Alf Ringstead

[Trigger Blade]

Sorry to come over all Swiss, but the apartment we're in just outside Cape Town for a few days has a Black Country owner, who saw my S24SU Beard T-shirt and declared himself to be a Wolves fan.

He's not in the first flush of youth, even older than me, but asked me if I'd ever seen Alf Ringstead play. That was a bit harsh, he left Bramall Lane in 1959, so I was alive, but not a regular whilst in nappies. Of course I've heard of him, but don't know much about him.

Anyway, it turns out they're friends of longstanding and are still in touch and I did a google search on Alf. This won't be news to Silent or others, but he scored 101 goals in 247 games as an outside right, mainly in the old Div 2, but with three seasons in Div 1 and Although I've heard of him, know little else.

That scoring record is better than Deano's and per game, much better than Woody's and it started me thinking, how far back do we have to go before today's youngsters are just vaguely aware of club legends, all of whom played at a much higher level than we're at today?

It won't be too long before Deane and Agana will be from "the olden days", which is how Trig Jnr (TY) once described the era when Alan Woodward played (or my youth as I like to think of it), but at least he knew who Woody was.

 

[Grappler]

Not as good as your story, but years ago when the kids were little, we went to Majorca on holiday. We were sat outside a cafe ordering food one afternoon, and the owner came out and said something like "bloody hell that's a Sheffield accent isn't it?", it was "Wee" Willie Carlin. We had a chat about football and Sheffield United. I had a picture taken with him, and it looks like the picture of a giant stood next to a Hobbitt. I am not that tall, only 6ft 2, but "Wee" Willie, really was "Wee"!!!!

 

[Pittsburg Blade]

An even crapper story....I checked into a hotel in Aberdeen sometime in 1988 and the receptionist had a really rough Sheffield accent. It turned out to be Ian Porterfield's daughter. She moved to Aberdeen with her Dad when he became manager and stayed.

 

[JJ Sefton]

A conversation I had at the weekend...

Bloke - Do you know who the brother of the King of the Minnesota Renaissance Festival is?

Me - No.

Bloke - Well, you remember the TV show Roswell?

Me - No.

Bloke - Well, it's the main guy's brother.

Me - Um...ok.

Bloke - Yeah. The King gets mail meant for this guy delivered to him by mistake.

Me - That's tough.

 

[Barney]

A conversation I had at the weekend...

Bloke - Do you know who the brother of the King of the Minnesota Renaissance Festival is?

Me - No.

Bloke - Well, you remember the TV show Roswell?

Me - No.

Bloke - Well, it's the main guy's brother.

Me - Um...ok.

Bloke - Yeah. The King gets mail meant for this guy delivered to him by mistake.

Me - That's tough.

Two points. If the kings brother is also the brother of the main guy from Roswell, doesn't that make the main guy from Roswell brother/half brother to the King? Also, who is "this guy"? The main one from Roswell, the initial brother of the King, or he himself?

 

[Sirius]

Sorry to come over all Swiss, but the apartment we're in just outside Cape Town for a few days has a Black Country owner, who saw my S24SU Beard T-shirt and declared himself to be a Wolves fan.

He's not in the first flush of youth, even older than me, but asked me if I'd ever seen Alf Ringstead play. That was a bit harsh, he left Bramall Lane in 1959, so I was alive, but not a regular whilst in nappies. Of course I've heard of him, but don't know much about him.

Anyway, it turns out they're friends of longstanding and are still in touch and I did a google search on Alf. This won't be news to Silent or others, but he scored 101 goals in 247 games as an outside right, mainly in the old Div 2, but with three seasons in Div 1 and Although I've heard of him, know little else.

That scoring record is better than Deano's and per game, much better than Woody's and it started me thinking, how far back do we have to go before today's youngsters are just vaguely aware of club legends, all of whom played at a much higher level than we're at today?

It won't be too long before Deane and Agana will be from "the olden days", which is how Trig Jnr (TY) once described the era when Alan Woodward played (or my youth as I like to think of it), but at least he knew who Woody was.

Sorry to come over all Swiss, but the apartment we're in just outside Cape Town for a few days has a Black Country owner, who saw my S24SU Beard T-shirt and declared himself to be a Wolves fan.

He's not in the first flush of youth, even older than me, but asked me if I'd ever seen Alf Ringstead play. That was a bit harsh, he left Bramall Lane in 1959, so I was alive, but not a regular whilst in nappies. Of course I've heard of him, but don't know much about him.

Anyway, it turns out they're friends of longstanding and are still in touch and I did a google search on Alf. This won't be news to Silent or others, but he scored 101 goals in 247 games as an outside right, mainly in the old Div 2, but with three seasons in Div 1 and Although I've heard of him, know little else.

That scoring record is better than Deano's and per game, much better than Woody's and it started me thinking, how far back do we have to go before today's youngsters are just vaguely aware of club legends, all of whom played at a much higher level than we're at today?

It won't be too long before Deane and Agana will be from "the olden days", which is how Trig Jnr (TY) once described the era when Alan Woodward played (or my youth as I like to think of it), but at least he knew who Woody was.

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but Alf died in 20000.
Some would put him right up there with Woody. He and Hagan had a fantastic understanding especially when Jimmy floated a free kick towards Alf.
As most know Alf was the ascorer of two goals when we mauled the pigs 7 3 RIP

 

[AnonymousBlade1995]

That scoring record is better than Deano's and per game, much better than Woody's and it started me thinking, how far back do we have to go before today's youngsters are just vaguely aware of club legends, all of whom played at a much higher level than we're at today?

It won't be too long before Deane and Agana will be from "the olden days", which is how Trig Jnr (TY) once described the era when Alan Woodward played (or my youth as I like to think of it), but at least he knew who Woody was.

Well i'm 20 and the furthest i know of legends and othe ex players is 70s, beyond that really haven't a clue.

 

[Tyler Durden]

My dad was of the Currie/Woodward era, and like most fans of that generation he always insisted that Currie was the finest player ever to grace the club.
But he told me that a lot of the older ones thought Jimmy Hagan was even better.
Anyone even older than that would probably say Billy Gillespie for instance.

I don't think we acknowledge our history enough sometimes.
I mean how often does John Nicholson get mentioned? The man who led the club to all of its 4 FA Cups in his 33 years in charge.

Would many fans of my age (30) or younger know who Joe Shaw was if there wasn't a statue of him in the car park? Sadly, most probably wouldn't.

I can't claim to have an in-depth knowledge of Uniteds entire history and all of its significant characters by any means whatsoever, but I still take an interest, even if its a casual one.

In my case, the kids and grandkids are going to have to put up with me prattling on about Dane Whitehouse forever. So I suppose everyone is biased towards their own generation to an extent, maybe too great an extent sometimes.

 

[Treeton Blade]

Makes my ` I once served Trenton Wiggans niece in Asda` monologue look poor, so I won`t bother

 

[Bladesway]

Capper story still. On my Stag do 10 years ago we are in a pub in Gateshead. Who is sat there but Stretch Armstrong.

Me : That's Stretch there.
Raul : No it fucking isn't
Me (louder) : Yes it fucking is.
Raul (louder still) : Look it isn't Stretch, he's looking over at us and it isn't Stretch Armstrong.
Me : I'll have the mixed grill and Tiramasu please.

At this point Stretch gets up and walks out pretty much with head in hands. It was.

 

[Silent Blade]

Sorry to come over all Swiss, but the apartment we're in just outside Cape Town for a few days has a Black Country owner, who saw my S24SU Beard T-shirt and declared himself to be a Wolves fan.

He's not in the first flush of youth, even older than me, but asked me if I'd ever seen Alf Ringstead play. That was a bit harsh, he left Bramall Lane in 1959, so I was alive, but not a regular whilst in nappies. Of course I've heard of him, but don't know much about him.

Anyway, it turns out they're friends of longstanding and are still in touch and I did a google search on Alf. This won't be news to Silent or others, but he scored 101 goals in 247 games as an outside right, mainly in the old Div 2, but with three seasons in Div 1 and Although I've heard of him, know little else.

That scoring record is better than Deano's and per game, much better than Woody's and it started me thinking, how far back do we have to go before today's youngsters are just vaguely aware of club legends, all of whom played at a much higher level than we're at today?

It won't be too long before Deane and Agana will be from "the olden days", which is how Trig Jnr (TY) once described the era when Alan Woodward played (or my youth as I like to think of it), but at least he knew who Woody was.

In 1989 Denis Clareborough picked his best Blades X1 that was published in a programme (I think it was for the friendly match against Wendy- match ended 0-0 and Carlton Palmer got sent off) and I noticed that he picked Alf Ringstead ahead of Woody for the right wing position. In the mid 1990s I asked Denis why he picked Ringstead ahead of Woody in his best Blades X1. He said Woody was a very good player but felt that Ringstead "was more determined" . I had read that Ringstead had never watched a professional football match before he made his debut for New Brighton! I remember seeing him play golf at Hallowes club whenever I went up there for a walk in the 1990s

 

[Silent Blade]

.


I mean how often does John Nicholson get mentioned? The man who led the club to all of its 4 FA Cups in his 33 years in charge.

.

John Nicholson was the club secretary, not the manager. He was involved in transfer dealings but didnt really get involved with selecting the team or coaching etc

 

[Trigger Blade]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but Alf died in 20000.
Some would put him right up there with Woody. He and Hagan had a fantastic understanding especially when Jimmy floated a free kick towards Alf.
As most know Alf was the ascorer of two goals when we mauled the pigs 7 3 RIP

Our landlord didn't offer the info that Alf had died and I never thought to ask and I missed it on Wikipedia.

I did ask whether he'd ever played for England and felt a bit daft when he said no, on account of him being Irish He played 20 internationals and scored seven times.

 

[Woodwardfan]

I watched Alf Ringstead play and he was true quality. Not very tall, he was a tricky winger who didn't have the usual curse of tricky wingers which I think is the need to hold on to the ball and demonstrate their skills by beating just one more man. In fact he was very direct and used what pace he had to drive at goal.

His distinguishing features were his knobbly knees and his shock of wavy jet-black hair and strong beard growth which gave him a somewhat swarthy look. Strong red and white old-fashioned shirt, baggy black shorts, short legs, heavy just below the knee-length woolly socks, big boots; hugged the touchline in an advanced position and drove on at goal with the skill to waltz round any defenders in the way.

He had the privilege of playing alongside Jimmy Hagan who always knew where he was and we had the privilege of watching them both.

The pair of them were playing when I first started going to Bramall Lane and I suppose I thought the quality and class were always going to be like that !!

 

[Revolution]

John Nicholson was the club secretary, not the manager. He was involved in transfer dealings but didnt really get involved with selecting the team or coaching etc

That's right. From what I can remember, in the 19th and early 20th centuries:

1. The team was selected by a Committee, which was modelled on the Committee that Sheffield United Cricket Club used. They and Nicholson also dealt with transfers and financial matters.

2. George Waller, the trainer, was the de facto manager - in terms of coaching and tactics - from his appointment in the early 1890s to the 1920s. Ernest Needham also had a large influence of these matters.

 

[Shalalalafenoughty]

Alf Ringstead lived on Norton Lane and his children, Gail and Ian, went to the same primary school as me - Norton Free. I don't remember Gail very well but Ian was a couple of years above me and was a nice lad. Derek Dooley's son, Martin, went to that school as well and was about the same age as Ian.

 

[HighfieldBlade]

I love the way the description refers to us simply as 'The United'.

 

[Bert]

Part time player, didn't make league debut until he was 24, FA Cup winner, our record goalscorer (Which will never be beaten), also Mansfield's record scorer.

He rarely gets a mention, never mind a statue.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Johnson_(footballer,_born_1899)

 

[raul]

Capper story still. On my Stag do 10 years ago we are in a pub in Gateshead. Who is sat there but Stretch Armstrong.

Me : That's Stretch there.
Raul : No it fucking isn't
Me (louder) : Yes it fucking is.
Raul (louder still) : Look it isn't Stretch, he's looking over at us and it isn't Stretch Armstrong.
Me : I'll have the mixed grill and Tiramasu again please.

At this point Stretch gets up and walks out pretty much with head in hands. It was.

Now factually correct in all detail.

 

[Darren]

I was once stood half way pissed at a bus stop in Romford at around 2am and there was a bloke there who was the spitting image of Michael Tonge. He denied it was him, but I still don't believe him.

 

[Bladeloyal]

Sorry to be the bearer of bad news but Alf died in 20000.
Some would put him right up there with Woody. He and Hagan had a fantastic understanding especially when Jimmy floated a free kick towards Alf.
As most know Alf was the ascorer of two goals when we mauled the pigs 7 3 RIP

Looks like he's got a few more years left then

 

[Silent Blade]

I had read that Ringstead had never watched a professional football match before he made his debut for New Brighton!

Just realised he never played for New Brighton. He played for non-league Northwich Victoria and still never saw a football league match until his debut for us

 

[alpine blade]

• Alf was avery good friend of my father and his wife Jean is very much alive and his daughter Gail is an extremely good golfer. As a youngster in the early fifties, after playing football in Meersbrook part, I used to stop at Alfs house(or Joe Shaws who used to live next door but one) for a glass of water on my way back to my home on Hollythorpe Rd. They lived on Bisopscourt Rd., at Hollythorpe Rise. Great memories. For what it's worth , my father loved playing with Alf as he said there was always an out ball to Alf, inside the opposing full back. He had a great eye for goal and in my dad's future coaching career, he always tried to get his wingers to have that instinct for goal that Alf had.

 

[BushBlade]

I love the way the description refers to us simply as 'The United'.

I'm impressed by the correct use of 'whence'.

 

[BushBlade]

• Alf was avery good friend of my father and his wife Jean is very much alive and his daughter Gail is an extremely good golfer. As a youngster in the early fifties, after playing football in Meersbrook part, I used to stop at Alfs house(or Joe Shaws who used to live next door but one) for a glass of water on my way back to my home on Hollythorpe Rd. They lived on Bisopscourt Rd., at Hollythorpe Rise. Great memories. For what it's worth , my father loved playing with Alf as he said there was always an out ball to Alf, inside the opposing full back. He had a great eye for goal and in my dad's future coaching career, he always tried to get his wingers to have that instinct for goal that Alf had.

Who's your dad? Apologies if this is 'common knowledge'. Wasn't Jimmy was it?

 

[HighfieldBlade]

I'm impressed by the correct use of 'whence'.

True! So many times you'll see "from whence".

 

[sitwell]

Alf Ringstead proper footballers name.
Bleeding Bruno ,Diego ,Yaya ,Alf would piss on you.

 

[BushBlade]

Alf Ringstead proper footballers name.
Bleeding Bruno ,Diego ,Yaya ,Alf would piss on you.

Reminds me of when I was in Amsterdam. Walking through the red light district I could see a young lad had called one of the ladies from their glass cubicle to whisper something to her. As I approached she said to him, quite loudly 'yeah, sure I'll piss on you'.

 

[alpine blade]

Who's your dad? Apologies if this is 'common knowledge'. Wasn't Jimmy was it?

Yes it was.

 

[BushBlade]

Yes it was.

When I first started going to the Lane my grandad, who was a fine all round sportsman and knew his football, told me 'best player United ever 'ad were Jimmy Hagan'.
Well before my time but I'm aware of his career as a player and manager (and surveyor) and if I ever win the Euro millions and buy United, him and Billy Gillespie would get statues outside. It would be the second thing I did, after sacking the board.
True legend. Although you know that.