Memries of Manchester United

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grafikhaus

grafikhaus

Kraft durch Freude
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So we pass the third-way point in the season with the Blades sat in fifth place in the PL and a recently-improved Reds just a point behind in seventh position.

On Saturday October 26th, 2019 Scott McTominay scored the opening goal in Man. United’s 3-1 win at Norwich. This was The Reds’ 2000th goal in the Premier League.

August 15th, 1992 was the first day of the newly-formed Premier League and The Blades met Man. United at Bramall Lane and – after just five minutes – Brian Deane headed the opening goal in the kop end – the first goal ever scored in the Premier League!

1574225445398.png​

In the 50th minute, a Deane penalty (from an error by Steve Bruce) made it 2-0 but Mark Hughes pulled one back in the 62nd minute – The Red Devil’s first-ever PL goal – as the game ended 2-1 to The Blades.

​


Thursday April 23rd, 1962 and I watched my first-ever Blades match, a 1-0 win (‘Doc’ Pace) to The Blades. Unfortunately, my excitement lasted until the following day when The Reds won the return fixture at Bramall Lane 2-3 (Pace, Hodgson). With just one game left of the 1961-62 season, The Blades lost 0-2 at Arsenal but still finished the season in fifth place (Manchester United finished in 15th place).

Recent games against Manchester United:

1574225499488.png

Full history Sheffield United v Manchester United

Complete League record v. Manchester United

Home: P: 44 W: 22 D: 9 L: 13 F: 77 A: 55
Away: P: 44 W: 11 D: 6 L: 27 F: 48 A: 90

With no league meeting between the teams since our 0-2 Premier League defeat at Old Trafford on 17th April 2007 (when Luton Shelton was blatantly fouled for a penalty – not awarded), our most recent clash was a FA Cup third-round meeting at Old Trafford. Division One United put up a good display before manager’s favourite Dean Hammond inexplicably conceded a clumsy, late penalty which was scored by Wayne Rooney to send Nigel Adkins’ side out of the Cup 0-1 in front of a crowd of 74,284.

​


On 18th November, 2006 we lost our Premier League meeting between the clubs 1-2. This game featured an incredible miss by Cristiano Ronaldo…

​


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------continued>>>​
 

October 2nd, 1971 and United had made an astonishing start to the season after securing promotion from Division Two. Eight wins and two draws saw United travel to Old Trafford where 51,338 (and an estimated 20,000 locked out) saw United hold out 0-0 until George Best broke the deadlock. (Alan Gowling would later make it 0-2 to The Reds).

​


Easter Monday, April 23rd 1973 - and exactly eleven years to the day since I saw my first Blades game – I went to Old Trafford to see The Blades win 2-1 (Dearden, Eddy) in front of 55,035 in what was Bobby Charlton’s last home game for Man. Utd.

February 14, 1993 and The Blades won at Bramall Lane 2-1 (Jamie Hoyland and Glyn Hodges) in an FA Cup 5th round tie (crowd, 27,150) which would eventually end in a 1-2 semi-final defeat at Wembley to Wednesday.

On March 11th, 1990 Second Division United lost at home 0-1 to The Reds in the 6th round of the FA Cup – a game briefly featured in the iconic ‘United’ BBC series:

​


I’m sure others have great memories of past clashes with Man. United!

Premier League Table:

With United in fifth place and Man. Utd in seventh, Sunday promises to be a cracker:

1574225652526.png

Latest Premier League Table

Form Guide:

Based on the last six PL games, the two respective form guides are equally tight:

1574225670943.png

Latest Premier League Form Guide

Top Scorers:

1574225695159.png

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------continued>>>​
 
Men to Watch:

From left: Marcus Rashford has developed into a fine player both for The Reds and England having been a member of The Reds’ Academy since the age of seven. Anthony Martial remains a potent threat, having being bought from AS Monaco on 1 September 2015 when he completed a move to Manchester United for £36 million, potentially rising to £58 million, on a four-year contract with the option of another year. This was the highest transfer fee paid for a teenager, breaking the previous record of £27 million United paid for Luke Shaw a year earlier. Daniel James (bought from Swansea this summer for £15m) and Scott McTominay represent the ‘new order’ at Old Trafford – the latter having been at United’s Academy since the age of five.

1574225796537.png
​
Also worth a mention are ex-Blade Harry Maguire, Mason Greenwood and Manchester’s #2 goalkeeper David de Gea. Paul Pogba will be missing though injury but is expected to return for the Manchester derby at The Ethiad on 7th December.

The Manager:

Ole Gunnar Solskjær has had a difficult baptism into English football management, but seems to be moulding The Reds into a top-six side with a current win percentage of 51.1%.

1574225763714.png​
 
I think I've seen most of those games, if not all of them. The one that stands out though was the 1971 game at Old Trafford when we arrived as top of the league following that amazing start. Man United were just behind us in 2nd place.

I remember arriving at Old Trafford a good hour and a half before the game and heading straight for the turnstiles. The queues were already building up and behind us, in the large, rough gravel car park, there were loads of Sheffield United Tours coaches starting to arrive and park up. Coaches like these:
1574229925501.png

I'd never seen so many Blades away coaches at a game, but then again, I hadn't been to that many games at that age, I was only 13. I didn't know until afterwards that thousands were locked out - I'm glad I wasn't one of them.

The game wasn't too old when the Stretford End singled out Blades Trevor Hockey for some stick. "Hockey is a werewolf" they sang. And this is how he reacted:

1574229414101.png

He stood in front of their kop and conducted them! :D

I was stood behind the goal where George Best scored that wonder goal, as you look at it from the pitch, I was just to the left of the left hand post and maybe half way up from the front. We'd played well up until that point and looked like holding our own, but that goal from Best changed the game. He was probably the best footballer I've ever seen play. You get some players who are really good at one or two aspects of the game, but he was good at all of them. I think above all, his dribbling skills were amazing and if you watch that clip of his goal again you'll see what I mean! But look closely and you'll see that it's not just about close control that made him a good dribbler, but it's his ability to rapidly change pace and catch defenders unaware. It was like he switched a turbo on and just left them for dead.

When that goal went in the Blades stood behind the goal with me were not so complimentary. The consensus was that it was a "spozzy" goal. I thought at the time that it was quite brilliant - but I think I was the only one! And as a young schoolboy, having been brought up to appreciate values of honesty, fairness and sportsmanship, I remember being amazed at how angry, unreasonable and downright horrible my fellow Blades fans were towards George Best when that one went in. I've since learned of course, that all goals scored against us are lucky and undeserved. :)

When Alan Gowling, netted the second we knew that was that.

1574232110404.png

I vaguely remember the coach journey back over the Snake. The driver put the radio on as we all listened to "Sports Report" on the way back - it was painful given the coverage and love for Manchester United. We stopped off at this pub in Stocksbridge on the way back into Sheffield.
1574230801494.png

It's called "The Friendship", but we didn't get much of a warm welcome from the locals. Methinks it was a bit too "Wednesdayish" a part of town for that. The coach driver allowed us an hour to drown our sorrows. As a 13 year old kid, a couple of weeks away from my 14th birthday, I wasn't able to get served any beer, but one of the blokes off the coach sorted me out with a pint. In fact, I may have had a couple. All I remember is, leaving there feeling happier than when I walked in.

(I have been back in that pub once since then - and the welcome hasn't got any warmer).

I arrived home, eventually, having enjoyed the day out, even though we hadn't won. It had been a great experience for me as a young lad, and one I've never forgotten. I'm still like that now. I can go to a football match and enjoy the day out, without letting the result spoil it.

Finally, I think there are some parallels with today's Sheffield United team. That 1971 team had just been promoted from the second tier of English football. Folks had been very complimentary about our bright, attacking football style, but, we'd spent very little on strengthening the team during the summer (compared to other clubs) and the received wisdom was that we would struggle in the top tier of football. This game, v Man United, was 10 games into the season and we were sitting proudly on top of the league. The pundits were wrong about us again! Just like they are today!

If you've ever wondered why pundits, or anyone really, gets it so wrong, so often, it's because they don't learn from history. It's said that "history repeats itself" - if this is true then it's probably for the benefit of people who weren't listening first time. There's nothing surprising about a good set of football players, moulded into a good football team, with good team spirit and a good manager, doing well at the top levels of football. It happened then. It's happening again now. Yet it still catches people out!

Let's hope it will catch Manchester United out this weekend and that they don't score any "spozzy" goals against us this time!;)
 
Last edited:
April 4th 1972, drew 1-1. My First ever game at Bramall Lane. :)
 
Cerberus Blade said:
I think I've seen most of those games, if not all of them. The one that stands out though was the 1971 game at Old Trafford when we arrived as top of the league following that amazing start. Man United were just behind us in 2nd place.

I remember arriving at Old Trafford a good hour and a half before the game and heading straight for the turnstiles. The queues were already building up and behind us, in the large, rough gravel car park, there were loads of Sheffield United Tours coaches starting to arrive and park up. Coaches like these:
View attachment 64959

I'd never seen so many Blades away coaches at a game, but then again, I hadn't been to that many games at that age, I was only 13. I didn't know until afterwards that thousands were locked out - I'm glad I wasn't one of them.

The game wasn't too old when the Stretford End singled out Blades Trevor Hockey for some stick. "Hockey is a werewolf" they sang. And this is how he reacted:

View attachment 64958

He stood in front of their kop and conducted them! :D

I was stood behind the goal where George Best scored that wonder goal, as you look at it from the pitch, I was just to the left of the left hand post and maybe half way up from the front. We'd played well up until that point and looked like holding our own, but that goal from Best changed the game. He was probably the best footballer I've ever seen play. You get some players who are really good at one or two aspects of the game, but he was good at all of them. I think above all, his dribbling skills were amazing and if you watch that clip of his goal again you'll see what I mean! But look closely and you'll see that it's not just about close control that made him a good dribbler, but it's his ability to rapidly change pace and catch defenders unaware. It was like he switched a turbo on and just left them for dead.

When that goal went in the Blades stood behind the goal with me were not so complimentary. The consensus was that it was a "spozzy" goal. I thought at the time that it was quite brilliant - but I think I was the only one! And as a young schoolboy, having been brought up to appreciate values of honesty, fairness and sportsmanship, I remember being amazed at how angry, unreasonable and downright horrible my fellow Blades fans were towards George Best when that one went in. I've since learned of course, that all goals scored against us are lucky and undeserved. :)

When Alan Gowling, netted the second we knew that was that.

View attachment 64964

I vaguely remember the coach journey back over the Snake. The driver put the radio on as we all listened to "Sports Report" on the way back - it was painful given the coverage and love for Manchester United. We stopped off at this pub in Stocksbridge on the way back into Sheffield.
View attachment 64963

It's called "The Friendship", but we didn't get much of a warm welcome from the locals. Methinks it was a bit too "Wednesdayish" a part of town for that. The coach driver allowed us an hour to drown our sorrows. As a 13 year old kid, a couple of weeks away from my 14th birthday, I wasn't able to get served any beer, but one of the blokes off the coach sorted me out with a pint. In fact, I may have had a couple. All I remember is, leaving there feeling happier than when I walked in.

(I have been back in that pub once since then - and the welcome hasn't got any warmer).

I arrived home, eventually, having enjoyed the day out, even though we hadn't won. It had been a great experience for me as a young lad, and one I've never forgotten. I'm still like that now. I can go to a football match and enjoy the day out, without letting the result spoil it.

Finally, I think there are some parallels with today's Sheffield United team. That 1971 team had just been promoted from the second tier of English football. Folks had been very complimentary about our bright, attacking football style, but, we'd spent very little on strengthening the team during the summer (compared to other clubs) and the received wisdom was that we would struggle in the top tier of football. This game, v Man United, was 10 games into the season and we were sitting proudly on top of the league. The pundits were wrong about us again! Just like they are today!

If you've ever wondered why pundits, or anyone really, gets it so wrong, so often, it's because they don't learn from history. It's said that "history repeats itself" - if this is true then it's probably for the benefit of people who weren't listening first time. There's nothing surprising about a good set of football players, moulded into a good football team, with good team spirit and a good manager, doing well at the top levels of football. It happened then. It's happening again now. Yet it still catches people out!

Let's hope it will catch Manchester United out this weekend and that they don't score any "spozzy" goals against us this time!;)
Click to expand...


Coming home through Stocksbridge would surely mean via Woodhead?
 
I remember a night match, we had Jimmy Johnstone (ex Celtic player) can't remember the result. 1975 ish
 
Bayingblade said:
April 4th 1972, drew 1-1. My First ever game at Bramall Lane. :)
Click to expand...
I think this was the night I ended up watching the game from the old cricket pavilion. Got in the Bramall Lane End but it was so packed I had to move round. There must have been over 40000 in attendance, just pay on the gate! Terrible view, can't remember a thing about the actual match!
 
Gallonofmaggots said:
I remember a night match, we had Jimmy Johnstone (ex Celtic player) can't remember the result. 1975 ish
Click to expand...

That would be Saturday (so maybe not a night match?)13th December 1975 (the season the South Stand opened). Blades 1 Man. Utd. 4 (Dearden). Crowd: 31,741 in Division One.

Our team: 1. Jim Brown 2. Len Badger 3. Paul Garner 4. Keith Eddy 5. Eddie Colquhoun 6. Colin Franks 7. Jimmy Johnstone (the only home game he played v. Man. Utd.) 8. David Bradford 9. Bill Dearden 10. Steve Ludlam 11. Alan Woodward (crrie was injured). Manager: Jimmy Sirrel.

Man. U's team:

1574246590007.png

After finishing the previous season (1974-75) in sixth place, United would end this season rock-bottom in Division One and eventually get relegated to Division Four in 1980-81.

Karaoke Blade said:
I think this was the night I ended up watching the game from the old cricket pavilion. Got in the Bramall Lane End but it was so packed I had to move round. There must have been over 40000 in attendance, just pay on the gate! Terrible view, can't remember a thing about the actual match!
Click to expand...

We drew 1-1 (Geoff Salmons) and the crowd was 45,045.
 

I read an interview with Ted Hemsley about that Best goal in the 1971 game and he says that he had marked Best out of the game but had to go off injured. Those being the days of one sub who would have just have to fill in whatever position they had to and this gave Best the freedom to score that goal. I think you can see the No.12 in the clip getting nowhere near Best. Sure Silent Blade or Revolution will tell us who the sub was - my guess is Bradford.
 
coaxingstar71 said:
I read an interview with Ted Hemsley about that Best goal in the 1971 game and he says that he had marked Best out of the game but had to go off injured. Those being the days of one sub who would have just have to fill in whatever position they had to and this gave Best the freedom to score that goal. I think you can see the No.12 in the clip getting nowhere near Best. Sure Silent Blade or Revolution will tell us who the sub was - my guess is Bradford.
Click to expand...

Bradford didn't arrive until 1974. It was Gil Reece.
 
Last edited:
In the early 90s we seemed to draw Man U at home every season in the FA Cup. We were the only team who upon being drawn against Man U in the Cup, instead of being excited, would emit a sigh and a 'Not again!"
 
Cheets said:
In the early 90s we seemed to draw Man U at home every season in the FA Cup. We were the only team who upon being drawn against Man U in the Cup, instead of being excited, would emit a sigh and a 'Not again!"
Click to expand...

we had never met them in the FA Cup and then drew them 4 times in 6 seasons, all at home.
 
Silent Blade said:







Click to expand...
Not one reference to just “United” in any of these reports from nearly 50 years ago, just Sheffield and Manchester which I find more than acceptable. Its going to be interesting to see how the commentators, writers and pundits cope with this difficult conundrum on Sunday, not very well is my guess.
 

Robby Blade said:
Then got her back on the coach back to Sheffield via Ladybower, Strines, Bradfield and Stocksbridge, to take her to an all nighter at The Heartbeat.
Click to expand...

Via Colvins for some bags and a star jumper....
 
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