Happy 80th birthday Dave Bassett

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Yeah Happy Birthday Harry….i remember him taking over from Billy McEwan not long after a 5-0 home defeat to Oldham - and even he could not keep us up that season. But I went Reading away first game the season after and saw a gangly Brian Deane, Ian Bryson - 3-1 win and thought….this is going to be a much better season. The next 4 - 5 years were fantastic - all done with next to no money (as he had done at Wimbledon). He’s a legend both here & there - a really good bloke too.
 
Happy birthday Harry.
Gave us our pride back.There was a period during his era, when nobody even the big boys enjoyed playing against us, and many were scared to play us.
We had some amazing days too, `Leicester away, Blackburn in the Cup,Tottenham at home, 6-0,Forest at home, when we got our first win in the Prem, double hat-trick for Deane and Agana v Chester, which sent us on the journey.And many many more.
Sadly `I was at Stamford Bridge that day we were relegated, which knocked the stuffing out of all of us, including Harry, I think, and we were never quite the same, under him.
A true legend of the club.
 
For anyone who is too young to remember Bassett.

During the 1980's it was the worse spell in our entire history....the club was at rock bottom really.
We'd had a string of serious/ boring/ monotone managers....that was the norm.
Then this Southerner with Wimbledon roots and a strong London accent joins us.....we were initially suspicious

but there was no need. He joined us as a confident, very enthusiastic, chirpy young-ish manager.
His pre and post match interviews were so entertaining because he was so honest and open, we just wasn't use to manager talking like this.
Even when we were poor.....he didn't hide and he'd say in the interview that he thought we were really poor and he'd criticise players or even criticise himself and apologise for using poor tactics. His management style was like he was "one of the lads" but he had this aura of authority about him too.

He demanded 100% effort, this was non negotiable. It didn't matter how good you were, if you didn't fight for the team then you were dropped.
The fans loved him. He had Wilder like qualities how he was able to galvanise the fanbase and you sensed something special was happening.

It didn't take long for Bassett to be accepted as a honorary Blade because he was one of us, he seemed to genuinely care about the club and the fans.
His principles and personality was very northern too, he called a spade a spade, typical Sheffielder.....so he became a honorary northerner too.

Happy birthday Harry and thank you.....he'll always be remembered for dragging the club up into the top flight...when it was on its knees in league 1.
 
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Forgot who we were playing at home, think the old kop roof had been taken off.
Utd were defending when the ball broke to deano.
Suddenly a well endowed very good looking young lady escaped from the kop topless.
She ran down the touchline as deano broke away with the ball.
Deano had his eyes on her as he dribbled down the line. The young lady in question jumped on Sir Harry's lap and stuffed his head into two I shall say large melons.....

Happy birthday Sir Harry.
Always a blade in our hearts.
 
I’m 41 and he’s the main memory of mine growing up - the 5-2 at forest was my first away game - Roy Keane taking a corner in front of me on the season review video that year at the city ground is my only claim to fame
 
Echo all the previous,brilliant character and man(ager). Happy Birthday Harry
 
Top bloke. Leicester away, last game of the season. 5-2 victory. Promotion assured. Thousands of blades, all over Filbert St.
Foot note.
Didn't Wednesday get relegated on the same day
 
Blades1971 said:
Top bloke. Leicester away, last game of the season. 5-2 victory. Promotion assured. Thousands of blades, all over Filbert St.
Foot note.
Didn't Wednesday get relegated on the same day
Click to expand...
Yes they did lol. The star said something like Blades glory - Owls down! lol
 

I will always remember being at Leicester that day ....very difficult to explain to the younger generation (particularity my son and grandson..)
What I do know is that we had a promotion party planned at home that evening (should we win) and I came home with 'promotion fatigue'...totally exhausted from the days celebrations that I had one pint and collapsed into bed apparently...!
Fabulous memory that will go with me to the grave.
 
Happy Birthday Harry .. had some great times watching Utd during this period .. cracking manager & a good bloke .. always had time to chat to fans ⚔️⚔️⚔️
 
Tarkus said:
I will always remember being at Leicester that day ....very difficult to explain to the younger generation (particularity my son and grandson..)
What I do know is that we had a promotion party planned at home that evening (should we win) and I came home with 'promotion fatigue'...totally exhausted from the days celebrations that I had one pint and collapsed into bed apparently...!
Fabulous memory that will go with me to the grave.
Click to expand...
Likewise. I was 18 and went on the train, got back to Sheffield bought a green un and went home, mentally drained
 
Managing United is clearly a stressful job, he is only our fourth manager to make it to 80 (the others being Teddy Davison, Ken Furphy and Jimmy Sirrel
 
diode_blade said:
Forgot who we were playing at home, think the old kop roof had been taken off.
Utd were defending when the ball broke to deano.
Suddenly a well endowed very good looking young lady escaped from the kop topless.
She ran down the touchline as deano broke away with the ball.
Deano had his eyes on her as he dribbled down the line. The young lady in question jumped on Sir Harry's lap and stuffed his head into two I shall say large melons.....

Happy birthday Sir Harry.
Always a blade in our hearts.
Click to expand...
Was it Norwich? whatever, it should have been Oldham
 
Happy Birthday Sir David Bassett! My favourite ever manager. We have had some of the most memorable times under Harry. ( Leicester, derby double, Blackburn, Forest to name but a few) a man that was way ahead of his time with idea, he was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, personable with a witty no nonsense. attitude. They don't make them like this anymore! Enjoy your day DB & thanks. ⚔️❤️
 
Happy Birthday to a great guy. Amongst the many memories was turning up at Maine Road and standing outside the main stand with my first missus, son and a couple of friends hoping to see the team arrive. In those days it was pay on the gate. Suddenly Mick Rooker came out of the players entrance with a fist full of tickets. "Here you are guys Bassett has sent these complementaries down so share them out". There was enough for us five and I gave the others to some Blades we recognised from other away days. Shows what a great guy, manager and Blade he was. Went on to see Vinny Jones get what must still be the fastest red card ever when he clattered Peter Reid straight from the kick off yo ho we lost of course.
 
IOWBladesman said:
Happy Birthday to a great guy. Amongst the many memories was turning up at Maine Road and standing outside the main stand with my first missus, son and a couple of friends hoping to see the team arrive. In those days it was pay on the gate. Suddenly Mick Rooker came out of the players entrance with a fist full of tickets. "Here you are guys Bassett has sent these complementaries down so share them out". There was enough for us five and I gave the others to some Blades we recognised from other away days. Shows what a great guy, manager and Blade he was. Went on to see Vinny Jones get what must still be the fastest red card ever when he clattered Peter Reid straight from the kick off yo ho we lost of course.
Click to expand...
Jones was booked after a few seconds. He got a second yellow in the 2nd half.
 

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