Doc Pace

[Isaw Joeshaw]

He often got criticised by supporters as he did not add much to general play - but then he scored and again and again.........….

When he retired he opened a newsagents shop on Abbeydale Road with Gerry Summers.[/QUOTE

He often got criticised by supporters as he did not add much to general play - but then he scored and again and again.........….

When he retired he opened a newsagents shop on Abbeydale Road with Gerry Summers.

Ah yes, the kind of football supporting intelligentsia who are still around today who think that a 'proper' striker is one who runs around a lot ( e.g Matt Done) or jumps up and down a lot (e.g. James Hanson ) whereas players like the Noble Doctor, Jimmy Greaves, Alan Clark etc. we're just lazy twats who got lucky and managed to put the ball in the net a lot of times, but did fuck all else.

 

[bornablade]

Thanks for that. I have that photo in a scrapbook, and was going to try and post it. 6 defenders, but Pace has lost his marker. I was standing not far behind the photographer - it is moments like that that convince me that behind the goal is the place to be. Is there a reason someone standing on the terrace appears to be circled?

I think the reason for the circled supporter is the owner of the photo (presuming it's Walthamstow) is indicating where he and his dad are stood.

It's a brilliant photo. Looks like a 'one man team'.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

The first time I saw the iconic picture of Maradona with the ball facing 6 Belgian players (1982 World Cup), it brought to mind this picture of Pace. He was no Maradona, but he shared the ability to be surrounded by opponents, and yet be in sufficient space to set the agenda of what was about to happen. And in the goal v Chelsea, he is alone with 6 defenders plus the keeper - 1 more than Maradona had to contend with!

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

He once scored a goal with his nose !
Playing against Ipswich ( I think!);he was lylying on the turf near the goal line the ball came across and he lifted his head and deflected the ball Into the net with his nose at Bramall lane end.I was a kid at the ttime and used to stand behind the goal behind the white painted metal railings.
He was brave as a Lyon.

The first time I have seen a post pointing out the advantages in life that those of us with big noses benefit from! How many did Warnock score in his career?

 

[Silent Blade]

The first time I saw the iconic picture of Maradona with the ball facing 6 Belgian players (1982 World Cup), it brought to mind this picture of Pace. He was no Maradona, but he shared the ability to be surrounded by opponents, and yet be in sufficient space to set the agenda of what was about to happen. And in the goal v Chelsea, he is alone with 6 defenders plus the keeper - 1 more than Maradona had to contend with!

Really what happened was that Argentina had just taken a free kick that was blocked by the Belguim wall and Maradona was the first to get to the rebound. The first photo is the one you are talking about. The next three photos are the build up to the main picture

 

[Kentblade]

The shop 'Summers and Pace' was (I think) where there is now a gentleman's barbers (used to be called Ciccarrellis). I remember the shop being a sports shop rather than a newsagent.

I think Hagan and Brook had a newsagents maybe somewhere in the Meersbrook area.

Their sports was on London Road, just below where Dan Bradbury used to be the motor bike dealers.
Remember being served by the great man when buying some Subbuteo kit which all the rage in the 50's.

UTB

 

[snootyfenooty]

From Wiki:

Sometimes our history seems so different and distant from the present.

"Dunne's goalscoring form with Sheffield United soon attracted the interest of Arsenal. In early 1932 they offered United £10,000 for Dunne but were turned down. However, in September 1933, after United hit financial trouble, they accepted a reduced fee of £8,250"

... on the other hand

Pissed myself at that, only at United ffs! Also reminded me not to get my hopes up for next year. Again.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Really what happened was that Argentina had just taken a free kick that was blocked by the Belguim wall and Maradona was the first to get to the rebound. The first photo is the one you are talking about. The next three photos are the build up to the main picture

Cheers. Don't know if I ever knew that, but I didn't remember the context. Hope you haven't got a photo of the Pace goal from a different angle which tells a totally different story...

 

[GrayBlade]

The Doc left before my time as a Lane regular, although I saw him on a few occasions with my Dad. As a kid I saw him as some sort of goal scoring god.

I suppose Harry Heap’s cartoons in the Green-Un were testament to how good a striker he was because he usually didn’t need to say Pace’s name, just ‘you know who scored again for United’. A privilege only Derek Dooley shared.

 

[cahill]

Ah yes, the kind of football supporting intelligentsia who are still around today who think that a 'proper' striker is one who runs around a lot ( e.g Matt Done) or jumps up and down a lot (e.g. James Hanson ) whereas players like the Noble Doctor, Jimmy Greaves, Alan Clark etc. we're just lazy twats who got lucky and managed to put the ball in the net a lot of times, but did fuck all else.

Saw Greaves early 1960s score at Elland rd.for Spurs, Scum won 3-1. Saw Clarke with three different clubs, Lestuh, Fulham, Leeds.

None compared to the silver winged feet of Matt Done and soaring eagle James Hanson

 

[super_pig]

He often got criticised by supporters as he did not add much to general play - but then he scored and again and again.........….

reminds me of someone else

 

[Benny and the Blades]

Got the Nick name Doc because he did his national service in the Medical core..

 

[Keen Blade]

The offside rule that was changed in 1925? Yes, a bit. A Blade (who is a steward at South Yorkshire football matches) is related to George Camsell who scored 59 league goals for Middlesborough in the 1926-27 season.

Can you tell us briefly what the change was ?

 

[Revolution]

Can you tell us briefly what the change was ?

There used to have to be 3 men between the attacking player and the goal when the ball was played for a player to be onside. They changed it to 2.

This resulted in a massive increase in goalscoring which continued for over a decade (the top scorers in division one in 1925 managed 76 goals. 11 clubs beat that the following season. Goals were up 35% across the 4 divisions). Many club records for team goals in a season, individual goals in a season individual goals in a career were set in this period. We are no exception. Our record goals in a season (102) was set in 1926, our record aggregate goalscorer (Harry Johnson) played his last 5 seasons for us in this era, and our record goalscorer in a season (Jimmy Dunne) had his 41 goal season in 1930-31.

 

[Revolution]

If we're only including his latest spell with the club, the great Billy Sharp has an impressive 64 in 124. As did Beattie in his 1st spell (34/62). They're the only 2 in my lifetime (that have played a meaningful number of games) as far as I know.

As for other football, Sergio Aguero has the best ever PL ratio of 107 goals in 154 games.

Also in the not too distant past, Keith Edwards: 261 League games, 143 league goals (or 144 if you want to give him the goal he claimed at Gillingham in 1984).

 

[Silent Blade]

Can you tell us briefly what the change was ?

 

[Blend-it-like-Harris]

Pete Swan hated him because he usually made him look foolish. He had the beating of him on the deck because he had two great feet and kept the ball close to him, could turn on a sixpence and had sharp acceleration. He won most free kicks by drawing Swanny into jumping for the ball as he stuck his arse into his thighs causing Swanny to forward roll over him. Some refs sussed that Doc was playing the old soldier routine - but not many. As for heading ability - only Mick Jones came close.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Pete Swan hated him because he usually made him look foolish. He had the beating of him on the deck because he had two great feet and kept the ball close to him, could turn on a sixpence and had sharp acceleration. He won most free kicks by drawing Swanny into jumping for the ball as he stuck his arse into his thighs causing Swanny to forward roll over him. Some refs sussed that Doc was playing the old soldier routine - but not many. As for heading ability - only Mick Jones came close.

Excellent analysis and the stand out example of what you describe has to be our 1962 win at the sty when Doc got both goals in a 2-1 win.

This was in front of over 50,000 , mainly grunters and according to them Swan was the best centre half the world had ever seen (naturally).

The noble doctor made him look a complete fool and the hilarity amongst Blades fans was up there with Bouncing Day.

 

[XM657]

First sightings of The Doc, 27 Nov '54 Blades 1 AV 3. During the week before the game AV had bought Jackie Sewell off a struggling Wensday so there was much interest in the game. Doc scored one and was mentioned by surrounding blades supporters (Terrace) "their centre forrods al' rite". Not a mention of Sewell an England international.End of that season Wensday were relegated. I had in my memory AV's scorers were Doc-2, Sewell-1 but alas checked a good AV archive site, Doc-1 and two others.

 

[Cyprus Blade]

Thanks for that. I have that photo in a scrapbook, and was going to try and post it. 6 defenders, but Pace has lost his marker. I was standing not far behind the photographer - it is moments like that that convince me that behind the goal is the place to be. Is there a reason someone standing on the terrace appears to be circled?

Only just seen your question. Yes there is a reason. The cutting was done by my late father and I found it amongst his effects after he had passed. I posted this some time ago. He circled him and me watching from the terraces.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

Thanks for sharing that. That is a goal I remember clearly - or is it the picture I remember? Football is a great shared experience - it must have been moving for you finding this picture with the 2 of you marked.

 

[Silent Blade]

The shop 'Summers and Pace' was (I think) where there is now a gentleman's barbers (used to be called Ciccarrellis). I remember the shop being a sports shop rather than a newsagent.

I think Hagan and Brook had a newsagents maybe somewhere in the Meersbrook area.

Their sports was on London Road, just below where Dan Bradbury used to be the motor bike dealers.
Remember being served by the great man when buying some Subbuteo kit which all the rage in the 50's.

UTB

 

[kevreedy]

Before I started to go to Bramall Lane.but my uncle told me Doc Pace was his hero.always scored against the pigs. great heading ability. could head a house brick into the net.very youth hated the pigs.

 

[FURPHY]

Here's one for ya to investigate.

My Dad was telling me about when he was a lad and his old man took him to the Lane. He was telling me about a striker at the time who was amazing. His name was Doc Pace...

I know you yound en's are good at scouring the net for info...so could ya please see what you can dig up on this Blades legend?

 

[kevreedy]

sorry bad spelling I meant still can,t bleeding spell it tuf.think you get the drift.