Memories of the 3rd tier of English football

[blade too long]

the bolton game was when burnden park had put up a supermarket in one corner and the away end was a roofless concrete step standing area at the side of bolton fans and there was much chucking of bricks during the game and a caught a glancing blow on the napper and had the word LONDON imprinted on my forehead,backwards NODNOL I remember arguing with my brother (as usual) that Edwards goal may be important ( I was always annoying) as he spouted his weve blown it speech

 

[super_pig]

>and we didn't even play
well that explains that then

 

[Darren]

the bolton game was when burnden park had put up a supermarket in one corner and the away end was a roofless concrete step standing area at the side of bolton fans and there was much chucking of bricks during the game and a caught a glancing blow on the napper and had the word LONDON imprinted on my forehead,backwards NODNOL I remember arguing with my brother (as usual) that Edwards goal may be important ( I was always annoying) as he spouted his weve blown it speech

I thought we had blown it after that defeat at Bolton. The Bolton game finished at 4.45 on the Bank Holiday Monday and, as I recall it, the relevant bit of the table was as follows:

3. Sheff Utd P45 pts 80
4. Hull P43 pts 79.

And Hull's GD was 1 better than ours though we had scored a lot more. Hull had to play at already relegated Port Vale that Monday evening, at home to Bristol Rovers on the following Saturday, then away to Burnley on the following Tuesday night. We only had Newport at home on the Saturday With that being the position only a fool would have bet on United going up (as only a fool would have bet on us going down in 94 and 07).

But miracle of miracles, that night Vale beat Hull 1-0. leaving the table as follows:

3. Sheff Utd P45 pts 80
4. Hull P44 pts 79

With goal differences equal.

Come Saturday United had a straightfoward 2-0 win over Newport whilst Hull only managed a 0-0 draw with Bristol Rovers (we were 2-0 up after around 50 mins and, with Hull drawing, it was likely GD would come into play and we needed to get more goals. Sadly we couldn't).

This left the table

3. Sheff Utd P46 Pts 83
4. Hull P45 pts 80

With our GD 2 better. The rest, as they say, is history.

 

[ZoneManWilf]

I thought we had blown it after that defeat at Bolton. The Bolton game finished at 4.45 on the Bank Holiday Monday and, as I recall it, the relevant bit of the table was as follows:

3. Sheff Utd P45 pts 80
4. Hull P43 pts 79.

And Hull's GD was 1 better than ours though we had scored a lot more. Hull had to play at already relegated Port Vale that Monday evening, at home to Bristol Rovers on the following Saturday, then away to Burnley on the following Tuesday night. We only had Newport at home on the Saturday With that being the position only a fool would have bet on United going up (as only a fool would have bet on us going down in 94 and 07).

But miracle of miracles, that night Vale beat Hull 1-0. leaving the table as follows:

3. Sheff Utd P45 pts 80
4. Hull P44 pts 79

With goal differences equal.

Come Saturday United had a straightfoward 2-0 win over Newport whilst Hull only managed a 0-0 draw with Bristol Rovers (we were 2-0 up after around 50 mins and, with Hull drawing, it was likely GD would come into play and we needed to get more goals. Sadly we couldn't).

This left the table

3. Sheff Utd P46 Pts 83
4. Hull P45 pts 80

With our GD 2 better. The rest, as they say, is history.

Interesting stuff that. A question for you.

When was the last time we got promoted by us getting a win on the last day of the season?

I believe we'd have gone up at Leicester in 1990 even if we'd lost, because Newcastle lost as well. 2006 we were up well before the end, ditto 1982 (although I believe we sealed the Championship at Darlington).

Technically that Newport win in 1984 which was our last match got us promoted, but by the strange quirk of that season it wasn't the last day of the season.

In 1989 we lost at Bristol City, being all but mathematically promoted after the draw at Wolves the previous game.

Wasn't even born in 71, but I think that Cardiff match also wasn't the last game of the season.

 

[blade too long]

Technically then when we beat newport , as we did get promoted, despite the 80 hour nail biting session
as you discount leicester , even though we didnt know newcastle were going to come a cropper on the last day , but I would count Leicester as we all know , nothings a gimme in football, had leeds only drawn we,d have been champions and still only lost out on gd

We always lose out on gd , we really must address that

The night we beat Cardiff is still the greatest night of celebration I can remember, stood in the bottom corner of the kop watching the entire terrace going bananas after Currie scored with a header, and a banana shot from Gil Reece will never be matched

only the win over forest comes close

 

[Darren]

Interesting stuff that. A question for you.

When was the last time we got promoted by us getting a win on the last day of the season?

I believe we'd have gone up at Leicester in 1990 even if we'd lost, because Newcastle lost as well. 2006 we were up well before the end, ditto 1982 (although I believe we sealed the Championship at Darlington).

Technically that Newport win in 1984 which was our last match got us promoted, but by the strange quirk of that season it wasn't the last day of the season.

In 1989 we lost at Bristol City, being all but mathematically promoted after the draw at Wolves the previous game.

Wasn't even born in 71, but I think that Cardiff match also wasn't the last game of the season.

We went up in 71 after beating Watford 3-0 in the last game of the season, but I think we would have gone up even had we not won as Cardiff, our nearest rivals, failed to win their last game.

In the previous two promotions (61 and 53) we were up before the last game, so I think the last (and I think only time) we needed to win our last game to get promotion and did was in 1939 when we beat Spurs 6-1 to pip Wednesday (who had finished their programme). Although, I have this feeling we may have only needed a draw...

 

[oldblade]

I thought we had blown it after that defeat at Bolton. The Bolton game finished at 4.45 on the Bank Holiday Monday and, as I recall it, the relevant bit of the table was as follows:

3. Sheff Utd P45 pts 80
4. Hull P43 pts 79.

And Hull's GD was 1 better than ours though we had scored a lot more. Hull had to play at already relegated Port Vale that Monday evening, at home to Bristol Rovers on the following Saturday, then away to Burnley on the following Tuesday night. We only had Newport at home on the Saturday With that being the position only a fool would have bet on United going up (as only a fool would have bet on us going down in 94 and 07).

But miracle of miracles, that night Vale beat Hull 1-0. leaving the table as follows:

3. Sheff Utd P45 pts 80
4. Hull P44 pts 79

With goal differences equal.

I remember feeling pretty despondent two days before the Bolton game when we had lost at home to Wimbledon. It was looking like we'd probably blown it at that stage. And when we lost at Bolton that put the tin hat on it and I thought it really was all over.

Port Vale had had a terrible season, but the one thing that kept any hope alive was the memory of our wretched 2-0 defeat there earlier in the season. There was a little thought that if they could beat us, they were probably capable of beating Hull as well. But as you say, when Hull played them Port Vale were already down, so it looked very unlikely. When we lost to them them there was still half the season to go.

 

[blade too long]

you had to remind me of port vale away, I still think in 50 years of watching us its the most disappointing display I ever saw, in that we were playing reasonably well had just won ,at home 3-0 I believe and went expecting to move clear top of the league, yet every man jack of them looked like theyd eaten 8 xmas dinners and were unable to move

yes weve beren abject in plenty of games , but this stuck out like a wart

 

[Peezablade]

the bolton game was when burnden park had put up a supermarket in one corner and the away end was a roofless concrete step standing area at the side of bolton fans and there was much chucking of bricks during the game and a caught a glancing blow on the napper and had the word LONDON imprinted on my forehead,backwards NODNOL I remember arguing with my brother (as usual) that Edwards goal may be important ( I was always annoying) as he spouted his weve blown it speech

I always remember that game for the violence as much as the Edwards goal. Most Blades (and there were lots of us) were behind the net. Some were on the terrace to the right and some, including me, were sat under a Sheffield United Union Jack in the upper tier of their stand.

There was non-stop fighting on the terrace and the fledging BBC mob in the stand with us quickly got rid of any Bolton fans. At the end of the game this mob jumped down onto the terracing and jogged (rather than ran!) the Bolton fans to the other end of the ground.

After the match I saw an innocent Blade get whacked with a truncheon into the doorway of a bookies (out stone cold and blood coming from head) and Bolton fan relieved of his Adidas Samba trainers and pale blue Tacchini tracksuit. He was in tears.

The next time we went the Bolton fans were ready and spent the entire game lobbing coins and missiles across the shared stand (I think the terracing behind the goal had been ripped up by then).

Maybe not 'on the pitch memories' but poignant just the same.

 

[blade too long]

yes outside the ground that day was like tv coverage of misrata in libya

but not out of the norm for that era unfortunately

 

[sitwell]

I remember being on the Terrace ,we had already had fun in a village called Farnsworth before the game. A few of us got cornered in the toilets under the stand before it had kicked off and one of the black lads with us was getting a lot of racist grief ,he located a fire extinguisher and all hell let loose ,even the cops ran away, when we emerged back on the terrace blades seemed to come from all over but we were outnumbered and cornered. All of this was in full view of the open supermarket end full of blades , I remember getting a knowing look off one of the bosses where I worked on Monday. There was trouble every time we went to Burnden Park ,only Stokes Victoria Ground was dodgier in my opinion.

 

[Large Mendonca]

We went up in 71 after beating Watford 3-0 in the last game of the season, but I think we would have gone up even had we not won as Cardiff, our nearest rivals, failed to win their last game.

In the previous two promotions (61 and 53) we were up before the last game, so I think the last (and I think only time) we needed to win our last game to get promotion and did was in 1939 when we beat Spurs 6-1 to pip Wednesday (who had finished their programme). Although, I have this feeling we may have only needed a draw...

I remember my Dad telling me about the Spurs match. Lot's of Wendys at the game in good voice waiting for us to fail - he told me they were soon silenced

 

[blade too long]

Did anyone else remember going to preston when deepdale had the fluorescent green plastic pitch , remember a packed end all shading their eyes at the glare off the pitch



an artists impression of the preston pitch

 

[ZoneManWilf]

We went up in 71 after beating Watford 3-0 in the last game of the season, but I think we would have gone up even had we not won as Cardiff, our nearest rivals, failed to win their last game.

In the previous two promotions (61 and 53) we were up before the last game, so I think the last (and I think only time) we needed to win our last game to get promotion and did was in 1939 when we beat Spurs 6-1 to pip Wednesday (who had finished their programme). Although, I have this feeling we may have only needed a draw...

Good stuff - yet we make a habit of last days losses sending us down, and a lot in recent history!
Wigan, Chelsea, Bristol City, Walsall...

 

[blade too long]

Good stuff - yet we make a habit of last days losses sending us down, and a lot in recent history!
Wigan, Chelsea, Bristol City, Walsall...

which is not a patch on our shit record in show piece games in large arenas
we might turn up one day in a play off final, or semi

 

[sitwell]

When was the last time we won on a neutral ground ?

 

[ghandi]

When was the last time we won on a neutral ground ?

1936 FA Cup Semi? I would discount games like those played at Odsal although not Bradford's official ground it would be a home fixture for Bradford therefore not neutral.

 

[bricktop]

1936 FA Cup Semi? I would discount games like those played at Odsal although not Bradford's official ground it would be a home fixture for Bradford therefore not neutral.

That was my gut feeling, but i'm sure there will be one or two anolomies in there.

 

[axel smeets]

I think its January 1962 at Hillsborough, an FA Cup tie against Bury? I will stand corrected however.

 

[bricktop]

I think its January 1962 at Hillsborough, an FA Cup tie against Bury? I will stand corrected however.

You might be right, i knew there was something. FA Cup 2nd replays and onwards used to be played a neutral grounds, so your probably right.

 

[axel smeets]

I checked it out after I posted it, we drew 0-0 at Gigg Lane on 6/1/62, then 2-2 at Bramall Lane on 10/1/62 and beat them 2-0 at Hillsborough on 15/1/62. It just rang a bell straight away, I think I was discussing it with one of the lads at work the other month, probably looked it up then!

So if we get to the Play Off Final or JPT Final in 2012 and win it''ll be 50 bloody years.........

 

[blade too long]

3rd round 2nd replays hardly fit the show piece category though, especially now they are defunct

 

[axel smeets]

Its still in the history books as a 2-0 win on a neutral venue. Defunct they may be, it does not alter the fact that it was the last time SUFC won a match on a neutral venue.

Other than that, yes it would presumably be our 1936 FA Cup Semi Final against Fulham.

 

[sitwell]

How ironic then that we won promotion at Turf Moor ,without even playing. How Sheffield United is that.

 

[cahill]

Ah the memories. Maidenhead I remember walking back through the town centre in Chester and seeing the medics round a prostrate Blade with Blades flying up a side street and then flying back down in panic. I remember trouble with the Pigs when we got back to Pond Street, in fact the Pigs were (as usual) in retreat.

I was at Burnley for the Hull game. The locals who i'd just told I was a Blade reassured me that no way would Hull win by 3 goals. Ten minutes after kick off Hull were 2-0 up. I've never been so nervous at a game.

---------- Post added at 09:03 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:54 PM ----------

The Bratfud City away game in the 4th division was a dodgy old affair for brick, bottle and coin throwing.

 

[Darren]

Ah the memories. Maidenhead I remember walking back through the town centre in Chester and seeing the medics round a prostrate Blade with Blades flying up a side street and then flying back down in panic. I remember trouble with the Pigs when we got back to Pond Street, in fact the Pigs were (as usual) in retreat.

I was at Burnley for the Hull game. The locals who i'd just told I was a Blade reassured me that no way would Hull win by 3 goals. Ten minutes after kick off Hull were 2-0 up. I've never been so nervous at a game..

No they weren't. Hull got their first after about 2 mins and their second about half way through the second half, giving us a very nervous last 25 mins!

 

[Pollingtonblade]

That reminds me of another ground I've visited. Bradford Odsal Stadium 86/87 season I think we drew 1 all - Darren?

 

[Darren]

That reminds me of another ground I've visited. Bradford Odsal Stadium 86/87 season I think we drew 1 all - Darren?

Yep, 4/10/86. Withe got our goal.

 

[blade too long]

yes Id forgot that one was after the fire wasnt it, still the most horific disaster Ive seen

 

[bricktop]

This is off the top of head but we won there the previous season 4-1. Morris and Edwards both getting 2 each, and it was October/November time.

How good or shite is my memory Darren?