First United Games.

[PandaCola]

A county cup match at Millmoor against Rotherham. It was one of Tony Currie's last games in a Blades shirt. He wandered around looking like he'd rather be anywhere else than playing for United and it left me with negative image of him that has stayed with me.

 

[secretchief]

Secretchief of this parish: 0-1 vs Fulham April 1985

I don't think I saw us win until either the sixth or seventh game I attended, the 1-0 vs Porstmouth (1986?) when Paul Mariner scored an own goal. They only had about 8 or 9 men and still looked dangerous every time they went forward.

Before the first victory I remember Peter Withe scoring two perfect headers against us for Birmingham when I believe he was on loan from us, and of course the famous collapse against Reading when we blew a 3-0 lead and they came back to draw. Thought I would never see us win.

I have a hazy memory though, as I was young. I'm sure people will flesh out the details.

 

[Revolution]

I don't think I saw us win until either the sixth or seventh game I attended, the 1-0 vs Porstmouth (1986?) when Paul Mariner scored an own goal. They only had about 8 or 9 men and still looked dangerous every time they went forward.

That's right. A bizarre game. 8 against 10 in the 2nd half.

Before the first victory I remember Peter Withe scoring two perfect headers against us for Birmingham when I believe he was on loan from us, and of course the famous collapse against Reading when we blew a 3-0 lead and they came back to draw. Thought I would never see us win.

The Withe game was in the season after the Pompey game, but the Reading game was a few weeks before it. 5 minutes of hell. I also thought you would never see us win...

 

[Darren]

I don't think I saw us win until either the sixth or seventh game I attended, the 1-0 vs Porstmouth (1986?) when Paul Mariner scored an own goal. They only had about 8 or 9 men and still looked dangerous every time they went forward.

Before the first victory I remember Peter Withe scoring two perfect headers against us for Birmingham when I believe he was on loan from us, and of course the famous collapse against Reading when we blew a 3-0 lead and they came back to draw. Thought I would never see us win.

I have a hazy memory though, as I was young. I'm sure people will flesh out the details.

Your memory is a bit wonky on the Portsmouth game.

As Rev says 4 players were sent off in the 1st half - 3 Portsmouth and Beagrie for United. It was 0-0 at half time and Portsmouth obviously decided in the 2nd half they would settle for the point and stuck all 8 players behind the ball. It was literally attack v defence with Portsmouth not even bothering to go forward.

United were utterly ineffective as the attack until a hit and hope shot from Wigley hit Mariner's stuck out foot and looped over the goalie and in. That was about 15 mins from the end. Portmsouth then let Vince Hilaire go forward, but he was as ineffective as United had been and we never looked likely to lose the lead.

 

[Revolution]

United were utterly ineffective as the attack until a hit and hope shot from Wigley hit Mariner's stuck out foot and looped over the goalie and in. That was about 15 mins from the end. Portmsouth then let Vince Hilaire go forward, but he was as ineffective as United had been and we never looked likely to lose the lead.

That's a bit harsh on Vince Hilaire and Secretchief: My recollection is that Hilaire managed to hit the post and had another near miss.

 

[Darren]

United were utterly ineffective as the attack until a hit and hope shot from Wigley hit Mariner's stuck out foot and looped over the goalie and in. That was about 15 mins from the end. Portmsouth then let Vince Hilaire go forward, but he was as ineffective as United had been and we never looked likely to lose the lead.

That's a bit harsh on Vince Hilaire and Secretchief: My recollection is that Hilaire managed to hit the post and had another near miss.

Not mine. I remember him continually running towards the corner flag accompanied by three defenders and don't remember ever being concerned he might score (and in those days I used to panic when anyone got within 30 yards of our goal).

Unless one of us can be arsed to go down the central library and look up the Star report, we will never know thorugh the mists of 26 years who is right

 

[Oreyt]

I guess if your parents aren't Blades then they don't reinforce the mythology that goes with the first game....

I wouldn't go that far. My dad wasn't that bothered about football, only cricket (he captained a decent Sunday league side in the 70's and 80's). My Grandad was OBSESSED with Utd though, and it was him that took me. Apparently him and his mates ran from the church after his wedding ceremony to see the second half of a game; that, amongst many other Saturday dissapearances led my Gran to hate Utd - always said they'd robbed her of her marriage

If he was still around he'd be able to tell me which match I went to.

 

[DeepcarBlade]

Sheffield United 3 Man City 3 Feb12 1972

it's on youtube perchance



look at the state of the pitch!.. now that was some f**king team i can tell you
how cool is woody with the pen

edit:1072!! just after the battle of hastings then

And how useless was John Hope? He makes Steve Simonsen look like Gordon Banks!

 

[Darren]

And how useless was John Hope? He makes Steve Simonsen look like Gordon Banks!

By all accounts Hope was a decent keeper ( he only let in 8 in the 17 games he played in the 70-71 promoition season) , until he let in 5 at home to Arsenal in the game previous to this one, which apparently shot his confidence to pieces.

 

[judge]

That Rotherham game must have been on 21/4/84 when Bob Atkins got the last minute winner from about 25 yards.

As for the Cardiff game, the only times we played at Cardiff where Conroy was in goal was the 0-4 defeat on 21/4/79 and the 0-2 defeat on 25/9/82. We did draw 0-0 there on 11/2/89, but that was long after Conroy had left.

You're right it was bob hatton but I could have sworn conroy was in goal v Cardiff he came in for Keith Waugh who was the regular goalie at the time must have been someone else then

 

[Darren]

You're right it was bob hatton but I could have sworn conroy was in goal v Cardiff he came in for Keith Waugh who was the regular goalie at the time must have been someone else then

Atkins!!!

Conroy did replace Waugh in goal for that game on 25/9/82 (Waugh had broken his arm in a pre-season game and did not return until December), but we lost 2-0.

 

[Silent Blade]

Blades v QPR - February 1970 - 2- 0 to the Red & White Wizards, I think Gil Reece and Eddie Colquhoun scored.

As he was a wednesdayite, my dad had taken me to the sty for my first ever game earlier in the season.

I didnt talk to him for three months after that!

Both goals were headers from Woody corners. It was a floodlit games, I didnt know any of the QPR players but a lot of them had tanned skins. Barry Bridges, Terry Venables, Mick Leach and Dave Clements would have played

 

[Silent Blade]

Your memory is a bit wonky on the Portsmouth game.

As Rev says 4 players were sent off in the 1st half - 3 Portsmouth and Beagrie for United. It was 0-0 at half time and Portsmouth obviously decided in the 2nd half they would settle for the point and stuck all 8 players behind the ball. It was literally attack v defence with Portsmouth not even bothering to go forward.

United were utterly ineffective as the attack until a hit and hope shot from Wigley hit Mariner's stuck out foot and looped over the goalie and in. That was about 15 mins from the end. Portmsouth then let Vince Hilaire go forward, but he was as ineffective as United had been and we never looked likely to lose the lead.

The 3 Pompey players that were sent off by Jim Parker were Billy Gilbert, Mick Tait and Kevin Dillon

 

[DeepcarBlade]

By all accounts Hope was a decent keeper ( he only let in 8 in the 17 games he played in the 70-71 promoition season) , until he let in 5 at home to Arsenal in the game previous to this one, which apparently shot his confidence to pieces.

That's very true. He had a habit of diving over the ball, but not quite to the levels of Hans Segers!

 

[Peezablade]

Boxing Day 1972. Stood on the Bramall Lane terrace to watch us lose 3-0 v Liverpool.

First away game was v Birmingham in April 1975 to qualify for europe (or not). 0-0

First away game without father was York City in October 1981. Won 4-3. Transport used was the Football Special. (Darren, we (Ecclesfield school) played football v High Storrs that morning before being dropped off in town. Can you remember the score? .

 

[Peezablade]

That's very true. He had a habit of diving over the ball, but not quite to the levels of Hans Segers!

What do you prefer, the Railway Tavern, The Horseshoe, The Cottage or the White Swan? The Wold Gold in The Cottage is (was) excellent recently.

 

[UnitedBlade]

6 March 1963, Sheffield United 3–1 Bolton Wanderers

I looked this up recently and was staggered to learn this was a 3rd round FA Cup game.

And then I remembered the "Big Freeze" of 1963. I think the snow went up to my chin that winter.

I went on the Bramall Lane end and thus started a 50 year love affair with SUFC.

As Frank Skinner has said "if a woman had treated me the way this football club has treated me, there is no way we would still be together"

However, that's unfair I witnessed the golden sides of the 60s and 70s, it's just the last 35 years that have been crap.

And yet, I'm still going to be excited when I get in the car on Saturday to go to Scunthorpe even though I know what's coming

UTB

 

[DeepcarBlade]

What do you prefer, the Railway Tavern, The Horseshoe, The Cottage or the White Swan? The Wold Gold in The Cottage is (was) excellent recently.

It's The Cottage if we stay local, otherwise Bonhomme in Filey.

 

[judge]

Atkins!!!

Conroy did replace Waugh in goal for that game on 25/9/82 (Waugh had broken his arm in a pre-season game and did not return until December), but we lost 2-0.

Oops sorry Atkins , if you say we lost the game 2-0 then we must have and I'm pretty sure it was 82 but I can't remember either team having a worthwhile attempt in goal never mind them scoring 2 , I remember it being the most boring game ever and then having to drink coffee with no sugar from a flask on the way back wuuurggh

 

[LardSardine]

1. 31/10/70 scorers: Dearden, Tudor
2. Start of 98-99, but I can't tell you more as I don't do friendlies.
3. 7/4/01 Asaba for us and Shipperley did score for them.
4. 7/4/07 Nade for us
5. 7/10/92 Whitehouse, Bradshaw, Deane 2 for us and (I think) Andy Cole for them.

It was indeed Andy Cole, I have a scrap book in the loft where me and my mate from school drew (yes DREW!) every goal at Bramall Lane that season and I remember that game well!

 

[Revolution]

It was indeed Andy Cole, I have a scrap book in the loft where me and my mate from school drew (yes DREW!) every goal at Bramall Lane that season and I remember that game well!

That's the game when Whitehouse broke his leg, I think.

 

[LardSardine]

That's the game when Whitehouse broke his leg, I think.

Perhaps, I didn't draw that...

 

[Darren]

That's the game when Whitehouse broke his leg, I think.

It was indeed.

 

[norfolkblade]

About 2001 I think, away at Norwich. Think we lost 4-2 after being 2-0 up but can't remember the score exactly. I've never seen us win at Carrow Road, which is a slight annoyance given where I live

 

[GAZBLADE]

About 2001 I think, away at Norwich. Think we lost 4-2 after being 2-0 up but can't remember the score exactly. I've never seen us win at Carrow Road, which is a slight annoyance given where I live

Yeh mate, i remember it clearly too.
Michael Brown and David Kelly put us 2 up, before Phil Mulryne and Iwan Roberts put the budgies level before half time. Tony Cottee and Chris Llewellyn sealed the points late in the second half.!!

 

[UnitedBlade]

It was indeed Andy Cole, I have a scrap book in the loft where me and my mate from school drew (yes DREW!) every goal at Bramall Lane that season and I remember that game well!

Ha ha that's class ! Do you think you could scan some of your drawings and put them up, I'd love to see some of United's goals from the past

 

[Revolution]

About 2001 I think, away at Norwich. Think we lost 4-2 after being 2-0 up but can't remember the score exactly. I've never seen us win at Carrow Road, which is a slight annoyance given where I live

Monty's debut that day, wasn't it?

 

[raul]

No, we would have won 2-0 if it was.

 

[Darren]

Monty's debut that day, wasn't it?

My son's first ever game. Monty came on when we were 4-2 down and almost got us a draw; he hit the bar from way out on the right wing, then won a free kick that hit the post.

The game was also enlivened by Bent getting sent off for swearing at the linesman (and thus putting himself out of the forthcoming League Cup derby with Wednesday) and that set off a fight between two United fans in the row in front of me, which spilled over onto me and my then five year old son and which saw him lifted to safety by people behind me before the police waded in and threw the two guys out.

No wonder now (aged 17), he is not interested!

 

[Revolution]

Darren - Bent played in the league cup game. He missed a hatful of easy chances....