Blades First Ever Legend?

[silver blade]

Sheffield United paid £500 for him in December 1912, he would become a Blades legend. He made his debut on Boxing Day, scoring against Newcastle United, and first played for Ireland the following year, when he scored twice against England. He was a part of the Ireland side that won the 1914 British Home Championship outright after gaining wins over England and Wales and a draw against Scotland at Windsor Park. Indeed he scored 5 goals in his four pre-war internationals. He won 25 caps for Ireland over the next 17 years, playing for his country until aged 38, scoring 13 goals for his country, a scoring record that was not broken until 2004. That included both goals on his debut in February 1913 as Ireland beat England 2-1. He is Sheffield United’s most capped player.

A broken leg in September 1914 received in the first game of the season against Sunderland prevented him from playing all season and he unluckily missed the 1915 FA Cup Final win over Chelsea. Returning following World War One he continued to play regularly for The Blades throughout the 1920’s, every one of his 17 seasons at Bramall Lane being in the First Division. He took over as Club Captain from George Utley in 1923. Having also lost twice in FA Cup semi finals he finally got a winner’s medal in the 1925 FA Cup Final when he captained United as they beat Cardiff City with a single Fred Tunstall goal. He played his last match of 492 in 1931, having scored 137 goals for Sheffield United, before joining Derry City as manager in 1932, where he stayed until 1940. Gillespie was held in such regard at Derry that the club agreed to change their strip to red and white stripes in recognition of his career at Sheffield United.

 

[BushBlade]

I’m not sure if he was the first but he was certainly a genuine legend.

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

Please look left. Thanks!

 

[Sithblade]

Ernest "Nudger" Needham must be the first legend player.

 

[bornablade]

Fatty Foulke as the first?

 

[LoughboroBlade]

First cult hero? Played in the league title winning team, got an England cap, kept many of Sheffield’s eating establishments afloat.

We frankly should recognise the man more at the stadium. The Fatty Foulkes Pukka Pie Corner would be my suggestion.

 

[XM657]

Sheffield United paid £500 for him in December 1912, he would become a Blades legend. He made his debut on Boxing Day, scoring against Newcastle United, and first played for Ireland the following year, when he scored twice against England. He was a part of the Ireland side that won the 1914 British Home Championship outright after gaining wins over England and Wales and a draw against Scotland at Windsor Park. Indeed he scored 5 goals in his four pre-war internationals. He won 25 caps for Ireland over the next 17 years, playing for his country until aged 38, scoring 13 goals for his country, a scoring record that was not broken until 2004. That included both goals on his debut in February 1913 as Ireland beat England 2-1. He is Sheffield United’s most capped player.

A broken leg in September 1914 received in the first game of the season against Sunderland prevented him from playing all season and he unluckily missed the 1915 FA Cup Final win over Chelsea. Returning following World War One he continued to play regularly for The Blades throughout the 1920’s, every one of his 17 seasons at Bramall Lane being in the First Division. He took over as Club Captain from George Utley in 1923. Having also lost twice in FA Cup semi finals he finally got a winner’s medal in the 1925 FA Cup Final when he captained United as they beat Cardiff City with a single Fred Tunstall goal. He played his last match of 492 in 1931, having scored 137 goals for Sheffield United, before joining Derry City as manager in 1932, where he stayed until 1940. Gillespie was held in such regard at Derry that the club agreed to change their strip to red and white stripes in recognition of his career at Sheffield United.

He was also reputed to have been laid to rest in wearing his or a Sheffield United shirt, don't get no bigger than that. He also took time out to watch The Blades in his later years, as shown.

 

[Hamburg Blade]

Ernest "Nudger" Needham must be the first legend player.

I always understood that Nudger was our first great player. Perhaps our greatest?

 

[bladesince64]

We have an incredibly illustrious and successful history.

I have a feeling that more chapters are about to be added, starting next season.

 

[alcoblade]

Lifetime legends;

Got in too late on Currie and Woodward.

So it would have to be Edwards.

Brian’s Deane is the greatest in my lifetime.

 

[Bert]

Our often forgotten, greatest ever goalscorer and fellow Ecclesfeldian...

Harry Johnson.

 

[tincan]

Let's at least have legendary status meaning it's achieved in the Top division on tuppence a week or having been to a war. Everything else is just alreet

 

[bornablade]

If Jimmy Dunne was around today he'd be the first name on Chris Wilder's team sheet.

Proper attitude plus 169 goals in 173 appearances.

As a bonus Vardy didn't take his record.

 

[Silent Blade]

Fatty Foulke as the first?

No.

Ernest Needham joined us in 1891 and his England debut was before Foulke joined us in 1894

 

[Blade56]

Joseph Wostinholm

 

[Silent Blade]

Joseph Wostinholm

View attachment 53134

How can you call him a legend if not many of our fans have heard of him?

 

[Guesty]

Our often forgotten, greatest ever goalscorer and fellow Ecclesfeldian...

Harry Johnson.

He has the rare, perhaps unique, distinction of being the all time top scorer for two English clubs - us and Mansfield.

 

[Barney]

He was also reputed to have been laid to rest in wearing his or a Sheffield United shirt, don't get no bigger than that. He also took time out to watch The Blades in his later years, as shown.View attachment 53126 View attachment 53126

Which one is he?

 

[Bert]

Which one is he?

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

If Jimmy Dunne was around today he'd be the first name on Chris Wilder's team sheet.

Proper attitude plus 169 goals in 173 appearances.

As a bonus Vardy didn't take his record.

169 goals out of 173?

Surely that can’t be right?

 

[Guesty]

169 goals out of 173?

Surely that can’t be right?

Think it is right, though it might be league games only.

 

[jockdodds]

169 goals out of 173?

Surely that can’t be right?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy_Dunne

 

[SandyMcBlade]

Hey up, how come yon United commemoration plate is in blue an white ?

big much that is tha knows......

 

[Barney]

View attachment 53140

Cheers but still none the wiser.

There are two blokes on there that both look like they could be him.

 

[YouFUMS]

Cheers but still none the wiser.

There are two blokes on there that both look like they could be him.

You really do not recognise one of our greatest ever players? You need to do your Blades research, young fella

 

[Barney]

You really do not recognise one of our greatest ever players? You need to do your Blades research, young fella

I'm sure you saw a guy that stopped playing for United in 1905 plenty of times.

Please do share your wisdom.

 

[Bannerman]

169 goals out of 173?

Surely that can’t be right?

It is, then we sold him to Arsenal.

The following season Arsonal won the Title and Sheffield United were relegated for the first time in the clubs history.Fortunately, we learned a valuable lesson from that mistake and we have been careful not to repeat such a basic error at any time since then.

 

[YouFUMS]

I'm sure you saw a guy that stopped playing for United in 1905 plenty of times.

Please do share your wisdom.

1931 actually, but I just thought that Billy Gillespie would be recognisable to most Unitedites. He's featured in many books and articles of our glorious past.

 

[Barney]

1931 actually, but I just thought that Billy Gillespie would be recognisable to most Unitedites. He's featured in many books and articles of our glorious past.

There I was looking for Foulke, that's me not reading the post that the photo was in response to but having just done that it was indeed Gillespie so my mistake.

 

[YouFUMS]

There I was looking for Foulke, that's me not reading the post that the photo was in response to but having just done that it was indeed Gillespie so my mistake.

No wide-angle lenses around back then, pal.