Billy Russell RIP

[Greystones Blade]

Just before my time…

More here https://www.sufc.co.uk/news/2022/november/10/rip-billy-russell/

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Just before my time…

More here https://www.sufc.co.uk/news/2022/november/10/rip-billy-russell/

I think it fair to say that those of us who remain from the 18,000 or so Blades who were at Newcastle for the 1961 FA cup victory to witness his first half hat trick will always consider it to be one of their most memorable experiences following our club .

An outstanding performance by all concerned , none more so than that of Billy Russell and all played out in an atmosphere which has never been surpassed in my lifetime .

RIP Billy , a much underrated player who always gave of his best .

 

[Gaini Blade]

RIP Blade. Thanks for everything you did for our club.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

One of my boyhood heroes, R.I.P. Billy.

 

[Flakey]

If my memory serves me correctly, I think we lost 1 - 0 to Burnley in the FA Cup semi.

 

[Aycliffe Blade]

If my memory serves me correctly, I think we lost 1 - 0 to Burnley in the FA Cup semi.

You're right we did. Didn't a barrier on the kop near the front left of the kop collapse?
Billy was a good player for us R.I.P.

 

[Revolution]

If my memory serves me correctly, I think we lost 1 - 0 to Burnley in the FA Cup semi.

No, 2-0 to Leicester after 2 0-0 draws.

The Burnley game was the quarter final the following year, which we lost 1-0.

We were in the quarter final 4 years in a row. We were drawn at home 3 times, and lost all those ties (1959 to Norwich after a replay, 1960 to Wednesday, 1962 to Burnley). The only one we won was when Russell got his hat trick at Newcastle.

 

[Revolution]

You're right we did. Didn't a barrier on the kop near the front left of the kop collapse?
Billy was a good player for us R.I.P.

There was a terrible crush on the kop that day though as I said above it was the 1962 QF. My Dad helped to take some people affected by the crush out of the ground, and got locked out for his trouble!

 

[MonmouthshireBlade]

I think it fair to say that those of us who remain from the 18,000 or so Blades who were at Newcastle for the 1961 FA cup victory to witness his first half hat trick will always consider it to be one of their most memorable experiences following our club .

An outstanding performance by all concerned , none more so than that of Billy Russell and all played out in an atmosphere which has never been surpassed in my lifetime .

RIP Billy , a much underrated player who always gave of his best .

My old man has often told me about this game and that amazing Russell hatrick. RIP Billy

 

[HarryHaslam]

RIP Billy

 

[Robby Blade]

You're right we did. Didn't a barrier on the kop near the front left of the kop collapse?
Billy was a good player for us R.I.P.

I was on the terrace for that game. The low wall and railings collapsed to the left as you say. Seemed like folk were piled high on top of each other.

Being from a different time, I think the game just carried on. Certainly it didn't seem to be such a big issue unlike today when the game would probably be abandoned.

 

[Bill puntin]

If my memory serves me correctly, I think we lost 1 - 0 to Burnley in the FA Cup semi.

Nearly right it was 6th round, 57000 there

 

[Benitachel]

I liked Billy Russell and thought he was a good player. Happy memories. RIP Billy.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

Nearly right it was 6th round, 57000 there

Lucky Ray Pointer goal, ball hit him on the side of his head and went in.

 

[Valley Blade]

I think it fair to say that those of us who remain from the 18,000 or so Blades who were at Newcastle for the 1961 FA cup victory to witness his first half hat trick will always consider it to be one of their most memorable experiences following our club .

An outstanding performance by all concerned , none more so than that of Billy Russell and all played out in an atmosphere which has never been surpassed in my lifetime .

RIP Billy , a much underrated player who always gave of his best .

My dad loved telling the story of this match. He and my uncles stopped off in a club, near Newcastle, on the way back. To my dad's dismay, the club announced on stage, that they had some Unitedites in. Fearing the worst,they were in fact clapped and many bought them beers. Also, United played in tangerine I believe and were a 2nd division club. Amazing achievement to beat the great cup team that Newcastle were in those days. R.I.P. Billy Russell you made my dad happy that day.

 

[Radders]

I've got a memory from one of my earliest visits to the Lane, of Billy playing his socks off in front of the kop. The pitch in front of goal was a mud bath and he was sliding in to get on the end of passes and crosses, like a little terrier.
RIP Billy.

 

[peniblade]

Only Gerry Summers is still with us from this great side.
The nucleus of the side played in the following seasons as follows:-
1957/58 Division 2 finished 6th
1958/59 Division 2 finished 3rd
1959/60 Division 2 finished 4th
1960/61 Division 2 finished 2nd with promotion & semi-finalist in FA Cup
1961/62 Division 1 finished 5th with a double against SWFC
1962/63 Division 1 finished 12th

Happy memories.

 

[Sharrow Snuff Mill]

I've got a memory from one of my earliest visits to the Lane, of Billy playing his socks off in front of the kop. The pitch in front of goal was a mud bath and he was sliding in to get on the end of passes and crosses, like a little terrier.
RIP Billy.

I think you are confusing him with Billy Hodgson.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

View attachment 147674
Only Gerry Summers is still with us from this great side.
The nucleus of the side played in the following seasons as follows:-
1957/58 Division 2 finished 6th
1958/59 Division 2 finished 3rd
1959/60 Division 2 finished 4th
1960/61 Division 2 finished 2nd with promotion & semi-finalist in FA Cup
1961/62 Division 1 finished 5th with a double against SWFC
1962/63 Division 1 finished 12th

Happy memories.

Happy memories indeed. I will even forgive you for giving away the ending of the 62-63 season that is underway in the ‘60 Years Ago’ thread

 

[peniblade]

Happy memories indeed. I will even forgive you for giving away the ending of the 62-63 season that is underway in the ‘60 Years Ago’ thread

Apologies - hadn't read the thread ! but have now I see what you mean. A good read & as you say "Happy Days" which have not been replicated.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Apologies - hadn't read the thread ! but have now I see what you mean. A good read & as you say "Happy Days" which have not been replicated.

No apologies needed. I am shameless in trying to advertise the thread!

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

I've got a memory from one of my earliest visits to the Lane, of Billy playing his socks off in front of the kop. The pitch in front of goal was a mud bath and he was sliding in to get on the end of passes and crosses, like a little terrier.
RIP Billy.

Heap in the Green ‘Un had the same impression!

 

[Radders]

I think you are confusing him with Billy Hodgson.

Hmm, I'm not sure. You could be right. It was a long time ago and I was only a young 'un.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Billy Russell seemed to thrive in Cup football, and many of my best memories of him are from the great days we had in the Cup in the late 50s/early 60s. I hope the following conveys some sense of his contribution.
He came to prominence in the Amateur Cup Final in 1957, playing and scoring in his first Cup appearance for Bishop Auckland. The Amateur Cup Final regularly got crowds of around 100,000:

And here is his goal:

His Cup goals for Utd came thick and fast, up and down the country in all sorts of conditions, beginning with the giant-killing at Spurs:
January 1958, both goals v Palace on a Siberian Saturday at the Lane:
Then against the mighty Arsenal in the fog in February:

And in the sunshine v Norwich:

January 1961, a great giant-killing at Everton, thanks to a subtle touch from Russell, which he followed in as it trickled into the empty net:

2 goals v Lincoln in the following round:

And March 1961, many people’s favourite away match, a hat-trick at Newcastle in Round 6, in the first 18 minutes:


Thanks for the great memories. RIP

 

[peniblade]

Billy Russell seemed to thrive in Cup football, and many of my best memories of him are from the great days we had in the Cup in the late 50s/early 60s. I hope the following conveys some sense of his contribution.
He came to prominence in the Amateur Cup Final in 1957, playing and scoring in his first Cup appearance for Bishop Auckland. The Amateur Cup Final regularly got crowds of around 100,000:
View attachment 147692View attachment 147693View attachment 147694View attachment 147695
And here is his goal:
View attachment 147696
His Cup goals for Utd came thick and fast, up and down the country in all sorts of conditions, beginning with the giant-killing at Spurs:View attachment 147697
January 1958, both goals v Palace on a Siberian Saturday at the Lane:View attachment 147699
Then against the mighty Arsenal in the fog in February:
View attachment 147700
And in the sunshine v Norwich:
View attachment 147701
January 1961, a great giant-killing at Everton, thanks to a subtle touch from Russell, which he followed in as it trickled into the empty net:
View attachment 147702View attachment 147703
2 goals v Lincoln in the following round:
View attachment 147704
And March 1961, many people’s favourite away match, a hat-trick at Newcastle in Round 6, in the first 18 minutes:
View attachment 147705View attachment 147706View attachment 147707
View attachment 147708
Thanks for the great memories. RIP

Brilliant post I was only looking at the programmes recently of the United matches which you showed & I attended.
For the record another memorable day was the 27 January 1962 when we played Peterborough (A) & won 3-1 for which Billy Russell scored twice & Doc Pace (1). The two most outstanding victories were Spurs (A) 3-0 scorers being Pace, Russell & Hawksworth & Newcastle (A) 3-1 with a Billy Russell hat trick.

 

[Rawnblade]

RIP Billy, you were also one of my boyhood hero's.

His name rolled off the tongue so easily. "Who're you gonna be today"?......"Billy Russell" would be the reply, when asked in the playground

I loved that team...

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Brilliant post I was only looking at the programmes recently of the United matches which you showed & I attended.
For the record another memorable day was the 27 January 1962 when we played Peterborough (A) & won 3-1 for which Billy Russell scored twice & Doc Pace (1). The two most outstanding victories were Spurs (A) 3-0 scorers being Pace, Russell & Hawksworth & Newcastle (A) 3-1 with a Billy Russell hat trick.

Thanks. Guilty as charged on Peterborough - my scrapbooks ended a few weeks before that game!

 

[Silent Blade]

Bishop Auckland v Wycombe Wanderers



Blades v Norwich 1959

 

[originaltrueblade]

I will never forget this match 1960/61 FA Cup 6th Round waiting for the football special to pull into Midland Station for Newcastle as this giant steam engine roared into the platform this football special with Blades flags on the front the platform was packed(apparently more football special behind ) atmosphere was electric..The team were on this train too. Then the match a remarkable match Newcastle second from top of the old first division against us battling with Ipswich for promotion.
The game was underway what an atmosphere the air was electric RUSSELL Newcastle 0 Blades 1 then it got even better RUSSELL 2-0 and before the half hour RUSSELL 3-0 at half time we eventually ran out 3-1 winners and a day that is not forgotten 60 years ago…The only time we ever played in tangerine shirts. Thanks for this amazing memory Billy and Rest in Peace Son

 

[VM198]

Billy Russell seemed to thrive in Cup football, and many of my best memories of him are from the great days we had in the Cup in the late 50s/early 60s. I hope the following conveys some sense of his contribution.
He came to prominence in the Amateur Cup Final in 1957, playing and scoring in his first Cup appearance for Bishop Auckland. The Amateur Cup Final regularly got crowds of around 100,000:
View attachment 147692View attachment 147693View attachment 147694View attachment 147695
And here is his goal:
View attachment 147696
His Cup goals for Utd came thick and fast, up and down the country in all sorts of conditions, beginning with the giant-killing at Spurs:View attachment 147697
January 1958, both goals v Palace on a Siberian Saturday at the Lane:View attachment 147699
Then against the mighty Arsenal in the fog in February:
View attachment 147700
And in the sunshine v Norwich:
View attachment 147701
January 1961, a great giant-killing at Everton, thanks to a subtle touch from Russell, which he followed in as it trickled into the empty net:
View attachment 147702View attachment 147703
2 goals v Lincoln in the following round:
View attachment 147704
And March 1961, many people’s favourite away match, a hat-trick at Newcastle in Round 6, in the first 18 minutes:
View attachment 147705View attachment 147706View attachment 147707
View attachment 147708
Thanks for the great memories. RIP

Top post HBT, for a top, top player, who was always quick, busy and thought full in his play, I remember him being a class above most in football terms and probably his only negative was a lack of physicality, cos there were many rough houses around at that time.
Sad news. RIP Billy and thanks for the memories.
Once a Blade alwa................................