50 years ago today

[Silent Blade]

20/9/1971

 

[Dnblade]

11/9/1971

Blades 2 (Dearden, Scullion) Spurs 2 (Peters, Gilzean)



Before the game I got to see John Harris receive his Manager of the month award on the pitch and there were loud cheers from the crowd. YTV cameras were there to film the match for highlights in the next day.

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It was a bright and sunny afternoon. We were awarded a free kick just outside the penalty box after the eagle eyed linesman ruled that Jennings still had the ball in his hand outside the box when he tried to throw the ball to a teammate.

TC chipped the free kick into the box and out of our players, only Flynn tried to get to the chip but he was nowhere near it .Joe Kinnear, Mike England and Jennings went after the ball but it caused confusion for Spurs and for most in the ground. Kinnear headed the ball, England and Jennings tried to claim it, England got the second header to it but was off balance as he clashed with Jennings. From my seat in the BLUT I watched the ball go high and then it dropped towards the net, Kinnear recovered and tried to boot the ball off the line but looking at the video, Dearden came from nowhere to dash towards the ball and knock it into the net. I think most in the BLUT didnt have a clue who scored the goal. Our reaction to the goal was about a second or two after we saw the spectators in the Kop go into raptures. Later in the evening when I got the Green Un, the first thing was to find out who had scored our first goal but in his match report, even Peter Howard didnt say that Dearden got the final touch before England's header had crossed the line! In the next day some papers said it was an own goal by England and some said Dearden scored it.

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Scullion's shot hits the post. I have circled where my dad and I were sat in the BLUT

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Deep into injury time in the 1st half Spurs equalised which was a "ghost header" by Martin Peters which was a typical of him like he did for West Ham, Spurs, Norwich and England (he did one for us when we beat Swindon 3-0). The ref then blew for half time before we were able to restart from the centre spot.

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Early in the 2nd half we went 2-1 up after Scullion headed in a cross by Salmons. We all thought he would go on to score many goals for us!

I clearly remember TC chatting with Dearden (see photo below) during a lull in play (an injured player was having treatment by the trainer at the time)

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In the dying minutes of the match, Spurs equalised again after a long throw by Martin Chivers was headed on by England and the wily old fox Alan Gilzean finished the set piece with a typical back header.

It was disappointing that Spurs had denied us a win by scoring right at the end of each half but we were still top of the league! See below link for scores, scorers, line ups and league tables.

1971-09-11

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Great seeing that again,I was trying to pick me and my Dad out on the Kop behind the goal. .. What a header by Scullion.. Typical Peters goal, I remember him ghosting in for that one, and Gilzean late on was a sickener.. Always seemed to be good games v Spurs back then.

 

[ancientblade]

Great seeing that again,I was trying to pick me and my Dad out on the Kop behind the goal. .. What a header by Scullion.. Typical Peters goal, I remember him ghosting in for that one, and Gilzean late on was a sickener.. Always seemed to be good games v Spurs back then.

was up top behind goal but what a packed shoreham that was that day

 

[Silent Blade]

22/9/1971.

I remember posting a youtube video highlights of the match in here about 5 years ago. Think Woody assisted one of the goals. Sadly, it looks like the footage has been removed from youtube.

 

[Dnblade]

was up top behind goal but what a packed shoreham that was that day

Loved the old Kop when it was packed.. looked like the Lane end was rammed with Blades aswell, and stood on there quite few times with Blades and away fans mixed in..Was on there for the Hull game when they kicked us off the park. Shame the seats had to go on the Kop, just watching the video brings back great memories of what a great place it was to be, and we had a great side to watch.

 

[ancientblade]

Loved the old Kop when it was packed.. looked like the Lane end was rammed with Blades aswell, and stood on there quite few times with Blades and away fans mixed in..Was on there for the Hull game when they kicked us off the park. Shame the seats had to go on the Kop, just watching the video brings back great memories of what a great place it was to be, and we had a great side to watch.

agree 100% the shoreham was magical in the 60s and 70s fans packed in swaying and surging was so much more atmospheric than wednesdays open air east bank and yeah was at that hull game apart from leeds they were the dirtiest side i had ever seen that night especially future pig knighton

 

[Dnblade]

agree 100% the shoreham was magical in the 60s and 70s fans packed in swaying and surging was so much more atmospheric than wednesdays open air east bank and yeah was at that hull game apart from leeds they were the dirtiest side i had ever seen that night especially future pig knighton

Yeah, Knighton, Chris Chilton..Real X rated stuff thought Hull KR had turned up.. Ofcourse Dirty Leeds.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

22/9/1971.

I remember posting a youtube video highlights of the match in here about 5 years ago. Think Woody assisted one of the goals. Sadly, it looks like the footage has been removed from youtube.

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I remember going to Oakwell to watch Woody play in some kind of England format ( Football League? England B?) and he played well .

Another thing I remember was the pitch , which looked to be in pristine condition when most of the others at the time were like quagmires . I think Oakwell had a reputation for having one of the best in the country at that time .

 

[Silent Blade]

I remember going to Oakwell to watch Woody play in some kind of England format ( Football League? England B?) and he played well .

Another thing I remember was the pitch , which looked to be in pristine condition when most of the others at the time were like quagmires . I think Oakwell had a reputation for having one of the best in the country at that time .

10/9/1969

 

[Silent Blade]

25/9/1971

Blades 1 (Scullion) Chelsea 0

Another 40K plus crowd saw Scullion hammering in a low drive past keeper Peter Bonetti from outside the box at the Kop End in the 1st half to score his last goal at Bramall Lane (which was a surprise to me when thinking about it recently) as he had scored his 4th goal of the season and we all thought at the time that there would be many goals to come from him.










I do not remember much about the 2nd half. Years later my dad recalled a terrible miss by Peter Osgood at the Kop end in the dying minutes of the match and was saying Osgood was horrified with himself about the miss but I do not remember the incident at all.






It was pity that the match wasnt televised bit it was a fantastic feeling seeing how high the Blades were in the league when watching towards the end of MOTD that evening. MOTD had highlights of the 2-2 draw between Liverpool and Manchester United (I remember Bobby Charlton's powerful equaliser late in the game (see further below)









There are 4 match reports (including from the Green Un) in the below link from the excellent Chelsea history website, Bounder Friardale

https://www.bounder.friardale.co.uk/Match%20Reports/1971/19710925.jpg?fbclid=IwAR2PfXzMUGJftG6HBmyMM_78W5Luu8ABxF-IbgrwolrK9DCI7PZ-v1W-cP0

Scores, scorers, line ups and league tables can be seen from below link

1971-09-25

From the match programme

 

[Sandygate Blade]

A!though we didn't know it at the time, this was the high point! Great time to be a Blade

 

[reedy63]

Brilliant thanks Silent Blade.

 

[ancientblade]

are we a week away from the dreaded george best goal silent

 

[Silent Blade]

are we a week away from the dreaded george best goal silent

Yes

 

[metalblade]

That's a goal that all these year later still sticks in my mind. I knew it was going in as soon as it left his boot.
Another 40,000+ crowd at the lane only bettered by Liverpool v Man Utd

 

[ancientblade]

Yes

getting closer silent 50 years ago this week was looking forward to the trip to old trafford little did i know i wasnt even going to get in to the ground lol

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

getting closer silent 50 years ago this week was looking forward to the trip to old trafford little did i know i wasnt even going to get in to the ground lol

You and me both… and probably 20000 others!

 

[Bert]

You and me both… and probably 20000 others!

But not Bert and his crew.

 

[Pedro Verde]

I remember the Osgood miss
One of the worst misses Ive ever seen

 

[ancientblade]

You and me both… and probably 20000 others!

yes hodgy 20k at least locked out that day and im pretty sure 10k were from sheffield

 

[Silent Blade]

1/10/1971

 

[Silent Blade]

2/10/1971

Man U 2 (Best, Gowling) Blades 0.

As I will be having a busy time this weekend (a schoolfriend of mine from Edinburgh who is a Hibs fan and his wife are staying over at my house this weekend as we are going to class of 1973 reunion tomorrow) I have decided to post my recollections of the day earlier than normal.

During the week my dad made a wise decision by ordering South stand tickets through the post. A teenage lad called David (my dad knew his dad) and I think Malcolm Sylvester (a Blade about a few years younger than my dad who I knew from travelling in Branson coaches organised by Dronfield branch in the early 1970s) travelled to Manchester with us by car. We got to the ground early, Malcolm and David went separate ways as my dad and I entered the stand. Our seats were near the partially closed Stretford End due to building works. There were many fans already in the ground at about 1.30pm, my dad got talking to two Man U season ticket holders and my dad told me " They live over 100 miles away down in the South but they come to every home game". It did surprise me at the time and I thought they were daft! Nowadays I am used to the idea that there are so many like them but it doesnt stop me from thinking they are cunts!

Until after the match I wasnt aware that as many as 20,000 fans being locked out (Malcolm was one of them and over the last 50 years I have got to know many Blades fans who claim to be one of those locked out)






I remember at the start of the match thinking "This is the first time I see George Best and Bobby Charlton in the flesh" as Man U were attacking the Stretford End in the first half. Best seemed to be playing up front (Law was ruled out injured). Early in the game near the Scoreboard End, TC took a throw in but failed to control the return pass as it went under his foot and thus conceding a thro in to Man U which drew sarcastic cheers from Man U fans (I remember seeing it again on MOTD that evening). For the first 84 minutes there werent many clear cut chances and it seemed the hot weather was making it hard for the players on the pitch. I dont remember Ted Hemsley being subbed due to an injury (only realised this years later) but I remember Gil Reece being on the pitch. It was difficult for me to see the action at the Scoreboard End because so many in front of me stood up from their seats thus blocking my view.









The ref Keith Walker was to be our club secretary more than a year later!


With about 6 minutes left I would have been happy with a draw which would mean that we would be still at the top of the league by three points. Again in the 84th minute I would be struggling to see the action at the Scoreboard End but I did manage to see a shot from the right of the penalty box but to my horror the ball went in off the post. I was heartbroken and burst into tears. My dad tried to calm me down by repeating "We are still at the top of the league". Two minutes later I had a clear view of the 2nd goal which was a low header by Alan Gowling from a Brian Kidd cross. No chance for us to salvage a draw!

Best's iconic goal against Sheff Utd

Watch former Manchester United forward George Best score one of his most iconic goals against Sheffield United in 1971.

www.bbc.co.uk

Gowling's goal can be seen in below link from 4 mins 25 secs





As my tears dried up my dad asked me to go to a box in the middle of the South Stand to watch David Coleman interviewing George Best (already dressed in his suit) and Man U manager Frank O'Farrell. After this we walked towards the players entrance to see our players getting in the coach. I could see how gutted our players were.

Later in the evening I asked my dad "who scored the 1st goal?". He said "Best and it was a very good goal!". When I saw the goal on MOTD I hadnt realised the solo run from the halfway line by Best that beat 3 or 4 of our players and that would have been because the fans in front of me would stand up from their seats whenever Best had the ball causing it to block my view of the action at the Scoreboard End!

Scores, scorers, line ups and league tables are in the below link

1971-10-02

 

[Silent Blade]

Match reports

 

[I should coco]

There ought to be a forum rule that every new page on every thread should start with this:

 

[Summers & Pace]

2/10/1971

Man U 2 (Best, Gowling) Blades 0.

As I will be having a busy time this weekend (a schoolfriend of mine from Edinburgh who is a Hibs fan and his wife are staying over at my house this weekend as we are going to class of 1973 reunion tomorrow) I have decided to post my recollections of the day earlier than normal.

During the week my dad made a wise decision by ordering South stand tickets through the post. A teenage lad called David (my dad knew his dad) and I think Malcolm Sylvester (a Blade about a few years younger than my dad who I knew from travelling in Branson coaches organised by Dronfield branch in the early 1970s) travelled to Manchester with us by car. We got to the ground early, Malcolm and David went separate ways as my dad and I entered the stand. Our seats were near the partially closed Stretford End due to building works. There were many fans already in the ground at about 1.30pm, my dad got talking to two Man U season ticket holders and my dad told me " They live over 100 miles away down in the South but they come to every home game". It did surprise me at the time and I thought they were daft! Nowadays I am used to the idea that there are so many like them but it doesnt stop me from thinking they are cunts!

Until after the match I wasnt aware that as many as 20,000 fans being locked out (Malcolm was one of them and over the last 50 years I have got to know many Blades fans who claim to be one of those locked out)

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I remember at the start of the match thinking "This is the first time I see George Best and Bobby Charlton in the flesh" as Man U were attacking the Stretford End in the first half. Best seemed to be playing up front (Law was ruled out injured). Early in the game near the Scoreboard End, TC took a throw in but failed to control the return pass as it went under his foot and thus conceding a thro in to Man U which drew sarcastic cheers from Man U fans (I remember seeing it again on MOTD that evening). For the first 84 minutes there werent many clear cut chances and it seemed the hot weather was making it hard for the players on the pitch. I dont remember Ted Hemsley being subbed due to an injury (only realised this years later) but I remember Gil Reece being on the pitch. It was difficult for me to see the action at the Scoreboard End because so many in front of me stood up from their seats thus blocking my view.

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The ref Keith Walker was to be our club secretary more than a year later!
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With about 6 minutes left I would have been happy with a draw which would mean that we would be still at the top of the league by three points. Again in the 84th minute I would be struggling to see the action at the Scoreboard End but I did manage to see a shot from the right of the penalty box but to my horror the ball went in off the post. I was heartbroken and burst into tears. My dad tried to calm me down by repeating "We are still at the top of the league". Two minutes later I had a clear view of the 2nd goal which was a low header by Alan Gowling from a Brian Kidd cross. No chance for us to salvage a draw!

Best's iconic goal against Sheff Utd

Watch former Manchester United forward George Best score one of his most iconic goals against Sheffield United in 1971.

www.bbc.co.uk

Gowling's goal can be seen in below link from 4 mins 25 secs





As my tears dried up my dad asked me to go to a box in the middle of the South Stand to watch David Coleman interviewing George Best (already dressed in his suit) and Man U manager Frank O'Farrell. After this we walked towards the players entrance to see our players getting in the coach. I could see how gutted our players were.

Later in the evening I asked my dad "who scored the 1st goal?". He said "Best and it was a very good goal!". When I saw the goal on MOTD I hadnt realised the solo run from the halfway line by Best that beat 3 or 4 of our players and that would have been because the fans in front of me would stand up from their seats whenever Best had the ball causing it to block my view of the action at the Scoreboard End!

Scores, scorers, line ups and league tables are in the below link

1971-10-02

I managed to get in, it was truly a manic frightening crush. To this day I don’t know how I did it. This was on the scoreboard End, ended up stood next to a Man United supporting vicar. Strangely the crush was not replicated in the ground. There were a good number of Blades all round me but were not grouped together. The Stretford End chanted “Hockey is a werewolf” I’m sure he took it as a compliment.

“ Nowadays I am used to the idea that there are so many like them but it doesnt stop me from thinking they are cunts! “
That made me chuckle Silent.

 

[Bert]

I managed to get in, it was truly a manic frightening crush. To this day I don’t know how I did it. This was on the scoreboard End, ended up stood next to a Man United supporting vicar. Strangely the crush was not replicated in the ground. There were a good number of Blades all round me but were not grouped together. The Stretford End chanted “Hockey is a werewolf” I’m sure he took it as a compliment.

“ Nowadays I am used to the idea that there are so many like them but it doesnt stop me from thinking they are cunts! “
That made me chuckle Silent.

Bert can remember pushing past the United players as they tried to get into the ground, the kit baskets they were carrying made it difficult to get past.

He can also remember the Unitedites on the terrace not being grouped together which made us very subdued.
When Best scores you can see half the fans behind the goal standing motionless.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Match reports

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The only time I have ever gone to a football match and been locked out of the ground. My brother was living in Glossop at the time, my dad had retired and finally didn’t have to work on Saturday mornings, so the 3 of us were given time off from new paternal/grandpaternal responsibilities in order to see the latest game in a remarkable run of Blades success. Made it by local train in good time (before 2.00), and were astonished at not even being able to get out of the station, let alone getting near a turnstile. We decided to hang around rather than head back home, and as the crowds dwindled, we ended up in a car park (behind the scoreboard end, if my memory is correct), with perhaps 1000 others, maybe more. We got within earshot of a car radio, and spent a tense, but pleasurable 75 minutes hearing from the radio and the noise from inside the ground that the original Utd were more than holding their own. We then decided to try to get into the ground as the exit gates were opening, and we ran up to the back of the stand on the railway side of the ground, and standing behind the back row of seats, we congratulated ourselves on the great view we had, and settled down to watch… as Best got the ball and set off on THAT dribble. A couple of minutes later, it was 0-2, and a few weeks later… well, I’ll leave you to tell the story. If ever a day epitomised the pain of being a Blade… but thanks for the wonderful telling of your experience.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

When Best scores you can see half the fans behind the goal standing motionless…

… just like our defence

 

[ancientblade]

The only time I have ever gone to a football match and been locked out of the ground. My brother was living in Glossop at the time, my dad had retired and finally didn’t have to work on Saturday mornings, so the 3 of us were given time off from new paternal/grandpaternal responsibilities in order to see the latest game in a remarkable run of Blades success. Made it by local train in good time (before 2.00), and were astonished at not even being able to get out of the station, let alone getting near a turnstile. We decided to hang around rather than head back home, and as the crowds dwindled, we ended up in a car park (behind the scoreboard end, if my memory is correct), with perhaps 1000 others, maybe more. We got within earshot of a car radio, and spent a tense, but pleasurable 75 minutes hearing from the radio and the noise from inside the ground that the original Utd were more than holding their own. We then decided to try to get into the ground as the exit gates were opening, and we ran up to the back of the stand on the railway side of the ground, and standing behind the back row of seats, we congratulated ourselves on the great view we had, and settled down to watch… as Best got the ball and set off on THAT dribble. A couple of minutes later, it was 0-2, and a few weeks later… well, I’ll leave you to tell the story. If ever a day epitomised the pain of being a Blade… but thanks for the wonderful telling of your experience.

the main reason 10k blades didnt get in was the unbelievable traffic jam going over the snake pass 4 of us were stuck in it we joined the queue at the scoreboard end at 1.30 and gates were closed at 1.55 with at least 20k locked out never seen anything like it in fact when best scored that goal we were sat in car on shirecliffe road watching a game on the old firth brown site now our training ground listening to the match on radio thought we had done enough to get a point

 

[ancientblade]

the main reason 10k blades didnt get in was the unbelievable traffic jam going over the snake pass 4 of us were stuck in it we joined the queue at the scoreboard end at 1.30 and gates were closed at 1.55 with at least 20k locked out never seen anything like it in fact when best scored that goal we were sat in car on shirecliffe road watching a game on the old firth brown site now our training ground listening to the match on radio thought we had done enough to get a point

another quick point about that day we were slightly concerned by bill bothwell saying on the radio while stuck on the snake that man utd fans had been queing at the turnstyles from 9.30 that morning cant believe its 50 years ago