Scaffolding on the Cricket Pitch

[Summers & Pace]

Veteran Voyeur here, thought after 10 years I would make a contribution!! Reading the photos thread and particularly the posts on the great Spurs team of the early sixties, got me thinking (I’ve done a lot of that lately ) of the first time that I saw the scaffolding tower that accommodated the TV cameras and commentator on the cricket pitch.

It was against Spurs in 1963, a great game which ended 3-3. There was a big crowd, we had trouble parking and when we finally got in I could not get my usual spot on the BL end white fence, I was some distance from the corner flag, perhaps under the old cricket scoreboard which was incorporated into the BL end roof. I had forgotten about that until recently when I saw an old picture.

We were losing 2-0 I think Tony Wagstaff got one back before half time and unbelievably we went ahead in the second half. I vividly remember John Docherty cutting in from the left to score from a narrow angle. This was unusual in that he normally played on the right, I can only assume he had swapped with Ronnie Simpson. Spurs equalised shortly after. A truly memorable game but I cannot remember seeing it on the TV. JD went on to play for and manage Brentford.

The following year another 3-3 draw in monsoon conditions, another first for me in that dad took us in the John St stand, Kop side and Ketts scored from distance into the Kop goal.

Right I’ll get back to doing a bit of thinking.

 

[Seanshoreham]

Nearly always seen a good game v Spurs, one of the first games I went to in the mid-sixties against them we won 2-1 under floodlights, Jimmy Greaves scored a pen for them
Just to add it was the debut for my rattle and rosette that my dad bought me for my birthday - I stuck the rosette onto the rattle and gave it plenty of welly that night

 

[ChipButtyBlade]

Veteran Voyeur here, thought after 10 years I would make a contribution!! Reading the photos thread and particularly the posts on the great Spurs team of the early sixties, got me thinking (I’ve done a lot of that lately ) of the first time that I saw the scaffolding tower that accommodated the TV cameras and commentator on the cricket pitch.

It was against Spurs in 1963, a great game which ended 3-3. There was a big crowd, we had trouble parking and when we finally got in I could not get my usual spot on the BL end white fence, I was some distance from the corner flag, perhaps under the old cricket scoreboard which was incorporated into the BL end roof. I had forgotten about that until recently when I saw an old picture.

We were losing 2-0 I think Tony Wagstaff got one back before half time and unbelievably we went ahead in the second half. I vividly remember John Docherty cutting in from the left to score from a narrow angle. This was unusual in that he normally played on the right, I can only assume he had swapped with Ronnie Simpson. Spurs equalised shortly after. A truly memorable game but I cannot remember seeing it on the TV. JD went on to play for and manage Brentford.

The following year another 3-3 draw in monsoon conditions, another first for me in that dad took us in the John St stand, Kop side and Ketts scored from distance into the Kop goal.

Right I’ll get back to doing a bit of thinking.

Ketts>>(Keith Kettleborough) top row second in from right ?

 

[Silent Blade]

Nearly always seen a good game v Spurs, one of the first games I went to in the mid-sixties against them we won 2-1 under floodlights, Jimmy Greaves scored a pen for them
Just to add it was the debut for my rattle and rosette that my dad bought me for my birthday - I stuck the rosette onto the rattle and gave it plenty of welly that night

September 1966. Ref ordered us to wear white shorts because Spurs brought their black shorts. We carried on wearing white shorts for home games until December 1966. Brought it back again for the 1967-68 season (although we wore black shorts in last match)

 

[ucandomagic]

When I started going in 71 I loved that scaffold tower, and watching Keith Macklin walk round to it from under the John Street stand.

We stood in John Street towards the Bramall Lane end and we always chanted Macklin, Macklin, Macklin at him as he walked by - and he always gave us a cheery wave.

I think of him as our version of Murray Walker - forever got the score, the scorer, and even the teams wrong - but we all loved him for it!

Magic days - and they’re back again.

 

[Summers & Pace]

Ketts>>(Keith Kettleborough) top row second in from right ?
Correct doesn’t really look the part but had a nasty streak. Got sent off against Villa in the cup 65ish
View attachment 78807

 

[XM657]

September 1966. Ref ordered us to wear white shorts because Spurs brought their black shorts. We carried on wearing white shorts for home games until December 1966. Brought it back again for the 1967-68 season (although we wore black shorts in last match)

Navy Blue Shorts, I call on Bert for arbitration.

 

[XM657]

Ketts>>(Keith Kettleborough) top row second in from right ?

View attachment 78807

Top photo, 'am going for 1961-62, top kit at Ball Inn. United group with three English internationals, not seen too often.

 

[DifferentClass]

Navy Blue Shorts, I call on Bert for arbitration.

I'm not Bert but it was definitely navy blue.

 

[Sharrow Snuff Mill]

I remember scaffolding on the cricket pitch in 1960 for a 6th round FA Cup tie against the S6 porkers. It was for a temporary stand for that match only and held 3,000 fans. A few of us went on there just to experience it. Unfortunately, and it is still a dagger to my heart, we lost 2-0. It was a 60,000 sell out.

 

[Bert]

I'm not Bert but it was definitely navy blue.

Bert is Bert and it was always Navy Blue.
Spurs however have always played in an all white kit when at home in European competitions, a tradition that continues to this day.

 

[Blend-it-like-Harris]

I remember scaffolding on the cricket pitch in 1960 for a 6th round FA Cup tie against the S6 porkers. It was for a temporary stand for that match only and held 3,000 fans. A few of us went on there just to experience it. Unfortunately, and it is still a dagger to my heart, we lost 2-0. It was a 60,000 sell out.

Yep - Blades totally outplayed 'em but Derek Wilkinson sank us with two goals out of the blue. Don Megson kicked the shite out of Kevin Lewis (would have been red-carded these days).

 

[Silent Blade]

Kevin Lewis

Bill Shankly's first signing as manager of Liverpool

 

[Sandygate Blade]

September 1966. Ref ordered us to wear white shorts because Spurs brought their black shorts. We carried on wearing white shorts for home games until December 1966. Brought it back again for the 1967-68 season (although we wore black shorts in last match)

This was my first ever match as a 7year old. I'd been to reserve games before. Remember Tony Wagastaff scoring early. I was on the Kop with my Dad. Happy memories.

 

[Aycliffe Blade]

Veteran Voyeur here, thought after 10 years I would make a contribution!! Reading the photos thread and particularly the posts on the great Spurs team of the early sixties, got me thinking (I’ve done a lot of that lately ) of the first time that I saw the scaffolding tower that accommodated the TV cameras and commentator on the cricket pitch.

It was against Spurs in 1963, a great game which ended 3-3. There was a big crowd, we had trouble parking and when we finally got in I could not get my usual spot on the BL end white fence, I was some distance from the corner flag, perhaps under the old cricket scoreboard which was incorporated into the BL end roof. I had forgotten about that until recently when I saw an old picture.

We were losing 2-0 I think Tony Wagstaff got one back before half time and unbelievably we went ahead in the second half. I vividly remember John Docherty cutting in from the left to score from a narrow angle. This was unusual in that he normally played on the right, I can only assume he had swapped with Ronnie Simpson. Spurs equalised shortly after. A truly memorable game but I cannot remember seeing it on the TV. JD went on to play for and manage Brentford.

The following year another 3-3 draw in monsoon conditions, another first for me in that dad took us in the John St stand, Kop side and Ketts scored from distance into the Kop goal.

Right I’ll get back to doing a bit of thinking.

Veteran Voyeur here, thought after 10 years I would make a contribution!! Reading the photos thread and particularly the posts on the great Spurs team of the early sixties, got me thinking (I’ve done a lot of that lately ) of the first time that I saw the scaffolding tower that accommodated the TV cameras and commentator on the cricket pitch.

It was against Spurs in 1963, a great game which ended 3-3. There was a big crowd, we had trouble parking and when we finally got in I could not get my usual spot on the BL end white fence, I was some distance from the corner flag, perhaps under the old cricket scoreboard which was incorporated into the BL end roof. I had forgotten about that until recently when I saw an old picture.

We were losing 2-0 I think Tony Wagstaff got one back before half time and unbelievably we went ahead in the second half. I vividly remember John Docherty cutting in from the left to score from a narrow angle. This was unusual in that he normally played on the right, I can only assume he had swapped with Ronnie Simpson. Spurs equalised shortly after. A truly memorable game but I cannot remember seeing it on the TV. JD went on to play for and manage Brentford.

The following year another 3-3 draw in monsoon conditions, another first for me in that dad took us in the John St stand, Kop side and Ketts scored from distance into the Kop goal.

Right I’ll get back to doing a bit of thinking.

I also rarely comment but I remember that game well.

 

[Aycliffe Blade]

Veteran Voyeur here, thought after 10 years I would make a contribution!! Reading the photos thread and particularly the posts on the great Spurs team of the early sixties, got me thinking (I’ve done a lot of that lately ) of the first time that I saw the scaffolding tower that accommodated the TV cameras and commentator on the cricket pitch.

It was against Spurs in 1963, a great game which ended 3-3. There was a big crowd, we had trouble parking and when we finally got in I could not get my usual spot on the BL end white fence, I was some distance from the corner flag, perhaps under the old cricket scoreboard which was incorporated into the BL end roof. I had forgotten about that until recently when I saw an old picture.

We were losing 2-0 I think Tony Wagstaff got one back before half time and unbelievably we went ahead in the second half. I vividly remember John Docherty cutting in from the left to score from a narrow angle. This was unusual in that he normally played on the right, I can only assume he had swapped with Ronnie Simpson. Spurs equalised shortly after. A truly memorable game but I cannot remember seeing it on the TV. JD went on to play for and manage Brentford.

The following year another 3-3 draw in monsoon conditions, another first for me in that dad took us in the John St stand, Kop side and Ketts scored from distance into the Kop goal.

Right I’ll get back to doing a bit of thinking.

This is the team I started watching 1962ish - fantastic

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

I remember scaffolding on the cricket pitch in 1960 for a 6th round FA Cup tie against the S6 porkers. It was for a temporary stand for that match only and held 3,000 fans. A few of us went on there just to experience it. Unfortunately, and it is still a dagger to my heart, we lost 2-0. It was a 60,000 sell out.

My dad always told me about volunteering to help put the temporary stand up from some game from a bygone era (or that's how it sounded at the time). It must have been this one v the pigs. If I remember correctly I'm sure he said all the volunteers got a complimentary ticket for the game.

SSM if you were gutted in 60 that we lost to the pigs in the qtrs, what about the season before in 59? By coincidence I was looking last night on ebay for something for my bird's birthday, she's a Luton fan. Noticed that they played (and beat) Norwich in the semi's to get to the final in 59. This got me thinking, didn't we play Norwich in the quarters ... just checked and yes we did indeed lose to third division Norwich in a replay after the first game had ended a draw at the Lane. We must have been kicking ourselves that season ... Norwich, Luton in the semi's then Forest in the final, to win the cup!!!

Anyone on here remember the 59 quarter v Norwich?

 

[Blend-it-like-Harris]

Yes - remember going thinking it'd be a walk in the park. FA Cup ties were top of the agenda back then, and the excitement of going to games in the 5th & 6th rounds cannot be overstated. I was gobsmacked at the support they brought, and struck by the colour they brought with them. It amused me; I felt rather sorry for them - 3rd Division teams (to me) back then truly were "Pub-League". I had this notion that beating Man Utd and Spurs must have been flukes, and was very confident we'd see them off. I'd never heard of Terry Bly, Terry Allcock or Barry Butler (certainly not Jimmy Hill) but remember being particularly impressed with Terry Bly. I listened to the radio commentary for the replay, and recall it being one of the saddest times I experienced as a little lad.

 

[georgebernardshaw]

I got absolute bloody pelters a couple of years ago when I mentioned the scaffolding on the cricket pitch side of the ground - two or three seasoned posters all said “ I were at that match and there weren’t any scaffolding “, and I just thought “fuck it, why argue?”

So, if you’re reading this chaps......

 

[bornablade]

My dad always told me about volunteering to help put the temporary stand up from some game from a bygone era (or that's how it sounded at the time). It must have been this one v the pigs. If I remember correctly I'm sure he said all the volunteers got a complimentary ticket for the game.

SSM if you were gutted in 60 that we lost to the pigs in the qtrs, what about the season before in 59? By coincidence I was looking last night on ebay for something for my bird's birthday, she's a Luton fan. Noticed that they played (and beat) Norwich in the semi's to get to the final in 59. This got me thinking, didn't we play Norwich in the quarters ... just checked and yes we did indeed lose to third division Norwich in a replay after the first game had ended a draw at the Lane. We must have been kicking ourselves that season ... Norwich, Luton in the semi's then Forest in the final, to win the cup!!!

Anyone on here remember the 59 quarter v Norwich?

'Anyone remember the 59 quarter v Norwich?'

Warnock will be on here later.

 

[Ivanhoe]

When I started going in 71 I loved that scaffold tower, and watching Keith Macklin walk round to it from under the John Street stand.

We stood in John Street towards the Bramall Lane end and we always chanted Macklin, Macklin, Macklin at him as he walked by - and he always gave us a cheery wave.

I think of him as our version of Murray Walker - forever got the score, the scorer, and even the teams wrong - but we all loved him for it!

Magic days - and they’re back again.

“Macklin Macklin, what’s the score, Macklin what’s the score”. Remember it well...

 

[Sharrow Snuff Mill]

My dad always told me about volunteering to help put the temporary stand up from some game from a bygone era (or that's how it sounded at the time). It must have been this one v the pigs. If I remember correctly I'm sure he said all the volunteers got a complimentary ticket for the game.

SSM if you were gutted in 60 that we lost to the pigs in the qtrs, what about the season before in 59? By coincidence I was looking last night on ebay for something for my bird's birthday, she's a Luton fan. Noticed that they played (and beat) Norwich in the semi's to get to the final in 59. This got me thinking, didn't we play Norwich in the quarters ... just checked and yes we did indeed lose to third division Norwich in a replay after the first game had ended a draw at the Lane. We must have been kicking ourselves that season ... Norwich, Luton in the semi's then Forest in the final, to win the cup!!!

Anyone on here remember the 59 quarter v Norwich?

Yes, I certainly remember that as well, 57,000 sell out, no temporary stand. Norwich fans had the usual scarves, hats, rosettes, flags, and rattles, but also school hand ringing bells, and there were two or three that had brought canaries in cages believe it or not. These were circular cages hanging on wooden poles.

Billy Russell scored an excellent goal for us in the first half, then in the second half Hodgy injured his shoulder, and they equalized near the end. As you no doubt know we lost the replay.

Then after the pigs match in `60, we lost in the semi final in 1961 to Leicester, having been denied a perfectly good goal by Doc Pace in the first match at Elland Road because of a crap referee. Second replay saw us go out at St. Andrews after a 0-0 at City ground Nottingham.

Next came another 6th round home tie, in 1962 v. Burnley. We lost to a Ray Pointer goal. which was another dagger to the heart, besides another 57,000 sell out.

So three 6th round matches and a semi final in four years, losing out each time, perhaps prepared my generation of Blades fans for the disappointments in subsequent years at the old, and new, Wembley, Old Trafford, The Millenium Stadium, and Anfield.

I`m looking forward to Chris Wilder giving us the chance to slay those ghosts of the past.