Players who have played for us over four decades

[1973Blade]

Jagielka was a youngster on our books in the 1990s. He made his debut for us and played over 200 games for us in the 2000s. If he plays next season he could add games in the 2010s and 2020s. Not bad going and possibly unique (though I'm not certain which is why I haven't put it in my earlier thread!) And for me a decade is from 1990 to 99, etc.

 

[Brian Blessed]

Can't really say he played in the 90s when he didnt make his debut until 2000. Joe Shaw played senior games for the club in 3 different decades over 20+ consecutive years, as it stands Jagielka has only played in 1.

 

[Silent Blade]

Can't really say he played in the 90s when he didnt make his debut until 2000. Joe Shaw played senior games for the club in 3 different decades over 20+ consecutive years, as it stands Jagielka has only played in 1.

I saw him play in a FA Cup Youth match (v Coventry) in the 1998-99 season. He may have cleaned Chris Wilders boots that season?

 

[DifferentClass]

I saw him play in a FA Cup Youth match (v Coventry) in the 1998-99 season. He may have cleaned Chris Wilders boots that season?

According to some on here he isn't fit to wipe Chris Wilder's arse.

Even back then.

 

[Brian Blessed]

Asked my old dad for some help with this and we reckon that if possible youth/ reserve team games as a kid are included Ernest Needham "might" have done 4 different decades. Debut in 1891, played in the 1900s and just made it Into the 1910s

 

[1973Blade]

Asked my old dad for some help with this and we reckon that if possible youth/ reserve team games as a kid are included Ernest Needham "might" have done 4 different decades. Debut in 1891, played in the 1900s and just made it Into the 1910s

Good research there!

 

[Karaoke Blade]

Asked my old dad for some help with this and we reckon that if possible youth/ reserve team games as a kid are included Ernest Needham "might" have done 4 different decades. Debut in 1891, played in the 1900s and just made it Into the 1910s

Ernest signed for us from Staveley in 1891.

 

[Silent Blade]

Jack Pickering was at the club between 1925 and 1948 as a player but they were over three decades

 

[Silent Blade]

Ernest signed for us from Staveley in 1891.

Correct. Was never at SUFC in the 1880s (remember we started in 1889!)

 

[Punk Blade]

Isn’t playing over four decades at all quite rare? You’d need a minimum 21 year career and the timing of starting in a x9-y0 season.

 

[OnmiEdson]

Isn’t playing over four decades at all quite rare? You’d need a minimum 21 year career and the timing of starting in a x9-y0 season.

I would hazard a guess at Stanley Matthews and Peter Shilton, can’t think of anybody else off the top of my head

 

[Killamarshblades]

Gareth Barry could do it if he plays into 2020

 

[Dkc]

Billy Sharp will become a three-decade player in 2020. Him and Jags both played under Warnock (though BS only had a few starts and had left by the time we got promoted to the PL). I like the fact that Billy and now Jags played for us so long ago, it feels like we now have a stronger connection with the last time we were successful in the 2000's

 

[Newbury Blade]

Goalkeeper Jack “Smiler” Smith very nearly managed four. Signed in 1930, last game 1950.

 

[Trigger Blade]

John Burridge was still playing into his forties, he could have spanned four decades?

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

John Burridge was still playing into his forties, he could have spanned four decades?

Good spot, made his debut in 1969, still playing into the mid 90s. Played in the Prem for Citeh aged 43, can't say I remember that !

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

Isn’t playing over four decades at all quite rare? You’d need a minimum 21 year career and the timing of starting in a x9-y0 season.

I think you mean 31 year career.

 

[Jim Chimmerney]

Deano played for us in the 80s, 90s and 00s.

 

[Brian Blessed]

If Francesco Totti's youth games counted he played for Roma in the 80s 90s (senior debut in 1993 but joined the club in 89) 00s and 10s.

If Paolo Maldini had retired a year later he'd have played first team football for Milan in 4 decades but he "only" played from 1985 to 2009


For multiple clubs Shilton was mentioned before he played from 60s-90s and Matthews played from 30s to 60s

 

[Brian Blessed]

If this lad gets a game in 2020 he'll have played senior matches in 5 different decades

Kazuyoshi Miura - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

 

[Geordie Blade]

I think you mean 31 year career.

I think Punk Blade meant 21 years: 6 months at the end of one decade, 10 years in the next, 10 years in the next and then 6 months in the fourth. 0.5 + 10 + 10 + 0.5 = 21

 

[grafikhaus]

Billy Sharp will become a three-decade player in 2020. Him and Jags both played under Warnock (though BS only had a few starts and had left by the time we got promoted to the PL). I like the fact that Billy and now Jags played for us so long ago, it feels like we now have a stronger connection with the last time we were successful in the 2000's

Despite starting his professional career almost exactly 15 years ago (1st July 2004), scoring 227 league goals and having played for teams including Leeds, Southampton and Nottingham Forest, Billy has never scored in the Premier League.

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

I think Punk Blade meant 21 years: 6 months at the end of one decade, 10 years in the next, 10 years in the next and then 6 months in the fourth. 0.5 + 10 + 10 + 0.5 = 21

I never thought of it that way. Cheers! Sorry Punk Blade

 

[Punk Blade]

I never thought of it that way. Cheers! Sorry Punk Blade

Ha! No worries. A 31 year career would be a stretch for even the fittest pros!

 

[bongleblade]

Deano played for us in the 80s, 90s and 00s.

beat me to it!

 

[bongleblade]

6 Footballers Who Have Played in 4 Decades - Top Soccer Blog

The average playing span of a professional footballer is typically 15 to 20 years. Their careers usually span…

topsoccerblog.com

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

Ha! No worries. A 31 year career would be a stretch for even the fittest pros!

Stanley Matthews was still playing at 50 years of age and had a 33 year career - I saw him play for Stoke at the Lane in the early 60s - his career ended in 1965 after starting in 1932

 

[Shalalalafenoughty]

Goalkeeper Jack “Smiler” Smith very nearly managed four. Signed in 1930, last game 1950.

My dad was captain of St Pat’s when they won the Bible Class League in the late-forties. Jack Smith (who he held in high regard as a keeper) presented the trophy. Many’s the time over the subsequent years that Dad held up his right hand and said:

“You’re looking at the hand that shook the hand of the great Jack Smith.”

 

[Silent Blade]

Stanley Matthews was still playing at 50 years of age and had a 33 year career - I saw him play for Stoke at the Lane in the early 60s - his career ended in 1965 after starting in 1932

Matthews played only 9 league games in 1963-64 season, not sure if one or two of the games were against the Blades. If not, he may have played in the friendly at the Lane in February 1963 (Britain were still freezing at the time)

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

Matthews played only 9 league games in 1963-64 season, not sure if one or two of the games were against the Blades. If not, he may have played in the friendly at the Lane in February 1963 (Britain were still freezing at the time)

That might have been the game I saw him in, Silent. I do remember piles of snow along the touchlines. Thank you my friend