18 April 1903. The Day United and Wednesday battled it out for the league title

[programmechap]

Ive never seen much written about this, but on the last day if the 02-03 season , both Sheffield clubs were in with a chance of the league title.

The top of the table prior to the last full day of fixtures was thus (34 games that season)

1. Wednesday P33 pts 40
2. Sunderland P32 Pts 39
3. United P33 pts 39
4. Villa P31 pts 35.

In a 2 points for a win situation all 4 could win the league. United played at Villa, if they beat them, they knocked Villa out of the picture. We then , of course had to rely on Wednesday (home to WBA) and Sunderland (H to Middlesbrough and then away to Newcastle the following week) games. If we beat Villa by 2 and Wednesday drew, we would overhaul them on goal average and, assuming Sunderland beat Middlesbrough, be biting our nails for a week..

As it happened the results were:
Villa 4 United 2
Wednesday 3 West Brom 1
Sunderland 2 Middlesbrough 1

Which left the table

Wednesday p34 points 42
Sunderland P33 points 41
United P34 points 39
Villa p32 points 37

United and Villa were now out of it and it all came down to Newcastle v Sunderland.

The bizzare vagaries of goal average meant that a win or a 1-1 or 0-0 draw would see Sunderland take the title. A 2-2 draw would see Wednesday and Sunderland finish with exactly the same points and GA (and thus result in a play off) whilst a Sunderland defeat or a 3-3 or higher draw would see Wednesday champions. .

As it happens Newcastle (in what must have been a great day for their fans) won 1-0 and Wednesday were champions..

I believe that is the last occasion where United could have become league champions going into their last game...

 

[NAnstonblade]

Blimey Owlstalk is home to some real whackos. On a 'happy thread' they are attemting to convince themselves that they're now in the land of milk and honey. Some thicko called Braddo reckons: " The porkers are bricking it. They've always known that if someone runs the Owls in a proper, professional manner and has serious cash to reinforce it, we'll leave them for dust. They had a glimpse of it in the early 90s and they are dreading a similar turn of events.
It's going to be fun."

 

[Edgar Allan Poo]

Blimey Owlstalk is home to some real whackos. On a 'happy thread' they are attemting to convince themselves that they're now in the land of milk and honey. Some thicko called Braddo reckons: " The porkers are bricking it. They've always known that if someone runs the Owls in a proper, professional manner and has serious cash to reinforce it, we'll leave them for dust. They had a glimpse of it in the early 90s and they are dreading a similar turn of events.
It's going to be fun."

Won't be leaving us for dust next season at least.

 

[103SecondsOfMagic]

They just don't see it do they.
We're shitting ourselves they're going to leave us in the dust.
Kind of like how we've already left them in the dust? New keks must sell well round those parts

 

[Bell4]

Won't be leaving us for dust next season at least.

Maybe leaving us for rust

 

[bornablade]

1903 there was a great deal of disappointment in the Blades dressing room. Arthur Brown, a striker addressed the assembled.

'Lads, let me tell you in 100 years from now this club will be playing in the richest game in football. My offspring, our Michael will score a penalty and the Blades will come back from 0-3 down to win 4-3. Mark my words'.

 

[Trigger Blade]

1903 there was a great deal of disappointment in the Blades dressing room. Arthur Brown, a striker addressed the assembled.

'Lads, let me tell you in 100 years from now this club will be playing in the richest game in football. My offspring, our Michael will score a penalty and the Blades will come back from 0-3 down to win 4-3. Mark my words'.

Then, in another prescient move, Arthur set fire to the dressing room.