25 years ago today...

[grafikhaus]

Final day of the 1993-94 season in The Premier League, Saturday 7th May 1994. With Swindon Town already relegated, two of another six teams would be joining them in being demoted (although Man. City’s vastly-better GD made their demotion highly unlikely):

Manchester City
Southampton
Sheffield United
Ipswich
Everton
Oldham

Here’s how the table looked at kick-off time.



The fixtures on this final Saturday were:

West Ham v Southampton
Chelsea v Sheffield United
Blackburn Rovers v Ipswich Town
Everton v Wimbledon
Norwich City v Oldham

Incredible last-day scenes – including last-minute goals at Everton and West Ham and leads squandered are captured here:

Teams & match facts

By the final whistles, the table looked like this and The Blades were down…



Quite a day. I smacked a Chelsea fan (hopefully never to be repeated), thought I was going to smacked by Vinnie Jones and a lot more besides!

 

[Ainsley Harriott]

And that was the only time all season we were in the bottom 3 wasn't it? Nothing crooked went off whatsoever. At all.

 

[Revolution]

And that was the only time all season we were in the bottom 3 wasn't it?

No.

 

[Revolution]

Worst day of my life, football wise.

 

[Champagneblade]

The Everton conjob aside I think 9/10 times Blackburn would have beaten Ipswich. Jason Wilcox missed sitter after sitter that day. Also, how did West Ham let Southampton away with a point that day?

 

[Bayingblade]

From what I remember, at 4:30 we were 17th in the table

 

[Russ]

Remember it like yesterday. Sat on that horrible big stand, Stein scored their third and their fans went crazy as if they had won the Fa cup. I somehow knew that was it, without even having a radio. At least it feels like yesterday, not today!!

 

[Cerberus Blade]

From what I remember, at 4:30 we were 17th in the table

Indeed we were. We were on holiday in Dorset and listening to Five Live or whatever sports programme on the car radio. Around 4.30 it gave out the good news that, should things stay as they are, we would finish 5 places from bottom. I remember commenting to the missus..."looks like we're staying up!". Then 15 minutes later, or thereabouts, we were confirmed relegated.

It was gut-wrenching. But it's what we've come to expect of United over the years. The old United that is. Maybe this time it can be, will be, different?

 

[Billyblade]

I was eating a meal at home listening to the commentary on the radio. At the time, I was on the brink of a marriage break-up and my mind was all over the place. My soon to be Ex-Wife was at work and was going out for a drink with "the girls" later, she didn't want an evening meal so I was eating alone again.

There was an air of inevitability about it all and when Stein put that goal in, I just carried on eating. No swearing, no shouting nothing. Mind you, the Ex had managed to hoover all the emotion out of me but it would have been nice if the Blades had given me at least something to put a smile on my face.

It was only later, I realised how hard-done to we had been (with particular regard to the Everton result). My Brother rang me to have a rant down the phone but the "emotion hoover" had really knocked the stuffing out of me and I couldn't rant back. I just kept agreeing with him.

Looking back now, from a much better place, I can't help but feel that this was typical Blades. Not wanting to give any credence to Madkins but it really is a rollercoaster being a Blades fan isn't it? I for one wouldn't have it any other way

 

[bornablade]

42 points!!! Be worth a Europa place today.

 

[WORKSOPBLADE]

Yep I was in that big stand too. Right in gods.

Can still picture it clearly. Makes Sunday at Stoke all the sweeter and why fans from other clubs will never understand our level of joy at the good times because of all the bad times and perverse twists !

 

[Bannerman]

Yes I remember it well - unfortunately - the drive back up the M1 was less than cheerful.

But we're back

 

[Roygbiv]

And that was the only time all season we were in the bottom 3 wasn't it? Nothing crooked went off whatsoever. At all.

No we were bottom 3 pretty much all season then had one of our mandatory amazing runs towards the end of the season where we beat the likes of Liverpool and Newcastle. It looked like we had done enough.

It was the first time we were in the bottom 3 that day though. We were above the relegation zone until the 92nd minute.

 

[Keen Blade]

My second child was born in March 1994 , a son , who I dreamed of raising a Blade , following his Premiership club from birth , just like his Dad before him - but without the years of suffering all the way down to the 4th etc. which I'd endured.
With s new baby , I couldn't get to the Bridge that day - I remember clearly I was cutting the lawn on a sunny day in Sale , and from the radio , things seemed to be going well. You know the rest - utter disbelief at the turnaround in the late stages.
Unlike 2007 v Wigan , when we all knew well before the match that there was a well-publicised malign conspiracy forming against us , in 1994 I was naive enough to initially believe that lots of unlucky stars had arranged themselves by fluke. But then came the dawning realization , thrown into sharp relief by the Grobbelar so scandal , that it all stunk like hell.

 

[KoppedOff]

I wasnt that young, but that day is one of my clearest childhood memories. Think it scarred me for life. I was 10 and dragged to Meadowhall by my Mum because my Dad was working. I’d pestered to stay in the car with the radio but she wouldnt let me. At around 4:45, we were in the old Sainsburys that used to be there. I went straight for the electrics aisle and found TVs that were displaying teletext.

And then it came up; the scores, with “Sheffield United relegated” in big letters. I just sort of stared at it, hoping it would change. Then some random old bloke, probably in his 70s stood and looked.

“Ah... not managed it this time then I see? Get used to it son; they’ll allus let yer daarn”. Then he patted me on the shoulder and walked off.

I imagine he’s been dead for years, but whenever I hear the word “Relegated”, I always remember that miserable old git.

 

[Jolly Buffer]

Remember going to Oldham, night match, packed away end. Think it was a draw but we celebrated like we'd done enough. The fantastic home win against Newcastle, again great celebrations. Then the sickener on the last day. Unbelievable Jeff.

 

[I should coco]

Think it was a draw but we celebrated like we'd done enough.

I remember it well.

To the 'Go west' tune, we sang:

"Down with the Swindon Town
Down with the Swindon Town
Down with the Swindon Town
You're going down, with the Swindon Town"

That worked out well for us.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

Final day of the 1993-94 season in The Premier League, Saturday 7th May 1994. With Swindon Town already relegated, two of another six teams would be joining them in being demoted (although Man. City’s vastly-better GD made their demotion highly unlikely):

Manchester City
Southampton
Sheffield United
Ipswich
Everton
Oldham

Here’s how the table looked at kick-off time.

View attachment 53300

The fixtures on this final Saturday were:

West Ham v Southampton
Chelsea v Sheffield United
Blackburn Rovers v Ipswich Town
Everton v Wimbledon
Norwich City v Oldham

Incredible last-day scenes – including last-minute goals at Everton and West Ham and leads squandered are captured here:

Teams & match facts

By the final whistles, the table looked like this and The Blades were down…

View attachment 53301

Quite a day. I smacked a Chelsea fan (hopefully never to be repeated), thought I was going to smacked by Vinnie Jones and a lot more besides!

Sadly I remember it well I was at Stamford Bridge Mark Stein the little twat , but the bitter pill to swallow was those dodgy Wimbledon cunts for their 2nd half ‘capitulation’ especially after they were exposed later betting against themselves on results

 

[Hackblade]

Toss-up between that and losing in the play-off final to Palace (1997?) as my worst day as a Blade.

 

[derfblade.3]

Hans Segers.....fiddling bastard.

 

[Grappler]

Yeah I remember it, the kids were young and I didn't get to many away games, so I had the radio on, in the garage, while doing some DIY. I was stunned as events unfolded and couldn't speak as the full time results came in.

All part of being a Blade I guess.

 

[Revolution]

Hans Segers.....fiddling bastard.

Never watched it. Won't watch it now.

Sat down to watch MOTD that night at University after getting back from the game. Intro music played. Couldn't face it. Left the TV room, went to the bar, drank myself into oblivion,

Don't need to see Stein's goal again. It's burned into my brain.

 

[N20 Blade]

Me and my mates were going to Nottingham for a re-union but we were waiting for the game to finish. Sitting in my flat following the game on the radio and at no stage did I think we would go down. Then suddenly we did. I was in a state of denial, just couldn't believe it and we all went to Nottingham and started getting shitted. Then at about 11pm we were in a club and it suddenly struck me like a bodyblow and I went beserk, started looking for trouble, found it and was lucky to get out alive. Woke up in my mate's house in the Meadows the next morning and felt like death, not the hangover but relegation. For some reason this hurt much worse for me than 2007. As already mentioned, the next worse was Palace in '97 and then Huddersfield. This is why I've been smiling inanely for the last week or so, i'm making the most of this promotion!