Len Allchurch

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Blade for Sale said:
Passed away at 83. Before my time but seemingly played a big part in a successful United side, and had a great career of over 600 games. Hopefully posters on here will have memories of him and his era to share.
RIP Len.
Click to expand...

Another one gone, and a very good one too.

A player who lived in the shadow of his brother, Ivor, in terms of Welsh football, but was a member of the first John Harris team that I saw - a class act, who provided chances for Pace, Russell, Hodgson from the right wing.

Went to get his autograph at a reserve match, and he asked me questions about myself, an absolute gentleman in every way.

RlP Len.
 
Fairly stocky and strong, really good balance on the ball and could go to the left or the right, an old-style dribbling winger; bright as a button and knew his game and the overall game well, very aware. Thorough gentleman on the pitch and commanded a certain respect from the opposition. Recall his rabbit teeth grin and his slightly rolling gait.

Joined us right in the middle of the 3 Leicester Cup Semi-finals. Saw him score on his debut at Elland Road when Leeds were a little club like they are now. We'd played Leicester there just before though I remember the games the other way round somehow. Stood in the same place for both games. If we'd been able to play Allchurch we would have reached Wembley for sure.

Thanks for the memories Len, it was a privilege.
 
The squad just before the start of the 1961/62 season after having achieved promotion. We finished in 5th place of the 1st division, our highest league placing since 1907 (we also finished in 5th place in 1923-24 and 1925-26). I believe only six players from the below photo are still alive

sheffield-united-196162-6516109.jpg
 
I remember Len. He used to go on mazy dribbles but had a habit of not lifting his head up on the final pass and it often went astray. That team photo is pretty much the team I grew up with watching the Blades.

Back row: ?(doing my head in), Kettleborough, Hodgson, Shiels
Middle: Shaw G, Mason, Thompson(?), Hodgy, Summers, Richardson
Bottom: Simpson, Pace, Shaw J, Cec, Hartle, The Man Himself RIP

Looks like the photo has been printed through the back of the negative. The kop corner should be to the left.
 
snootyfenooty said:
I remember Len. He used to go on mazy dribbles but had a habit of not lifting his head up on the final pass and it often went astray. That team photo is pretty much the team I grew up with watching the Blades.

Back row: ?(doing my head in), Kettleborough, Hodgson, Shiels
Middle: Shaw G, Mason, Thompson(?), Hodgy, Summers, Richardson
Bottom: Simpson, Pace, Shaw J, Cec, Hartle, The Man Himself RIP

Looks like the photo has been printed through the back of the negative. The kop corner should be to the left.
Click to expand...
Tommy Hoyland doing your head in :-)
 
snootyfenooty said:
I remember Len. He used to go on mazy dribbles but had a habit of not lifting his head up on the final pass and it often went astray. That team photo is pretty much the team I grew up with watching the Blades.

Back row: ?(doing my head in), Kettleborough, Hodgson, Shiels
Middle: Shaw G, Mason, Thompson(?), Hodgy, Summers, Richardson
Bottom: Simpson, Pace, Shaw J, Cec, Hartle, The Man Himself RIP

Looks like the photo has been printed through the back of the negative. The kop corner should be to the left.
Click to expand...
Well done but you got Hartle wrong, it was Billy Russell. Russell, Shiels, Hoyland, Hodgson, Summers and Richardson are still alive, I believe
 
Silent Blade said:
The squad just before the start of the 1961/62 season after having achieved promotion. We finished in 5th place of the 1st division, our highest league placing since 1907 (we also finished in 5th place in 1923-24 and 1925-26). I believe only six players from the below photo are still alive

sheffield-united-196162-6516109.jpg
Click to expand...
Something strange about that picture like looking in a mirror, the Kop/John St terrace are the wrong way round.

sheffield-united-196162-6516109_zpszwzjlexz.jpg

Surely it should be this way?
 



I remember Len joining us around the time of the semi finals against Leicester, towards the end of our promotion season in '61.
We were very attack minded, with Ronnie Simpson on the left wing, and Doc Pace, Billy Russell, Billy Hodgson making up the rest of the forward line. Ronnie reputedly had the hardest shot in the football league, our version of Lorimer. What a team.
RIP Len
 
Sad news indeed. I agree with everything said so far. He was one of those signings that worked like a dream. 8 matches to go, right-wing had been the weakness in the team (reserve left-back Cliff Mason filled in for while, quite well), and he made an immediate impact. I think it was 6 goals in 8 games, and 5 of them were winning goals. Absolutely crucial to winning promotion.
And as others have said, a charming person.
 
HodgysBrokenThumb said:
Sad news indeed. I agree with everything said so far. He was one of those signings that worked like a dream. 8 matches to go, right-wing had been the weakness in the team (reserve left-back Cliff Mason filled in for while, quite well), and he made an immediate impact. I think it was 6 goals in 8 games, and 5 of them were winning goals. Absolutely crucial to winning promotion.
And as others have said, a charming person.
Click to expand...
L**ds (a) won 2-1 Hodgson, Allchurch
Liverpool (h) 1-1 Russell
Pompey (a) won 2-1 Pace, Allchurch
Rotherham (a) won 2-1 Russell, Allchurch
Southampton (h) won 2-1 Allchurch 2
Derby (h) won 3-1 Pace 2, Conwell o.g. - We clinched promotion that night
Bristol R (a) lost 1-3 Hodgson
Middlesbrough (h) won 4-1 Pace 2. Allchurch, Russell
 
I remember a guy called Kevin Lewis played right wing before Len Allchurch came in from Swansea - I forgot that Lewis left United for Liverpool and was Bill Shankley's first signing according to Wiki
 
My favourite player of that era. I remember 24th April 1962. We lost 2 - 3 against Manchester United and I think Len missed a penalty. No doubt Silent can tell me if my memory fails me. We seemed to be able to find great number 7's then.
 
georgebernardshaw said:
Another one gone, and a very good one too.

A player who lived in the shadow of his brother, Ivor, in terms of Welsh football, but was a member of the first John Harris team that I saw - a class act, who provided chances for Pace, Russell, Hodgson from the right wing.

Went to get his autograph at a reserve match, and he asked me questions about myself, an absolute gentleman in every way.

RlP Len.
Click to expand...
Yes he was a lovely chap and a pleasure to watch going down the wing with arm his trailing near to the ground that's how I remember him anyway rip Len
 
Snowman said:
My favourite player of that era. I remember 24th April 1962. We lost 2 - 3 against Manchester United and I think Len missed a penalty. No doubt Silent can tell me if my memory fails me. We seemed to be able to find great number 7's then.
Click to expand...
Easter Tuesday 1962 but no mention of Allchurch's missed penalty in Clareborough's book (1999 edition). The previous day a Pace goal won the match at Old Trafford
 
Silent Blade said:
Easter Tuesday 1962 but no mention of Allchurch's missed penalty in Clareborough's book (1999 edition). The previous day a Pace goal won the match at Old Trafford
Click to expand...

Did Giles score for Man U?
 
As I remember, Len came to us for a small fee, maybe £12,500, towards the end of the 1960-61 season. I think he was already a Welsh international. His brother Ivor was more famous.

Our promotion campaign was in danger of flagging, but Len got us over the line. Wikipedia tells me that he scored 5 goals in the last 7 games. If we look at those games I’m sure we would find it was Len’s goals that earned sufficient points to get us promoted.

Len had a stocky build. That made him strong and hard to knock of the ball, but he could also swerve past an opponent and leave them stranded. I remember he had a strong shot, but could also flight a ball beautifully, like against Cardiff in 1961. Other of his goals were the result of him having a poacher’s sense of seeing an opportunity.

Once, when we played Newcastle, Len was facing his brother Ivor. When the ball went dead they would often have a chat.

Len was one of the best and should be remembered with gratitude and pride by all Blades.

- Walth Snr
 



Slightly tangentially, Len's brother Ivor was for 20 years Wales' all time record appearance maker (68 caps) and goalscorer (23 goals). Ivor died in 1997.

If you've never seen it, check out Ivor's goal in the 1958 World Cup against Hungary. Still one of the great World Cup goals.
 
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