The demise of our best ever team

All advertisments are hidden for logged in members, why not log in/register?

Cerberus Blade

Well-Known Member
Joined
Sep 2, 2015
Messages
13,631
Reaction score
20,989
Bit of a morbid thread this one and I apologise for raising it, but I'm a guy in my 50's now and I've been watching the Blades since I was about 12 years old
- so 1970 onwards, I'd have watched them before then but it was only when I got to that age that I had a bit of pocket money to spend. My parents weren't interested in football and never took me to a game. So it was only when I got to that age and started secondary school (where you had to be a Blade or an Owl) that I took a real interest in it.

My first game - Blades v Owls - Division 2 - 1970 ( I think). Blades won 3-2 (John Tudor came on as sub and scored the winner) but Blades outclassed them for most of that game.

I went to watch both teams for a few months that season - not knowing which to support - but it soon became obvious. The players United had then were superb. The football was attacking and exciting and a new Blade was born - albeit a bit late.

I can't tell you how good that team was - the Woody/Currie era. In my humble opinion it was our best team ever - although we won nowt of course. But fellas, if you are in your 50's, or one day hope to get there, let me give you a warning...

You will end up going to more funerals than weddings or christenings in this decade.

You'll feel 18 still but your body will tell you otherwise.

And you'll see your heroes dying off, one by one, and a piece of your life will slip by with it. But the memory will live on - thankfully.

I've really felt this over recent years with the passing of Woody, Hedgy and Hope. They epitomised that wonderful era in my life when life was good and United were good too.

And before then, way too early, my all time favourite, Trevor Hockey, passed on.

I can only see us losing more Blades legends from that era during this season. The vintage team is dying before our eyes and I doubt there will ever be another like it.

It seems to me that almost every game I go to now there is some celebration a a deceased player or supporter.

People aren't dying earlier than they used to - the opposite in fact- but my heroes from that era are on the way out.

Who next I wonder?

I don't even want to think about it but I can't help it. For sure it will be another Blades legend from the 1970's.

RIP in advance.
 



Bit of a morbid thread this one and I apologise for raising it, but I'm a guy in my 50's now and I've been watching the Blades since I was about 12 years old
- so 1970 onwards, I'd have watched them before then but it was only when I got to that age that I had a bit of pocket money to spend. My parents weren't interested in football and never took me to a game. So it was only when I got to that age and started secondary school (where you had to be a Blade or an Owl) that I took a real interest in it.

My first game - Blades v Owls - Division 2 - 1970 ( I think). Blades won 3-2 (John Tudor came on as sub and scored the winner) but Blades outclassed them for most of that game.

I went to watch both teams for a few months that season - not knowing which to support - but it soon became obvious. The players United had then were superb. The football was attacking and exciting and a new Blade was born - albeit a bit late.

I can't tell you how good that team was - the Woody/Currie era. In my humble opinion it was our best team ever - although we won nowt of course. But fellas, if you are in your 50's, or one day hope to get there, let me give you a warning...

You will end up going to more funerals than weddings or christenings in this decade.

You'll feel 18 still but your body will tell you otherwise.

And you'll see your heroes dying off, one by one, and a piece of your life will slip by with it. But the memory will live on - thankfully.

I've really felt this over recent years with the passing of Woody, Hedgy and Hope. They epitomised that wonderful era in my life when life was good and United were good too.

And before then, way too early, my all time favourite, Trevor Hockey, passed on.

I can only see us losing more Blades legends from that era during this season. The vintage team is dying before our eyes and I doubt there will ever be another like it.

It seems to me that almost every game I go to now there is some celebration a a deceased player or supporter.

People aren't dying earlier than they used to - the opposite in fact- but my heroes from that era are on the way out.

Who next I wonder?

I don't even want to think about it but I can't help it. For sure it will be another Blades legend from the 1970's.

RIP in advance.

Chin up kid
 
Bit of a morbid thread this one and I apologise for raising it, but I'm a guy in my 50's now and I've been watching the Blades since I was about 12 years old
- so 1970 onwards, I'd have watched them before then but it was only when I got to that age that I had a bit of pocket money to spend. My parents weren't interested in football and never took me to a game. So it was only when I got to that age and started secondary school (where you had to be a Blade or an Owl) that I took a real interest in it.

My first game - Blades v Owls - Division 2 - 1970 ( I think). Blades won 3-2 (John Tudor came on as sub and scored the winner) but Blades outclassed them for most of that game.

I went to watch both teams for a few months that season - not knowing which to support - but it soon became obvious. The players United had then were superb. The football was attacking and exciting and a new Blade was born - albeit a bit late.

I can't tell you how good that team was - the Woody/Currie era. In my humble opinion it was our best team ever - although we won nowt of course. But fellas, if you are in your 50's, or one day hope to get there, let me give you a warning...

You will end up going to more funerals than weddings or christenings in this decade.

You'll feel 18 still but your body will tell you otherwise.

And you'll see your heroes dying off, one by one, and a piece of your life will slip by with it. But the memory will live on - thankfully.

I've really felt this over recent years with the passing of Woody, Hedgy and Hope. They epitomised that wonderful era in my life when life was good and United were good too.

And before then, way too early, my all time favourite, Trevor Hockey, passed on.

I can only see us losing more Blades legends from that era during this season. The vintage team is dying before our eyes and I doubt there will ever be another like it.

It seems to me that almost every game I go to now there is some celebration a a deceased player or supporter.

People aren't dying earlier than they used to - the opposite in fact- but my heroes from that era are on the way out.

Who next I wonder?

I don't even want to think about it but I can't help it. For sure it will be another Blades legend from the 1970's.

RIP in advance.

I reckon Bruce Forsyth is next
 
Bit of a morbid thread this one and I apologise for raising it, but I'm a guy in my 50's now and I've been watching the Blades since I was about 12 years old
- so 1970 onwards, I'd have watched them before then but it was only when I got to that age that I had a bit of pocket money to spend. My parents weren't interested in football and never took me to a game. So it was only when I got to that age and started secondary school (where you had to be a Blade or an Owl) that I took a real interest in it.

My first game - Blades v Owls - Division 2 - 1970 ( I think). Blades won 3-2 (John Tudor came on as sub and scored the winner) but Blades outclassed them for most of that game.

I went to watch both teams for a few months that season - not knowing which to support - but it soon became obvious. The players United had then were superb. The football was attacking and exciting and a new Blade was born - albeit a bit late.

I can't tell you how good that team was - the Woody/Currie era. In my humble opinion it was our best team ever - although we won nowt of course. But fellas, if you are in your 50's, or one day hope to get there, let me give you a warning...

You will end up going to more funerals than weddings or christenings in this decade.

You'll feel 18 still but your body will tell you otherwise.

And you'll see your heroes dying off, one by one, and a piece of your life will slip by with it. But the memory will live on - thankfully.

I've really felt this over recent years with the passing of Woody, Hedgy and Hope. They epitomised that wonderful era in my life when life was good and United were good too.

And before then, way too early, my all time favourite, Trevor Hockey, passed on.

I can only see us losing more Blades legends from that era during this season. The vintage team is dying before our eyes and I doubt there will ever be another like it.

It seems to me that almost every game I go to now there is some celebration a a deceased player or supporter.

People aren't dying earlier than they used to - the opposite in fact- but my heroes from that era are on the way out.

Who next I wonder?

I don't even want to think about it but I can't help it. For sure it will be another Blades legend from the 1970's.

RIP in advance.

Our best ever team was surely Nudger's 1890's team. So you can cheer up now because they've all croaked years ago
 
My dad never forgave United for dismantling its best ever chance to be a top English side. After the sale of Tony Currie, he only went 3 more times before he died in 2013, and that's only because I kept mithering him.

To push previously fanatical supporters to the point where they just don't give a toss anymore is a sad thing. I hope I don't get like that.
 
Bit of a morbid thread this one and I apologise for raising it, but I'm a guy in my 50's now and I've been watching the Blades since I was about 12 years old
- so 1970 onwards, I'd have watched them before then but it was only when I got to that age that I had a bit of pocket money to spend. My parents weren't interested in football and never took me to a game. So it was only when I got to that age and started secondary school (where you had to be a Blade or an Owl) that I took a real interest in it.

My first game - Blades v Owls - Division 2 - 1970 ( I think). Blades won 3-2 (John Tudor came on as sub and scored the winner) but Blades outclassed them for most of that game.

I went to watch both teams for a few months that season - not knowing which to support - but it soon became obvious. The players United had then were superb. The football was attacking and exciting and a new Blade was born - albeit a bit late.

I can't tell you how good that team was - the Woody/Currie era. In my humble opinion it was our best team ever - although we won nowt of course. But fellas, if you are in your 50's, or one day hope to get there, let me give you a warning...

You will end up going to more funerals than weddings or christenings in this decade.

You'll feel 18 still but your body will tell you otherwise.

And you'll see your heroes dying off, one by one, and a piece of your life will slip by with it. But the memory will live on - thankfully.

I've really felt this over recent years with the passing of Woody, Hedgy and Hope. They epitomised that wonderful era in my life when life was good and United were good too.

And before then, way too early, my all time favourite, Trevor Hockey, passed on.

I can only see us losing more Blades legends from that era during this season. The vintage team is dying before our eyes and I doubt there will ever be another like it.

It seems to me that almost every game I go to now there is some celebration a a deceased player or supporter.

People aren't dying earlier than they used to - the opposite in fact- but my heroes from that era are on the way out.

Who next I wonder?

I don't even want to think about it but I can't help it. For sure it will be another Blades legend from the 1970's.

RIP in advance.
Soon be Friday pal
 



Foulke, Needham, Howell, Johnson, Barnes et al would be our greatest ever team surely?
Billy Barnes was really a reserve player for us and only played 23 league matches for us. He replaced the injured Walter Bennett in the 1902 FA Cup replay and scored the winning goal but he soon was off to West Ham
 
Billy Barnes was really a reserve player for us and only played 23 league matches for us. He replaced the injured Walter Bennett in the 1902 FA Cup replay and scored the winning goal but he soon was off to West Ham

He gets a mention for scoring that goal. Any Blade scoring to win summat is a hero :D
 
He gets a mention for scoring that goal. Any Blade scoring to win summat is a hero :D
15476759179_447b800c3a.jpg
 
Bit of a morbid thread this one and I apologise for raising it, but I'm a guy in my 50's now and I've been watching the Blades since I was about 12 years old
- so 1970 onwards, I'd have watched them before then but it was only when I got to that age that I had a bit of pocket money to spend. My parents weren't interested in football and never took me to a game. So it was only when I got to that age and started secondary school (where you had to be a Blade or an Owl) that I took a real interest in it.

My first game - Blades v Owls - Division 2 - 1970 ( I think). Blades won 3-2 (John Tudor came on as sub and scored the winner) but Blades outclassed them for most of that game.

I went to watch both teams for a few months that season - not knowing which to support - but it soon became obvious. The players United had then were superb. The football was attacking and exciting and a new Blade was born - albeit a bit late.

I can't tell you how good that team was - the Woody/Currie era. In my humble opinion it was our best team ever - although we won nowt of course. But fellas, if you are in your 50's, or one day hope to get there, let me give you a warning...

You will end up going to more funerals than weddings or christenings in this decade.

You'll feel 18 still but your body will tell you otherwise.

And you'll see your heroes dying off, one by one, and a piece of your life will slip by with it. But the memory will live on - thankfully.

I've really felt this over recent years with the passing of Woody, Hedgy and Hope. They epitomised that wonderful era in my life when life was good and United were good too.

And before then, way too early, my all time favourite, Trevor Hockey, passed on.

I can only see us losing more Blades legends from that era during this season. The vintage team is dying before our eyes and I doubt there will ever be another like it.

It seems to me that almost every game I go to now there is some celebration a a deceased player or supporter.

People aren't dying earlier than they used to - the opposite in fact- but my heroes from that era are on the way out.

Who next I wonder?

I don't even want to think about it but I can't help it. For sure it will be another Blades legend from the 1970's.

RIP in advance.

Ćerberus . A pig at heart . That explains a lot .
 
My dad never forgave United for dismantling its best ever chance to be a top English side. After the sale of Tony Currie, he only went 3 more times before he died in 2013, and that's only because I kept mithering him.

To push previously fanatical supporters to the point where they just don't give a toss anymore is a sad thing. I hope I don't get like that.


As fantastic as that side was apart from one promotion they gave us little apart from great football. No semi finals or anything. Consider what we've seen semi final wise since 1991 with sides that couldn't hold a torch to that team. In 1975, no one would believe you if you'd said by 2016 we'd have played at Wembley and in SF's that we have.

Silent will confirm but wasn't our last SF appearance around 1961 or 62 prior to the Pigs one?
 
As fantastic as that side was apart from one promotion they gave us little apart from great football. No semi finals or anything. Consider what we've seen semi final wise since 1991 with sides that couldn't hold a torch to that team. In 1975, no one would believe you if you'd said by 2016 we'd have played at Wembley and in SF's that we have.

Silent will confirm but wasn't our last SF appearance around 1961 or 62 prior to the Pigs one?
1961
 
After the sale of Tony Currie, he only went 3 more times before he died in 2013, and that's only because I kept mithering him.
:eek: I must say I'm a tad shocked at you TD. I know you can be a little brash sometimes, but badgering your poor old man to pass away?
That's a new low even for you mate :(
 
It wasn't that good a team, they didn't win anything. We have just immortalised the ordinary because it's better than the shit were used to.

Of course being United players they weren't allowed to hang around long enough to prove anything let alone threaten to win anything.

For all the talk of death in this thread, and bearing in mind that everyone and everything eventually dies the saddest thing is that in another 100 years there will still be a few Sheffield United fans scattered about the metropolis talking about the day 190 years ago when we last won something.

The future fans of Wendy, Forest, Derby, Leicester (again), Leeds, Watford, Crystal Palace, Norwich, Ipswich, QPR, Fulham, Brighton, Portsmouth, Southampton, Coventry, Wolves, West Brom, Birmingham, Sunderland, Bolton, Blackburn, Wigan, Burnley, Stoke, Hull, Middlesboro, Swansea, Cardiff, West Ham and probably a dozen other clubs smaller than these will have had a few proper celebrations over that time and not feel the need to immortalise the average teams they will have watched also.

That's every medium sized club in the business that will have something tangible to celebrate at some time in the next 100 years.................all except one of course.
 
As fantastic as that side was apart from one promotion they gave us little apart from great football. No semi finals or anything. Consider what we've seen semi final wise since 1991 with sides that couldn't hold a torch to that team. In 1975, no one would believe you if you'd said by 2016 we'd have played at Wembley and in SF's that we have.

Silent will confirm but wasn't our last SF appearance around 1961 or 62 prior to the Pigs one?

The later Harris team (1968-73) was largely pathetic in Cups, and his immediate successors did little better. We won a grand total of 4 FA Cup games in the 1970s. We also got to one league cup quarter final where we got hammered 5-0 by Arsenal.

We failed to reach the last 16 of the FA Cup between 1968 and 1989.

First time round Harris' team did well in Cups. We reached the Semi final in 1961 and the last 8 in 1959 (lost to 3rd division Norwich after drawing at home) 1960 (lost at home to the Pigs) and 1962 (lost at home to Burnley). That's 3 home quarter finals in 4 years and didn't win any of them. We won the only time we were drawn away (1961 v Newcastle).

We also reached the last 8 of the league cup in 1962 (lost a quarter final replay at home to Blackpool) and 1967 (lost 3-2 at home to Birmingham).

1962 in the league cup was a big miss: there were only 3 top division sides in the last 8, and we were the best of them (we finished 5th). Blackpool was one of the others. The final was between fourth division Rochdale and Second Division Norwich.
 
Last edited:



The later Harris team (1968-73) was largely pathetic in Cups, and his immediate successors did little better. We won a grand total of 4 FA Cup games in the 1970s. We also got to one league cup quarter final where we got hammered 5-0 by Arsenal.

We failed to reach the last 16 of the FA Cup between 1968 and 1989.

First time round Harris' team did well in Cups. We reached the Semi final in 1961 and the last 8 in 1959 (lost to 3rd division Norwich after drawing at home) 1960 (lost at home to the Pigs) and 1962 (lost at home to Burnley). That's 3 home quarter finals in 4 years and didn't win any of them. We won the only time we were drawn away (1961 v Newcastle).

We also reached the last 8 of the league cup in 1962 (lost a quarter final replay at home to Blackpool) and 1967 (lost 3-2 at home to Birmingham).

1962 in the league cup was a big miss: there were only 3 top division sides in the last 8, and we were the best of them (we finished 5th). Blackpool was one of the others. The final was between fourth division Rochdale and Second Division Norwich.

Good info Rev.

So the 1961-1962 team not only attained our highest post-war league position (5th) but in the same season they reached the Quarter Finals of both Cups.

Therefore, they are undoubtedly our best, highest-achieving post-war team.
 

All advertisments are hidden for logged in members, why not log in/register?

All advertisments are hidden for logged in members, why not log in/register?

Back
Top Bottom