How good was Hagan?

[SK10Blade]

My Dad's favourite player. Sadly, my Dad died a couple of years ago but a few years earlier Mum and Dad got a cat which they called Hagan. Happy to say that Hagan lives on to this day.

 

[The Crab]

Before my time I'm afraid. But the things my Blades friends from the time have said, and the reverence in which he is held amongst Benfica fans tells me everything I need to know. A legend, I'm sorry I never saw him for myself.

 

[Woodwardfan]

My Dad's favourite player. Sadly, my Dad died a couple of years ago but a few years earlier Mum and Dad got a cat which they called Hagan. Happy to say that Hagan lives on to this day.

The respect and adulation in the naming of the cat so many years later. Epitomises what being Blades is all about.
Hagan last played for us in 1958 !!

 

[jockdodds]

Mick Jones played alongside Jimmy Hagan in Joe Shaw’s testimonial against an All-Star XI on 29th March 1965.

This is what Mick wrote about Jimmy in his autobiography;

“The All-Star XI that night had some wonderful players, including the great Sir Stanley Matthews. This showed the esteem Joe was held in. Playing for United was Jimmy Hagan, acknowledged as the greatest Sheffield United player ever. Jimmy was meant to be in the All-Star XI but agreed to play for us, which delighted everyone.

Before the game he asked me who I was. I said “Jones, Mr Hagan”. He said, “Listen, Jones, when you get out on that pitch, I don’t want the ball five yards left, five yards right or five yards in front of me, I want it to the feet. Do you understand?” I said “Right Mr Hagan”.

It was a full house and I was determined to impress. I passed the ball five yards in front of Jimmy... he gave me a glare and wagged a finger at me to come over to him. He was not impressed!

It was a wonderful occasion even though we lost 6-5 after leading 5-1. Jimmy Greaves scored a hat-trick for the All-Stars. I was satisfied though because both Jimmy Hagan and myself scored.

Jimmy may have retired but he could still play a bit. Afterwards he asked me who I was again, so I told him. He said “Now look Jones, you may have a bit of a chance in this game if you keep at it”. Coming from the great man meant a lot to me".

 

[GRUMPY BLADE]

Mick Jones played alongside Jimmy Hagan in Joe Shaw’s testimonial against an All-Star XI on 29th March 1965.

This is what Mick wrote about Jimmy in his autobiography;

“The All-Star XI that night had some wonderful players, including the great Sir Stanley Matthews. This showed the esteem Joe was held in. Playing for United was Jimmy Hagan, acknowledged as the greatest Sheffield United player ever. Jimmy was meant to be in the All-Star XI but agreed to play for us, which delighted everyone.

Before the game he asked me who I was. I said “Jones, Mr Hagan”. He said, “Listen, Jones, when you get out on that pitch, I don’t want the ball five yards left, five yards right or five yards in front of me, I want it to the feet. Do you understand?” I said “Right Mr Hagan”.

It was a full house and I was determined to impress. I passed the ball five yards in front of Jimmy... he gave me a glare and wagged a finger at me to come over to him. He was not impressed!

It was a wonderful occasion even though we lost 6-5 after leading 5-1. Jimmy Greaves scored a hat-trick for the All-Stars. I was satisfied though because both Jimmy Hagan and myself scored.

Jimmy may have retired but he could still play a bit. Afterwards he asked me who I was again, so I told him. He said “Now look Jones, you may have a bit of a chance in this game if you keep at it”. Coming from the great man meant a lot to me".

That you mick?

 

[jockdodds]

That you mick?

No, I'm not Mick Jones!

 

[Tynemouth Blade]

According to my Dad, who as a young player, had the pleasure of training with him, he was "something else", "very skillful" and "a true gentleman".

 

[Guesty]

There's no direct comparison in my family, sadly. I think my Dad, who never saw Hagan, rates Currie as the best player he saw (though Geoff Salmans is his favourite player from that side). His Dad, who never saw Currie, thought that Hagan was the best player he ever saw, or so I'm told.

 

[broomhillblade]

A bit of footage of him here (#10) turning out for England slipping and sliding in the ice. Look out for #11 Peter Kippax with a couple of "Brooksies".



Edit:
Also a brief glimpse here of him preparing his non-league Peterborough for a cup-tie with some shower from South Barnsley

Many thanks for these film clips. I'd never seen them before.

 

[broomhillblade]

Ok break from the well deserved europhia.

Got a genuine question here from a man far to young to know the answer.

How good was Jimmy Hagan? Do we have any members on here of a certain vintage who actually saw him play?

Reason I ask is today I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with a former Pro one just shy of 90 years old when I said I supported the Blades he proceeded to tell me about the genius of Jimmy Hagan, said all game he was doing dummies and movements he had never seen before he just couldn’t cope with him.. he also put him in the same bracket at Tom Finney, Stanley Matthews and even Di Stefano and Puskás.

Of course I know he’s a big deal amongst blades maybe not as much as he should be but that’s purely down to us having our own generational heroes.

Just intreasgued to know if anyone has any info on a man who to-date I actually know very little about.

Found a good article too if anyone is interested.

http://inbedwithmaradona.com/journal/2013/1/26/from-sheffield-to-lisbon-the-legend-of-the-lone-wolf

I saw him play - but he was already aged 30 by then. He continued playing until he was 40.

Everything you have heard about Hagan is true. A football genius and very single-minded. Whilst you can't compare the game in the 1940s and 50s to today (it tends to be faster now), I have never seen anyone quite like Hagan.

You can read all about him in The Jimmy Hagan Story. Copies available on eBay.

 

[Gimli]

It's upsetting to think i never got to see legends like Hagan, Shaw, Woodward, Currie, Hockey playing in a Blades shirt - even worse to think I have seen Hammond.

 

[Fred Furniss's Flatulence]

Who kept him out of the England team? Was he a victim of playing for an unfashionable side , although in his era not probably as much of an issue? It doesn't add up really if he was 'that good' and that's not meant to show any disrespect notwithstanding how people view him and his record for the club.

 

[3-GBlade]

Wilf Mannion, Len Shackleton and Raich Carter are three reasons why he never got more caps - England were not short of good inside forwards in the late 40s! though he did get 16 "wartime caps".

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Well done young man ( with acknowledgements to Geoffrey Boycott )

It's upsetting to think i never got to see legends like Hagan, Shaw, Woodward, Currie, Hockey playing in a Blades shirt - even worse to think I have seen Hammond.

That's a good point. Our recent times in the depths of despair have not only been about the lack of great players but also the abundance of truly awful ones we have had to endure, thanks to a series of managers who were so easily conned by the likes of Hammond, McEvely etc. etc. (Feel free to add your own most hated)

In all my years watching the Blades (which are too numerous to mention), I can't remember a period as bad as the one we have just gone through for the absence of players who were worth turning out to see, or even fit to pull on the shirt of this great club.

Thanks to Mr. Wilder all that has changed and I have every confidence that, whilst ever he is in charge (which I hope and believe will be a very long time), that awful scenario will never be repeated.

 

[Sirius]

Ok break from the well deserved europhia.

Got a genuine question here from a man far to young to know the answer.

How good was Jimmy Hagan? Do we have any members on here of a certain vintage who actually saw him play?

Reason I ask is today I had the pleasure of meeting and talking with a former Pro one just shy of 90 years old when I said I supported the Blades he proceeded to tell me about the genius of Jimmy Hagan, said all game he was doing dummies and movements he had never seen before he just couldn’t cope with him.. he also put him in the same bracket at Tom Finney, Stanley Matthews and even Di Stefano and Puskás.

Of course I know he’s a big deal amongst blades maybe not as much as he should be but that’s purely down to us having our own generational heroes.

Just intreasgued to know if anyone has any info on a man who to-date I actually know very little about.

Found a good article too if anyone is interested.

http://inbedwithmaradona.com/journal/2013/1/26/from-sheffield-to-lisbon-the-legend-of-the-lone-wolf

 

[Sirius]

Sorry about the sort of double post

Jimmy Hagan. Tina Turner had it spot on

He was simply the best

 

[Sirius]

It seems pretty unanimous that those who saw both, including my father, rate Hagan as better than Currie. Would their grandfather's rate him better than Needham, Gillespie or Dunne for example?

I can only speak for my own Granddad who was a nipper when the Blades were formed
Yes he went on about Dunne and Tunstall but he and my father and me agreed that Jimmy Hagan was the best

I have not seen anyone since who comes close. After Jimmy I would have Woody and then T C

 

[Sirius]

Who kept him out of the England team? Was he a victim of playing for an unfashionable side , although in his era not probably as much of an issue? It doesn't add up really if he was 'that good' and that's not meant to show any disrespect notwithstanding how people view him and his record for the club.

His face didn’t fit. Mr Hagan spoke his mind