Memories of the 3rd tier of English football

[Darren]

yes Id forgot that one was after the fire wasnt it, still the most horific disaster Ive seen

2 seasons after the fire. The previous season our game at Bradford had been at Elland Road.

---------- Post added at 10:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 AM ----------

This is off the top of head but we won there the previous season 4-1. Morris and Edwards both getting 2 each, and it was October/November time.

How good or shite is my memory Darren?

Fairly good. 26th Oct 85. We did win 4-1 but Edwards and Withe got 2 each. That was the game at Elland Road.

 

[bricktop]

2 seasons after the fire. The previous season our game at Bradford had been at Elland Road.

---------- Post added at 10:34 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 AM ----------



Fairly good. 26th Oct 85. We did win 4-1 but Edwards and Withe got 2 each. That was the game at Elland Road.

I'm well impressed with my memory in that case. Around that time we are in a cracking run of form, and was fighting it out for promotion. I remember us beating Barnsley (Edwards Hat-Trick), Hull, hammering Oldham 5-1 away (Morris 2, Withe 2, Edwards), drawing 3-3 at home to Blackburn on 16/11/85 (it was my 8th birthday and Steve Wigley got a late equaliser with goal of the season), and then going to Portsmouth who had got a home record of winning all 7 games they had played without conceding and turning them over 3-0!

I'm sure you've mentioned it before but have you got a photographic memory, because i'd always thought my memory was pretty good at retaining obscure Blades related information, but it's nowhere near as much as you know

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Oldham (a) 5-1 was my first ever away game.

 

[Darren]

I'm well impressed with my memory in that case. Around that time we are in a cracking run of form, and was fighting it out for promotion. I remember us beating Barnsley (Edwards Hat-Trick), Hull, hammering Oldham 5-1 away (Morris 2, Withe 2, Edwards), drawing 3-3 at home to Blackburn on 16/11/85 (it was my 8th birthday and Steve Wigley got a late equaliser with goal of the season), and then going to Portsmouth who had got a home record of winning all 7 games they had played without conceding and turning them over 3-0!

I'm sure you've mentioned it before but have you got a photographic memory, because i'd always thought my memory was pretty good at retaining obscure Blades related information, but it's nowhere near as much as you know

Nearly all right :

19/10/85 H Barnsley - we won 3-1. Withe and Edwards 2 scored. Withe's goal came after about 10 seconds and from a Barnsley kick off. They played it out to our left wing, where Joe Bolton intercepted and knocked it up the line for Edwards to run on to. He took it to the edge of the area and crossed for Withe to head in.
26/10/85: The Bradford game
2/11/85: H Hull Won 3-1. Edwards got his hat trick in this game. The last one was a pen which he took as Morris had been subbed by Wigley for the latter's debut. Wigley was then tripped for the pen which Edwards scored.
9/11/85 A Oldham Won 5-1 - Edwards 2 Morris 2 and Arnott scored - this after we were 1-0 down in the first minute
16/11/85 H Blackburn D3-3 - McNaught and Morris equalised Blackburn's first and second goals, then Wigley put us 3-2 up early the second half with a run from the half way line beating about 5 players (the only goal he ever scored for United). Blackburn later equalised after Burridge let a speculative 35 yarder from John Lowey through his hands.
23/11/85 A Portsmouth won 3-0. They had indeed won all their home games without conceding a goal. Foley 2 and Withe scored and that took us to second. Unfortunately we only took 1 point from our next 5 games and down the table we slid.

Not exactly sure how you would define a photographic memory. I can, however, recite the date, opponents, score and scorers for every United game going back to 61-62 which is weird on so many levels.

 

[blade too long]

Not exactly sure how you would define a photographic memory. I can, however, recite the date, opponents, score and scorers for every United game going back to 61-62 which is weird on so many levels.

well I can fill in with all the reserves and juniors results and teams and subs since 1955, which is really weird

 

[Darren]

well I can fill in with all the reserves and juniors results and teams and subs since 1955, which is really weird

I suspect that may not be quite 100% true

 

[blade too long]

I suspect that may not be quite 100% true

I suspect that might be 100% true

 

[oldblade]

you had to remind me of port vale away, I still think in 50 years of watching us its the most disappointing display I ever saw, in that we were playing reasonably well had just won ,at home 3-0 I believe and went expecting to move clear top of the league, yet every man jack of them looked like theyd eaten 8 xmas dinners and were unable to move

yes weve beren abject in plenty of games , but this stuck out like a wart

Orient away that same season was another absolutely dreadful display.

---------- Post added at 01:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:06 PM ----------

We went up in 71 after beating Watford 3-0 in the last game of the season, but I think we would have gone up even had we not won as Cardiff, our nearest rivals, failed to win their last game.

But at the start of play we had to win to be sure of promotion. We didn't know Cardiff would fail.

Similar to 1990 at Leicester. That was a performance full of 'bottle'. We had to win to be sure of promotion, and did so in fine style after going a goal behind.

And in 1984, although in the final analysis it was a promotion that Hull could be considered to have blown rather than us win, had we failed against Newport in our final game it would have been all over bar the shouting. We simply had to win that game and did so.

We very rarely actually seem to blow promotion in the run in. Generally we seem to do what we have to do in the really important games, unlike our relegation record!

---------- Post added at 01:21 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:15 PM ----------

Its still in the history books as a 2-0 win on a neutral venue. Defunct they may be, it does not alter the fact that it was the last time SUFC won a match on a neutral venue.

Other than that, yes it would presumably be our 1936 FA Cup Semi Final against Fulham.

But how often does anyone outside the top half dozen or so in the premier league ever win on neutral territory? The fact is not many clubs ever get the chance to play at neutral grounds very often.

 

[Darren]

I suspect that might be 100% true

Are you serious?

 

[blade too long]

your getting confused , I mean yoiur statement its not true is probably true
not what I said is true, which was probably made up ,, except the bit where I said your bit was true , not the otrher bit

#

clear now

 

[axel smeets]

But how often does anyone outside the top half dozen or so in the premier league ever win on neutral territory? The fact is not many clubs ever get the chance to play at neutral grounds very often.[/QUOTE]
I'm not sure on that one. I would suggest that the advent of the play offs in the format they are now has given the football league clubs the opportunity to win on neutral soil more often than they ever wiould have done under the old system of 3 up 3 down (or 2 up 2 down until the early 70's).

For example, since the play offs began in 86-87, we played Play Off Finals in 97, 03 and 09. In 03 and 09 we would have gone up automatically and in 97 we would have been nowhere under the old system, never mind at Wembley.

 

[Darren]

your getting confused , I mean yoiur statement its not true is probably true
not what I said is true, which was probably made up ,, except the bit where I said your bit was true , not the otrher bit

#

clear now

Not really. Are you saying you don't believe me? Don't tempt me...

 

[cahill]

Games on neutral grounds. Saw United at Elland Rd v Bratfud City. Saw Leeds v Wolves at Huddersfield after Bellend Rd had been closed due to crowd trouble v West Brom previous season. Watched Dingles v Enfield at White Hart Lane Fa Cup replay.

---------- Post added at 07:40 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:36 AM ----------

Also saw the Unclean play Stockport County at Maine Rd in a league cup match sometime mid 1980s. Remember County played in blue and white stripes

 

[blade too long]

Not really. Are you saying you don't believe me? Don't tempt me...

no , saying Im making it up

 

[diplomat]

Darren, a game that sticks in my mind was Simon Tracey's debut v Huddersfield. We won 5-1 but who scored for us and was Tracey at fault for their goal?

 

[sitwell]

If that was the game in 1988/89 it was the game that changed my life. Graham Benstead regular keeper drew my revival number out at half time and I won a grand ,handed my notice in on Monday ,went on the Enterprise allowance scheme and into business.
I'm not sure but I think we were losing or drawing at half time ,and the pigs were winning ,we went on to win 5-1 and they got laced in the second half.

 

[Cheshire Cat]

If that was the game in 1988/89 it was the game that changed my life. Graham Benstead regular keeper drew my revival number out at half time and I won a grand ,handed my notice in on Monday ,went on the Enterprise allowance scheme and into business.
I'm not sure but I think we were losing or drawing at half time ,and the pigs were winning ,we went on to win 5-1 and they got laced in the second half.

Now there's an idea for a thread - United matches that changed my life.

Great story

 

[Revolution]

a game that sticks in my mind was Simon Tracey's debut v Huddersfield. We won 5-1 but who scored for us and was Tracey at fault for their goal?

One of the strangest games I've ever seen. United won 5-1 but were second best for most of the game.

As you say, it was Tracey's debut, and he had to face a penalty early on...which Craig Maskell put wide.

Honours fairly even after that, but a Huddersfield defender handled in the area as the game moved towards half time. Duffield made no mistake - 1-0 at the break.

Just after half time Duffield runs on to a long ball and lashes it in from 25 yards - 2-0.

Huddersfield then camp in United's half for the next 30 minutes, and pull a goal back (possibly through Chris Marsden - my menory is hazy). I don't recall Tracey being at fault. Huddersfield look likely to at least go on and equalise, but on a rare United break Andy May accidentally knocks the ball past his own keeper to put United 3-1 up with 10 minutes to go. This deflates Huddersfield and Bryson gets a fourth and Deano heads the fifth in the last minute.

On the balance of play, Huddersfield deserved at least a point, but sometimes things break badly for you. I missed the Scunthorpe home game this season but always assumed it was somewhat similar, although this time United were the unlucky ones...

 

[ponteblade]

Just read all the memories, very enjoyable, but we have never really had much to shout about have we I'am sorry to say, I remember Sir Tony scoring against Bristol Rovers in the Watney cup final I think it was, which we went on to lose, and the only time I have been ashamed of been a Blade when the Walsall player manager ( Mick Buckley was he?)
getting kicked after that game of our relegation. So the only way I can get at the le ds fans at the moment besides having a fair record over them in the last few years, is how did you stop Sir Keith Edwards (who should have some sort of job at the club) from scoring? Let him sign for l eds.
Good luck to the lads for the coming season up the Blades

 

[Darren]

a game that sticks in my mind was Simon Tracey's debut v Huddersfield. We won 5-1 but who scored for us and was Tracey at fault for their goal?

One of the strangest games I've ever seen. United won 5-1 but were second best for most of the game.

As you say, it was Tracey's debut, and he had to face a penalty early on...which Craig Maskell put wide.

Honours fairly even after that, but a Huddersfield defender handled in the area as the game moved towards half time. Duffield made no mistake - 1-0 at the break.

Just after half time Duffield runs on to a long ball and lashes it in from 25 yards - 2-0.

Huddersfield then camp in United's half for the next 30 minutes, and pull a goal back (possibly through Chris Marsden - my menory is hazy). I don't recall Tracey being at fault. Huddersfield look likely to at least go on and equalise, but on a rare United break Andy May accidentally knocks the ball past his own keeper to put United 3-1 up with 10 minutes to go. This deflates Huddersfield and Bryson gets a fourth and Deano heads the fifth in the last minute.

On the balance of play, Huddersfield deserved at least a point, but sometimes things break badly for you. I missed the Scunthorpe home game this season but always assumed it was somewhat similar, although this time United were the unlucky ones...

The game was on 11/3/89. I think it was Marsden who got the goal and, whilst I also don't recall Tracey being at fault, I remember him being very shaky throughout and it was no surprise when Benstead got his place back the following game. What was a surprise was when Bassett suddenly dropped Benstead for the game v Mansfield on 25/4/89 and Tracey kept his place to the end of the season. As it happens Benstead never played a league game again for United after that, playing just once in the FA Cup game v Watford at the Lane on 27/1/90 when he was widely thought to be at fault for not coming to collect Glyn Hodges' cross that led to Watford's last minute equaliser (I remember him being booed by the Kop when he touched the ball in injury time).

 

[Eskimo]

At the Bolton match behind the goal there were half bricks and stones being thrown at us most of the match and bizarrely I don't remember being afraid. Wasn't there a fancy dress theme? I seem to remember a group of monks or nuns (really) waiting to get in and a hot dog cart being lifted up in the air and then turned over.

At Tranmere in Div 4 I went with my wife who was pregnant. Stand ing only - no seats available. There were penalties near the end and great potential for crowd trouble. We were locked in but I went to the mounted policeman to ask if he'd let us out quietly, wife pregnant, etc. He said Fxxx off. I said come on please, my wife is really concerned. He said If you don't fxxx off you etc etc etc etc. It was soon after Toxteth I think and the police were really up for it, long truncheons at the ready. Walking back to the car a couple on the other side of the road got beaten up quite badly and a small group followed us. We made it to the car - just! Happy Days - not.

 

[Studge]

God does that mean I have been your accountant for more than 20 years.

 

[BladeHearts]

Just want to say what a good read this thread is for a Johnny-come-lately like myself.

Need to make sure I dont end up with false memory syndrome!!!

 

[Peezablade]

Reading Mr Cowans BBC book or the excellent Blades Tales 1 and 2 (when is third volume due for printing?) will give you more than a general flavour of what life was like in the third tier.

 

[Guisboro Blade]

The 88/89 season was my first full season following the Blades I was 8 and had just started going regularly with my Dad.

My memories of that season start with an away game at Blackpool in October time. Queues of Blades trying to get in around 2.45pm, by 3pm still loads waiting to get in and singing “let us in” Next thing police/stewards walking down the queues informing that kick off had been delayed. Finally in the ground at around 3.15/3.20pm and the game had started and was already 1-1. We won 2-1 and it was the debut of a young player called Dane Whitehouse.

Chesterfield at home we ended up in BLUT as we were told that there were no tickets left in South Stand (used to sit at the end nearest the Kop). At some point in the 2nd half the United fans on John Street had spotted my scarf or shirt and started singing “Na na na na he’s a Blade”. Unfortunately we lost 3-1 if I remember correctly.

When we played Chesterfield at Saltergate I remember being stood behind the goal going mental when Jock Bryson (I think) scored. Again though we ended up losing this time 2-1 I believe.

Back at the Lane and the last home game of the season against Swansea. No memory of the game other than at full time being on the pitch with loads of other Blades celebrating promotion.

My only other real memory of that season was a game in one of the Cups against Newcastle. It was an evening game so I would imagine it was in the League Cup. We ended up winning 3-0 and my main memory I have was the atmosphere inside the ground that night, it was electric. It is true what they say, there is something special about night matches under the lights at the Lane

 

[Darren]

The 88/89 season was my first full season following the Blades I was 8 and had just started going regularly with my Dad.

My memories of that season start with an away game at Blackpool in October time. Queues of Blades trying to get in around 2.45pm, by 3pm still loads waiting to get in and singing “let us in” Next thing police/stewards walking down the queues informing that kick off had been delayed. Finally in the ground at around 3.15/3.20pm and the game had started and was already 1-1. We won 2-1 and it was the debut of a young player called Dane Whitehouse.

Chesterfield at home we ended up in BLUT as we were told that there were no tickets left in South Stand (used to sit at the end nearest the Kop). At some point in the 2nd half the United fans on John Street had spotted my scarf or shirt and started singing “Na na na na he’s a Blade”. Unfortunately we lost 3-1 if I remember correctly.

When we played Chesterfield at Saltergate I remember being stood behind the goal going mental when Jock Bryson (I think) scored. Again though we ended up losing this time 2-1 I believe.

Back at the Lane and the last home game of the season against Swansea. No memory of the game other than at full time being on the pitch with loads of other Blades celebrating promotion.

My only other real memory of that season was a game in one of the Cups against Newcastle. It was an evening game so I would imagine it was in the League Cup. We ended up winning 3-0 and my main memory I have was the atmosphere inside the ground that night, it was electric. It is true what they say, there is something special about night matches under the lights at the Lane

15/10/88 A Blackpool 2-1 (Pike, Webster)
2/1/89 H Chesterfield 1-3 (Agana) and Stancliffe was sent off after protesting too louldy when he had a goal chalked off 5 mins from the end.
25/3/89 A Chesterfield 1-2 (Bryson)
6/5/89 H Swansea 5-1 (Agana 3, Pike, Stancliffe)
27/9/88 H Newcastle (LC) 3-0 (Deane 2, Stancliffe).

 

[sitwell]

God does that mean I have been your accountant for more than 20 years.

20 + 1 = 21 years just in case you needs any help

 

[Studge]

Reading Mr Cowans BBC book or the excellent Blades Tales 1 and 2 (when is third volume due for printing?) will give you more than a general flavour of what life was like in the third tier.

As presumably will Sharpe as a Blade vol 3

---------- Post added at 06:19 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:18 PM ----------

20 + 1 = 21 years just in case you needs any help

Thanks somebody had borrowed my calculator

 

[Kenilworth]

My memories of that season start with an away game at Blackpool in October time. Queues of Blades trying to get in around 2.45pm, by 3pm still loads waiting to get in and singing “let us in” Next thing police/stewards walking down the queues informing that kick off had been delayed. Finally in the ground at around 3.15/3.20pm and the game had started and was already 1-1. We won 2-1 and it was the debut of a young player called Dane Whitehouse.

Cracking game that was and what a weekend too. I remember Martin Pike being one of my favourite players that season - he was often bursting forwards and had an eye for goal. That one at Blackpool was a cracker - shame you missed it. Dodgy defensively on many occasions though.

 

[Sean the Blade]

My memories of third tier football mainly involve particularly bad referees.
Can I just mention at this point, for some of us, of a certain age, in May of 1981 the third division was the Holy Grail at that time. So getting into the third division wasn't always a bad thing.
Ref's seemed ok in the fourth division, and fine in the second, but for whatever reason thay always seemed appalling in the third. Then, all I can recall are lots of long, cold evenings on the Kop, at least in those days of proper standing you could huddle together to keep warm and jump about, and smoke, and swear, and be racist, and be sexist, and be disabled-ist, and generally do and say things you wouldn't in normal everyday life, a bit like a pressure release valve!

Hands up who was glued to the radio and teletext waiting for the Hull City score to get us out of division 3 on goal difference!!!! What a weekend and (was it?) Tuesday night that was... Happy, if rather foul mouthed, days....