Players Stories

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Over the years , I've had the good fortune to have conversations with a number of our players including the likes of Glen Cockerill , Keith Edwards and , more recently , Jack Lester .

All of those were very interesting and gave an insight into aspects of a footballer's career and what goes on behind the scenes , which we as fans seldom get to hear about .

My most memorable conversation , however , was with a former full back from the 50's and early 60's by the name of Cliff Mason who , I'm sure , some of the more ( ahem ) mature will remember . He was essentially the understudy for the late , great Graham Shaw but managed to play over 90 games for us in his time at the club .

At one point in the conversation , I asked him how he rated Joe Shaw ( why would I do that ) and his reply came in one word " Astonishing " .

He went on to say " I'll give you one example - we were playing Spurs at White Hart Lane and doing really well but we'd had a corner and they caught us on the break with just me and Joe in our half of the pitch . As their inside forward came over the half way line with the ball at his feet , I glanced sideways and was amazed to see that Joe had left Bobby Smith ( the England centre forward ) completely unmarked down the middle and was sprinting over towards the left wing ".

"But sure enough " he continued " that's exactly where the ball went and Joe was there to calmly take it on his chest , take it 10 yards forward and put us on the attack again .

After the game , I asked him how he could possibly know that their player was going to play that pass and he just shrugged his shoulders and said " I just had an instinct " . What a player "

I'm sure other members will have had conversations with some of our players , past and present , and would be interested to hear some of them .

 

[KoppedOff]

Del Geary in the Pheasant, Oughtibridge.

Cristiano Ronaldo ripping it up on Match of the Day on the telly. Del, somewhat “merry”.

“That ‘ll be you pal, in a few weeks”.

“Hmmmm... (downs reminents of pint)... f**k me.”

 

[TomHeffernan]

I once went in the Leadmill on a Wednesday night and there were quite a few United and Wednesday players in. From memory nearly all the Blades team were in. This was the early days under Spackman.

I was at the bar when Mark Patterson stood next to me waiting to be served. He was a lovely guy and didn’t mind chatting about football even though I was slightly blathered. He told me that Spackman was a brown nosing twat and that nobody liked him.

He then introduced me to the rest of the players and a pissed up Don Hutchison told me to “fuck off”. He was hammered. I wasn’t really impressed so went to get him by the throat but we were separated at neither of us could really stand up.

I then took a swing at Benito Carbone for pushing my sister, who was also in, against the wall and trying to shove his tongue down her throat. He was wearing a really shit suit.

All true dat.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

I once went in the Leadmill on a Wednesday night and there were quite a few United and Wednesday players in. From memory nearly all the Blades team were in. This was the early days under Spackman.

I was at the bar when Mark Patterson stood next to me waiting to be served. He was a lovely guy and didn’t mind chatting about football even though I was slightly blathered. He told me that Spackman was a brown nosing twat and that nobody liked him.

He then introduced me to the rest of the players and a pissed up Don Hutchison told me to “fuck off”. He was hammered. I wasn’t really impressed so went to get him by the throat but we were separated at neither of us could really stand up.

I then took a swing at Benito Carbone for pushing my sister, who was also in, against the wall and trying to shove his tongue down her throat. He was wearing a really shit suit.

All true dat.

Sounds like an interesting evening !

 

[Deleted member 1486]

I've said some of this before, so sorry if you get deja vu:

Without a doubt the nicest player I've met was Brian Deane. When he came back to us I have to admit to being a starstruck (the one and only time) when I bumped into him. Me and my mate Dave were stood in the back stairwell of the South Stand long after a game had finished and out walks Deane. We were pointing and giggling like schoolgirls, but he was just really friendly, stood and had a chat for about 15-20 minutes with us, about nothing in particular. Just a really nice guy.

Met Mark Patterson a few times and agree with the above, he always came across as decent guy. He's the last person on earth you could accuse of acting like billy big bollocks.

Met Stewart Houston once (out of my age range tbh, not someone I remembered playing for us, but someone I was with told me he had), said something in passing, quick and polite like "alright Stewart, always good to bump into an ex-blade" and he chose to turn the encounter into showing off in front of his mates and making me feel like a twat for talking to him.

Spoke to Billy Whitehurst numerous times in the 90s when he ran the Cricks. A seriously funny guy (I'd love to repeat one story on here, but given it's a second-hand account and I'd likely be sued I'll take it to the grave!).

Bit random but Andy Walker was always up for a chat and interesting. I can see why he's got a career in media.

It know it goes against some of the more extreme opinions on here, but when I used to get dragged down to the players entrance by my kids to get signatures Che Adams was a seriously nice lad (and he was only young at the time). The kids were young and a bit starstruck and were afraid to walk up to players and ask for their signatures, Che spotted them being sheepish, so came over, introduced himself, asked if they wanted any signatures from other players, asked if he could have a selfie with them (so they didn't have to ask) and just made them feel really comfortable.

 

[Canterbury Blade]

I've said some of this before, so sorry if you get deja vu:

Without a doubt the nicest player I've met was Brian Deane. When he came back to us I have to admit to being a starstruck (the one and only time) when I bumped into him. Me and my mate Dave were stood in the back stairwell of the South Stand long after a game had finished and out walks Deane. We were pointing and giggling like schoolgirls, but he was just really friendly, stood and had a chat for about 15-20 minutes with us, about nothing in particular. Just a really nice guy.

Met Mark Patterson a few times and agree with the above, he always came across as decent guy. He's the last person on earth you could accuse of acting like billy big bollocks.

Met Stewart Houston once (out of my age range tbh, not someone I remembered playing for us, but someone I was with told me he had), said something in passing, quick and polite like "alright Stewart, always good to bump into an ex-blade" and he chose to turn the encounter into showing off in front of his mates and making me feel like a twat for talking to him.

Spoke to Billy Whitehurst numerous times in the 90s when he ran the Cricks. A seriously funny guy (I'd love to repeat one story on here, but given it's a second-hand account and I'd likely be sued I'll take it to the grave!).

Bit random but Andy Walker was always up for a chat and interesting. I can see why he's got a career in media.

It know it goes against some of the more extreme opinions on here, but when I used to get dragged down to the players entrance by my kids to get signatures Che Adams was a seriously nice lad (and he was only young at the time). The kids were young and a bit starstruck and were afraid to walk up to players and ask for their signatures, Che spotted them being sheepish, so came over, introduced himself, asked if they wanted any signatures from other players, asked if he could have a selfie with them (so they didn't have to ask) and just made them feel really comfortable.

Was at Manchester airport in 1990 and Deano was there with at least one of his brothers. All of whom for some reason were wearing United full kit shell suits in that cheap nylon Umbro style. They were going on holiday somewhere and I thought you should be preparing for Italia 90, but that was the curse of the unfashionable player. Very nice family.

I met Houston before a Guimares v Porto match outside a tea cabin. He was ok but confused me with a scout he knew. That was interesting as he was and I believe still does scout for Arsenal who had Porto a few weeks later. As such, he was asking lots of questions about Porto tactics, injuries, weaknesses etc. Genuinely knowledgeable and wouldn’t accept that I wasn’t a scout.

Walker’s kids went to a school my mum worked at and he was brilliant. A really decent bloke and always helped on the penalty shootout at the school fete. As an aside I ended up sitting with his brothers at Wembley 97, all of whom were wearing Celtic away kits! They were a bit more rough edged until I mentioned their niece and then they were diamonds.

As a kid never forgot how decent McPhail was when I asked for his autograph, as opposed to Edwards who was very begrudging. These players should be very aware of the life forming opinion a fan can have based on the minimal time they spend with people who in some cases they idolise.

My nephew is currently worshipping Hendo and I know would be devastated if Hendo was arrogant etc. I keep telling him that now he’s 30 that Hendo may find it strange if approached to sign his full kit!

 

[niktheblade]

I think I have mentioned this before, it's not ex player, however it is ex-united.

Charles Green, remember him?.....

I met him last year, he is the director of a company who i'm consulting for out here.

I told him I was a United fan, he was a bit wary at first, but as we got talking he told me a few things. He was hired by McDonald to be his pitbull in the boardroom.

Deane and Fjortoft day
He said that he essentially had little choice other than to sell both. The Deane deal apparently covered the cost of us purchasing and paying Deano's wages for the time he was with us, so Deane's second spell at the time cost united nothing. Charles said that Deane's deal was up in the summer and the club couldn't afford to keep him if we didn't get promoted and he would have gone on a free. United were so skint at the time and the deal had to happen.

Fjortoft was out of the blue, the Barnsley chariman phoned Charles up on deadline day and offered what he perceived as a un-rejectable offer considering the club's finances at the time.

He did say that as much as United fans hated him for it, we would never know how close we came to being in serious trouble.

I said that surely we were so close to promotion, that it would have been better to keep both, but he said there was no way the club could take the risk.

Spackman
He was somewhat corralled into taking the manager job. The club was already paying him quite a bit for a player of his age. They almost made him take the manager job. Spackman apparently didn't have an agent at this point, and Charles wrote up a contract on a single A4 sheet making Spackman take a pay cut once his playing days were over (he did tell me some of the other stuff in there at the time, but I can't remember them so they cant have been too interesting), Spackman never really signed a contract vetted by the Football league. Charles said that Spackman was utterly clueless and a bit of a div and the team had such quality at the time, that Spackman took all the credit for the performances, however the team didn't really need him there, he said that the . Spackman eventually left because united refused to give him any more money, effectively because he was rubbish.

Bassett
Not so interesting, Charles' first job when he was brought in was to sack Bassett. Apparently they nearly came to blows and Bassett's first words to Charles were "I run the facking clab, it's my clab, fackk off"

BBC
I'm sure many can remember the FA cup tie against Villa (around 1996?) when the John street hadn't been built. It was live on TV and Dwight Yorke scored a chipped penalty in a 1-0 defeat.
The BBC at the time offered to pay United 25k for the TV coverage, it had snowed heavily and the game was in doubt, Charles asked for 50k from the BBC and they refused, so he switched the undersoil heating off and told the BBC that the game would be called off unless they paid 50k, which they did in the end. Apparently the beeb were threatening legal action if the game got postponed because United had the means of clearing the pitch but refused. They caved in the day before the game though and united got the pitch cleared (if I recall rightly there were volunteers clearing the pitch in exchange for a free ticket).

Kendall
An obvious one, but he said Kendall was a top, top guy, but was at the time a terrible alcoholic (We know this already) one Occasion he didn't turn in for training and was found asleep on a bench in a park somewhere (he did say where but I've forgotten) and turned into the Charles' office without having been home. He was almost sacked at this point, but he was given a second chance.

This was all him regaling stories to me, so not sure how accurate it all is, or how much embellishment is given. He did tell me some other bits and bobs but I can't fully remember them to write them down.

I did briefly ask him about the Rangers situation but he just said he wasn't allowed to talk about it? he did say he didn't feel like he was accurately portrayed in the media for what he was brought in to do.

As much as I disliked him before this he's actually quite an interesting man, we've always got on since, he comes across as straight and honest, says it like it is.

 

[mattbianco1]

Derek Geary...

Chesterfield away in promotion season. He's walking up steps Of away end and my mate goes "That's Geary". He then turns onto our row, starts squeezing past us and then plonks himself next to me. I go "Alright mate" and did a polite nod. He said the same back then we watched the game and didn't speak

I get starstruck

 

[Russ]

We were speaking to Martin Kuhl, I think it was in Chesterfield. He said if we played wedn3$d@y that he would break Lee Chapman’s leg!

 

[mattbianco1]

I think I have mentioned this before, it's not ex player, however it is ex-united.

Charles Green, remember him?.....

I met him last year, he is the director of a company who i'm consulting for out here.

I told him I was a United fan, he was a bit wary at first, but as we got talking he told me a few things. He was hired by McDonald to be his pitbull in the boardroom.

Deane and Fjortoft day
He said that he essentially had little choice other than to sell both. The Deane deal apparently covered the cost of us purchasing and paying Deano's wages for the time he was with us, so Deane's second spell at the time cost united nothing. Charles said that Deane's deal was up in the summer and the club couldn't afford to keep him if we didn't get promoted and he would have gone on a free. United were so skint at the time and the deal had to happen.

Fjortoft was out of the blue, the Barnsley chariman phoned Charles up on deadline day and offered what he perceived as a un-rejectable offer considering the club's finances at the time.

He did say that as much as United fans hated him for it, we would never know how close we came to being in serious trouble.

I said that surely we were so close to promotion, that it would have been better to keep both, but he said there was no way the club could take the risk.

Spackman
He was somewhat corralled into taking the manager job. The club was already paying him quite a bit for a player of his age. They almost made him take the manager job. Spackman apparently didn't have an agent at this point, and Charles wrote up a contract on a single A4 sheet making Spackman take a pay cut once his playing days were over (he did tell me some of the other stuff in there at the time, but I can't remember them so they cant have been too interesting), Spackman never really signed a contract vetted by the Football league. Charles said that Spackman was utterly clueless and a bit of a div and the team had such quality at the time, that Spackman took all the credit for the performances, however the team didn't really need him there, he said that the . Spackman eventually left because united refused to give him any more money, effectively because he was rubbish.

Bassett
Not so interesting, Charles' first job when he was brought in was to sack Bassett. Apparently they nearly came to blows and Bassett's first words to Charles were "I run the facking clab, it's my clab, fackk off"

BBC
I'm sure many can remember the FA cup tie against Villa (around 1996?) when the John street hadn't been built. It was live on TV and Dwight Yorke scored a chipped penalty in a 1-0 defeat.
The BBC at the time offered to pay United 25k for the TV coverage, it had snowed heavily and the game was in doubt, Charles asked for 50k from the BBC and they refused, so he switched the undersoil heating off and told the BBC that the game would be called off unless they paid 50k, which they did in the end. Apparently the beeb were threatening legal action if the game got postponed because United had the means of clearing the pitch but refused. They caved in the day before the game though and united got the pitch cleared (if I recall rightly there were volunteers clearing the pitch in exchange for a free ticket).

Kendall
An obvious one, but he said Kendall was a top, top guy, but was at the time a terrible alcoholic (We know this already) one Occasion he didn't turn in for training and was found asleep on a bench in a park somewhere (he did say where but I've forgotten) and turned into the Charles' office without having been home. He was almost sacked at this point, but he was given a second chance.

This was all him regaling stories to me, so not sure how accurate it all is, or how much embellishment is given. He did tell me some other bits and bobs but I can't fully remember them to write them down.

I did briefly ask him about the Rangers situation but he just said he wasn't allowed to talk about it? he did say he didn't feel like he was accurately portrayed in the media for what he was brought in to do.

As much as I disliked him before this he's actually quite an interesting man, we've always got on since, he comes across as straight and honest, says it like it is.

Sounds like you did a lot of consulting that day

 

[Kozzy_is_my_Dad]

As a young lad, I ran on the pitch with my mate after that Forest playoff semi-final.

Michael Brown shouted at me "get off the pitch, you're ruining it for everyone!"

So I did.

But not before I'd celebrated to the Kop like I'd scored the winner, a young kids dream that.

 

[niktheblade]

Sounds like you did a lot of consulting that day

Haha, it was an introductory meeting to discuss the project. Spent 2 hours talking about United and about 20 minutes discussing the project!

 

[coaxingstar71]

Apologies if you've read these before...

I used to work at Sainsburys at Millhouses in the early 90's and you used to get quite a few United and Wednesday players in, normally shopping with their wives. I'd actually been out drinking with some mates from work and we ended up going for a chinese takeaway at what used to be the Bamboo Garden on Hutcliffe Wood Road. Brian Gayle was in there and when we went in, some old duffer was bending his ear about how he thought United should be playing and what they were doing wrong. To be fair to Gayle, he was very nice to the old guy, but when the old guy finally left, I said to him 'I bet you get that all the time'. He was ok and said it was fine, then started chatting to us and asked us where we worked. Pointed over the hill and said Sainsburys just over there. He went 'Facking ell! I've been driving to facking Chesterfield every facking day!'. Turns out the club was renting a house for him and his family on Westwick Road at Greenhill. Anyway after that he came in the one at Millhouses and always stopped for a chat. The first time he came in, he called over, 'I found it!'.

Jamie Hoyland also came in every week and made a point of saying hello or having a quick word.
Chris Waddle used to come in with his Mrs and looked as miserable as sin. I had another odd chance meeting with Waddle at a girl's house after a night out at the Leadmill and I think he was playing away at the time.

During the last couple of years I lived at my folks house at Woodseats, Adrian Littlejohn and his family moved in next door. Again the club had rented the house for him. Both he and his wife were absolutely lovely, really nice,... apart from the thick brummie accents! He once asked if I could save him some big boxes from Sainsburys, which I did. When he came for them, he brought Nathan Blake with him to help him. Blake never said a word and seemed very arrogant to me.

 

[ShorehamRevolution]

The day we got promoted at Northampton we were stood next to the platinum suite against the barriers they made while waiting for the coach to make its way back from Northampton, I can hardly remember f*** all but 2 things stand out, my mate having a decent conversation with McCabe while I was swaying at the side of them both, I’d just been to the shop for 8 cans of kronenburg, McCabe was holding a glass of wine (nearly empty) while my mate was delving into whatever conversation McCabe looked at my drunken self, I took 4 steps back 11 to the right 14 to the left and 4 steps back forward, bent down, nearly fell over, grabbed a can of kronenburg and shoved it in McCabe’s hand, he initially refused until I opened it for him and shoved it back in his hand and made a comment about why he shouldn’t be drinking wine, he swiftly moved on. There was actually a picture of him taking a swig from my Can in the star of nobody believes me.
Before or after that incident I can’t recall, 2 young lads gingerly tried to get past us and the proceeded to go through the barrier, I said something along the lines of
“Oi how come you get to go in there and we don’t, sneak us in lads”
Someone then pointed out to me it was Louis Reed and David Brooks.

I’ve also got a few boring stories about Alan Quinn and a packet of crisps, Stephen Quinn and a brick, Paddy Kenny and 48 attempted selfies, an awkward silence with Darius Henderson at owlerton dog track, Kieth curle feeling left out, Neil Warnock and a Ice machine and saving Georges Santos from knocking himself out dancing to Sweet Caroline.

 

[LSF]

I've got a few but some not for public consumption
Here's one repeatable though.... Back in the day when MacPhail and Kenworthy were not only our central defensive duo but bosom pals too....
They were also pally with a lad who played with my Saturday team and during the summer we often entered various 5 a side tournaments around south yorks to keep in touch and fit etc...
One particular event down in Ecclesfield Park always drew some of the better teams in both Saturday and Sunday football...
So, as usual we entered, hoping to go far as we usually did. The 7or 8 of us turns up for the day long event and the lad who was mates with JM & TK was in the squad, except that he drags his two pro mates with him and announces they wanted to play!
The rest of us weren't happy and after a "healthy" debate in which TK & JM weren't invited, we relented..... But not before TK had decided it wasn't worth the risk for a multitude of reasons as you can imagine!
However, MacPhails ego got the better of him and he wanted to play.
In the first game of the round robin part of the tournament we played Manchester Villa, who were a decent young team of lads with some good individuals.
MacPhail, who we played under the pseudonym of John McBride (pathetic eh!), thought he could stroll around like a Billy big time and still stand out, except.... He constantly got turned inside out by this small skilful kid who ended up megging him and left him on his arse.
MacPhail was incensed and next opportunity viciously fouled the lad and was rightly sent off....
We drew the game eventually and afterwards the organisers took our manager to one side and told him they knew who MacPhail was and if we played him or TK again, we'd (rightly) be thrown out...
We agreed that they should be here to watch as they should have been and they couldn't play again
They fucked off home straight away with tails between legs and any respect I had for them as players was somewhat diluted from then on.

 

[Wards]

ShorehamRevolution The boring stories sound more interesting!

 

[Speedracer]

I used to bump into Brian Dean quite a lot after his first spell with us & he was at Leeds. Used to go out in Leeds & stay over a lot & we always seemed to be booking into the same hotels at the same time for a period so we often had a few words once I declared my football allegiances, & he was always very unassuming & pleasant. Then I didn't see him for around 5 years or so & randomly went up to Leicester to pick up a camper van for a friend & coming out of the services after filling up I heard this "hiya buddy, long time no see". It was Deano & we had a quick chat, nothing interesting to anyone else but it just shows that it is possible to be a high profile player & still be a very nice guy.

 

[Whiston Blade]

BBC
I'm sure many can remember the FA cup tie against Villa (around 1996?) when the John street hadn't been built. It was live on TV and Dwight Yorke scored a chipped penalty in a 1-0 defeat.

I thought it was Savo Milošević who scored?

 

[I should coco]

Brian Dean

ALERT! A new Blades player mispelling to add to the already weighty cannon.

 

[Guesty]

I thought it was Savo Milošević who scored?

He won the penalty, Yorke scored it.

 

[Speedracer]

ALERT! A new Blades player mispelling to add to the already weighty cannon.

Fuck, I always jump on people who misspell names as well, humble pie tastes horrible.

 

[Silent Blade]

He won the penalty, Yorke scored it.

Correct. Near the end of the game Savo got incensed with Hodges ankle trapping and rib elbowing, complained to the ref who then ignored him. Savo then came charging at Hodges (who had the ball) in an attempt to upend him but Hodges sold him a dummy and then a drag back foiled his 2nd attempt, The crowd cheered! Brilliant!

 

[DifferentClass]

I then took a swing at Benito Carbone for pushing my sister, who was also in, against the wall and trying to shove his tongue down her throat. He was wearing a really shit suit.

We need to #MeToo the shit out of this.

 

[ShorehamRevolution]

ShorehamRevolution The boring stories sound more interesting!

The most recent was after the Bolton home game this season, I wasn’t suitably dressed for the match as I was straight to the dogs after, at halftime minus 3 degrees and still 0-0 I thought to myself
“in for a penny in for a pound, I’m off to the cricketers” I’m not one for leaving a game early either and I’d not even got to the cricketers from the south stand, I was just approaching a riot van when the roar of a blades goal went in and a full team of riot coppers cane charging at me....!!.... anyway that’s a side story to an awkward silence with Darius Henderson, fast forward a few gallons and my mate spots Darius, “come on let’s have a picture” even if I was sober I wouldn’t have recognised him, so mate has a chat and we have a picture then I turn round and ask him about football wages and then I start going into a heavy rant about football agents and how they take money out the game and are the vermin scum really needed.... to me our Darius looked rather uninterested in my uneducated opinion so to carry the conversation on I went for the safe option of asking him what he’s upto now??
“I’m a football agent”
Cue some awkward silence and tumbleweed I thought I’d try and salvage some grace by informing him that trap 5 in the next race was the cert of the night because our mates mate worked in the holding pen and if he’s going to back anything back trap 5 in the next....... trap 5 obviously came nowhere and 20 mins later I glanced to where Darius was stood and he had a non too pleased look that was in my direction. I don’t know if it was from my thoughts on agents or a slow dog.

 

[Willie Carlin]

Over the years , I've had the good fortune to have conversations with a number of our players including the likes of Glen Cockerill , Keith Edwards and , more recently , Jack Lester .

All of those were very interesting and gave an insight into aspects of a footballer's career and what goes on behind the scenes , which we as fans seldom get to hear about .

My most memorable conversation , however , was with a former full back from the 50's and early 60's by the name of Cliff Mason who , I'm sure , some of the more ( ahem ) mature will remember . He was essentially the understudy for the late , great Graham Shaw but managed to play over 90 games for us in his time at the club .

At one point in the conversation , I asked him how he rated Joe Shaw ( why would I do that ) and his reply came in one word " Astonishing " .

He went on to say " I'll give you one example - we were playing Spurs at White Hart Lane and doing really well but we'd had a corner and they caught us on the break with just me and Joe in our half of the pitch . As their inside forward came over the half way line with the ball at his feet , I glanced sideways and was amazed to see that Joe had left Bobby Smith ( the England centre forward ) completely unmarked down the middle and was sprinting over towards the left wing ".

"But sure enough " he continued " that's exactly where the ball went and Joe was there to calmly take it on his chest , take it 10 yards forward and put us on the attack again .

After the game , I asked him how he could possibly know that their player was going to play that pass and he just shrugged his shoulders and said " I just had an instinct " . What a player "

I'm sure other members will have had conversations with some of our players , past and present , and would be interested to hear some of them .

Bobby Smith the Spurs and England Centre Forward said that our Joe was the best centre half he ever played against. That defence at the time were renowned for playing themselves out of defence with good passing football.

 

[jockdodds]

When I was doing my Blades paintings I met several players who signed my prints.

Brian Deane and Tony Agana were both great. Tony told me that the promotion winning match at Leicester was the happiest day of his life – “but don’t tell the wife I said that!”

The best one I met though was Jock Dodds (who else) who was genuinely touched and surprised that anyone would want a print signed by him.

Jock of course played in the last FA Cup final United appeared in, and told me about the incident where he hit the bar with a header just after Ted Drake had scored for Arsenal. He said that he was pushed in the back by Wilf Copping just as he was heading the ball, which caused it to hit the bar instead of ending up in the net. He said “Copping won the cup for Arsenal that day, not Drake!”

 

[madeinsheffield]

I had the good fortune to meet Jock, he gave me his autograph which is in capital letters!

He told me a story of just after the Cup Final and a lovely young lady gave him, in his words "one of those wee things that Monika Lewinsky gave that President" on the steps of St Mary's Church down Bramall Lane! He had a twinkle in his eye as he chuckled telling the story, he must have been nearly 90 at the time.

 

[Gateford Blade]

Filled up (the car not emotionally) next to Tony Currie in the petrol station at Tesco in Worksop earlier today. Didn't say anything to him as he just looked like a typical grumpy old man out in the crap weather

 

[Roygbiv]

Met Stephen Quinn in a pub in Casteleton once and told him in a very drunk lairy fashion "You need to stop Beattie taking fucking free kicks, he hasn't scored one all season "
The game after Quinn scored a free kick against Burnley. I arguably contributed more to our tactics than Blackwell that season.

Met McCabe on a few occasions and he's always been sound. Once spent a full evening with him after we lost to Wednesday 1-0 and he spoke about a few things but was too clever for my amateur interview skills to give anything juicy away.

I once served Gary Megson as a 17 year old when I worked at Andy's Records. Unfortunately he was really nice. The bastard.

Robert Page chats with my mate who works at Sainsbury's whenever he comes in and is apparently a top lad. Jack Lester too is apparently always up for a chat.

 

[grafikhaus]

ALERT! A new Blades player mispelling to add to the already weighty cannon.

Canon.