Blades/Leeds 1989/1990 comparisons

[Booker4]

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/spo...to-when-they-won-promotion-together-1-9398011

Decent article this, thought it was worth sharing and for those of us lucky to have been Blades in this season it certainly was special and there are many parallels with this season. Back in 1989 we'd assembled a squad of free transfers, small money buys and the odd loan (Royston) and we finished 2nd on the same points as Leeds who spent over 4 million on their squad. I would guess ours was about 700,000, although that's only if you include Stancliffe who wasn't bought by Bassett obviously. Bash probably the nearest player we've had to Bob Booker but Bash can play a lot more than Sir Bob could!

Anyway as much as I don't like Leeds I'd snap your hand off at us finishing second behind Leeds!

 

[Paisley Blade]

The 4-0 'drubbing' was a horrendous experience , I was one of the 'lucky' 1100 or so to get a standing ticket in the corner , the atmosphere was pretty hostile to say the least.

 

[United Aren't Back.]

https://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/spo...to-when-they-won-promotion-together-1-9398011

Decent article this, thought it was worth sharing and for those of us lucky to have been Blades in this season it certainly was special and there are many parallels with this season. Back in 1989 we'd assembled a squad of free transfers, small money buys and the odd loan (Royston) and we finished 2nd on the same points as Leeds who spent over 4 million on their squad. I would guess ours was about 700,000, although that's only if you include Stancliffe who wasn't bought by Bassett obviously. Bash probably the nearest player we've had to Bob Booker but Bash can play a lot more than Sir Bob could!

Anyway as much as I don't like Leeds I'd snap your hand off at us finishing second behind Leeds!

I fucking wouldn't.
They're not fit to wipe your arse on, not fit to wipe your feet on.
Fact.

 

[WORKSOPBLADE]

The 4-0 'drubbing' was a horrendous experience , I was one of the 'lucky' 1100 or so to get a standing ticket in the corner , the atmosphere was pretty hostile to say the least.

Agreed although I was one of 400 in their Lowfield stand !

 

[grafikhaus]

The 4-0 'drubbing' was a horrendous experience , I was one of the 'lucky' 1100 or so to get a standing ticket in the corner , the atmosphere was pretty hostile to say the least.

Agreed although I was one of 400 in their Lowfield stand !

A hairy day indeed. The atmosphere was like a Nuremburg Rally (not that I've ever been to one...), John Gannon's girlfriend was hit by a flying bottle in the Lowfield Stand. Leeds fans were - and remain - utter scum.

 

[Silent Blade]

Harold Wilkinson was the only manager in the division that season that made sure one of his players would unsettle Tracey whenever he was about to take a drop kick because he was aware of Tracey's accurate kicking being one of our main factors in setting up goal chances. Was surprised no other manager used the same tactics.

 

[Cheets]

Harold Wilkinson was the only manager in the division that season that made sure one of his players would unsettle Tracey whenever he was about to take a drop kick because he was aware of Tracey's accurate kicking being one of our main factors in setting up goal chances. Was surprised no other manager used the same tactics.

Howard's lesser known brother?

 

[Cheets]

Harold Wilkinson was the only manager in the division that season that made sure one of his players would unsettle Tracey whenever he was about to take a drop kick because he was aware of Tracey's accurate kicking being one of our main factors in setting up goal chances. Was surprised no other manager used the same tactics.

Bobby Davison was a disgrace in the Boxing Day fixture at Bramall Lane. There's nothing he could ever have done in the future to make me forgive him..... Oh, hang on...

 

[shorehamview]

Harold Wilkinson was the only manager in the division that season that made sure one of his players would unsettle Tracey whenever he was about to take a drop kick because he was aware of Tracey's accurate kicking being one of our main factors in setting up goal chances. Was surprised no other manager used the same tactics.

It was interesting that Leeds were allowed to do that all match long, but in the return the first Blade that tried it got a yellow card, if I remember correctly.

 

[Dkc]

We also have an excellent keeper once again. Not sure who I'd prefer between the sticks, Tracey or Hendo, but would be very happy with either of them

 

[Nade]

I only properly saw Tracey in his last playing season with us but thought in that season he struggled and i thought before Kenny arrived that we could do with someone else.

His early career i was too young for.

 

[gavtheblade]

I only properly saw Tracey in his last playing season with us but thought in that season he struggled and i thought before Kenny arrived that we could do with someone else.

His early career i was too young for.

Tin hat on for me here.
I thought Tracey was quite decent but he was no Alan kelly.

 

[mattbianco1]

Obviously i'd take that at the end of the season, however, i'd prefer the season to end like it did in 2006:

Here's 12 games:


Here's 46 games:

 

[grafikhaus]

Harold Wilkinson was the only manager in the division that season that made sure one of his players would unsettle Tracey whenever he was about to take a drop kick because he was aware of Tracey's accurate kicking being one of our main factors in setting up goal chances. Was surprised no other manager used the same tactics.

Before the game, while the players were warming up, Tracey started loosening up his hammies by taking long punts. They ended up in the Leeds half where their players collected them and wouldn't give them back. So United were left with no balls to warm up with.

After Wednesday's Swan, Layne and Kay introduced cheating to the modern game, Leeds perfected it.

 

[Houston_Blade]

Obviously i'd take that at the end of the season, however, i'd prefer the season to end like it did in 2006:

Here's 12 games:
View attachment 45184

Here's 46 games:
View attachment 45185

Reading won’t win it.

 

[N20 Blade]

Thanks for that, brings back some great memories but how dare the 'Leeds Post' attempt to compare our final away days at Leicester and Bournemouth. Whilst we celebrated with class, Leeds went on a bank holiday rampage and tore the town to bits; with some of the worst violence seen in this country for a long time. Hundreds travelled without tickets and were intent on mindless hooliganism in a pleasant seaside holiday resort. That's another example of the difference between the clubs and fans.

 

[Bath Blade]

Reading won’t win it.

They could still get to 106 points again, as long as they only drop five points between now and May.

 

[SW12 to S12 to S18]

Agreed although I was one of 400 in their Lowfield stand !

Remember it well, I too was one of the many forced to buy a seat in the Lowfields Stand due to leeds begrudgingly let us have an allocation of almost zero compared to what we gave them.
I was standing in front of my seat before kick off when a biggish bloke with several of his mates came to where I was standing muttering to the others that no Sheffield bastard was sitting in his seat. Thinking that I was a leeds fan he then politely said “excuse me please” as he edged past with fists clenched looking for trouble. Less then a minute later he was back looking rather shaken and a bit roughed up haveing met one of those Sheffield bastards.
There were loads of Blades in there that day, I remember one of the coppers near me asking his mate how are we going to deal with this lot. They ended up doing the usual West Yarkshire policing, that is nothing.

 

[N20 Blade]

Loved the 'We all hate Leeds and Leeds and Leeds...' chant that season.

 

[mattbianco1]

Reading won’t win it.

It was more the fact that Leeds lost the Play Off Final

 

[N20 Blade]

Tin hat on for me here.
I thought Tracey was quite decent but he was no Alan kelly.

I think Tracey made more 'silly' mistakes than Kelly (Spurs away, Luton away, etc.) and he had a habit of bringing down strikers (especially vs West Ham) but some of his saves were another level altogether and the way the Liverpool Kop applauded him at full-time once, was something else. He probably never quite fulfilled his potential due to his shoulder injury (and his penchant for reading the Racing Post at half-time) but still my all time favourite player. Bassett's decision to drop Benstead for him during the Div 3 promotion season run in was a masterstroke. One other point, is that it was during his career (coincided with the launch of the PL) that the 'back pass' rule changed and with it forever the criteria for being a world class keeper. That season one of our home goals v Man Utd (the 2nd from resulting penalty) was a direct result of Gannon not being able to simply pass back to Tracey, we went forward and created a penalty chance. By comparison a few games later at Spurs the law change meant that Tracey was left in no-man's land and ended up trying to get the ball of a ball boy. Looking at today's keepers (e.g. Henderson) their kicking and overall sweeping abilities are as important as their old school goalkeeping skills. It's a harder job now for sure.

 

[String]

The 4-0 'drubbing' was a horrendous experience , I was one of the 'lucky' 1100 or so to get a standing ticket in the corner , the atmosphere was pretty hostile to say the least.

Yep, true, I was sat in their 'family stand' that day with mate Paul Macca and we were getting it from all sides, it was like we had Blade written on our foreheads, although the innocence of youth carried us through I think. I was sat with my head in hands toward the end of the match with some granny who looked like Giant Haystacks hitting me a thermos flask..! Ha, However I recall about 500 or so blades getting into the seated stand above their side terrace and giving plenty back...equilibrium...Impressed with Gary Speed that day, bombing up and down left mid with style.

 

[Silent Blade]

Tin hat on for me here.
I thought Tracey was quite decent but he was no Alan kelly.

We have won more games with Tracey than with Kelly

https://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/simon-tracey-v-alan-kelly-stats.56552/

 

[WORKSOPBLADE]

Yep, true, I was sat in their 'family stand' that day with mate Paul Macca and we were getting it from all sides, it was like we had Blade written on our foreheads, although the innocence of youth carried us through I think. I was sat with my head in hands toward the end of the match with some granny who looked like Giant Haystacks hitting me a thermos flask..! Ha, However I recall about 500 or so blades getting into the seated stand above their side terrace and giving plenty back...equilibrium...Impressed with Gary Speed that day, bombing up and down left mid with style.

The side stand being Lowfield, where there huge new stand now is.

Not sure we were giving it plenty though. My recollection is being surrounded on all 4 sides within stand and all facing us throughout game. Up there with Pompey, Millwall and Brum in 80’s for intimidating grounds.

 

[bornablade]

We have won more games with Tracey than with Kelly

https://www.s24su.com/forum/index.php?threads/simon-tracey-v-alan-kelly-stats.56552/

If Tracey had saved that last minute shot at his near post on May 7th 1994 we would now be enjoying our 27th consecutive season in the Premier League.

 

[FATTYFOULKE]

The side stand being Lowfield, where there huge new stand now is.

Not sure we were giving it plenty though. My recollection is being surrounded on all 4 sides within stand and all facing us throughout game. Up there with Pompey, Millwall and Brum in 80’s for intimidating grounds.

We were giving it plenty but you are correct about them facing us throughout the game. I vividly remember thinkinking they’d paid to watch the game but they literally were stood facing us all match giving it the verbals and cut throat gestures.

Without a doubt the most intimidated i’ve felt at a match not helped by the score line.

Did enjoy one bit though. Blades waited at the bottom of the steps until everyone was through the turnstiles then entered the stand together singing Sheffield Sheffield. The look on their faces was a joy.

 

[1973Blade]

The two times I have seen United get promoted to the top flight we have been in a promotion battle with Leeds. Hopefully history will repeat itself.

 

[BladesOnToast]

Obviously i'd take that at the end of the season, however, i'd prefer the season to end like it did in 2006:

Here's 12 games:
View attachment 45184

Here's 46 games:
View attachment 45185

Blimey, in 2006 Luton were where Leeds are this year after twelve games.... if history repeats itself then Leeds may half a dozen years of non-league football to look forward to

 

[Feo]

Agreed although I was one of 400 in their Lowfield stand !

I was sat (on my hands) on the kop.
Luckily we didn’t score...

 

[YouFUMS]

I was arrested just before kick-off at that game, and spent the afternoon locked up.
Travelled up with a few mates on a coach from the Railway pub. I'd never been involved in the hoolie scene, but it was obvious when we got on the coach that it was full of lads who were up for scrap.
To cut a long story short, we ended up on the Lowfield stand, and were the front line of Blades, with masses of Leeds in front of us. The lot went up when the players came out of the tunnel, and I ended up defending myself from 3 or 4 Leeds fans swinging at me. I was quite relieved when a couple of coppers waded in to break it up, but then found myself handcuffed with my arms behind my back, and being frogmarched out of the stand, via the angry Leeds fans who were raining punches and kicks at me as we passed. The cuffs were removed and I was thrown into the back of a police van, and found that there was another 3 Blades in the van, and, unbelievably 4 Leeds fans also. Again, it kicked off in the back of the van with a mass brawl that needed the police again to break it up and escort us as we were driven to the cells.
While we were in the cells, and being 'processed', one particular officer took great pleasure in announcing the score to us every few minutes. Obviously, when he came a fourth time and said it was 4-0, we all thought it was a wind up. They kept us in there until about 8pm, charged with a breach of the peace, and had to return to court a few months later to face charges.
I had never been in trouble with the police previously, and I haven't since. Regrettably, with the court case hanging over my head for that incident, I didn't get to the Leicester finale, as I was worried incase I got caught up in any further trouble.