1974-75 match reports and photos (50 years ago today)

[SouthEssexBlade]

Unthinkable these days.

Teal at most!

Wouldn't bother me now. More bothered back then as it was a real surprise. No kit launches or announcements like today. Turned up at Stoke that season and when the teams came out, thought we were in the wrong ground.

 

[Silent Blade]

19/4/1975

Everton 2 (Smallman, Jones pen) Blades 3 (Eddy, Dearden, Currie)

I remember the afternoon well although I was back at Mary Hare after the Easter school holidays. During half time I got into the tv room to find that we were losing 2-0 at half time, a senior prefect was listening to the first half summary and he said to me "Smallman scored a good goal with a shot over his head". I thought "season is over!"

I then stayed in the tv room, I think we were watching wrestling on World of Sport. In the back of the tv room Grahame from Fleetwood was listening to his transistor radio, he waved to get my attention to let me know we had scored to make it 2-1. A Derby fan (Jon) noticed my conversation with Grahame and asked what was happening, I told him "Sheffield United have just pulled a goal back despite losing 2-0 at Everton at half time". Jon then gave me the thumbs up. Everton were seen as a rival to Derby for the league title.

A bit later, I got a tap on my shoulder and Grahame telling me "Now 2-2!". I cheered and hugged my Hibs supporting mate, Martin. Jon noticing my delight then punched the air. Two 6th formers near us were accusing me and Martin being "a pair of homos"

Nearly 4.45 pm, I got another tap on my shoulder from Graham who then told me "You are now winning 3-2". Martin and I celebrated together again, Jon was jumping for Joy but the two 6th formers were accusing us being homos again!

In the next day I wasnt able to watch "The Big Match" in the next day because of the compulsory Sunday walk. When I returned to school, I knew Vikram the head boy would have watched the tv programme and he was describing the goals of the match at Goodison Park to me. He has always liked Tony Currie, told me that TC was blowing kisses after his winner.












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

1975-04-19

 

[Bell4]

19/4/1975

Everton 2 (Smallman, Jones pen) Blades 3 (Eddy, Dearden, Currie)

I remember the afternoon well although I was back at Mary Hare after the Easter school holidays. During half time I got into the tv room to find that we were losing 2-0 at half time, a senior prefect was listening to the first half summary and he said to me "Smallman scored a good goal with a shot over his head". I thought "season is over!"

I then stayed in the tv room, I think we were watching wrestling on World of Sport. In the back of the tv room Grahame from Fleetwood was listening to his transistor radio, he waved to get my attention to let me know we had scored to make it 2-1. A Derby fan (Jon) noticed my conversation with Grahame and asked what was happening, I told him "Sheffield United have just pulled a goal back despite losing 2-0 at Everton at half time". Jon then gave me the thumbs up. Everton were seen as a rival to Derby for the league title.

A bit later, I got a tap on my shoulder and Grahame telling me "Now 2-2!". I cheered and hugged my Hibs supporting mate, Martin. Jon noticing my delight then punched the air. Two 6th formers near us were accusing me and Martin being "a pair of homos"

Nearly 4.45 pm, I got another tap on my shoulder from Graham who then told me "You are now winning 3-2". Martin and I celebrated together again, Jon was jumping for Joy but the two 6th formers were accusing us being homos again!

In the next day I wasnt able to watch "The Big Match" in the next day because of the compulsory Sunday walk. When I returned to school, I knew Vikram the head boy would have watched the tv programme and he was describing the goals of the match at Goodison Park to me. He has always liked Tony Currie, told me that TC was blowing kisses after his winner.



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

1975-04-19

Thanks Homo

 

[Blade1959]

No report on the Chelsea away game?

 

[Silent Blade]

No report on the Chelsea away game?

Ooops, forgot! Will post now.

 

[Silent Blade]

23/4/1975

Chelsea 1 (Maybank) Blades 1 (Eddy)

My dad was at the match. That night I was at the school sick bay suffering from a virus that made me vomit. Recovered in the next morning and found out the result from reading the papers.

Ipswich's draw at Manchester City meant that Dave Mackay's Derby won the league.

 

[Silent Blade]

 

[Deaneandagana]

19/4/1975

Everton 2 (Smallman, Jones pen) Blades 3 (Eddy, Dearden, Currie)

I remember the afternoon well although I was back at Mary Hare after the Easter school holidays. During half time I got into the tv room to find that we were losing 2-0 at half time, a senior prefect was listening to the first half summary and he said to me "Smallman scored a good goal with a shot over his head". I thought "season is over!"

I then stayed in the tv room, I think we were watching wrestling on World of Sport. In the back of the tv room Grahame from Fleetwood was listening to his transistor radio, he waved to get my attention to let me know we had scored to make it 2-1. A Derby fan (Jon) noticed my conversation with Grahame and asked what was happening, I told him "Sheffield United have just pulled a goal back despite losing 2-0 at Everton at half time". Jon then gave me the thumbs up. Everton were seen as a rival to Derby for the league title.

A bit later, I got a tap on my shoulder and Grahame telling me "Now 2-2!". I cheered and hugged my Hibs supporting mate, Martin. Jon noticing my delight then punched the air. Two 6th formers near us were accusing me and Martin being "a pair of homos"

Nearly 4.45 pm, I got another tap on my shoulder from Graham who then told me "You are now winning 3-2". Martin and I celebrated together again, Jon was jumping for Joy but the two 6th formers were accusing us being homos again!

In the next day I wasnt able to watch "The Big Match" in the next day because of the compulsory Sunday walk. When I returned to school, I knew Vikram the head boy would have watched the tv programme and he was describing the goals of the match at Goodison Park to me. He has always liked Tony Currie, told me that TC was blowing kisses after his winner.



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

1975-04-19

I was there, watching the ITV highlights brings back memories.
Thanks Silent

 

[Blade1959]

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I was at Hillsborough that night with a mate who supported Villa, had a small radio with me listening to reports of our match. Hard to hear with nearly 20k Villa fans making a hell of a noise.

 

[LS16Blade]

I was at Hillsborough that night with a mate who supported Villa, had a small radio with me listening to reports of our match. Hard to hear with nearly 20k Villa fans making a hell of a noise.

That being the night when the East Bank at Hillsborough was allocated to Villa fans, and home supporters - not that there were many of those in the 23,000 gate - were advised in advance to go in the North and South Stands - presumably to try to avoid a repeat of the scenes when Man U visited earlier in the season.

 

[Silent Blade]

26/4/1975

Blades 4 (Bradford, Flynn, Currie, Eddy pen) Leicester 0

I remember the day well and the shock I got two days later!

After 3pm I was searching for someone with a transistor radio around my school in Berkshire hoping someone would find out the latest score at Bramall Lane, at 3.45 pm I gave up and went into a tv room, a prefect called Robert looked at me and said "You are winning 3-0 at half time!" It was a shock to me that we had raced into a big lead as I was expecting a closely fought match. Stayed in the tv room for the next hour and when the results service in the BBC Grandstand came on, I was as pleased as punch that we had won 4-0 but there were a few glum Chelsea and Spurs fans in the room when it was confirmed that Chelsea are relegated to the second division, Spurs were in danger of joining them after losing at Arsenal so they needed to draw their last game at home to Leeds two days later to avoid relegation. My Norwich mate, David, celebrated hard after learning that Norwich won 3-0 at Portsmouth meaning Norwich got promotion but was told to calm down by older pupils in the tv room!

For the next two days I must have been the only Sheffield United fan in the world unaware about the "Kiss" between TC and Alan Birchenall. There were nothing in the Sunday papers at school reporting what had happened. During break time on Monday morning there were a few older pupils pointing at me saying "Your hero is a homo!", I was puzzled and then I went to a different classroom where a pupil showed me a photo of the "kiss". I didnt know how to react as the older boys were telling me how disgraceful it was! Of course it is more acceptable nowadays but it was different during the 1970s! When I got the weekly letter from my dad, he said he found the kissing incident funny and the crowd erupted in laughter. I got confused at why the reaction in Bramall Lane was different from the reaction at my school!














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

1975-04-26

From the programme

 

[Summers & Pace]

19/4/1975

Everton 2 (Smallman, Jones pen) Blades 3 (Eddy, Dearden, Currie)

I remember the afternoon well although I was back at Mary Hare after the Easter school holidays. During half time I got into the tv room to find that we were losing 2-0 at half time, a senior prefect was listening to the first half summary and he said to me "Smallman scored a good goal with a shot over his head". I thought "season is over!"

I then stayed in the tv room, I think we were watching wrestling on World of Sport. In the back of the tv room Grahame from Fleetwood was listening to his transistor radio, he waved to get my attention to let me know we had scored to make it 2-1. A Derby fan (Jon) noticed my conversation with Grahame and asked what was happening, I told him "Sheffield United have just pulled a goal back despite losing 2-0 at Everton at half time". Jon then gave me the thumbs up. Everton were seen as a rival to Derby for the league title.

A bit later, I got a tap on my shoulder and Grahame telling me "Now 2-2!". I cheered and hugged my Hibs supporting mate, Martin. Jon noticing my delight then punched the air. Two 6th formers near us were accusing me and Martin being "a pair of homos"

Nearly 4.45 pm, I got another tap on my shoulder from Graham who then told me "You are now winning 3-2". Martin and I celebrated together again, Jon was jumping for Joy but the two 6th formers were accusing us being homos again!

In the next day I wasnt able to watch "The Big Match" in the next day because of the compulsory Sunday walk. When I returned to school, I knew Vikram the head boy would have watched the tv programme and he was describing the goals of the match at Goodison Park to me. He has always liked Tony Currie, told me that TC was blowing kisses after his winner.



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

1975-04-19

I was there, went with a work colleague, that I’ve not seen for over 40 years. If I remember correctly, this result put paid to them winning the League.
The locals were not happy! In the top 10 of my most memorable away days.

 

[Silent Blade]

 

[Greenwich Blade]

26/4/1975

Blades 4 (Bradford, Flynn, Currie, Eddy pen) Leicester 0

I remember the day well and the shock I got two days later!

After 3pm I was searching for someone with a transistor radio around my school in Berkshire hoping someone would find out the latest score at Bramall Lane, at 3.45 pm I gave up and went into a tv room, a prefect called Robert looked at me and said "You are winning 3-0 at half time!" It was a shock to me that we had raced into a big lead as I was expecting a closely fought match. Stayed in the tv room for the next hour and when the results service in the BBC Grandstand came on, I was as pleased as punch that we had won 4-0 but there were a few glum Chelsea and Spurs fans in the room when it was confirmed that Chelsea are relegated to the second division, Spurs were in danger of joining them after losing at Arsenal so they needed to draw their last game at home to Leeds two days later to avoid relegation. My Norwich mate, David, celebrated hard after learning that Norwich won 3-0 at Portsmouth meaning Norwich got promotion but was told to calm down by older pupils in the tv room!

For the next two days I must have been the only Sheffield United fan in the world unaware about the "Kiss" between TC and Alan Birchenall. There were nothing in the Sunday papers at school reporting what had happened. During break time on Monday morning there were a few older pupils pointing at me saying "Your hero is a homo!", I was puzzled and then I went to a different classroom where a pupil showed me a photo of the "kiss". I didnt know how to react as the older boys were telling me how disgraceful it was! Of course it is more acceptable nowadays but it was different during the 1970s! When I got the weekly letter from my dad, he said he found the kissing incident funny and the crowd erupted in laughter. I got confused at why the reaction in Bramall Lane was different from the reaction at my school!



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

1975-04-26

From the programme

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One of those days that sealed my fate. I was so happy after this performance and even though I was only 9, I knew I would be a Blade for life. I also thought we were on the up and up so things would only get better. Ah well!

 

[Silent Blade]

28/4/1975

Spurs beat Leeds 4-2 and avoided relegation to the 2nd division , Luton go down along with Chelsea and Carlisle. Only one 1st division match left to be played. Birmingham City v Sheffield United in the next evening. A win for us would mean we finish in 5th place and we all thought it would mean us getting an entry in the 1975-76 UEFA Cup.

 

[Bell4]

28/4/1975

Spurs beat Leeds 4-2 and avoided relegation to the 2nd division , Luton go down along with Chelsea and Carlisle. Only one 1st division match left to be played. Birmingham City v Sheffield United in the next evening. A win for us would mean we finish in 5th place and we all thought it would mean us getting an entry in the 1975-76 UEFA Cup.


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Went to that Brum game - seemed to walk miles ,with police escort , from the train station to the ground . Stood at the back of a hugh terrace surrounded by Brum fans . Quite scary tbh .

 

[programmechap]

28/4/1975

Spurs beat Leeds 4-2 and avoided relegation to the 2nd division , Luton go down along with Chelsea and Carlisle. Only one 1st division match left to be played. Birmingham City v Sheffield United in the next evening. A win for us would mean we finish in 5th place and we all thought it would mean us getting an entry in the 1975-76 UEFA Cup.


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But as we all know, we wouldn't, in fact, have qualified for the UEFA Cup even if we had won...

 

[Silent Blade]

But as we all know, we wouldn't, in fact, have qualified for the UEFA Cup even if we had won...

Yes, I have the report ready to be posted in here in 5 or 6 weeks time

 

[programmechap]

Yes, I have the report ready to be posted in here in 5 or 6 weeks time

I think the only time we were one game away from qualifying for Europe was in April 1998

Arsenal had won the first FA Cup semi and we were playing Newcastle in the other. Arsenal were running away with the league, so.would have qualified for the Champions League.

Under the then rules, if the FA Cup winners qualified for the CL, the spot in the Cup Winners Cup went to the runners up. So had we got to the final a CWC place would have been guaranteed.

We lost v Newcastle, of course.

 

[programmechap]

I think the only time we were one game away from qualifying for Europe was in April 1998

Arsenal had won the first FA Cup semi and we were playing Newcastle in the other. Arsenal were running away with the league, so.would have qualified for the Champions League.

Under the then rules, if the FA Cup winners qualified for the CL, the spot in the Cup Winners Cup went to the runners up. So had we got to the final a CWC place would have been guaranteed.

We lost v Newcastle, of course.

We would have also done in 2014. We lost to Hull in the FA Cup semi and they lost to Arsenal in the final. Arsenal qualified for the CL , so Hull got the Cup winners Europa League place.

These days, if the Cup winner qualifies for the CL, the EL place defaults to.the next highest place League team, not the runners up.

 

[Bell4]

We would have also done in 2014. We lost to Hull in the FA Cup semi and they lost to Arsenal in the final. Arsenal qualified for the CL , so Hull got the Cup winners Europa League place.

These days, if the Cup winner qualifies for the CL, the EL place defaults to.the next highest place League team, not the runners up.

Based on that criteria, and if I was a Wendy - I would categorically pronounce without fear of contraception, that we would have been invited to play in Europe as all top European clubs want Wendy to take part

Fact

 

[Silent Blade]

29/4/1975

Birmingham City 0 Blades 0

Second year boys at my school had to be in bed before the lights out at 8.30pm. Vikram, the head boy said he would look out for the score in the 9 O'Clock News and would let me know if I am still awake and if I bump into him in the corridor between my dormitory and the Wash room/toilet. Between 9.20pm and 10pm I kept "going to the toilet" in the hope Vikram is in the corridor. He must have stayed downstairs and had "forgotten" about me!

In the next morning after the waking up call at 7am I got up, put on my dressing gown and headed for the Head Boy dormitory but I got stopped by a prefect who was an early riser. He asked what I was doing. I told him that Vikram had said I can go into his room to find out the football score. He then told me to get washed, put on my school clothes, make my bed etc before I could ask Vikram. I was annoyed and then after making my bed etc I bumped into the same prefect. He then "woke" Vikram up and asked for the score. "Nil-Nil" was the reply. My heart sunk so I went downstairs to an empty room and bawled my eyes out! I was comforted by one or two of my friends but it made the other pupils coming into room thinking that someone had died!

My dad was at St Andrews that night, he said TC missed a good chance and he was angry with himself for missing the chance.

 

[Bell4]

You would have continued to cry your eyes out if you could have known what was to follow

 

[Deaneandagana]

29/4/1975

Birmingham City 0 Blades 0

Second year boys at my school had to be in bed before the lights out at 8.30pm. Vikram, the head boy said he would look out for the score in the 9 O'Clock News and would let me know if I am still awake and if I bump into him in the corridor between my dormitory and the Wash room/toilet. Between 9.20pm and 10pm I kept "going to the toilet" in the hope Vikram is in the corridor. He must have stayed downstairs and had "forgotten" about me!

In the next morning after the waking up call at 7am I got up, put on my dressing gown and headed for the Head Boy dormitory but I got stopped by a prefect who was an early riser. He asked what I was doing. I told him that Vikram had said I can go into his room to find out the football score. He then told me to get washed, put on my school clothes, make my bed etc before I could ask Vikram. I was annoyed and then after making my bed etc I bumped into the same prefect. He then "woke" Vikram up and asked for the score. "Nil-Nil" was the reply. My heart sunk so I went downstairs to an empty room and bawled my eyes out! I was comforted by one or two of my friends but it made the other pupils coming into room thinking that someone had died!

My dad was at St Andrews that night, he said TC missed a good chance and he was angry with himself for missing the chance.

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Tony Pritchett’s piece entitled “Lane future looks so promising now”…..

Within 5 years of this we were in Divn 4!

Went to the Birmingham game, all I can remember was a very scrappy game with few chances.

 

[Aganarama]

It was TC who ran the show with a 10/10 performance (one of the four 10/10 performance I have seen from a Blades player).

Silent Blade What were the other three? Ta

 

[Bell4]

Silent Blade What were the other three? Ta

Now that’s a good un

I’ll have a go fwiw

Mel Reese v Liverpool
Vas Borbokis v Sunderland
Alan Woodward v Ipswich

All off the top of my head

 

[Silent Blade]

Silent Blade What were the other three? Ta

TC v West Ham and Stoke in March and April 1975
Alex Sabella at Preston in August 1978
Michael Tonge v Millwall in August 2002

 

[Aganarama]

’ll have a go fwiw

Mel Reese v Liverpool
Vas Borbokis v Sunderland
Alan Woodward v Ipswich

TC v West Ham and Stoke in March and April 1975
Alex Sabella at Preston in August 1978
Michael Tonge v Millwall in August 2002

Thanks both.
Tonge seemed unplayable that day. That's a great call.
Mel Rees was so unexpected as well as it was his debut. Thinking of keepers, I would (with heavy heart) consider Kelly at Wembley. That said, I've not watched it since but it did feel like he pulled of lots of good saves.
I like the Borbokis call too - that whole game felt like a new dawn and that we would be beasts that year. Silly me...
The others were well before my time .

 

[Silent Blade]

TC v West Ham and Stoke in March and April 1975
Alex Sabella at Preston in August 1978
Michael Tonge v Millwall in August 2002

Deadbat would have given them 6 or 7!

 

[Silent Blade]

We signed centre forward Chris Guthrie from Southend for £90K or £100K (Ken Furphy said £90K in his interview with Bladesrunners author Gary Armstrong but newspaper reports quoted £100) in the first week of May with Terry Nicholl going in the opposite direction. Southend wanted Steve Cammack too but the striker decided against the move.

I do remember hearing the news that we had signed Guthrie but for years I thought the transfer happened later than the first week of May. I hadnt heard of him but was positive that we have signed a big centre forward which would be ideal for Alan Woodward's crosses.

Years later, in his interview with Gary Armstrong, Ken Furphy said he wanted to sign Francis Lee from Derby County but the directors were against the idea because of Francis' age. He then wanted to sign Guthrie but valued him at £60K but Southend wanted £90K, he then said John Hassell, our chairman, thought we should pay Southend the fee they were asking for!