What kind of Historian/Statto are you?

[Silent Blade]

I don’t usually watch Look North but last night I discovered that not only John Garrett is a SUFC historian but a Sheffield FC historian too. Not all Historians/Stattos are the same.
Darren is strong on dates of matches, scorers and players who have played for us also on stats on records such as most successive wins/ losses etc (I am not strong on that).
From reading SUFC history books I see Dennis Clareborough and Andrew Kirkham different kind of historians. Dennis writes about players, matches, seasons etc so he is more of an historian while Andrew is strong on player records, heads to heads, attendances etc so he is more of a Statto. Highbury Blade’s thread about an unusual shirt numbers question is probably the one Andrew Kirkham could answer

My knowledge on SUFC’s history years that I am strong on are in order as below.
1. 1970-75. My first 5 years were the best, wanted to go to every game despite being at boarding school from Aug 1973 but the Green Un was posted to me every week
2. 1976-79. Post TC but still remember most of it but didn’t mind missing away matches and I was at boarding school till June 1979
3. 1988-94. Very enjoyable and I went to a lot of away games despite being called an hoofball team
4. 2002-2007. Enjoyable years taking my son regularly
5. 1995-2001. Home games only due to family commitments
6. 1966-69. Due to reading a lot of Green Un/ Morning Telegraph archives at Sheffield Library for a good few years (from mid 1980s to 2002). Had a keen interest in these years as I was trying to remember matches my dad might have taken me to as I have vivid recollections of being in the BLUT.
7. 2008 to present. Still go to nearly all home games and a few away games but don’t remember matches like I used to. For last 4 years I have rarely bought a programme and don’t really go into stats
8. 1980-87. My part time years due to playing football regularly, enjoying my late teen/early 20s years, and in the mid 1980s I found playing in chess congresses more interesting than going to Lane
9. 1959-65. I find the first 7 years of John Harris reign interesting transforming our team to win promotion in 1961 and how he nurtured a lot of youngsters from 1963
10. 1938-39 season and 1946-58. The Hagan years, my dad and older Blades (and Wendy) fans told me a lot about him and I find these years interesting reading
11. 1930s. Pickering and Dodds years
12. 1920s. Johnson, Gillespie and Tunstall (and later Dunne) years
13. 1897-1904. 2 FA Cups and 1 League championship also unlucky not to be champions in 1899-1900. Needham, Foulke etc
14. 1914-15. Won FA Cup (read Matthew Bell’s Red, White & Khaki book)
15. 1905-13
16. 1892-96
17. 1889-91
18. 2nd World war seasons
19. 1st World War seasons

 

[Jon Bon]

I once read a book about cavemen.

 

[itsinyerblood]

I must admit, the fact that this forum has posters who possess the pedant's drive to flesh out SUFC's history with great sweeping detail as well as an equally precise minutiae, well it's the perfect solution to the lazy bugger's curiosity. I never fail to wonder at the detailed enquiry that appears on here, usually followed by the then equally detailed reply that captures an exact moment in time. It's reassuring that the likes of Silent Blade, Darren and whoever else, choose to retain info that might otherwise vanish.

 

[Mustela Putorius Furo]

Because I've at times drifted in and out of "Blade-love" over the years I need prodding with one or two facts before being able to recall detail in certain eras - when memories crystallise and there's an "oh yeah, I remember that....and what about the...." moment.

Started going in '69 at age 7. (though I'd been to a couple of reserve games the season before to "prepare me" for the experience).

As a kid I poured over my 1968 Park Drive football year book - acquired by collecting discarded fag packets from all over the Scowerdens Farm estate at Hacky.... and I learned about past glories - cup wins especially - and how we'd won it more than Man U, Everton, Liverpool, Leeds, Arsenal, Chelsea and of course, the other lot). And as a result I started a long standing habit of storing facts that countered the "not such a big club" view that developed since the 80s... or to help win an argument with Wendyites when they spout their big club bollocks. So the pre-war era has an interest because of success, and the post-war because of my dad's recollections.

My memories in the 80s are related to the experiences with a bunch of mates from Handsworth where I lived so I recall away games, miserable home games, grotty decaying grounds including BDTBL but struggle to piece together the sequences, context etc of those memories until we get to the Bassett era when it gets a bit clearer. Things stand out like: Steve Wigley - goal, John Burridge - cock-up, Steve foley - red card, Portsmouth - 8 men, getting "kicked in" at Derby, Bristol City, Agana at Hudders, Websters leg, fashanu/Millwall, Wimbledon-bus-strike, Hull city annual pitch invasions, Curran dominating Stoke, etc... but it is all very patchy and unstructured.

What is memorable is that some of those around Handsworth that have spent years spouting about their Bladey-bladeness were the ones that spent saturday afternoons in Handsworth WMC getting pissed while our little group of 4 or 5 went off to watch tedious games against Charlton, Oxford, Luton etc in front of 9 or 10,000.

Memories of the 90s: ups and downs, changes of manager/owners/stadium... and a lot of crap football, and turgid games... again all patchy. Was usually with girlfriends by the latter part of that period...

2000s - in and out of the game for various reasons - sometimes with little or no interest - so didn't store many facts/stats and rely on others to recall.

I still retain things I learn on the same basis as my early days, but overall, I'm very very patchy now.... but thankfully, there's that there t'interweb and gloogle and most importantly Silent to help me piece things together.

 

[billyblademan]

I'm the type that's more likely to remember the beer I had before the game than goalscorers.

 

[Greenwich Blade]

I'm somewhere between the two. With me it's not a concerted effort but just certain stuff that sticks, whether it be football, cricket or (especially) music, and despite whether it is useful or not - in fact, most of my knowledge is totally fucking useless. United drew 2-2 away with Rotherham after being 2-0 up at half-time on the same day Cardiacs supported The Wildhearts at The Leadmill.

A cricket example? On Test Match Special last week they were asking how many cricketers were mentioned on Fawlty Towers, saying definitively that it was two, Basil D'Oliveira and Dennis Compton. I sent them a text saying that it was three because in Basil The Rat, the major was reading the newspaper in the bar and announced, "Boycott made a century!"

They didn't read it out.

 

[Woodwardfan]

I'm the type that's more likely to remember the beer I had before the game than goalscorers.

So what beer did you have before that infamous game v Wigan, last day in the Premier League 2007?

 

[Mustela Putorius Furo]

So what beer did you have before that infamous game v Wigan, last day in the Premier League 2007?

Think the answer for all of us is: "Not enough!"

 

[Ted Danson]

Think the answer for all of us is: "Not enough!"

youd be wrong, Id certainly had enough, probably for 2 people. It wasnt until late the next day it dawned on me we'd been relegated

 

[LSF]

Fair to say in my case that the early 60's is my strong point. I reckon that more facts stay in the head during those heady days of childhood/youth.
Add to that the immature fascination with all things SUFC, and facts, incidents and anecdotes are easily embedded.
The noughties are far harder for me to recall as age and decreasing grey matter cells make the memory stretch no further than the last shit!
Youth is indeed wasted on the young....

 

[billyblademan]

So what beer did you have before that infamous game v Wigan, last day in the Premier League 2007?

We were coming back from the Lakes that day, so probably a couple of bottle of Tims in front of the tele.

 

[coaxingstar71]

I'm a bit of a statto although I'm finding my mind is starting to play tricks on me, so it's good to have Silent and others to set me straight. My attendance at games is somewhat patchy mainly due to crap jobs that meant working weekends and then family commitments getting in the way. I admire those of you that have devoted years of your life in following the Blades home and away - respect to you all. I had a season ticket from 1984 to 1987 then tried to go to as many games as I could under Bassett, managed to go to a number of away games in the mid 90's. I believed I was a jinx at away games to the point that I could have gone to Hillsborough the night that Bobby Davison was knighted and turned it down through fear of jinxing it and I believe it proved to be the right decision! Family stuff curtailed my attendance for the next few years, then saw quite a lot in the promo season in 05/06 and then dropped off again until last season when I got a season ticket again and have one this season too.

I always loved reading football fact books so I think I have a good general knowledge about footie. I've got Denis Clarebrough "First 100 Years" book and also the "Sheffield United Biography" but it can be a bit sketchy off the top of my head and certainly no where near Silent's statto-ness!

 

[HighfieldBlade]

My memory for statistics is terrible. What sticks with me are the atmospheres when we win big games, be they cup matches, promotion chases or whatever. That feeling of shared euphoria with fellow Blades is pure magic.

 

[JJ Sefton]

I started writing an epic history of the club, got to 1934 then ground to a halt.

 

[Woodwardfan]

My memory for statistics is terrible. What sticks with me are the atmospheres when we win big games, be they cup matches, promotion chases or whatever. That feeling of shared euphoria with fellow Blades is pure magic.

As I've grown older I actually shed a few tears when big Blade away followings get into full voice e.g. MKD away that horrible day, 6000 Blades, Alan Smith of all people scored, we lost, Wendy won, how bad does it get. No I didn't cry after the game too, I'm no wuss!!

 

[HighfieldBlade]

I started writing an epic history of the club, got to 1934 then ground to a halt.

Why? Was 19:34 your dinner time?

 

[Jonboy60]

Cannot remember what I had for.

 

[Small Mendonca]

I remember fine details regarding games such as the minute they scored; the type of goal scored; the goal celebrations; bad refereeing decisions and even amount of away fans.

All pretty pointless things.

 

[blade too long]

I could recant details and dates for all the games I went to , I never missed one of Tony Curries games in our shirt , but time takes it revenge, senior moments replace exact details and years merge into a haze, goals from one game end up in another, cant be arsed to keep records but the memories though at times shrouded in fog live on .
I have distinct memories of certain obscure games like Grimsby away but struggle with our win at old trafford in bobby charltons last game doesnt want to stay in there ,,, weird

I remember being most scared at Norwich in thr FA cup we lost a thriller 3-2 but they had packed 1000 of us in a caged pen they sit 200 in now , nearly lost consciousness when Deano scored

 

[Bartleby]

I once read a book about cavemen.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Brilliant post Silent, like a few on the thread I'm well into my stats, facts and stories about United. Literally read all the books about United over the years - historical, promotion books, auto/biographies by former players and managers, fans books, hooligan books, cricket books about the Lane, handbooks (if anyone has a spare 1939 promotion handbook I'd be willing to pay the going rate), fanzines, programmes, Blades News, owt on the Blades really. And much of it does stick. Have had some good success winning the United/football quizzes on the Handsworth bus over the years, well I did until Garrett's young 'un started going, although I do maintain it was only the modern stuff that was the difference!

Like one or two others I like to be spot on with my facts when 'discussing' football issues with pigs, it doesn't hurt to have a few facts on the pigs attendances as well (19k returned unsold tickets for the Cup Final in 93, their very poor home attendances in the 70s, some of their away followings in the late 90s prem days is also worth chucking in). With writing a few United books myself and many articles for FB over the years I like to be on the money with my facts and figures, especially with the stats stuff in my handbooks. It's good to have another set of eyes proofing it though - Matt Bell is excellent for proof reading, excellent knowledge on United and English, as is Handsworth Brett with proofing stats.

If I can guarantee one thing with my knowledge on United, if I get on my high-horse over a 'fact' I'll no doubt be wrong!

 

[JohnDenver]

When I was a kid I used to know all the scorelines from our Bassett years in the top flight. Not because I memorised them, but just because I used to buy the season review videos and they stuck with me.

Now I've seen twenty years of guff since I've forgotten the lot.

 

[away ends always empty.]

I can remember all the grounds and pubs I've been to and er thats it .

 

[Darren]

I can recite all the games going back to 61-2 with the date, opponents, score and scorers. Something I memorised to help past the time whilst running. I've been running for 15 years now and still recite them in my head like a mantra.

Not that I am weird or anything...

 

[Dnblade]

It's mainly something that happened in a game or travelling to or from a game that sticks in my mind...a lot of games I can hardly remember anything about.Sometimes something on a Silent or Sharrow post jogs my memory,but it's more random memories for me than being a statto or historian.

 

[Silent Blade]

Brilliant post Silent, like a few on the thread I'm well into my stats, facts and stories about United. Literally read all the books about United over the years - historical, promotion books, auto/biographies by former players and managers, fans books, hooligan books, cricket books about the Lane, handbooks (if anyone has a spare 1939 promotion handbook I'd be willing to pay the going rate), fanzines, programmes, Blades News, owt on the Blades really. And much of it does stick. Have had some good success winning the United/football quizzes on the Handsworth bus over the years, well I did until Garrett's young 'un started going, although I do maintain it was only the modern stuff that was the difference!

Like one or two others I like to be spot on with my facts when 'discussing' football issues with pigs, it doesn't hurt to have a few facts on the pigs attendances as well (19k returned unsold tickets for the Cup Final in 93, their very poor home attendances in the 70s, some of their away followings in the late 90s prem days is also worth chucking in). With writing a few United books myself and many articles for FB over the years I like to be on the money with my facts and figures, especially with the stats stuff in my handbooks. It's good to have another set of eyes proofing it though - Matt Bell is excellent for proof reading, excellent knowledge on United and English, as is Handsworth Brett with proofing stats.

If I can guarantee one thing with my knowledge on United, if I get on my high-horse over a 'fact' I'll no doubt be wrong!

Cheers, didnt know there was a 1939 promotion handbook. I remember in my visits to Dennis Clareborough's house (I lived in Old Whittington between 1994 and 2001) he showed me the 1939 promotion souvenir newspaper and I remember seeing a photo of Billy Gillespie in the crowd cheering on the Blades in the last game of the season (we beat Spurs 6-1)

 

[Silent Blade]

I can recite all the games going back to 61-2 with the date, opponents, score and scorers. Something I memorised to help past the time whilst running. I've been running for 15 years now and still recite them in my head like a mantra.

Not that I am weird or anything...

Do you find it harder to remember the results from the recent seasons? I find it difficult and in my mind feel that the last few seasons are amalgamated into one or two seasons! Are you aiming to recite the matches into the 1950s?

 

[boo radley]

I must admit, the fact that this forum has posters who possess the pedant's drive to flesh out SUFC's history with great sweeping detail as well as an equally precise minutiae, well it's the perfect solution to the lazy bugger's curiosity. I never fail to wonder at the detailed enquiry that appears on here, usually followed by the then equally detailed reply that captures an exact moment in time. It's reassuring that the likes of Silent Blade, Darren and whoever else, choose to retain info that might otherwise vanish.

What itsyb is trying to say is, he cannot remember owt and is pleased others do.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

Great thread and I for one am very thankful for the guardians of the history of Sheffield United Football Club- its our history, a part of each and every one of us stretching back for generations and generations in many cases.

" There are only two lasting bequests we can hope to give our children. One of these is roots, the other, wings."

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

 

[Deleted member 875]

When I was a lad I was Sheffield United obsessed. Used to spend hours sat in my bedroom writing fictional match reports, and charting imaginary seasons on a game by game basis, where funnily enough we always used to win the League.

I would spend hour after hour poring over match programmes, and other football books. Always used to love getting the Rothmans football yearbook, got given my first one when I was 9 years old from my Grandad, and used to get one every Christmas. Also used to love the old Football Outlook fixture guide at the start of the season, as it had the results of the previous 5 seasons corresponding fixtures per match. I got to the stage when I was younger that I had memorised the result and scorers in every United match from the mid 80s and ended up right until the late 90s, where I kind of detached from United for 2 or 3 years when I ended up working away or when I was back in Sheffield I didn't seem to make it as big a priority as it was before. (1998-2002)

I don't seem to have the same interest in Stats as I once did, but I have a wide, and almost encyclopaedic knowledge of Sheffield United from the 1980s onwards. Mention any player who has played for United and I can give you a detailed description of them, an approximation of the period they played between, and a bit of a profile about who they had played for and where they ended up.

There seems to be a lot of my life that when I look back I can also attach United matches to what was happening at the time. It is funny how intrinsically linked it all is. Things for example like Millwall away 2002-03, The space shuttle came down in the U.S., West Brom H 1996-97 Grand National cancelled due to a bomb scare, Reading away 2003-04 death of my father, Huddersfield away 1997-98 death of Primcess Diana, Newcastle H 93-94 death of Ayrtom Senna the same weekend.