An evening with ‘The Slapshots’ – 22nd November 2018

[Nicolaus_Copernicus]

Basset might have got the team selection wrong, but make no bones about it, Bradshsaw wouldn't have made any difference.

We were second best all over the pitch and had it not been for Kelly it would have been 5/6.

The benchmark by which all other blades goalkeeping displays are measured against, probably closely followed by Mel R's against Liverpool.

 

[Guesty]

Pemberton was the only other Blade that played well that day.

Had the ref saw Palmer's handball in the dying minutes of normal time then Deane would have had the penalty!

I wasn't there as I was too young, but my Dad tells me that the only United players to come out with any credit were the three that had played at Wembley before - Kelly, Pemberton and Cork.

 

[Addison]

Hartfield was suspended (he was playing well at the time), I would have had Beesley at left back and Dane in Gannon's position. Gannon was in the same area where Waddle was playing in and Waddle had an easy time.

Agree 100%. Good to see that DB admits he got it wrong. Dane was never a left back. Beesley should have started and Bradders and Rodgers should have at least been in the match day squad. Rodgers had been brilliant at snuffing out the pigs midfield in the Bobby Davison match. We knew all three Bradders, Beesley and Rodgers weren't in the squad the night before as we bumped into them in St. Albans they'd been let out by DB to drown their sorrows. They were all gutted. You just got the feeling it wasn't going to be our day from that moment.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

We were second best all over the pitch and had it not been for Kelly it would have been 5/6.

Still think he probably should have saved the free-kick though...

 

[YorkBlade]

Could you elaborate on: the billy story, I love a billy story. Who was the favourite who played ahead of Bradshaw? (Did he play Carr in that game?) how much was Palmer on compared to our lads? I remember bradshaw saying he was on about £600 p/w in our relegation season before he went to Norwich.

There was quite a lot on Billy Whitehurst. I can't recall it all but I did like hearing how Dave Bassett decided a young youth prospect in Mitch Ward would be 'toughened up' rooming on away games with Billy. Mitch said he went in an innocent youngster and came away with the knowledge of serious gambling, how Billy liked his tea and how to make him his preferred daily breakfast. Something you would never get nowadays. I'm sure other fans who went last night can elaborate on other Billy stories.

They didn't go into financial figures but Dane did chase Carlton Palmer round a pub one time and they seemed to find that story quite amusing and another good story: When it came to the 'Masters' match the Blades old ex-players all put £10 in a pot, the winner was the first to 'put one on' Palmer in the Sheffield Utd v Sheffield Weds Masters game.

 

[Hillsboro Blade]

Great time last night. Very funny stories, Billy Whitehurst having a piss in Derek Dooley's false leg had me in stitches. All three expressing their love of Carlton Palmer. Looks like the cast of Schindlers list with all the bald heads! Top lads.

 

[diplomat]

Pemberton was the only other Blade that played well that day.

Had the ref saw Palmer's handball in the dying minutes of normal time then Deane would have had the penalty!

Yes, a point not mentioned enough. He nearly caught it from memory. We should have absolutely robbed them before losing to Arsenal in the final.

 

[Houston_Blade]

I played 8 games with Bradshaw at Buxton around 12/13 years ago and he taught me that meeting your heroes isn’t always a good thing. He was funny but he was extremely full of himself and was always reminding people how many professional games he’d played be it opposition players or his own team mates. I remember a few opposition strikers most of who were known as good non-league strikers asking me if he was always this much of a prick.

I have pictures from 1992 v Arsenal when I was a mascot and he was the player I put down as my favourite over players like Deane, Kelly and Whitehouse.

Whitehouse on the other hand has always come across as a proper sound bloke whenever I’ve had any encounter of him. Ward always seemed a bit big time but apparently he’s not a bad bloke now.