Danny Bergara Dies

[Brynner]

Was the final game of that season when we got battered at Blundell Park
Harry Haslam,with tears in his eyes,came to applaud us on the away end at the final whistle.
Or am I mis-remembering.
He was such a nice fella.
Always well turned out in Suit n tie,whilst Danny wore an old fashioned baggy blue track suit.

Happy Harry was a nice guy, a front man but limited in coaching. He was instrumental in the Argentina connection, Maradona (who we would have ruined ), Sabella and the Spurs signings of Ardiles and Villa. I think the aim was to get the full Luton management team of Haslam, David Pleat as the manager/coach with Danny Bergara as no. 3. Unfortunately Pleat stayed to become the Luton manager, before becoming Spurs manager and eventually the Pigs.

With regards the Grimsby game year or two later, a 4-0 drubbing IIRC. Our support was fantastic and sufficiently impressed the watching Reg Brealey, who I believe was there as a guest of Grimsby, to the extent he took us on instead. He financed the 4th division turnaround under Porterfield and beyond and had ambitious plans to develop the Lane into a great stadium. Unfortunately the Pig dominated City council vetoed his plans. When his business empire in India when tits up, his time was done. Personally I liked Reg and thought he got an unfair press.

More examples of the football gods being against us .

 

[I should coco]

There was some anger at that Leicester game we needed to win by 9 or 10 goals to stay up we were down at Cambridge and it kicked off there at full time.
Skins were history in 79 but there was a mod revival around then

Skins most certainly weren't history, as I can attest to, watching Sham69 at the Top Rank as a spotty 16 year old. The hundreds of skins outnumbered the punks and young herberts, causing fights all night. This was the start of the hardcore punk / Oi! scene.

From my gig going existence, skins were definitely dying out by 83, but plenty hung around well into the 80s.

 

[Lane Ender]

Almost 50 years later we're back in the second division. We've been promoted back to the top division four times (and been relegated four times), and had plenty of good times along the way. Seven league and FA Cup semis (lost all seven but we got there) and in recent years completely dominating our city rivals.

And in a couple of months I'm off to watch us play in Europe for the first time. It's not all bad

That’s what’s following The Blades is about

 

[Lane Ender]

Skins most certainly weren't history, as I can attest to, watching Sham69 at the Top Rank as a spotty 16 year old. The hundreds of skins outnumbered the punks and young herberts, causing fights all night. This was the start of the hardcore punk / Oi! scene.

From my gig going existence, skins were definitely dying out by 83, but plenty hung around well into the 80s.

For me there was only the original skins 69-71 they were proper bootboys the ones who use to gather in the Down Broadway on the high street
Then came the Suede Heads crombies,sheepskins, stapress trousers,brogues, loafers
Those who appeared mid seventies were a joke just babies playing at it

 

[Yoonitedite]

Happy Harry was a nice guy, a front man but limited in coaching. He was instrumental in the Argentina connection, Maradona (who we would have ruined ), Sabella and the Spurs signings of Ardiles and Villa. I think the aim was to get the full Luton management team of Haslam, David Pleat as the manager/coach with Danny Bergara as no. 3. Unfortunately Pleat stayed to become the Luton manager, before becoming Spurs manager and eventually the Pigs.

With regards the Grimsby game year or two later, a 4-0 drubbing IIRC. Our support was fantastic and sufficiently impressed the watching Reg Brealey, who I believe was there as a guest of Grimsby, to the extent he took us on instead. He financed the 4th division turnaround under Porterfield and beyond and had ambitious plans to develop the Lane into a great stadium. Unfortunately the Pig dominated City council vetoed his plans. When his business empire in India when tits up, his time was done. Personally I liked Reg and thought he got an unfair press.

More examples of the football gods being against us .

Alot there to process and feels in many ways little has changed structurally
Small margins have defined us but I guess that's football and life.
That line up you speak of with Pleat involved might well have brought different outcomes and would have made sense,encompassing attributes necessary to move us forward on and off the pitch.
I don't remember too much about Reg.
Was he around to finance the South Stand and do you think it was bad timing as our team lacked the quality required as a result of construction costs?
Sheffield City Council still seems corrupt and probably explains much of it's regression ,arguably,as a city.
When I visit these days it feels soulless but that might be just my personal perspective.
We are seemingly bedfellows with controversy and as many on here have highlighted,until we lay down some solid foundations,little changes on the pitch,which understandably matters to most of us I imagine.
I's all a bit chicken and egg.
Would I invest if I were a multi billionaire.
Not sure.Might be as parochial as some we have already.
I'd maintain my integrity because money is not my driver.
Perhaps that's why I'd never be "wealthy".
All conjecture.
Time the human race were less "for sale" imho.
As ever we will all continue to discuss,thankfully, our two penneth ad infinitum
Cheers Brynner,great post

 

[Silent Blade]

I don't remember too much about Reg.
Was he around to finance the South Stand and do you think it was bad timing as our team lacked the quality required as a result of construction costs?

No, Dick Wragg was the chairman at the time the club decided during the 1971-72 season to build the South Stand. The last cricket match was played in August 1973. It was expected at the time that the South Stand would be ready for the 1974-75 season but finance problems and other things caused further delay. John Hassall became the chairman in August 1974 as Dick Wragg wanted to concentrate more on his work for the FA International Committee. The South Stand was finally completed in August 1975.

Reg Brearley joined the club as a director in Summer 1980 and then replaced John Hassall as chairman in Summer 1981. He decided to have the Pavilion demolished and improved the South Stand.

 

[Brynner]

Alot there to process and feels in many ways little has changed structurally
Small margins have defined us but I guess that's football and life.
That line up you speak of with Pleat involved might well have brought different outcomes and would have made sense,encompassing attributes necessary to move us forward on and off the pitch.
I don't remember too much about Reg.
Was he around to finance the South Stand and do you think it was bad timing as our team lacked the quality required as a result of construction costs?
Sheffield City Council still seems corrupt and probably explains much of it's regression ,arguably,as a city.
When I visit these days it feels soulless but that might be just my personal perspective.
We are seemingly bedfellows with controversy and as many on here have highlighted,until we lay down some solid foundations,little changes on the pitch,which understandably matters to most of us I imagine.
I's all a bit chicken and egg.
Would I invest if I were a multi billionaire.
Not sure.Might be as parochial as some we have already.
I'd maintain my integrity because money is not my driver.
Perhaps that's why I'd never be "wealthy".
All conjecture.
Time the human race were less "for sale" imho.
As ever we will all continue to discuss,thankfully, our two penneth ad infinitum
Cheers Brynner,great post

Whether David Pleat would have been a success as the manager, who knows? Certainly would have been a better coach than Happy Harry or the disastrous Martin Peters and relegation to the old 4th division would probably not have happened. However that season in the old 4th was one of the happiest I've ever experienced.
The South Stand was completed in 1975 when we were still in the old 1st division, although not for long , before Reg Brealey's time. He was involved in improvements in the early 80's though. Including demolishing the old cricket pavilion behind the South Stand, which was a mixed feeling for me. I can remember collecting autographs from the great Yorkshire cricket team of the 60's (everyone except Freddie Trueman, what an ignorant sod he was), plus other counties and touring teams including the South African team. Later, I used to be a member of the Executive Club back then with United and refreshments etc were served there before, at half time and at full time of matches. Reg was instrumental in its demolition and improved facilities in the main stand. He also set up the Blades Revival scheme that still operates.
Memories !

 

[Muttley]

Me and a mate went autograph hunting as kids around Bradway where he lived. We bravely knocked on his door and were invited in while Danny signed something for us. Really nice bloke as far as I remember.

 

[Lane Ender]

Whether David Pleat would have been a success as the manager, who knows? Certainly would have been a better coach than Happy Harry or the disastrous Martin Peters and relegation to the old 4th division would probably not have happened. However that season in the old 4th was one of the happiest I've ever experienced.
The South Stand was completed in 1975 when we were still in the old 1st division, although not for long , before Reg Brealey's time. He was involved in improvements in the early 80's though. Including demolishing the old cricket pavilion behind the South Stand, which was a mixed feeling for me. I can remember collecting autographs from the great Yorkshire cricket team of the 60's (everyone except Freddie Trueman, what an ignorant sod he was), plus other counties and touring teams including the South African team. Later, I used to be a member of the Executive Club back then with United and refreshments etc were served there before, at half time and at full time of matches. Reg was instrumental in its demolition and improved facilities in the main stand. He also set up the Blades Revival scheme that still operates.
Memories !

Those seasons in the old division one early to mid 70s were brillant that last match at Birmingham will forever live in the memory even though it didn’t end well on the pitch and off it.

 

[e17blade]

My memory of Danny Bergara (or at least the story I have been telling for years) is that when asked about the difference between football in Uruguay and England he said that in Uruguay everyone likes mazy dribbles and swerving shots, and in England everyone likes sliding tackles and diving headers... which at the time I thought was a fair comment!

 

[Stoney Blade]

Used to see Danny every morning for years when I worked in Castleton as a youth. You could set your watch by him when he was on his way to training with Stockport. My first match was to watch Haslams team in early 79.

 

[Silky Sabella]

Remember The Kop singing "Harry Haslam / Danny Begara" so clearly !

 

[Yoonitedite]

Whether David Pleat would have been a success as the manager, who knows? Certainly would have been a better coach than Happy Harry or the disastrous Martin Peters and relegation to the old 4th division would probably not have happened. However that season in the old 4th was one of the happiest I've ever experienced.
The South Stand was completed in 1975 when we were still in the old 1st division, although not for long , before Reg Brealey's time. He was involved in improvements in the early 80's though. Including demolishing the old cricket pavilion behind the South Stand, which was a mixed feeling for me. I can remember collecting autographs from the great Yorkshire cricket team of the 60's (everyone except Freddie Trueman, what an ignorant sod he was), plus other counties and touring teams including the South African team. Later, I used to be a member of the Executive Club back then with United and refreshments etc were served there before, at half time and at full time of matches. Reg was instrumental in its demolition and improved facilities in the main stand. He also set up the Blades Revival scheme that still operates.
Memories !

Sounds like there's a book there worth writing Brynner,if you haven't already.
We're a bit too keen to shape the future at the cost of the past and I'm sure I'm not the only one to wonder if the pavillion could have been integrated in some way.
I was on that side for the 5-1 thrashing of Cardiff.
What a night that was for a 10 year old
Memories indeed.
And great to learn some background on here to add context..
Cheers.

 

[Yoonitedite]

Those seasons in the old division one early to mid 70s were brillant that last match at Birmingham will forever live in the memory even though it didn’t end well on the pitch and off it.

Aye.Brum fans caused a surge and a few of us had to prize ourselves under the stantions/barriers to avoid getting crushed in the ensuing mayhem.

We were escorted by the local plod from the train station,having caught the football special, quite some distance as I recall.

I remember thinking it was unusual to be on one side instead of behind one of the nets.
Great view mind.

Closest we've ever been to Europe

Think it finished 1-0 in a tight game we had opportunities to win.

 

[Lane Ender]

Aye.Brum fans caused a surge and a few of us had to prize ourselves under the stantions/barriers to avoid getting crushed in the ensuing mayhem.

We were escorted by the local plod from the train station,having caught the football special, quite some distance as I recall.

I remember thinking it was unusual to be on one side instead of behind one of the nets.
Great view mind.

Closest we've ever been to Europe

Think it finished 1-0 in a tight game we had opportunities to win.

We actually took Brums end for a while but in the end we got hammered

 

[Yoonitedite]

We actually took Brums end for a while but in the end we got hammered

I'd have been far too nesh misen for them capers

 

[Lane Ender]

I'd have been far too nesh misen for them capers

Loved it young and daft

 

[Yoonitedite]

Loved it young and daft

Now older n dafter.
It has its merits

 

[Dkc]

Closest we've ever been to Europe

We were 90 mins from Europe when we played Hull in the FA Cup semi. Back then the losing finalists qualified if the winners qualified via the league

 

[Brynner]

Sounds like there's a book there worth writing Brynner,if you haven't already.
We're a bit too keen to shape the future at the cost of the past and I'm sure I'm not the only one to wonder if the pavillion could have been integrated in some way.
I was on that side for the 5-1 thrashing of Cardiff.
What a night that was for a 10 year old
Memories indeed.
And great to learn some background on here to add context..
Cheers.

What a night that was for the Cardiff game . I was still at school then, so should have been revising for my upcoming A levels , but United came first. Then the follow up 3-0 against Watford and the city was ours, again. Can remember Stewart Scullion hitting the woodwork at 0-0 and we then signed him for £30k in the summer. Great days!

 

[Bath Blade]

We were 90 mins from Europe when we played Hull in the FA Cup semi. Back then the losing finalists qualified if the winners qualified via the league

Arguably 45 minutes away!