21 Years Ago Today

[wardonia_blade]

14 Feb 1993. Sunday. FA Cup 5th Round Classic. Blades 2 ManU 1. Live on BBC. Scorers Hoyland, Hodges, Giggs.
Team - Kelly, Ward, Gayle, Beesley, Cowan, Carr, Hartfield, Hodges, Hoyland, Bryson, Deane Sub Littlejohn (1-4-2-3-1)

Memories - Blades went for a short passing game with Hodges playing a blinder in central midfield and Hartfield and Hoyland as his defensive midfield minders. Hodges display was capped with a classic lob over Schmeichel from inside the penalty area for the winning goal, just before half time, one of the finest goals ever scored at the Lane IMO.

Had a bit of luck when Steve Bruce hit the post with a 2nd half penalty but fully deserved the win.

Blades seemed determined to show the nation that they were capable of much more than the one-dimensional outfit that the media always portrayed. I am sure this is the game where Hansen said that Blades were individually good and collectively brilliant. He also said he had never heard noise like it in a football ground, not bad from someone who played his career at Anfield.

But back to Hodges. This was his day. Not consistent but not far behind Currie when he put his mind to it and this was certainly one of the latter.

Happy days. Roll on Sunday.

 

[Borbokisfreekick]

What a brilliant game this was, I was 8 at the time and remember the huge travelling contingent from Man United - must have been 8,000+ crammed into the Bramall Lane end; my first real memory of seeing Ryan Giggs play, thinking it was weird that Alan Kelly was wearing a purple/pink goalie top; the balloons before the game and then being thrown in the air by my Dad when Hodges scored. Brilliant afternoon!

The highlights on youtube have Alan Hansen's comments: there's three parts to them...

...you hear it a lot from pundits regarding the noise at the Lane. Remember one of the main BBC commentators/reporters saying the atmosphere against Arsenal when we beat them 1-0 and Nade scored was the best atmosphere he had ever experienced!

 

[boo radley]

Really enjoyed it.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

I was on the kop that day,and for some reason I thought it was Charlie Hartfield that had scored the Hodges goal. Remember turning to my dad and saying, 'didn't think he had it in him, skill like that!' Was a great game and the Lane has always had a penchant for producing loads of noise, hopefully again on Sunday!

 

[Chiz]

wow really 21 years ago. what a magical day, and seeing the Man Utd fans crying after made it all so sweet

 

[puppet]

This is the footage with me behaving abominably at the end

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

seeing the Man Utd fans crying

How history repeats itself!

 

[Darren]

I have mentioned before but we were a bit lucky with the Bruce pen. Bruce had placed the ball not on the spot and Gayle was about 3 yards inside the area when the kick was taken pointing it out. Both sides therefore committed infringments and the pen should have been re-taken whether or not it was scored.

Not that I care.

 

[cooperblade]

Amazing similarity between Schmeichal for Hoyland's goal and Long v Bradford this season.

 

[Lane Ender]

What a sweet left peg Hodges had.

 

[drinksmat]

A flare being lit (6.40)? I thought that was only a modern problem?

 

[ZoneManWilf]

A flare being lit (6.40)? I thought that was only a modern problem?

There were quite a few flares at our matches that season, Pigs at home, after Littlejohn scored at the back post, Forest away and also at least 4-5 when the teams ran out at Wembley in the semi.

 

[TonyAgana]

"That man's left foot is magic."

 

[oldblade]

A flare being lit (6.40)? I thought that was only a modern problem?

I thought 1993 was quite recent!

 

[travellingblade]

That was in my real travelling days. Flew in from New York, then back again just for this match.

Them were't days

 

[Jehovah]

Bitter sweet memories. I was 13 years old and watched it on TV with my brother. At full time he decided to celebrate by punching me in the stomach with the force of a 1000 steam trains, in some kind of bizarre celebration.

Ive been plotting revenge for the last 21 years. Im going to kill him. That'll teach him.

 

[CarlingBlade]

A flare being lit (6.40)? I thought that was only a modern problem?

There were plenty of flares that season and the season prior, the Wednesday away match there must have been about 6 lit at the same time, the away end looked amazing and atmosphere was electric.

The clubs and FL put a stop to it when some youngster got burnt away at forest.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

I remember once watching my dad's VHS recording of this when I was a young kid.

I was absolutely incredulous at what unfolded and just could not grasp the fact that Sheffield United had once beaten Manchester United.

 

[raul]

What a brilliant game this was, I was 8 at the time and remember the huge travelling contingent from Man United - must have been 8,000+ crammed into the Bramall Lane end; my first real memory of seeing Ryan Giggs play, thinking it was weird that Alan Kelly was wearing a purple/pink goalie top; the balloons before the game and then being thrown in the air by my Dad when Hodges scored. Brilliant afternoon!

The highlights on youtube have Alan Hansen's comments: there's three parts to them...

...you hear it a lot from pundits regarding the noise at the Lane. Remember one of the main BBC commentators/reporters saying the atmosphere against Arsenal when we beat them 1-0 and Nade scored was the best atmosphere he had ever experienced!

I can vouch for the volume of noise made on that day. I was sat in the DVS watching Widnes put 50 on the Eagles in the Challenge Cup and you could clearly hear the roar of both goals going in.

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Bitter sweet memories. I was 13 years old and watched it on TV with my brother. At full time he decided to celebrate by punching me in the stomach with the force of a 1000 steam trains, in some kind of bizarre celebration.

Ive been plotting revenge for the last 21 years. Im going to kill him. That'll teach him.

Send him round to Pinchy's to discuss hoof

 

[Coily]

I remember once watching my dad's VHS recording of this when I was a young kid.

I was absolutely incredulous at what unfolded and just could not grasp the fact that Sheffield United had once beaten Manchester United.

That was the second time we'd beat them that season.

It's never been in my list of top matches, but I'm not sure why not. Great game, red hot atmosphere (including a melee with some Roth based ManUre fans who were soon hoofed off the South Stand) and a win so good we watched the full game on tape as soon as we got home.

 

[Vancouver]

I'm in the video with my long student bob flapping about. Wish I could get a decent copy.

 

[Foxy]

I'm in the video with my long student bob flapping about. Wish I could get a decent copy.

Will see what my vhs is like one day and convert it.

 

[bornablade]

I watched this game on TV. I'd bought me ticket but the day before I went down with the worse back pain ever. I could hardly move so I am now the proud owner of one Sheff Utd v Man Utd FA Cup ticket not used.

If I had've gone I think it would have been the worse back to appear at the Lane - then I saw Lewis Buxton a couple of years ago. Apologies for that one.

I always thought Charlie Hartfield was a decent player. May have been the same season, saw him play a blinder at Goodison Park. Think we won 2-0. Was it the following season in the cup against Man Utd when he got sent off? Was that the game when Sean Bean scored about a million penalties at half time and we were expected to cheer? Did anyone ever get any royalties for their contributions to that film?

On the OP, I must take exception to comparing Hodges with TC. I liked Hodges but really not in the same league.

 

[Silent Blade]

I watched this game on TV. I'd bought me ticket but the day before I went down with the worse back pain ever. I could hardly move so I am now the proud owner of one Sheff Utd v Man Utd FA Cup ticket not used.

If I had've gone I think it would have been the worse back to appear at the Lane - then I saw Lewis Buxton a couple of years ago. Apologies for that one.

I always thought Charlie Hartfield was a decent player. May have been the same season, saw him play a blinder at Goodison Park. Think we won 2-0. Was it the following season in the cup against Man Utd when he got sent off? Was that the game when Sean Bean scored about a million penalties at half time and we were expected to cheer? Did anyone ever get any royalties for their contributions to that film?

On the OP, I must take exception to comparing Hodges with TC. I liked Hodges but really not in the same league.

Hartfield sending off and Sean Bean's penalties in the FA Cup tie against Man U was in Jan 1995

 

[JohnDenver]

Hartfield sending off and Sean Bean's penalties in the FA Cup tie against Man U was in Jan 1995

Indeed. I thought we played brilliantly that night too. But Hartfield lost us the game.

 

[Slugger]

In fairness to Hartfield all he did was push Cantona away after Cantona had kneed him in the balls. The fact that the slight push was to the face got him sent off.
Cantona then went on to score one of the best worse goals I ever saw at the lane.


Bastard