Colin Grainger

[mancunianblade]

Before my time, but good article on him below for those that fancy a read

The Singing Winger

The Sheffield United forward Colin Grainger on scoring two on his international debut against Brazil

www.theblizzard.co.uk

 

[Darnall Siam Blade]

Thanks. A great read that. Captures the mood of those years perfectly. I remember Grainger as a fast moving left winger for the Blades who excited the crowd when he went on one of his runs. Even so it was a bit of a surprise when he got picked against Brazil. I watched the match on a 13 inch screen Bush TV, in black and white and remember, vividly, his 2 goals. Even now I can name all 11 of the Brazilian team and I'm in my eighties. I shall endeavour to get the book. Thanks again.

 

[away ends always empty.]

That was a good read that .

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Before my time, but good article on him below for those that fancy a read

The Singing Winger

The Sheffield United forward Colin Grainger on scoring two on his international debut against Brazil

www.theblizzard.co.uk

Really enjoyed reading that. Thanks for posting it. I was 9 when he made his debut v Brazil, and like Darnall Siam Blade I watched it on tv (smaller screen, though!). I remember the sense of pride that 'one of our own' (the expression wasn't used then) was playing and scoring for England. That feeling has remained with me via Hodgy, Graham Shaw, TC, Jags, Harry. Hopefully our next England players will still be playing for us when they get capped.
Grainger comes across really well in that article.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Thanks. A great read that. Captures the mood of those years perfectly. I remember Grainger as a fast moving left winger for the Blades who excited the crowd when he went on one of his runs. Even so it was a bit of a surprise when he got picked against Brazil. I watched the match on a 13 inch screen Bush TV, in black and white and remember, vividly, his 2 goals. Even now I can name all 11 of the Brazilian team and I'm in my eighties. I shall endeavour to get the book. Thanks again.

Wow , that's impressive .

I wagged off school to watch that game and , like you , clearly remember his two goals but would struggle to name more than two from the Brazil side .

I do , however , remember some superb performances by Colin Grainger and have him down as one of my all time favourite Blades players , unlike the shit book which I bought some 15 years ago called Blades Legends in which he wasn't even mentioned , although players like Dougie Hodgson were .

WTF ?

 

[Charlieblade]

A great read from a player I never heard of before. Captures the times perfectly for me, having similar experiences in Germany years later.
Modest, honest and self effacing, this is just the kind of guy Wider would want for his team today.

 

[broomhillblade]

An excellent read. I am old enough to remember Colin Grainger. He certainly was like lightning down the right wing and was a regular goal-scorer.
I recall that he sustained an ankle injury, which Joe Mercer blamed on the new-fangled boots which didn't give as much ankle protection, and later we sold him to Sunderland - probably a good move since he was never quite the same player.

 

[broomhillblade]

An excellent read. I am old enough to remember Colin Grainger. He certainly was like lightning down the right wing and was a regular goal-scorer.
I recall that he sustained an ankle injury, which Joe Mercer blamed on the new-fangled boots which didn't give as much ankle protection, and later we sold him to Sunderland - probably a good move since he was never quite the same player.

I see from the record books that he played on the left wing. I could have sworn I saw him galloping down the right wing when I was 14. The old memory cells playing tricks again...

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Before my time, but good article on him below for those that fancy a read

The Singing Winger

The Sheffield United forward Colin Grainger on scoring two on his international debut against Brazil

www.theblizzard.co.uk

Be nice if George could have a debut like that?

 

[Hagan's boot]

A great read from a player I never heard of before. Captures the times perfectly for me, having similar experiences in Germany years later.
Modest, honest and self effacing, this is just the kind of guy Wider would want for his team today.

Such wonderful memories, Lord it reminds me how old I am.

 

[Nick Jansky]

A fabulous read.

 

[Bladesthorpe]

Remember my dad taking me to see him playing for United on the Saturday afternoon then telling me on the tram going home he was on at Attercliffe Radical club that night. I recall sitting there with my bottle of vimto and bag of crisps in awe of the man, good singer as well.

 

[Blackestnite]

Good read that, thanks .

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

I see from the record books that he played on the left wing. I could have sworn I saw him galloping down the right wing when I was 14. The old memory cells playing tricks again...

I know the feeling but yes , Colin was one of a number of fine left wingers the Blades were blessed with in my early years of watching them , as I'm sure you will also recall .

The first I can clearly remember was Colin Collindridge , partly because of his shiny bald head but also because of his silky skills and his goal scoring ability . Others included Derek Hawksworth , Ronnie Simpson and later , Gill Reece .

Good as they all were , there is no doubt in my mind that Grainger was the best and in many ways ahead of his time since he had the ability to easily switch from a wide position to that of central striker , unlike many wingers at the time .

 

[The Hobott]

Great read that. Thanks. Wonder what was in that babycham bottle.

 

[Nick Jansky]

Great read that. Thanks. Wonder what was in that babycham bottle.

Babycham?

 

[Robbat]

Very good read thank you I really enjoyed that

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

One detail that struck home with me, about Duncan Edwards. As a kid I idolised him, watched him on tv for England, saw him once for ManU live, and was really upset by his death a few days after the Munich crash. I thought nothing could tarnish this image. Players then rarely spoke on the media, so I am sure I never heard him speak. It came as a shock to learn that he spoke with a strong Dudley accent. Stupid, I know, but I would not have known then what a Dudley accent was. I love the variety of accents in the UK, but the Dudley accent does not fit the image of a super-hero. Perhaps if he had survived Munich, he would have changed that perception - in my eyes he was capable of anything.

 

[Hagan's boot]

I know the feeling but yes , Colin was one of a number of fine left wingers the Blades were blessed with in my early years of watching them , as I'm sure you will also recall .

The first I can clearly remember was Colin Collindridge , partly because of his shiny bald head but also because of his silky skills and his goal scoring ability . Others included Derek Hawksworth , Ronnie Simpson and later , Gill Reece .

Good as they all were , there is no doubt in my mind that Grainger was the best and in many ways ahead of his time since he had the ability to easily switch from a wide position to that of central striker , unlike many wingers at the time .

Talking of Hawksworth, I remember the 'deadly duo' of Hawksworth and Ringstead, the flying wingers, they really excited me, at the time. I seem to recall someone calling them United's Spitfire and Hurricane. Not long since the war you understand.

 

[Hackblade]

Best sports article I've read for a while. informative and entertaining, with some fascinating insights of great players and the era.

 

[DifferentClass]

Grandson (been told on shoutbox anyway) Will playing for Wendy.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Grandson (been told on shoutbox anyway) Will playing for Wendy.

Too young to be his grandson, surely?

 

[Benitachel]

I remember Colin Grainger playing for us. He was the best left winger I have seen play for United. I was gutted when we sold him to Sunderland. That was the start of many many sales which have pissed me off over the years. Alan Kelly, Brian Deane, Tony Currie et al. I’m still here supporting the Blades though and I took my youngest grandson ( 7 next week) to the Millwall game last Saturday. He said we should have won and thought their goalie was too good

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

I remember Colin Grainger playing for us. He was the best left winger I have seen play for United. I was gutted when we sold him to Sunderland. That was the start of many many sales which have pissed me off over the years. Alan Kelly, Brian Deane, Tony Currie et al. I’m still here supporting the Blades though and I took my youngest grandson ( 7 next week) to the Millwall game last Saturday. He said we should have won and thought their goalie was too good

That’s the great thing about the positive approach of young kids - putting defeat down to the opponents playing well, rather than moaning about United manager/players. It is great to see football through the eyes of youngsters.
I too was gutted when Grainger went to Sunderland. But Ron Simpson on a good day was worth watching…