Proper Blades

[Northyorksblade]

Went to a do last night to mark 40 years of Kiveton Park supporters club. Alan Hodgkinson, who was at the opening of the branch, was there and gave a talk about how it was 40 years ago. He said, amongst other things, that you didn't play for the money, flash cars etc but purely for the shirt and once you'd played for the Blades they were always part of your family. He stayed till after eleven and when he left, went round every table shaking hands with people and having a chat. A REAL gentleman. Also there were John Flynn, Mick Jones, Ted Hemsley and Len Badger. Most of them brought their wives and Ted and Len stayed till the end of the night and danced to the disco and seemed to have a right good time. Today's footballers can't hold a candle to any of them!

 

[cahill]

I wish to god I'd been there. Mick Jones, Badger, Hemsley, John Flynn and Hodgy. What a line up of Blade legends. Interesting to hear those Blade insights from 40 years ago. It did feel different then. With the exception of Ted they were all local lads. Add in Woody, Barry and Tony Wagstaff, Bernard Shaw, Fenoughty, not sure where Munks and Mallender came from they were all from the local area. It all added to the sense of identity but now we get players on loan who are heroes (or villains) on Saturday and away from the club on Monday. The nature of the beast these days is that the shirt is desecrated with a naff company sponsorship logo (thank God we haven't had Chupa Chups) which vulgarises the whole shebang and sections of the ground have a name change every 2 years which in my opinion also cheapens the experience.

BRING BACK STANDING

 

[Wapping Blade]

BRING BACK STANDING

Heard Jeremy Hunt (sic) on R5 Sports programme this morning with the odious Gary Richardson - Richardson still attributing standing with H*********h and Hunt saying that there is no way they will go down that road

 

[ghandi]

I wish to god I'd been there. Mick Jones, Badger, Hemsley, John Flynn and Hodgy. What a line up of Blade legends. Interesting to hear those Blade insights from 40 years ago. It did feel different then. With the exception of Ted they were all local lads. Add in Woody, Barry and Tony Wagstaff, Bernard Shaw, Fenoughty, not sure where Munks and Mallender came from they were all from the local area. It all added to the sense of identity but now we get players on loan who are heroes (or villains) on Saturday and away from the club on Monday. The nature of the beast these days is that the shirt is desecrated with a naff company sponsorship logo (thank God we haven't had Chupa Chups) which vulgarises the whole shebang and sections of the ground have a name change every 2 years which in my opinion also cheapens the experience.

BRING BACK STANDING

BTW John Flynn wasn't local he was signed from Workington (where he was born) when they were still a FL club but I totally agree with the sentiment of the thread.

 

[Northyorksblade]

But he ended up in South Yorkshire, so at least he's an adopted Yorkshireman! Still lives near Kivo.

 

[Basing Blade]

Be interesting to know which senior Blades still live in or near Sheffield.

 

[travellingblade]

Mick Jones lived in the house "next door", but the one at the bottom of our garden in South Anston, after he'd retired.

David Munks, I believe was a local lad, according to my next door neighbour (when I lived in Gledless), who claimed he was his second cousin.

 

[Cool Clint]

John Flynn lives in the same house he has had since the early seventies in Dinnington.

 

[grafikhaus]

...and while we're reminiscing, another angle of 'a quality goal'...

 

[Deadbat]

Mick Jones

Mick Jones lived in the house "next door", but the one at the bottom of our garden in South Anston, after he'd retired.

On Broom Grove I believe? I grew up in South Anston not far from there till I moved away at 18 and family now moved away too. Used to see Mick in the Trooper a lot and still believe he has been going from friends who still live there but heard he had been poorly recently?

 

[Cool Clint]

On Broom Grove I believe? I grew up in South Anston not far from there till I moved away at 18 and family now moved away too. Used to see Mick in the Trooper a lot and still believe he has been going from friends who still live there but heard he had been poorly recently?

Yep. His wife used to work at KPS down the road. Mick has always struggled bad with his knees. Not seen him for a while so I dont know about him being poorly.

 

[Kenilworth]

Thanks Grafik - never seen that photo before.
Seen the goal on telly so many times I had forgotten that the stand was being built at the time.

Nice one, Blade.

 

[travellingblade]

On Broom Grove I believe?

That's correct. I lived on Rochester Road.

 

[bricktop]

...and while we're reminiscing, another angle of 'a quality goal'...

Never seen this Photo before, think it is the first one i've seen of the South Stand getting built.

 

[Worksop II]

...and while we're reminiscing, another angle of 'a quality goal'...

Woodward out on't right wing, I think that is old man Lampard on the left ........

 

[grafikhaus]

Think you're right. Mervyn Day in goal and (I think) Bobby Gould behind TC.

 

[Silent Blade]

Never seen this Photo before, think it is the first one i've seen of the South Stand getting built.

It took two years to build the South Stand and the worldwide shortage of timber made it longer to build. I think it was expected that the South Stand would be open in 1974 rather than 1975.

The players in the picture from L to R are; Mervyn Day,Frank Lampard, Alan Woodward, Steve Cammack, Tommy Taylor, i think the WHU player near the cameras is Alan Taylor (or possibly the late Graham Paddon), Kevin Lock, Bobby Gould and TC

 

[bricktop]

Timber? What did they use that for, i always thought the South Stand was made primarily of Concrete?

 

[Silent Blade]

Good point but I do remember reading that the shortage of timber was causing delay in getting the South Stand built

 

[bladesk]

A gent

I went to the above event, as north york blade says, (ALAN HODGKINSON a GENT ). spoke to hodgy, says he has got programme from every game he has played in or some type of momento.came all the way from leicestershire to be at the event, a true BLADE & LEGEND. must be in his seventies and still the same looking bloke.len badger, ted hemsley and M I MIC MICK JONES looked their ages. john flynn, did'nt recognize him; once again, a great night; many thanks to alan smith & rodger widdowson.

 

[super_pig]

>It took two years to build the South Stand and the worldwide shortage of timber made it longer to build
heh.. that is quality.. my late grandfather was a troubleshooter for gleesons.. they had to finish it off.. hassalls thought that because they could build decent houses they could do a stand..