Darlington 82 & Leicester 90

[Tunstall Fred]

I was there on both wonderful occasions, i so miss those days , life was much easier then in so many ways.

I was also present at both, I am so glad that many of this current generation of United supporters enjoyed something similar to us at both Northampton and especially MK Dons in the magical 100 points season.

Stoke away last season was okish, I think I enjoyed Preston more.

 

[grafikhaus]

I was there on both wonderful occasions, i so miss those days , life was much easier then in so many ways.

It certainly was. I drove down to Leicester a few days before the 5/5/90 fixture, just walked in their ticket office and bought a ticket. No 'Are you on our database?'. 'how many loyalty points have you got?', 'Cash? How very dare you?' bollocks back then. The kid just said 'Are you from Sheffield?' and I said 'No.'

I was in the upper tier of the stand behind the goal and - before kick-off - it was uncertain who was who. I decided to find out by standing on my seat and starting 'We're on the march with Bassett's Ar-my!' Cue 'Blazing Saddles' punch-ups all over, but it was obvious we were mostly Blades.

Had many, many great days since and last season was the best I remember.

 

[Peezablade]

Just away on my jollies and got talking to a few lads at the bar , just after any pics of these two special occasions in my life that I can show these lads ?

Ask Paul Heaton for Leicester photos. He was on the pitch, snapping away with a huge grin.

 

[Bert]

It certainly was. I drove down to Leicester a few days before the 5/5/90 fixture, just walked in their ticket office and bought a ticket. No 'Are you on our database?'. 'how many loyalty points have you got?', 'Cash? How very dare you?' bollocks back then. The kid just said 'Are you from Sheffield?' and I said 'No.'

I was in the upper tier of the stand behind the goal and - before kick-off - it was uncertain who was who. I decided to find out by standing on my seat and starting 'We're on the march with Bassett's Ar-my!' Cue 'Blazing Saddles' punch-ups all over, but it was obvious we were mostly Blades.

Had many, many great days since and last season was the best I remember.

Bert and Co were up in that stand.
Didn't know who was who until 10 mins before kick off and then it became clear that a thousand Unitedites had encamped there. It was a very steep stand and one girl had a vertigo panic and had to crawl down the steps to safety before the game even started.
There were a few fisticuffs at one point but didn't amount to much.

The strange thing was hearing a gang of lads sat behind Bert supporting the Blades with broad Scottish accents. Don't think Bert had ever heard anything but a Unitedite with a Sheffield accent previously.

 

[flashinblade1889]

Ask Paul Heaton for Leicester photos. He was on the pitch, snapping away with a huge grin.

He was on the same coach as me from the Domino quite a few likely lads on it that day

 

[John Street West Terrace]

Iconic

masterpiece. here.

Iconic Headline from one of my happiest days as a Blade more so as before the game it could have been any 2 from 3 promoted automatically, any one of 3 as Champions , I see Tony James ( Sterlands bro in law ) quite regularly and have thanked him regularly over the years for his man to man marking job on Deano that day

 

[John Street West Terrace]

He was on the same coach as me from the Domino quite a few likely lads on it that day

Used to like Heats but lost s lot of respect for him jumping on celebrity bandwagon of condemnation over Ched affair

 

[tyke1889]

View attachment 55692

Surely Kieron Dowell wasn't even born then!

 

[mickhep]

Does anyone remember the 100% blade T shirts around the Leicester time.
I wore mine for that game.Its a pity know one has re-done them I'm sure it would be a big seller

 

[Tunstall Fred]

Does anyone remember the 100% blade T shirts around the Leicester time.
I wore mine for that game.Its a pity know one has re-done them I'm sure it would be a big seller

One of the lads who used to sell"hats, scarfs, t shirts, all your badges' on the corner of Bramall Lane/John Street sadly passed away a good few years back .

 

[Topplayersleave]

It shows how quickly time passes by as you get older, the gap between Darlington and Leicester seemed like an eternity.
8 years seems to pass in the blink of an eye nowadays

 

[spongebobblade]

For any Blades of my age it was the first bit of success we’d seen us have .. I’d only seen us slip from Second Div to 4th Div .. only missed two games that season Northampton away & Hereford away .. still one of the most memorable seasons I’ve had .. great days and some great lads I knocked about with at the time

As a 15 year old lad I hardly missed any away games and went on the train football specials for the majority of the games with my mates without my parents knowledge for the midweek or long distance ones. Almost came a cropper and so nearly missed it back after celebrating a little too long at Northampton thanks to 2 late Trusson goals for a win we barely deserved. I didn’t think Peterborough away could be beaten until that special day at the Feethams. The things that went on that day both on and off the pitch just wouldn’t be allowed today..... but it was all in good spirits and a day I’ll never forget

 

[John Street West Terrace]

As a 15 year old lad I hardly missed any away games and went on the train football specials for the majority of the games with my mates without my parents knowledge for the midweek or long distance ones. Almost came a cropper and so nearly missed it back after celebrating a little too long at Northampton thanks to 2 late Trusson goals for a win we barely deserved. I didn’t think Peterborough away could be beaten until that special day at the Feethams. The things that went on that day both on and off the pitch just wouldn’t be allowed today..... but it was all in good spirits and a day I’ll never forget

Peterborough was a great night more so after their manager had been very vocal in how this is where our bubble was going to burst , I guess an away support of around 7k for a night match to see Edwards & King grab a brace each . Brilliant night

 

[ShorehamRevolution]

To give you an idea of the occasion in that famous match back in 1982.

Darlo’s average attendances were
1978: 1,993
1979: 1,807
1980: 1,972
1981: 2,595
1982: 2,466
1983: 1,454

So it’s pretty amazing to think that when we played Darlington the official attendance was 11,130, which was their biggest crowd since 1969.
Darlington have only ever beaten that attendance once since, when they got 11,600 in 2004, when their new fancy stadium opened for its first match.

Well well well, learn something new everyday, good stat that

 

[SouthEssexBlade]

It certainly was. I drove down to Leicester a few days before the 5/5/90 fixture, just walked in their ticket office and bought a ticket. No 'Are you on our database?'. 'how many loyalty points have you got?', 'Cash? How very dare you?' bollocks back then. The kid just said 'Are you from Sheffield?' and I said 'No.'

I was in the upper tier of the stand behind the goal and - before kick-off - it was uncertain who was who. I decided to find out by standing on my seat and starting 'We're on the march with Bassett's Ar-my!' Cue 'Blazing Saddles' punch-ups all over, but it was obvious we were mostly Blades.

Had many, many great days since and last season was the best I remember.

I was in that stand. Always have wondered who the twat was that kicked it all off.

 

[dublin 10 blade]

Was the ' police officer ' the one who got charged with impersonating an officer of the law when he was seen standing in the middle of the road directing Blades into a pub?
Talk about a sense of humour failure!

Anyone remember the ' referee ' who attempted to start the second half standing on the centre spot blowing his whistle? He'd have got away with it too if it hadn't been for the Blades scarf around his neck and the Hitler mustache. Personally I thought that the mustache was a nice touch but there would probably be objections if it happened today.

For those of a certain age , I went dressed as Freddie Starr’s version of hitler , with Wellies , shorts and fake iron cross , walked all around the pitch before and during game ,
Was a bit strange when Middlesbrough showed up and Nellie the elephant led the charge into them

 

[Tunstall Fred]

For those of a certain age , I went dressed as Freddie Starr’s version of hitler , with Wellies , shorts and fake iron cross , walked all around the pitch before and during game ,
Was a bit strange when Middlesbrough showed up and Nellie the elephant led the charge into them

Can I just say, although I found your outfit that day highly amusing, in keeping with the times, today I am outraged.

 

[Bannerman]

For those of a certain age , I went dressed as Freddie Starr’s version of hitler , with Wellies , shorts and fake iron cross , walked all around the pitch before and during game ,
Was a bit strange when Middlesbrough showed up and Nellie the elephant led the charge into them

Unless there were other Blades dressed the same I remember you. At the time I also thought it was very amusiing. However, as Tunstall says we have all learned valuable lessons since those far off inconsiderate politically incorrect times. I too am both shocked and outraged at your thoughtless behaviour and feel that Fred and I have had to carry the subliminal shame all these years because of your thoughtless action.

There may be cause for a class action lawsuit in these more enlightened times.

 

[coolhandluke]

Professional football in England during the 80' was undoubtedly at its lowest point ever. Piss poor facilities, terrace war zones , treated like shit, Heysel and Hillsborough .

Promotion at Darlington, madness at Turf Moor and Promotion at Leicester at the end of the decade though ensured the 80's were without a shadow of a doubt my most enjoyable decade ever following the Blades. How fucking strange life is !

 

[dublin 10 blade]

Unless there were other Blades dressed the same I remember you. At the time I also thought it was very amusiing. However, as Tunstall says we have all learned valuable lessons since those far off inconsiderate politically incorrect times. I too am both shocked and outraged at your thoughtless behaviour and feel that Fred and I have had to carry the subliminal shame all these years because of your thoughtless action.

There may be cause for a class action lawsuit in these more enlightened times.

I was with all the other fancy dresses , no not Lacoste, Ellesa, or Pringle’s , and a piss up had been organized in Attercliffe , I’m saying nothing else , I’ll just leave that thought for you regarding my fancy dress

 

[dublin 10 blade]

Can I just say, although I found your outfit that day highly amusing, in keeping with the times, today I am outraged.

See my response to Bannerman , Fred , regarding my dress code

 

[Jon Bon II]

Remember seeing a tranny van with Edwards boots been shown to everyone on the A1.

Greta van Hoogstraten was his...er... her name. Probably had the op by now.

 

[super_pig]

Unless there were other Blades dressed the same I remember you. At the time I also thought it was very amusiing. However, as Tunstall says we have all learned valuable lessons since those far off inconsiderate politically incorrect times. I too am both shocked and outraged at your thoughtless behaviour and feel that Fred and I have had to carry the subliminal shame all these years because of your thoughtless action.

There may be cause for a class action lawsuit in these more enlightened times.

demanding reparations no doubt

 

[Bannerman]

demanding reparations no doubt

For the mental anguish that we've been going through all these years. And for having what should have been one of our fondest Blades memories tarnished by association with finding something amusing about someone portraying a monster I feel that we deserve reparation. A pint should do it.

 

[super_pig]

i owe you one anyway

 

[Bannerman]

i owe you one anyway

If we meet up some time before the match we'll have a couple

 

[SW12 to S12 to S18]

It certainly was. I drove down to Leicester a few days before the 5/5/90 fixture, just walked in their ticket office and bought a ticket. No 'Are you on our database?'. 'how many loyalty points have you got?', 'Cash? How very dare you?' bollocks back then. The kid just said 'Are you from Sheffield?' and I said 'No.'

I was in the upper tier of the stand behind the goal and - before kick-off - it was uncertain who was who. I decided to find out by standing on my seat and starting 'We're on the march with Bassett's Ar-my!' Cue 'Blazing Saddles' punch-ups all over, but it was obvious we were mostly Blades.

Had many, many great days since and last season was the best I remember.

I was in the same part of that stand but I don’t recall much in the way of punch ups, I think the Leicester fans were a bit overwhelmed by it all. I can’t remember how we got the tickets though, we might just have payed on the day although I can’t imagine we’d have dared to travel without tickets due to the numbers going.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

It certainly was. I drove down to Leicester a few days before the 5/5/90 fixture, just walked in their ticket office and bought a ticket. No 'Are you on our database?'. 'how many loyalty points have you got?', 'Cash? How very dare you?' bollocks back then. The kid just said 'Are you from Sheffield?' and I said 'No.'

I was in the upper tier of the stand behind the goal and - before kick-off - it was uncertain who was who. I decided to find out by standing on my seat and starting 'We're on the march with Bassett's Ar-my!' Cue 'Blazing Saddles' punch-ups all over, but it was obvious we were mostly Blades.

Had many, many great days since and last season was the best I remember.

I was in upper stand behind the net too Graf , it definitely kicked off ! I think they were surprised just how many Blades were in there

 

[grafikhaus]

I was in the same part of that stand but I don’t recall much in the way of punch ups.

That's because you weren't sat near me!

 

[Tunstall Fred]

At Leicester, I was down the side, and remarkably I did not go on the pitch until the 4th goal went in.