Mick Henderson.

And for some guile in the team, old 'eadbut himself, Glyn Hodges. Deceptively Hard

Didn't Henderson join the police force after he retired from football?

 

[ashsufc1889]

Didn't Paddy Kenny bite his mates ear off or summat!?!?

Dunno whether that's 'hard' or just 'nuts'

Nah he had his eyebrow did off by the fella that was bumming his Missus...

 

[Jonboy60]

Kenworthy was no shrinking violet.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Didn't Henderson join the police force after he retired from football?

He did, saw at a game a couple of years after he retired and was talking to him about life on the beat. Fantastic fella, Mick.

 

[Boxer Blade]

Billy whitehurst easily out in front, vinnie Jones good second after that not sure, anybody can try to act tough on the pitch but off it? Same in local football,a lot going on the pitch but off it?

 

[BushBlade]

Billy whitehurst easily out in front, vinnie Jones good second after that not sure, anybody can try to act tough on the pitch but off it? Same in local football,a lot going on the pitch but off it?

Vinnie? Never convinced me. Met him as well. Didn't have the aura I anticipated. I reckon a few of Bassett's other players would have got the better of him, if it came to it.

 

[Bayingblade]

Didn't Henderson join the police force after he retired from football?

Think he did BB, in Chesterfield if my memory serves me correctly..............

Which is rare these days!

 

[singaporeblade]

Think he did BB, in Chesterfield if my memory serves me correctly..............

Which is rare these days!

Bobby Campbell...(''hit the post, it should have been a goal'')