Kevin Arnott

[corkysbeard]

I ballboyed a game at bdtbl v hull drew 2-2 and arnott scored equaliser at away end where I was behind,and when it went in I went and kicked the ball out of the back of the net back to their keeper,and also made a couple of quid that day as the hull fans were throwing coins which I was picking up and pocketing,think Edwards also scored for blades that day aswell.

 

[Pinchy]

Very good player for us Ossie,the superb goal at Southend will live long in the memory for those lucky enough to have seen it,

I saw it. Glen Cockerill's match-saving last ditch block (Fleckesque) was also pretty impressive

I best remember Arnott in a 2-1 win at Palace where he dominated in midfield and the goal scorers, Frain and Beagrie gave virtuoso performances on their respective wings. Great day and the only time in quite a few visits I've seen us win at Selhurst.

 

[Pinchy]

Glen Cockerill was twice the player Arnott was. He was tremendous. One of the best midfielders we've ever had imo.

Glenn is certainly in my top 20 Blades favourites. Terrific player and great pro. Arnott had greater pure talent but often failed to turn up, either literally or metaphorically.

 

[Pinchy]

View attachment 30642

Arnott played his part that season in getting us up & that goal at Southend was very important especially considering the end to the season at Burnley

Personally thought the lad above who played for us both was better & definitely liked a tackle !

Joe was a very different player though, so comparisons are not easy. He certainly didnt have anything like the football ability of Kevin Arnott, as he'd be the first to say.

 

[Pinchy]

I always thought the biggest contributors to the 83/84 season promotion were Edwards, Morris and Stancliffe. McHale and Arnott in midfield definitely played their part (and their performances were a vast improvement on the previous season), Bolton and Heffernan were solid enough as full backs without being brilliant, they were big lads who certainly helped bulk up the defence if nothing else. And Waugh/Tomlinson did well enough as the goalkeepers in that promotion squad. Trusson (at the start of the season) and Cockerill (at the end of the season) were both excellent in their short spells at the club that season. Always thought if we'd have had both for the full season we'd have comfortably gone up, perhaps even as champs.

Tomlinson was an awful keeper. One of the worst we've had. His performance at Portsmouth, first game of the season (Curran's debut game), was equal to that of Calamity George against Gillingham. Steve Conroy was a very decent keeper, though.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Glenn is certainly in my top 20 Blades favourites. Terrific player and great pro. Arnott had greater pure talent but often failed to turn up, either literally or metaphorically.

I'd go along with that . In a better team Glenn would have been recognised for the talent that he was.

What most of you won't know is that his father , Ron , was also a very good footballer with an outstanding physique who played for Huddersfield and Grimsby. He was also a fine cricketer and I well remember watching him as a kid playing for Mortomley C.C. in High Green and hitting a 6 out of the park, over the road running alongside it and onto the school roof !

 

[Blade in Cordoba]

Sleeve notes on Happy Hour pays tribute to Big Joe.

 

[Silent Blade]

I ballboyed a game at bdtbl v hull drew 2-2 and arnott scored equaliser at away end where I was behind,and when it went in I went and kicked the ball out of the back of the net back to their keeper,and also made a couple of quid that day as the hull fans were throwing coins which I was picking up and pocketing,think Edwards also scored for blades that day aswell.

Can see you in below video!

 

[corkysbeard]

Can see you in below video!

Desso isn't looking at its best in that clip is it....neither is my hair cut!!!! Either a Lew burgin special off gallery in market or black and decker pete off Wybourn,2nd option more likely with that extra high fringe!!!

 

[speedymcgeady]

I saw it. Glen Cockerill's match-saving last ditch block (Fleckesque) was also pretty impressive

I best remember Arnott in a 2-1 win at Palace where he dominated in midfield and the goal scorers, Frain and Beagrie gave virtuoso performances on their respective wings. Great day and the only time in quite a few visits I've seen us win at Selhurst.

It pissed it down that day,we were on that open end.....

 

[BushBlade]

Tomlinson was an awful keeper. One of the worst we've had. His performance at Portsmouth, first game of the season (Curran's debut game), was equal to that of Calamity George against Gillingham. Steve Conroy was a very decent keeper, though.

Didn't Curran play in the 82/3 season? And didn't Tommo save a penalty on his debut (in the 83/4 season)?

 

[corkysbeard]

Didn't Curran play in the 82/3 season? And didn't Tommo save a penalty on his debut (in the 83/4 season)?

Tommo did save a penalty on his debut in front of kop because I ballboyed that day in front of kop,utd won eitha 4 or 5 nowt and Edwards got eitha hatrick or 4 goals,my memory isn't what it used to be or should be!

 

[Tunstall Fred]

Tommo did save a penalty on his debut in front of kop because I ballboyed that day in front of kop,utd won eitha 4 or 5 nowt and Edwards got eitha hatrick or 4 goals,my memory isn't what it used to be or should be!

Sir Keith scored all 4 goals as we beat Gillingham 4-0

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Tomlinson was an awful keeper. One of the worst we've had. His performance at Portsmouth, first game of the season (Curran's debut game), was equal to that of Calamity George against Gillingham. Steve Conroy was a very decent keeper, though.

It would have been Conroy in goal at Pompey (on Curran's debut), Waugh had bust his collar bone pre-season and Conroy was the reserve keeper by then; Tomlinson didn't make his debut until Wrexham away in the FA cup the season after.

Tommo certainly struggled in the higher level in Division 2 but he was generally fine in his debut season (83/84 promotion campaign), if I remember correctly taking over from Waugh after he got injured again. When Waugh was fit Tommo must have done enough to keep his place as he carried on to the season's end if memory serves!

Edit: just seen the video clip from the Hull game and Tommo should have done better with their second and kept his legs shut lol Where was the defence for their first btw

 

[Paisley Blade]

Loved Kevin Arnott. To my amazement when catching the National Express down from Newcastle to Sheffield circa 84/85 he was sat across the aisle from me .

I tried to chat to him about that summers tour to China and especially remember asking him how/why Paul Tomlinson had ended up playing upfront in one match . His car had broken down at Wetherby on the way up and he was on his way back to retrieve it. The more I tried , the more he buried his head in his Sporting Life. By about Darlington I got the message and put my Walkman ( google it kids) back on . Our Favourite Shop by TSC from memory, no harm done.

I saw him again a few months later in the queue for Julie's on the Quayside, he looked straight through me and joined a semi VIP line behind a rope.

They say never meet your heroes as you'll be disappointed.

Bollocks to that, R8 player, and I got to sniff his aftershave twice.

Forgive the ramble , sat in the Bolton hotel a bit previous , dreaming of 3 pts

 

[Pinchy]

It would have been Conroy in goal at Pompey (on Curran's debut), Waugh had bust his collar bone pre-season and Conroy was the reserve keeper by then; Tomlinson didn't make his debut until Wrexham away in the FA cup the season after.

Tommo certainly struggled in the higher level in Division 2 but he was generally fine in his debut season (83/84 promotion campaign), if I remember correctly taking over from Waugh after he got injured again. When Waugh was fit Tommo must have done enough to keep his place as he carried on to the season's end if memory serves!

Edit: just seen the video clip from the Hull game and Tommo should have done better with their second and kept his legs shut lol Where was the defence for their first btw

I saw him mate. He was rhubarb. Many a shit keeper has "kept his place". It's how they keep their goal that matters.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

I saw him mate. He was rhubarb. Many a shit keeper has "kept his place". It's how they keep their goal that matters.

I've seen all our keepers over the last 40 years, Tommo wasn't brilliant but far from the worse either ... Johns, Richardson, Leaning, Baxter, Simonsen, is what I'd consider as the bottom of the Lane barrel. I'd probably put Tomlinson on a par with someone like Conroy and Benstead.

 

[Pinchy]

I've seen all our keepers over the last 40 years, Tommo wasn't brilliant but far from the worse either ... Johns, Richardson, Leaning, Baxter, Simonsen, is what I'd consider as the bottom of the Lane barrel. I'd probably put Tomlinson on a par with someone like Conroy and Benstead.

Okay mate. I thought Conroy was far better. Tomlinson didn't even shape up like a keeper. He was awkward and lacked the basics. Right down there with all but Richardson and Baxter for me. They were special.

 

[Silent Blade]

Tommo did save a penalty on his debut in front of kop because I ballboyed that day in front of kop,utd won eitha 4 or 5 nowt and Edwards got eitha hatrick or 4 goals,my memory isn't what it used to be or should be!

Yes his league debut against Southend. Won 5-0

 

[Tunstall Fred]

Seen his name mentioned in a post on this thread,as much as I liked Kevin Arnott,he did have a partner in crime in Ray McHale,a local lad(Darnall I think),who did the tackling,harrasing and snarling that was not in KA nature,they dovetailed perfectly.
If Arnott is being compared to Hoddle,then Ray deserves to be compared with Peter Reid,

 

[Revolution]

I've seen all our keepers over the last 40 years, Tommo wasn't brilliant but far from the worse either ... Johns, Richardson, Leaning, Baxter, Simonsen, is what I'd consider as the bottom of the Lane barrel. I'd probably put Tomlinson on a par with someone like Conroy and Benstead.

Tomlinson didn't do too well for us in Division 2 after his bright start the season below (you're right - he didn't miss a game after his debut at Wrexham) but he was a fixture in goal for Bradford at that level for a few years afterwards. I think you rank him about right.

 

[UTB Blade]

Noticed a thread about Kevin Arnott on the Sunderland board, so I took a few screenshots which I'll post below, in case anyone's interested.

They had a poll where they rated him out of 10, and had a bit of a discussion about him. You can see the results of the poll in the screenshots, as well as their comments.

I was interested to see that, as with this thread, they also included Joe Bolton as part of their Kevin Arnott discussion.

Screenshots:

 

[diode_blade]

Loved watching Kev, I remember it was a sunny day, United were away at Southend I think last match of the season.
I was working on my car exhaust underneath.
Had the radio on to listen to the scores coming in, united scored, commentator said kev broke from the halfway line with the ball, ran through the Southend midfiles and slotted it home for the Blades to win 1 nil, I sort of jumped up forgetting I was underneath my car, OUCH, luckily I didn't do any more damage to the exhaust!
That set the Burnley Hull game on a tuesday night, Hull had to win by 3 clear goals I think to stop the blades from nicking the last promotion spot.

 

[Aganarama]

Noticed a thread about Kevin Arnott on the Sunderland board, so I took a few screenshots which I'll post below, in case anyone's interested.

They had a poll where they rated him out of 10, and had a bit of a discussion about him. You can see the results of the poll in the screenshots, as well as their comments.

I was interested to see that, as with this thread, they also included Joe Bolton as part of their Kevin Arnott discussion.

Screenshots:

View attachment 237487
View attachment 237488
View attachment 237489

Thanks for this. Perhaps we should do something similar and score United players - I can imagine a heated debate on some! It would also help pass the pre-season...

 

[bruce]

Loved watching Kev, I remember it was a sunny day, United were away at Southend I think last match of the season.
I was working on my car exhaust underneath.
Had the radio on to listen to the scores coming in, united scored, commentator said kev broke from the halfway line with the ball, ran through the Southend midfiles and slotted it home for the Blades to win 1 nil, I sort of jumped up forgetting I was underneath my car, OUCH, luckily I didn't do any more damage to the exhaust!
That set the Burnley Hull game on a tuesday night, Hull had to win by 3 clear goals I think to stop the blades from nicking the last promotion spot.

We still had 3 more matches to play after that Southend game.
We followed it up by losing the crunch home match against Wimbledon 1-2. Then lost away 1-3 at Bolton on the May Day bank holiday. All hope of promotion seemed gone at that point, but miraculously Hull lost at struggling Port Vale in an evening kick off.
Our last game was at home to Newport which we won 2-0. Hull drew at Bristol Rovers, but they still had one game left. Burney, which they had to win by 3 goals. And the rest, as they say is history.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

We still had 3 more matches to play after that Southend game.
We followed it up by losing the crunch home match against Wimbledon 1-2. Then lost away 1-3 at Bolton on the May Day bank holiday. All hope of promotion seemed gone at that point, but miraculously Hull lost at struggling Port Vale in an evening kick off.
Our last game was at home to Newport which we won 2-0. Hull drew at Bristol Rovers, but they still had one game left. Burney, which they had to win by 3 goals. And the rest, as they say is history.

Went to all those games , how important Edwards headed consolation goal at Bolton would turn out to be , went to Turf Moor along with another 3k Blades for the most nerve wracking game of my like after Hull went 2 up . Roger Hansbury had a blinder in the net for Burnley

 

[bruce]

Went to all those games , how important Edwards headed consolation goal at Bolton would turn out to be , went to Turf Moor along with another 3k Blades for the most nerve wracking game of my like after Hull went 2 up . Roger Hansbury had a blinder in the net for Burnley

And the late consolation Morris goal against Wimbledon. The way the season ended, literally every single goal was vital.
And given that the thread is about Kevin Arnott it's appropriate to mention that he scored the second goal against Newport. Agan, priceless.

 

[South stand tut]

I was at the Southend match . It was the week after Bob atkins had scored the last minute winner at millmoor. The weather was scorching and both pitches were dried out and dusty , the likes of which you don't see anymore. Happy days ! 16 years old and nothing to worry about but united going up .

 

[bruce]

And the late consolation Morris goal against Wimbledon. The way the season ended, literally every single goal was vital.
And given that the thread is about Kevin Arnott it's appropriate to mention that he scored the second goal against Newport. Agan, priceless.

Meant to say the first goal!

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

And the late consolation Morris goal against Wimbledon. The way the season ended, literally every single goal was vital.
And given that the thread is about Kevin Arnott it's appropriate to mention that he scored the second goal against Newport. Agan, priceless.

And never forgetting the Keith Edwards consolation goal at Bolton where he near got his head kicked off.