A BBC interview in 1981 with Billy Gillespie, the last Blade to lift a major trophy in 1925

[ShorehamRevolution]

I’m pretty sure many of you won’t have seen this before.

 

[XH536]

I’m pretty sure many of you won’t have seen this before.

Thanks for that, known about BG since I was a nipper and a delight to hear him speak for the first time.
After years of reading of him I have the impression he truly was a 100% Blade.

Billy Gillespie watching the Blades after his playing retirement.

 

[Aganarama]

Thanks for that, known about BG since I was a nipper and a delight to hear him speak for the first time.
After years of reading of him I have the impression he truly was a 100% Blade.
View attachment 195053
Billy Gillespie watching the Blades after his playing retirement.

My sentiments exactly - it's great to see the interview. You just assume those titans of the past exist only on cigarette cards and grainy Pathe footage. And still our most capped player (25 NI)...those stats that you hoover up as a kid and never leave you!

(Also good to hear Bob Wilson too!)

 

[coaxingstar71]

Was so successful as manager of Derry City that they changed their kit to red and white stripes in his honour and still do today.

His record as being our most capped player has since been surpassed by Ndlovu with 26 for Zimbabwe and now it's John Egan with 33 (or 34) for Ireland.

 

[ShorehamRevolution]

Thanks for that, known about BG since I was a nipper and a delight to hear him speak for the first time.
After years of reading of him I have the impression he truly was a 100% Blade.
View attachment 195053
Billy Gillespie watching the Blades after his playing retirement.

When I was a kid reading my grandads “100 year history of SUFC” book or some title similar to that, you know the one where the pink pages were every single results and attendance etc and the white pages were a write up from seasons gone. I’d love an updated version of that to be honest but I suppose we’ll have to wait another 15 years until the 150th anniversary edition of it.
Anyway, as a kid it wasn’t the stats of Billy Gillespie that caught my eye for him, it was simply his picture, bold head, stern face he just seemed to stick out to me on the team photos. It was only a little later on I’d come to realise how important he was in our history.

 

[coaxingstar71]

When I was a kid reading my grandads “100 year history of SUFC” book or some title similar to that, you know the one where the pink pages were every single results and attendance etc and the white pages were a write up from seasons gone. I’d love an updated version of that to be honest but I suppose we’ll have to wait another 15 years until the 150th anniversary edition of it.
Anyway, as a kid it wasn’t the stats of Billy Gillespie that caught my eye for him, it was simply his picture, bold head, stern face he just seemed to stick out to me on the team photos. It was only a little later on I’d come to realise how important he was in our history.

Sheffield United : The Complete Record by Denis Clarebrough goes up to 2011-12 and Grafikhaus, bless him, used to provide PDF updates in the same format.

 

[programmechap]

Was so successful as manager of Derry City that they changed their kit to red and white stripes in his honour and still do today.

His record as being our most capped player has since been surpassed by Ndlovu with 26 for Zimbabwe and now it's John Egan with 33 (or 34) for Ireland.

I think Enda Stevens matched Gilliespie too.

 

[ShorehamRevolution]

Was so successful as manager of Derry City that they changed their kit to red and white stripes in his honour and still do today.

His record as being our most capped player has since been surpassed by Ndlovu with 26 for Zimbabwe and now it's John Egan with 33 (or 34) for Ireland.

I’ve always fancied taking in a Derry game for that fact.

 

[BalticBlade]

Absolutely love stuff like this. I wonder what he would have had to say about 4-2-3-1

 

[BalticBlade]

Thanks for that, known about BG since I was a nipper and a delight to hear him speak for the first time.
After years of reading of him I have the impression he truly was a 100% Blade.
View attachment 195053
Billy Gillespie watching the Blades after his playing retirement.

I never realised Hitler was a Blade

 

[SGBlade]

I’ve always fancied taking in a Derry game for that fact.

That’s cool. I didn’t know. I wouldn’t mind a Derry kit!

 

[PragueBlade]

For those with Facebook, another video here about Billy and his Blades and Derry City links. Features our very own John Garrett too

 

[Aganarama]

Decent 80s vibe about this one.

 

[originaltrueblade]

One day one day we will win a major trophy one day one day fellow Blades.

 

[Geordie Blade]

View attachment 195053
Billy Gillespie watching the Blades after his playing retirement.

Every time this photo appears, someone comes along to mention a time-travelling Paul Beesley.

 

[jockdodds]

I’ve always fancied taking in a Derry game for that fact.

I have visited the Brandywell, (Derry City's home ground) but not to see a game unfortunately.

 

[ShorehamRevolution]

Decent 80s vibe about this one.
View attachment 195065

Southampton vibe for me with a hint of mid 90’s Leyton orient

 

[XH536]

One day one day we will win a major trophy one day one day fellow Blades.

I know your right an' I'm waiting, been waiting 30,214 so far.

 

[Jon Bon II]

Thanks for that, known about BG since I was a nipper and a delight to hear him speak for the first time.
After years of reading of him I have the impression he truly was a 100% Blade.
View attachment 195053
Billy Gillespie watching the Blades after his playing retirement.

We must have been playing West Ham. Alf Garnett is to his left.

 

[Jon Bon II]

I never realised Hitler was a Blade

What I can't understand is how Ched got off and Hitler got sent down.

 

[XH536]

We must have been playing West Ham. Alf Garnett is to his left.

My favourite is the tram driver.
Good job trams were on rails.

 

[Weasel]

Ant McPartlin top left, and Jasper Carrott with the big hat on and stood to the right of the woman.

The one at the front with fag in mouth looks a surly bugger.

To think, probably every one of those including the young kid at the front have probably all gone to the Shoreham in the heaven now.

 

[Jon Bon II]

Every time this photo appears, someone comes along to mention a time-travelling Paul Beesley.

Just seen him

That young(ish) lad at the front, with the Blades scarf on, looks like Jamie Hoyland.

 

[Dkc]

Next year is the 100th anniversary.

 

[Newbury Blade]

Absolutely love stuff like this. I wonder what he would have had to say about 4-2-3-1

Woodward-Currie-Gillespie as the 3

 

[pudseyblade]

Lovely videos - by chance I'm watching them whilst waiting for a flight back to Yorkshire from Belfast City Airport

 

[Newbury Blade]

Woodward-Currie-Gillespie as the 3

I’m still undecided about a partner for Nudger Needham in the 2, however. Arblaster? Bit soon.

 

[drblade]

Thanks for sharing, brilliant to see and hear him.

Legend is overused but not in this case.

UTB