Jimmy Hagan

[BlairBlade]

The FA selectors picked the squad/teams. Winterbottom was just the coach. The first England manager to pick the players he wanted was Alf Ramsey.

Maybe he fell out with the selectors who told the players how the opponents would play so the England team had a clear plan they had to adhere to and Hagan asked what happens if the opposition decided to play a different game.

 

[BlairBlade]

The FA selectors picked the squad/teams. Winterbottom was just the coach. The first England manager to pick the players he wanted was Alf Ramsey.

Not sure that negates what I said.

 

[Deeping Blade]

Also in my 70's, TC the best player I've seen in a Blades shirt, but similarly my Dad said Jimmy Hagan was even better. I briefly saw him play for an all-stars game, before the main action in Joe Shaw's testimonial, when despite his years, remember one bit of sublime skill on the touchline that was reminiscent of Johan Cruyff, it was that good. I thought at the time he must have been one hell of a player in his prime.

I was at the Joe Shaw testimonial and saw a cameo performance from Jimmy Hagen. My Dad said he was the best he’d seen but Tony Currie came close.

 

[john Mathison]

My late father, big owls fan, incidentally, saw JH and TC. He rated both very highly, remember once saying, just imagine if they had played in the same team.

 

[CrookesBlade]

Sure Hagan was great but he was no Vini “Comfort” Souza.

 

[Wilderat Heart]

I did like him as he was honest and hardworking but I always cringe when a few say that Booker should have a place in Blades best ever X1.

Please find me a quote saying that I hated the Bassett team. I started becoming a Lane regular again when Bassett was our manager

My apologies Silent for that comment about the Bassett side. I assumed quite wrongly you dismissed Booker because he was one of his players. Some of my favourite players ever played in that team. Deane and Agana go without saying but Bryson, Hodges and Dane all had more talent than they were given credit for. My problem with your initial comment was that people who don't know any better would lump him in with some of our current team.

 

[Silent Blade]

My apologies Silent for that comment about the Bassett side. I assumed quite wrongly you dismissed Booker because he was one of his players. Some of my favourite players ever played in that team. Deane and Agana go without saying but Bryson, Hodges and Dane all had more talent than they were given credit for. My problem with your initial comment was that people who don't know any better would lump him in with some of our current team.

On the day Bassett left us, I decided to have a look at the Cherry Street car park on the way to a chess match at Doncaster. Bassett was still at the ground talking to Brian Eastick and then he walked towards his car, I came to him, thanked him for the 8 years at the club and I wished him the best. He shook my hand and thanked me.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

My late father, big owls fan, incidentally, saw JH and TC. He rated both very highly, remember once saying, just imagine if they had played in the same team.

Your late Owls fan father was clearly a knowledgeable man .

Hagan and Currie were both wonderful footballers and there is absolutely no need in my view to even try to compare one with the other .

Both were blessed with outstanding but somewhat different abilities which set them apart from their contemporaries and I still feel greatly privileged to have watched both of them without feeling the need to decide who was the better.

Their nearest equivalents in relatively modern times would be Dennis Bergkamp and Paul Gascoigne and again , I would find the need to compare one with the other both unnecessary and irrelevant .

Rather , I just like to admire both for their outstanding ability and creativity in playing the game of football but in their own different ways .

 

[Champagneblade]

On the day Bassett left us, I decided to have a look at the Cherry Street car park on the way to a chess match at Doncaster. Bassett was still at the ground talking to Brian Eastick and then he walked towards his car, I came to him, thanked him for the 8 years at the club and I wished him the best. He shook my hand and thanked me.

You could have been Bassett’s last interaction as Blades manager then!

 

[Bayingblade]

View attachment 185616

I never knew that Charlie Chaplin (second row far left), was a Blade

 

[Goldiegirl]

Yes I think Hagan takes the title of our best player closely followed by T C . I heard he could be a stroppy mainly because he demanded perfection from all around him .

Very true... a perfectionist in both his football life and his home life!

The FA selectors picked the squad/teams. Winterbottom was just the coach. The first England manager to pick the players he wanted was Alf Ramsey.

 

[Goldiegirl]

Hagans actual name was James O'Hagan but the family dropped the O to avoid people realising his Irish family roots.
Anti Irish prejudice was high in Middlesbrough region when he was a kid.

Rubbish!

 

[Goldiegirl]

Maybe he fell out with the selectors who told the players how the opponents would play so the England team had a clear plan they had to adhere to and Hagan asked what happens if the opposition decided to play a different game.

Jimmy and Len Shackleton were both mavericks who believed the selectors had no knowledge of football and made their feelings known. Hence the lack of caps, although Len did manage 5. This was straight from both horses' mouths!

 

[finlaytheblade]

The FA selectors picked the squad/teams. Winterbottom was just the coach. The first England manager to pick the players he wanted was Alf Ramsey.

The fallout wouldn't surprise me silent ! Saw latter end of his career just can't recall much as only a kid.
My dad's idol was Jimmy and was his own man from what my dad told me! Didn't suffer fools which I imagine made him a difficult player to deal with.
He got drummed out of the English game after the Don Howe episode where he wanted the players to train without extra gear in that freezing cold weather we had in 63.Players revolted backed by Don Howe who I think was captain at WBA at the time.Howe
was also a future coach who I think had some time within the England squad as a coach.
That was the end of Jimmy in the English game! He went to Portugal and managed Benfica who loved him! He and Eusabio got on really well and became good friends.
Hagan,Curry and Illiman are real standout players in our history and there are more going back further historically.

 

[Nick Jansky]

The fallout wouldn't surprise me silent ! Saw latter end of his career just can't recall much as only a kid.
My dad's idol was Jimmy and was his own man from what my dad told me! Didn't suffer fools which I imagine made him a difficult player to deal with.
He got drummed out of the English game after the Don Howe episode where he wanted the players to train without extra gear in that freezing cold weather we had in 63.Players revolted backed by Don Howe who I think was captain at WBA at the time.Howe
was also a future coach who I think had some time within the England squad as a coach.
That was the end of Jimmy in the English game! He went to Portugal and managed Benfica who loved him! He and Eusabio got on really well and became good friends.
Hagan,Curry and Illiman are real standout players in our history and there are more going back further historically.

Not sure we can bracket Iliman with Hagan & Currie. He wasn’t here long enough. Arguably the likes of Jagielka & Walker were much better players.

 

[ghandi]

Not sure we can bracket Iliman with Hagan & Currie. He wasn’t here long enough. Arguably the likes of Jagielka & Walker were much better players.

He played much more than Walker in the first team.

 

[Nick Jansky]

He played much more than Walker in the first team.

But won't achieve a fraction of what Walker has in his career.

 

[finlaytheblade]

Not sure we can bracket Iliman with Hagan & Currie. He wasn’t here long enough. Arguably the likes of Jagielka & Walker were much better players.

Take your point ! Just I was talking players who put bums on seats and excite the fans ! They are rare.

 

[Pintor75]

Not sure we can bracket Iliman with Hagan & Currie. He wasn’t here long enough. Arguably the likes of Jagielka & Walker were much better players.

And played at a higher level

 

[Big Hitter]

The fallout wouldn't surprise me silent ! Saw latter end of his career just can't recall much as only a kid.
My dad's idol was Jimmy and was his own man from what my dad told me! Didn't suffer fools which I imagine made him a difficult player to deal with.
He got drummed out of the English game after the Don Howe episode where he wanted the players to train without extra gear in that freezing cold weather we had in 63.Players revolted backed by Don Howe who I think was captain at WBA at the time.Howe
was also a future coach who I think had some time within the England squad as a coach.
That was the end of Jimmy in the English game! He went to Portugal and managed Benfica who loved him! He and Eusabio got on really well and became good friends.
Hagan,Curry and Illiman are real standout players in our history and there are more going back further historically.

You are correct - he went to Benfica and managed them to various league and cup championships. I met him once when I was 16 and worked at the Midland Station and he came in to collect a parcel. I treasured the receipt he signed for weeks.! Brilliant footballer.

 

[haich1889]

Jimmy Hagan was loyal even when told they wanted to sell to t'Pigs ffs.
TC couldn't wait to leave after relegation, to Leeds ffs.

TC showed my daughter's junior school around the Lane on a school trip. Acted like he didn't want to be there throughout. At the end he asked if anybody had a question. I (had wangled my way onto the trip) said to me daughter: "ask him if he ever scored against Wednesday"

His answer (in can't be arsed mode): "i don't know!"

Gobsmacked is all i can say.

Jimmy Hagan should have a statue for sure

 

[Silent Blade]

TC showed my daughter's junior school around the Lane on a school trip. Acted like he didn't want to be there throughout. At the end he asked if anybody had a question. I (had wangled my way onto the trip) said to me daughter: "ask him if he ever scored against Wednesday"

His answer (in can't be arsed mode): "i don't know!"

Pre season friendly in August 1971