Frustrated 19th Century Blades Fans

[William Henry Foulkes]

Reading through Nick Udall's book of our 1897-8 League win and this made me smile:

"United had now not won since their great victory at Everton, and, although two of the three games had been away and the team had played well, a hint of frustration was beginning to emerge among some sections of supporters."

We were top of Division 1, unbeaten after 14 games, and two points clear with a game in hand - and some fans were apparently still not happy.



UTMB

 

[JJ Sefton]

Reading through Nick Udall's book of our 1897-8 League win and this made me smile:

"United had now not won since their great victory at Everton, and, although two of the three games had been away and the team had played well, a hint of frustration was beginning to emerge among some sections of supporters."

We were top of Division 1, unbeaten after 14 games, and two points clear with a game in hand - and some fans were apparently still not happy.



UTMB

Wostinholm out!

 

[HighfieldBlade]

Reading through Nick Udall's book of our 1897-8 League win and this made me smile:

"United had now not won since their great victory at Everton, and, although two of the three games had been away and the team had played well, a hint of frustration was beginning to emerge among some sections of supporters."

We were top of Division 1, unbeaten after 14 games, and two points clear with a game in hand - and some fans were apparently still not happy.



UTMB

Compelling evidence, if ever it were needed, that us Blades are never happy!

I wonder how many fans went to away games in the 1890s?!
UTB

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Wostinholm out!

Not sure on Wikipedia's sources for this, but found this interesting re: the era of Wostinholm and his successor through to 1932:

"the side was coached by a trainer and a football committee selected the team and decided upon tactics", whereas Wostinholm as club secretary "was responsible for the day-to-day running of the club, matchday organisation and dealing with players and contracts."

If that's right, is Ian Porterfield the only actual manager to ever win anything for the club? Maybe that's where we've been going wrong - bring back the football committee!

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Reading through Nick Udall's book of our 1897-8 League win and this made me smile:

"United had now not won since their great victory at Everton, and, although two of the three games had been away and the team had played well, a hint of frustration was beginning to emerge among some sections of supporters."

We were top of Division 1, unbeaten after 14 games, and two points clear with a game in hand - and some fans were apparently still not happy.



UTMB

Too fucking right

 

[Silent Blade]

If that's right, is Ian Porterfield the only actual manager to ever win anything for the club? Maybe that's where we've been going wrong - bring back the football committee!

Reg Freeman won the 2nd division in 1953

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Reg Freeman won the 2nd division in 1953

I'd completely forgotten about that in the Blades honours list. But basically all of our big honours happened under the committee, is that right? Do you happen to know if that was just the norm for that era?

 

[pommpey]

Fucking non-Blade wankers

pommpey

 

[Silent Blade]

I'd completely forgotten about that in the Blades honours list. But basically all of our big honours happened under the committee, is that right? Do you happen to know if that was just the norm for that era?

Yes, the football committee decides on the line-ups. The captain and one or two of trainers usually decide on the tactics

 

[2ndtenorblade]

But did they fall out with the happy clappers?

 

[Lord Bos of Eckington.]

Reading through Nick Udall's book of our 1897-8 League win and this made me smile:

"United had now not won since their great victory at Everton, and, although two of the three games had been away and the team had played well, a hint of frustration was beginning to emerge among some sections of supporters."

We were top of Division 1, unbeaten after 14 games, and two points clear with a game in hand - and some fans were apparently still not happy.



UTMB

Don't think you would be happy , after grafting all week at work , paying to watch the football , and having to watch overpaid players , on twice as much , as the working man , not winning . We may be top of the league , but thats no excuse . . As you say , things never really change do they.

UTB

 

[Revolution]

Yes, the football committee decides on the line-ups. The captain and one or two of trainers usually decide on the tactics

If "The Evergreen in Red and White" has any basis in fact, Ernest Needham was effectively running the team on match day, which makes some sort of sense as he was (a) our best player and (b) pretty smart by all accounts.

 

[Sirius]

Loaned me a season ticket for the. lane.nes were boarded with locals of Eckington., post: 782182, member: 15219"]Don't think you would be happy , after grafting all week at work , paying to watch the football , and having to watch overpaid players , on twice as much , as the working man , not winning . We may be top of the league , but thats no excuse . . As you say , things never really change do they.

UTB[/QUOTE]

Paid very little, on low wages generally but lived in the local area of the club and mixed with their mates, the supporters. Out of interest, when I was a Sprog , footballers lived amongst the community and newcomers boarded with families.
I had but one fault with my favourite Uncle. He accepted two pigs to lodge with them. One played in the 7 - 3 thrashing we gave them. I couldn't wait to go round. That evening but he had made himself scarce. Not really a bad bloke as he sometimes Lent me a season ticket to see the Blades.

 

[Sirius]

Yes, the football committee decides on the line-ups. The captain and one or two of trainers usually decide on the tactics

In the dug out in those days on a freezing Saturday afternoon, sat Ernest Jackson, sponge, and a bucket off icy water ready for the first wimp to require assistance from the side lines. The first place for the water was down the shorts. Not for nothing was it known as the magic sponge. On sight of Ernest waddling towards them, most players quickly recovered and were able to run from the trainer having made remarkable recovery

 

[Silent Blade]

If "The Evergreen in Red and White" has any basis in fact, Ernest Needham was effectively running the team on match day, which makes some sort of sense as he was (a) our best player and (b) pretty smart by all accounts.

Revolution , do you know who was the first in the Football League to be given the title "manager"? I had always thought Herbert Chapman would be one of the first if not the very first but looking at the names below the Leeds City and Huddersfield Town squad photos when he was there it was "Herbert Chapman (secretary)" rather than "Herbert Chapman (manager)". Teddy Davison was our first manager but the title of his job was "secretary-manager"

 

[Revolution]

Revolution , do you know who was the first in the Football League to be given the title "manager"? I had always thought Herbert Chapman would be one of the first if not the very first but looking at the names below the Leeds City and Huddersfield Town squad photos when he was there it was "Herbert Chapman (secretary)" rather than "Herbert Chapman (manager)". Teddy Davison was our first manager but the title of his job was "secretary-manager"

Chapman was called "team manager" when he arrived at Arsenal in 1925. He was a player manager at Northampton in the 1900s, though I don't know what they called him. I don't know whether anyone else had the title before him. (incidentally, I understand that Spanish managers are sometimes referred to as "Mister" which is a hangover from the early days when most managers were Englishmen).

He did have some adminstrative responsibilities that would have made the Secretary-Manager designation appropriate at Leeds City and Huddersfield - he was banned for life (though he got the ban rescinded) as a result of the Leeds City scandal because of his admin role, and I read somewhere he arranged for the account books to be burnt.

Chapman deserves a really good biography. From what I've heard, the book that Patrick Barclay wrote about him last year falls short of that.

 

[coaxingstar71]

Reading through Nick Udall's book of our 1897-8 League win and this made me smile:

"United had now not won since their great victory at Everton, and, although two of the three games had been away and the team had played well, a hint of frustration was beginning to emerge among some sections of supporters."

We were top of Division 1, unbeaten after 14 games, and two points clear with a game in hand - and some fans were apparently still not happy.



UTMB

Some things never change do they? I wonder who the fans scapegoat was then?

 

[Silent Blade]

Some things never change do they? I wonder who the fans scapegoat was then?

Rab Howell for gifting two goals against Sunderland (who were our rivals for the title) and soon after the club sold him to Liverpool

 

[Eskimo]

I read Nick Udall's book of our 1897-8 League campaign last week and the Rab Howell book recently too. I was suprised how the attendances fluctuiated so much due to the weather. From memory only 3,000 for the home game after we'd beaten Wednesday.

 

[bladesadviser]

I read Nick Udall's book of our 1897-8 League campaign last week and the Rab Howell book recently too. I was suprised how the attendances fluctuiated so much due to the weather. From memory only 3,000 for the home game after we'd beaten Wednesday.

Just ordered this book on Amazon, didn't know it existed until I read this thread so thanks all

 

[I should coco]

BTW Chapman was a Blade.

He was born in Kiveton Park and I used to know his nephew, (Phil Blade) who was proud to inform me his uncle was a Unitedite.

Coming soon, tenuous links to show the Pope, the Queen, Madonna and Sponge bob squarepants all turn out to be lifelong Bladey Blades.