Blades & Bramall Lane History

[munksyb]

Just been to the Thursday Club at Bramall Lane,

It's a tour with some great insite & information

I was sceptical of how good it would be, but went, and I was more than pleased that I did,

The access & insight into all aspects of the club were fantastic.

But one of the gems that I didn't know about was :-


Sheffield United v Celtic 1-0 (Championship of Great Britain: March 12, 1898)

March 12, 1898
Match: Championship of Great Britain, Leg 1, at Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United – Celtic 1-0 (1-0).
Attendance: 7,500.
Referee: Mr. Arthur Kingscott.
Sheffield United (2-3-5): Bill Foulke, Harry Thickett, Bob Cain, Harry Johnson, Tom Morren, Ernest Needham, Walter Bennett, Kenny McKay, Ralph Gaudie, Jack Almond, Fred Priest.
Celtic (2-3-5): Dan McArthur, Willie Orr, Dan Doyle, Hugh Goldie, David Russell, Alex King, Martin Moran, Patrick Gilhooley, John James Campbell, Alex “Sandy” McMahon, Adam Henderson.
The goal: 1-0 Gaudie (8 min.).

This was the only time that this cup was played for, and the Blades still hold that cup

Give it a go, all Blades fans should, it was inspirational

 

[HighfieldBlade]

Just been to the Thursday Club at Bramall Lane,

It's a tour with some great insite & information

I was sceptical of how good it would be, but went, and I was more than pleased that I did,

The access & insight into all aspects of the club were fantastic.

But one of the gems that I didn't know about was :-


Sheffield United v Celtic 1-0 (Championship of Great Britain: March 12, 1898)

March 12, 1898
Match: Championship of Great Britain, Leg 1, at Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United – Celtic 1-0 (1-0).
Attendance: 7,500.
Referee: Mr. Arthur Kingscott.
Sheffield United (2-3-5): Bill Foulke, Harry Thickett, Bob Cain, Harry Johnson, Tom Morren, Ernest Needham, Walter Bennett, Kenny McKay, Ralph Gaudie, Jack Almond, Fred Priest.
Celtic (2-3-5): Dan McArthur, Willie Orr, Dan Doyle, Hugh Goldie, David Russell, Alex King, Martin Moran, Patrick Gilhooley, John James Campbell, Alex “Sandy” McMahon, Adam Henderson.
The goal: 1-0 Gaudie (8 min.).

This was the only time that this cup was played for, and the Blades still hold that cup

Give it a go, all Blades fans should, it was inspirational

 

[BladeByChoice]

I went on the match day tour on boxing day (a Christmas present) we got to see the museum, then down the tunnel, a walk around pitch side, then into the directors box for a talk. All for a tenner and well worth it.

You’re supposed to see much more on the Thursday tour, changing rooms ect. Do you think its worth the extra cost.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Just been to the Thursday Club at Bramall Lane,

It's a tour with some great insite & information

I was sceptical of how good it would be, but went, and I was more than pleased that I did,

The access & insight into all aspects of the club were fantastic.

But one of the gems that I didn't know about was :-


Sheffield United v Celtic 1-0 (Championship of Great Britain: March 12, 1898)

March 12, 1898
Match: Championship of Great Britain, Leg 1, at Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United – Celtic 1-0 (1-0).
Attendance: 7,500.
Referee: Mr. Arthur Kingscott.
Sheffield United (2-3-5): Bill Foulke, Harry Thickett, Bob Cain, Harry Johnson, Tom Morren, Ernest Needham, Walter Bennett, Kenny McKay, Ralph Gaudie, Jack Almond, Fred Priest.
Celtic (2-3-5): Dan McArthur, Willie Orr, Dan Doyle, Hugh Goldie, David Russell, Alex King, Martin Moran, Patrick Gilhooley, John James Campbell, Alex “Sandy” McMahon, Adam Henderson.
The goal: 1-0 Gaudie (8 min.).

This was the only time that this cup was played for, and the Blades still hold that cup

Give it a go, all Blades fans should, it was inspirational

SilentBlade was there and has the photos!

 

[BladeByChoice]

SilentBlade was there and has the photos!

The tour today or the Celtic match.

 

[munksyb]

I went on the match day tour on boxing day (a Christmas present) we got to see the museum, then down the tunnel, a walk around pitch side, then into the directors box for a talk. All for a tenner and well worth it.

You’re supposed to see much more on the Thursday tour, changing rooms ect. Do you think its worth the extra cost.

Yes it was £11 & took 2,1/2 hours, it could have been longer
The 2 guys that ran it were great , with loads of background knowledge, and happy to answer any questions you put to them

 

[BladeByChoice]

Yes it was £11 & took 2,1/2 hours, it could have been longer
The 2 guys that ran it were great , with loads of background knowledge, and happy to answer any questions you put to them

Great, I’ll get a couple of tickets tomorrow for the next one and give our lass one for a valentines present.

 

[bornablade]

Great, I’ll get a couple of tickets tomorrow for the next one and give our lass one for a valentines present.

I've bought mine one of those CEEFAX Bouncing Day Massacre mugs.

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Just been to the Thursday Club at Bramall Lane,

It's a tour with some great insite & information

I was sceptical of how good it would be, but went, and I was more than pleased that I did,

The access & insight into all aspects of the club were fantastic.

But one of the gems that I didn't know about was :-


Sheffield United v Celtic 1-0 (Championship of Great Britain: March 12, 1898)

March 12, 1898
Match: Championship of Great Britain, Leg 1, at Bramall Lane.
Sheffield United – Celtic 1-0 (1-0).
Attendance: 7,500.
Referee: Mr. Arthur Kingscott.
Sheffield United (2-3-5): Bill Foulke, Harry Thickett, Bob Cain, Harry Johnson, Tom Morren, Ernest Needham, Walter Bennett, Kenny McKay, Ralph Gaudie, Jack Almond, Fred Priest.
Celtic (2-3-5): Dan McArthur, Willie Orr, Dan Doyle, Hugh Goldie, David Russell, Alex King, Martin Moran, Patrick Gilhooley, John James Campbell, Alex “Sandy” McMahon, Adam Henderson.
The goal: 1-0 Gaudie (8 min.).

This was the only time that this cup was played for, and the Blades still hold that cup

Give it a go, all Blades fans should, it was inspirational

Great stuff. We’re basically still current holders of this and the Steel City Challenge Trophy.

 

[Charlieblade]

Great, I’ll get a couple of tickets tomorrow for the next one and give our lass one for a valentines present.

Smooth as a cloggers rasp mate.

 

[Weasel]

Great stuff. We’re basically still current holders of this and the Steel City Challenge Trophy.

This was only the first leg game. We played away in Glasgow in April for the 2nd leg. It was a 1-1 draw (thus we won the first champions of Britain cup) with a late Jack Almond equaliser to win the aggregate tie.

Jack was part of the team that won the First Division (top division in its day or the PL as it would be now) championship in 1898, and he scored in the 1899 final FA Cup final win for the Blades.

Good lad was Jack.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Did you notice the formations that Blades and Celtic played in that game?

2-3-5

That was the most common formation in football when I first began watching and playing - a little later than 1898. In fact, I'd say it was the most common formation until the late 1960's/early 70's. The 1966 World Cup winning England team, notably deviated away from this system - "Alf's wingless wonders" - and it began to disappear from our game.

For those who have no clue what I'm talking about, it was 2 full backs, 3 in midfield and 5 up front. The positions were known and numbered as:

2. Right back
3. Left back

4. Right half
5. Centre half
6. Left half

7. Right wing
8. Inside right
9. Centre forward
10. Inside left
11. Left wing

The 5 up front would set up in what was known as "the W formation". Which basically means the shape was like the letter "W" - so you had your 2 wingers and your centre forward, slightly ahead of the inside forwards. To all extent and purposes, the left wing, right wing and centre forward were the strikers, and the inside forwards were deeper lying, playing in behind. Inside forwards were clever players - they linked the defence with the attack - they were, effectively, the play-makers in the team, but they also got on the score sheet fairly regular as well.

The wingers were exciting players, often chosen for the speed or dribbling skills, they could get everyone on the edge of their seat. They didn't usually score a lot of goals, because they were the makers rather than the takers, and they played out wide for most of the game.

The centre forward was usually a big brute of a player, with plenty of brawn and good in the air.

The centre half was also usually a big brute of a player and good in the air - the main difference between a centre half and a centre forward was that centre half's couldn't kick the ball for monkey nuts and would almost certainly never score a goal, unless it was with their head.

The full backs were the tacklers in a team. Slower than the other players, but dependable when it came to crashing into opponents and sending them flying with a tackle or two.

When you reflect on our current team, Wilder's "overload" system is actually a nod back in the direction of the old W formation - not because we set up with 5 up front, as back then, but our 2 quickly turns into a 5 (or more!) when the wing backs and centre halves join the attack. I hear people saying that our "innovative" style of playing will get found out soon and then we'll start to struggle. I have to disagree. I think our style of playing has already been found out - ages and ages ago. But, it's so random that other teams cannot do much about it. That's really what it boils down to. And the more we can randomise it even further, by adding different types of players, the harder it will be to fathom.

 

[Ball_Sup (Phil)]

The Carrier Bag Firm would like to introduce Exhibit A....

 

[Boxer Blade]

Great, I’ll get a couple of tickets tomorrow for the next one and give our lass one for a valentines present.

Did you give your lass one today BBC?

 

[moDtheGod]

We play that formation at times under Wilder!

 

[Groucho Blade]

My dad used to sing a song that went;

“Holy, holy, holy
two full backs and a goalie
God in three half backs
Blessed five forwards”

they were much simpler times, obvs

 

[Groucho Blade]

We play that formation at times under Wilder!

I’m sure Liverpool played that formation against us at Anfield...

 

[BladeByChoice]

Did you give your lass one today BBC?

Had a lovely romantic lunch at Brenda’s Chippy, then I presented her with tickets for next Thursday’s tour, she stood up and fuck’t off, never said a word, face said it all.

Got home after work, no tea ready, she just sat on the other settee with reyt mug on, then went to bed about half 9, leaving me with YouPorn and a five finger shuffle.

I’ve had better days.