Players Stories

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Bobby Smith the Spurs and England Centre Forward said that our Joe was the best centre half he ever played against. That defence at the time were renowned for playing themselves out of defence with good passing football.

In which case that's two England centre forwards who have said the same thing since , as previously posted , the great Nat Lofthouse told me personally that Joe was easily the best centre half he had ever come up against .

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Canon.

Oh the irony . I'm afraid that's a double blusher for ISC .

You have to be so fucking careful on here .........

 

[Willie Carlin]

Oh the irony . I'm afraid that's a double blusher for ISC .

You have to be so fucking careful on here .........

Did you ever see Jimmy Hagan I saw joe shaw. ?

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Did you ever see Jimmy Hagan I saw joe shaw. ?

Is this a wind up ?

If not , the answer is many times and I did a short tribute to him as a newcomer to this esteemed forum which you may find of interest .

 

[Sothall_Blade]

Apologies if you’ve heard this one before.

Mark Todd once got on the same 52 bus as me going into town. I got off a few stops later.

I wish I had a more interesting encounter to relate but that’s about the sum of it

 

[Willie Carlin]

Is this a wind up ?

If not , the answer is many times and I did a short tribute to him as a newcomer to this esteemed forum which you may find of interest .

Why should it be a wind up? Just asking!! I saw him play but not many times.

 

[grafikhaus]

Oh the irony . I'm afraid that's a double blusher for ISC .

You have to be so fucking careful on here .........

Nowt a quick check on Google won't sort (as well as increasing one's vocabulary).

In the 'If United beat Bristol City...' thread, I said:

Fuck the gods. We operate on a higher plane.

and got the reply:

2,000 ft.

I must admit, I wasn't sure if it was 'plane' or 'plain'. It's plane. I'm not ready to don my cilice just yet.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

Apologies if you’ve heard this one before.

Mark Todd once got on the same 52 bus as me going into town. I got off a few stops later.

I wish I had a more interesting encounter to relate but that’s about the sum of it

I've heard that before but I still think it's a fascinating story.

 

[Cerberus Blade]

I can't say I've got any interesting "players stories" to tell. And I'm finding that really frustrating as I'm desperate to join in on this thread. Let me think...

I once went to a sales meeting when I was a rep, back in the 1980's. The company I worked for held the meeting at Coventry City Football Club (Highfield Road). Jimmy Hill was Chairman at that time and he came and did an after dinner speech. He was totally different to how I'd interpreted him on telly. He was very witty and funny and a really nice friendly bloke.

I met Billy Dearden and Frank Barlow when they were managing Chesterfield. Billy was a lovely bloke (not saying Frank wasn't, but it was Billy who was my main point of contact there). He used to invite me into the changing rooms and get one of the lads to go and make me tea whilst we chatted about football and Sheff Utd of course. I once dated his stepdaughter, Vivian. (Not for long though - she'd got good taste).

I met Ted Hemsley about the same time and I use to go to football training at Dronfield, led by Len Badger, so I got to know him fairly well at one bit. He also had the Sidings pub at Dronfield for a while.

I've been out socially a few times with Brian Gayle. Brian and Sue's friends are friends of ours and we know each other pretty well. He's a very nice guy and has some great stories to tell about the Basset era. He told me how "Arry" used to walk down the aisle of the team coach, going up to the players asking them if they "want some", showing them his fist. And he'd start fighting with them on the bus. (All part of the team bonding stuff apparently!). Brian told me he had him in a headlock and was punching him in the face and he was loving it!

I've known ex-Blade Tom Fenoughty for many years and still see him socially. He told me about the time when he left United to join Chesterfield. They were managed by Jimmy McGuigan at the time. He was like a military figure. Tom said that training was incredibly demanding under McGuigan compared to how easy it had been at United. He said he used to go home after training and just lay down with a bottle of water because he was completely shattered after it.

Peter Eustace, the ex-Wednesday footballer, used to be landlord of the Cheshire Cheese pub at Edale Road, Hope - maybe 20 years ago now, when it used to do really good food. I once got talking to him about football, but, being an ex-Wednesday player, he didn't know owt about it!

And finally, a bloke who tiled our bathroom used to play for Lincoln City. How about that eh? (Astonishing story that one!)

(I did warn you that I don't have any interesting footballer stories to tell - if you didn't like this post then serves you right for not listening to me in the first place).

 

[haich1889]

Not a player story but as we made our way to our seats I noticed Paul Heaton sat in my dad's seat. I said "father Paul Heaton's sat in your seat"
Reply: "who the f##k is he?"
Me: "he's a famous singer who supports blades"
Reply: "I don't give a f##k who he is he can get out of my seat!"

Needless to say he moved. Typical dad blunt as always.

 

[BushBlade]

Not a player story but as we made our way to our seats I noticed Paul Heaton sat in my dad's seat. I said "father Paul Heaton's sat in your seat"
Reply: "who the f##k is he?"
Me: "he's a famous singer who supports blades"
Reply: "I don't give a f##k who he is he can get out of my seat!"

Needless to say he moved. Typical dad blunt as always.

He should’ve said ‘this could be Rotterdam or anywhere but it’s still my fucking seat. Shift.’

 

[Sothall_Blade]

He should’ve said ‘this could be Rotterdam or anywhere but it’s still my fucking seat. Shift.’

"Stand up, stand up!"

 

[fuerstenberger]

I was in a bank in Kassel, the youngish man behind the counter asked me if my surname was common in England. I told him it wasn't really, only in Sheffield. I asked him why. He told me his father's favourite player had the same surname. I said it was probably me. He asked me if I had some time, I did. He phoned his dad and he came down to the bank and spoke to me. He told me things about myself I had forgotten, told me about games I had no recollection. He even had a paper cutting of one of my games. Just to say, it meant so much to me. I wasn't anything other than an average player and this guys thanks and appreciation made my day. If I am the rule and not the exception, being appreciated will matter to former players. So always be nice.
Ps: The nicest players I have ever met are Ian Wright and Brian Deane.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

One of my Dad’s clients came to our house mid 80s and spied my Blades shirt

He asked what I thought of Paul Stancliffe. My response was he’s ok but is a bit slow. He said he’s my son.

To be fair he fetched him round next time with some signed programmes.

 

[TTMeysh]

I met Simon Webster at the PFA Player of the Year dinner, this was after he'd gone to Charlton. Told him I'd enjoyed his time here: 'Oh yeah, Sheffuld', he said. So I said, first its not 'Sheffield', second its pronounced Sheff-ee-uld, not Sheff-uld you cockney dipstick. He edged away shortly afterwards. I met Bassett at the same dinner who was, as you would expect, sound as a pound.

My mate had the strange experience of having a slash next to Ian Rush in a nightclub. Strange, because throughout said micturition Rushy was talking to his cock, saying 'joost avin a foooochchchcing piss, likkkke'. This raises the intriguing possibility that Rush was so stupid that he had to talk to his cock to make it perform one if its basic functions.

 

[ShorehamRevolution]

I was in a bank in Kassel, the youngish man behind the counter asked me if my surname was common in England. I told him it wasn't really, only in Sheffield. I asked him why. He told me his father's favourite player had the same surname. I said it was probably me. He asked me if I had some time, I did. He phoned his dad and he came down to the bank and spoke to me. He told me things about myself I had forgotten, told me about games I had no recollection. He even had a paper cutting of one of my games. Just to say, it meant so much to me. I wasn't anything other than an average player and this guys thanks and appreciation made my day. If I am the rule and not the exception, being appreciated will matter to former players. So always be nice.
Ps: The nicest players I have ever met are Ian Wright and Brian Deane.

Is your username a clue to your name?

 

[Gin&Juice]

Helped run a focus group/UX app testing session with Phil Thompson and Paul Merson in a Novotel function room once.

Nothing Blades related really. Once told Stephen Quinn drunkenly that I understood him leaving for Hull.

 

[Snowman]

Is your username a clue to your name?

Great Brewery even if it isn't.

 

[diplomat]

I had a wee next to Kyle Walker once. He made a loud orgasmic groan which made me look across and think ‘that’s Kyle Walker that is’.

 

[Bartleby]

Sounds like you did a lot of consulting that day

Borrowed his watch to tell him the time, what more do you need

 

[Bartleby]

He should’ve said ‘this could be Rotterdam or anywhere but it’s still my fucking seat. Shift.’

Should've gagged and bound him up to his seat (but he kept it all in)

 

[fuerstenberger]

Is your username a clue to your name?

I knicked this off another Blades fan around these parts, who lived, maybe still lives, in a village called Fuerstenberg. He told me about this site. He maybe posts on here, he said he did, but he has not contacted me.

 

[Sheff de party]

Not a classic, but I played in a church tournament once in Donny and former Blade (for a short while) Bruce Dyer was there. He had a team, but his main role was to do the middle of the day talk about how he found religion.

Not being a religious man myself, I nevertheless politely listened and it was genuinely very interesting as he talked of trading the life of fast cars and girls for following God.

He was a very humble, friendly guy and great with the young uns who were playing. Still had the quality as well obviously.

We knocked his team out in the quarters (he wasn’t trying very hard) and I scored a hat trick, leading him to describe me as “top quality”, which made me like him even more.

 

[RossoDeltic]

Once saw Edwards at Donny station chuntering about having only £10 notes and no change for a platform ticket.
Standing at square leg during a friendly match, I got talking to Ted Hemsley. He wasn't too enamoured with Harry Bassett.
Used to speak to Shaun Derry whenever I met him. His mum and dad had a photo of him on the tv in his Blades kit, even after he had gone to Pompey - last time I spoke to him was at his brothers wedding. Didn't get opportunity to speak to him when he got us tickets in the directors box at Meadow Lane when he was manager.
Once saw Vas Borbokis in Mama Alfalfi's (think it was the name) pizza place in Meadowhall.
Steve Thompson used to play for Bracebridge Heath CC 2nd xi in Lincs League Premier Division. He started wittering on about stuff when I went out to bat. I turned around and told him to be quiet or else I would start telling all and sundry about his own goal at Norwich in the FA Cup. He was always ok after that whenever I played against him.
Once calld Lance Key a Pig when we played against him, think it was at Wombwell in the South Riding League.

 

[Bladesway84]

I used to take my young cousin to the games and Jagielka, Morgan, Geary and Alan Quinn were the ones that always had him time for him and posed for a pic etc

We were talking to Quinn one day at a pre-season open day and Keith Gillespie walked in our direction, my 6 year old cousin spotted him and got a bit excited pointing towards him,
Keith quickly pulled his phone out and pretended to be mid-conversation until he walked past us then put it back in his pocket the prick
But then he scored that header against Man U so went back to legend status !!

 

[LoughboroBlade]

Robert Page chats with my mate who works at Sainsbury's whenever he comes in and is apparently a top lad. Jack Lester too is apparently always up for a chat.

I’m sure Jack Lester is lovely, but I suggest your wife keeps an eye on him when he’s in the store – if ever there’s a player to fall convincingly in aisle 5 and try and get store discount out of it, it’ll be our Jack.

 

[Maidenhead]

I met Simon Webster at the PFA Player of the Year dinner, this was after he'd gone to Charlton. Told him I'd enjoyed his time here: 'Oh yeah, Sheffuld', he said. So I said, first its not 'Sheffield', second its pronounced Sheff-ee-uld, not Sheff-uld you cockney dipstick. He edged away shortly afterwards. I met Bassett at the same dinner who was, as you would expect, sound as a pound.

My mate had the strange experience of having a slash next to Ian Rush in a nightclub. Strange, because throughout said micturition Rushy was talking to his cock, saying 'joost avin a foooochchchcing piss, likkkke'. This raises the intriguing possibility that Rush was so stupid that he had to talk to his cock to make it perform one if its basic functions.

I once had a slash next to Kevin McCabe at Reading.

Nah nah nah nah he's a Blade and he's a Blade

 

[The Crab]

One of my Dad’s clients came to our house mid 80s and spied my Blades shirt

He asked what I thought of Paul Stancliffe. My response was he’s ok but is a bit slow. He said he’s my son.

To be fair he fetched him round next time with some signed programmes.

Fair comment. I loved Stan as a player but he was never blessed with pace

 

[Canterbury Blade]

I've got a few but some not for public consumption
Here's one repeatable though.... Back in the day when MacPhail and Kenworthy were not only our central defensive duo but bosom pals too....
They were also pally with a lad who played with my Saturday team and during the summer we often entered various 5 a side tournaments around south yorks to keep in touch and fit etc...
One particular event down in Ecclesfield Park always drew some of the better teams in both Saturday and Sunday football...
So, as usual we entered, hoping to go far as we usually did. The 7or 8 of us turns up for the day long event and the lad who was mates with JM & TK was in the squad, except that he drags his two pro mates with him and announces they wanted to play!
The rest of us weren't happy and after a "healthy" debate in which TK & JM weren't invited, we relented..... But not before TK had decided it wasn't worth the risk for a multitude of reasons as you can imagine!
However, MacPhails ego got the better of him and he wanted to play.
In the first game of the round robin part of the tournament we played Manchester Villa, who were a decent young team of lads with some good individuals.
MacPhail, who we played under the pseudonym of John McBride (pathetic eh!), thought he could stroll around like a Billy big time and still stand out, except.... He constantly got turned inside out by this small skilful kid who ended up megging him and left him on his arse.
MacPhail was incensed and next opportunity viciously fouled the lad and was rightly sent off....
We drew the game eventually and afterwards the organisers took our manager to one side and told him they knew who MacPhail was and if we played him or TK again, we'd (rightly) be thrown out...
We agreed that they should be here to watch as they should have been and they couldn't play again
They fucked off home straight away with tails between legs and any respect I had for them as players was somewhat diluted from then on.

Similar tale. My brother ran a not very good 5 a side and through connections managed to get a goalie who at that time was a professional in another Yorkshire team. He just wanted to play lads football and have a drink afterwards. All of this completely off the radar for his club, alias used etc. He is also a Blade, a good mate of Sir Chris, Bradders etc and is still involved in the game.

Anyhow, this team scored about 2 goals a game but simply never conceded and ended up winning the Sheffield league. That meant they played the winners from the other Yorkshire town where he was the first choice keeper. So Tuesday night comes and these lads are looking down at the other end and see their professional keeper. They then had the choice of alerting the officials or playing and trying to stick one past their keeper, To their credit, they did the right thing, played on and only let on at the end. I think they got some free tickets and freebies but could say we played against x.

To me, and I am very biased cause I love him but that sounds exactly the kind of thing Hendo would do. Some players are wankers but some are just like us, love their football, enjoy a beer and some fun!

 

[Tom Bott]

Brian Dean

ALERT! A new Blades player mispelling to add to the already weighty cannon.

Yes it should be Dean o