Denis Gratton

[Bert]

 

[Blade1961]

Hi Gratton,
I was really interested to see your original post which brought back memories for me.
My first full season following United was in 1961 & I've been going ever since.
At that time I went to Thurcroft Secondary modern & was in the same class as John Gratton (I assume your Uncle?). John never stopped talking about his brother Denis, & also brought photos of him, so I was well versed in his career albeit short with the Blades. I think John wanted to follow in his footsteps but alas, like me never made it.
At that time Thurcroft was a good place to be a Blade, even our own venerated Alan Hodgkinson was regularly seen in the village, a man with no heirs or graces, & a true gentleman.
Sorry I digressed away from facts & figures, but it gave me a pleasant reminder about my past.
ps if my assumption is correct that John is related, please pass on my regards. (Brian Ward)

 

[Hodgyman]

Hi Gratton,
I was really interested to see your original post which brought back memories for me.
My first full season following United was in 1961 & I've been going ever since.
At that time I went to Thurcroft Secondary modern & was in the same class as John Gratton (I assume your Uncle?). John never stopped talking about his brother Denis, & also brought photos of him, so I was well versed in his career albeit short with the Blades. I think John wanted to follow in his footsteps but alas, like me never made it.
At that time Thurcroft was a good place to be a Blade, even our own venerated Alan Hodgkinson was regularly seen in the village, a man with no heirs or graces, & a true gentleman.
Sorry I digressed away from facts & figures, but it gave me a pleasant reminder about my past.
ps if my assumption is correct that John is related, please pass on my regards. (Brian Ward)

 

[Hodgyman]

Hello Brian, it's good to hear from you again. I have sent you a PM on here

 

[Gratton21434]

1st team league games he played in were

Luton (a) 27.12.55 lost 2-1
Wolves (h) 2.5.56 drew 3-3
Middlesbrough (h) 8.12.56 won 2-1
Rotherham (h) 15.12.56 lost 7-2
Fulham (a) 28.9.57 lost 6-3
Stoke (a) 11.4.59 won 2-1

He played in the friendly 4-0 win against Bela Vista (Brazil) on Wednesday 8th October 1958

Must have played against Brian Clough who played 213 league games for Middlesbrough between seasons 1955-56 and 1960-61

That's brill!thankyou! x

 

[Gratton21434]

If you click on the ebay image and keep pressing the arrow, you can see the picture and read the article on page 23.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SOCCER-ST...281504?hash=item3acccfeba0:g:K-YAAOSwCGVX3WMA

Thankyou! I have just purchased this! Lol! X

 

[Gratton21434]

If you click on the ebay image and keep pressing the arrow, you can see the picture and read the article on page 23.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SOCCER-ST...281504?hash=item3acccfeba0:g:K-YAAOSwCGVX3WMA

Thankyou! I have just purchased this! X

 

[Gratton21434]

Hi Gratton,
I was really interested to see your original post which brought back memories for me.
My first full season following United was in 1961 & I've been going ever since.
At that time I went to Thurcroft Secondary modern & was in the same class as John Gratton (I assume your Uncle?). John never stopped talking about his brother Denis, & also brought photos of him, so I was well versed in his career albeit short with the Blades. I think John wanted to follow in his footsteps but alas, like me never made it.
At that time Thurcroft was a good place to be a Blade, even our own venerated Alan Hodgkinson was regularly seen in the village, a man with no heirs or graces, & a true gentleman.
Sorry I digressed away from facts & figures, but it gave me a pleasant reminder about my past.
ps if my assumption is correct that John is related, please pass on my regards. (Brian Ward)

Hi! Yes it is uncle john! I will pass on your regards! Sorry it's a late reply a lot of people have been posting and not sure how to use this site yet! Have you got a PM I could contact you on?thankyou! X

 

[Hodgyman]

Hi! Yes it is uncle john! I will pass on your regards! Sorry it's a late reply a lot of people have been posting and not sure how to use this site yet! Have you got a PM I could contact you on?thankyou! X

Just click on the envelope button on the top right hand of the page and enter Blade1961 and then your message. PS I knew your Uncle John too.

 

[Angef1Blade]

Thank you for your reply. I have 1 team photo of him at Sheffield United. Some programmes what he saved. My lads are United fans and wanting me to show them more pics of there grandad..proving difficult tho.lol. Did they film matches when he would of played?lol. X

Have you tried Johnny G - club's official historian - here's a link.........Supporter Liaison Officer/Club Historian:John Garrett0114 253 7200

 

[Gratton21434]

Thankyou! I have pmd you.

 

[sheffielder]

It that I am involved in contributing anything to this post, but I just love this

 

[Blade55]

Hi, apologies if I missed it reading through the thread and repeating previous post, but there is an appearance summary for Lincoln on - www.redimps.com/archive3 - have to register and pay tenner but appears as if will give fuller details of his 51 appearances. Search Players - Appearances - Football League - drop down box for player search .

 

[Gratton21434]

Hi, apologies if I missed it reading through the thread and repeating previous post, but there is an appearance summary for Lincoln on - www.redimps.com/archive3 - have to register and pay tenner but appears as if will give fuller details of his 51 appearances. Search Players - Appearances - Football League - drop down box for player search .

I will give this a go! Thankyou. X

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

I will give this a go! Thankyou. X

Just in case you still look at this forum, or anyone on here knows how to contact you, I have just posted on the thread '60 years ago this month' a reference to Dennis Gratton. He made just one appearance in 1958-59 (being the understudy to the great Joe Shaw was a thankless task), and I have come across the match reports that my brother wrote at the time as a lad. He was quite critical at times, but he says of the match at Stoke (April 11, 1959), when Joe Shaw was away as an England reserve, 'Dennis Gratton, making his first appearance of the season, was strong and safe at centre-half.' United won 2-1, at a team just above them in the league, and for Dennis to come in for his first game of the season in April, replace Joe Shaw successfully, and earn praise from my brother, who has always been a Joe Shaw fan (he once wrote letters to the national press demanding that Joe should replace Billy Wright for England!) is testament to the young man's ability and character.