Six of the worst injuries (from a Blades football point of view)

[1973Blade]

As many have pointed out, we won yesterday to go top of the league, yet it has been overshadowed by the awful injury to Paul Coutts. Hopefully he will make as speedy recovery as soon as possible, but what other injuries have had such an impact on the club? Here's six that spring to mind:
1. Rob Hulse v Chelsea, Premier League. At the time I think we knew that his leg break could be the difference between staying up and going down. In thine more goal would have saved us, surely Hulse would have managed that? We struggled to get goals in the Premier League and we sorely missed him
2. Dane Whitehouse v Port Vale. The terrible challenge by Gareth Ainsworth which ended his career. I've never known Blades fans have such a grudge for a player who had never played for Wednesday. Like Wilder and Sharp, Whitehouse was 'one of our own', such a committed player. We missed him when he broke his leg in 1993, but to see his career end was a huge blow.
3. John Ebbrell v Reading. He became a bit of a joke, the £1 million signing who only played one half (and made the goal in a 1-0 win.) But Kendall intended him to be a key player for us in the middle and had spent a huge amount to get him.
4 John Bayford v Swindon. Had been a cult figure during our cup run in 2013 and his signing lifted the club. He never really recovered from the injury, maybe with him playing at Swindon we could have won the game?
5. Paul Mcgrath1997. Part of one of the best Blades sides I have seen. Could hardly run, but always seemed to be where the ball was. Typical Blades luck, after years of his dodgy knees holding out they finally fail three months after joining us. He was a vital player in Spackman's system and we weren't able to replace him.
6. Simon Webster v Mansfield 1988.A limited player, but in the third tier a useful defensive midfielder for us, who grew in popularity with the fans. We wondered who would replace him when he broke his leg halfway through our promotion campaign. In this instance Bassett was able to sign a man who would become a cult hero, Bob Booker!

 

[Bert]

As many have pointed out, we won yesterday to go top of the league, yet it has been overshadowed by the awful injury to Paul Coutts. Hopefully he will make as speedy recovery as soon as possible, but what other injuries have had such an impact on the club? Here's six that spring to mind:
1. Rob Hulse v Chelsea, Premier League. At the time I think we knew that his leg break could be the difference between staying up and going down. In thine more goal would have saved us, surely Hulse would have managed that? We struggled to get goals in the Premier League and we sorely missed him
2. Dane Whitehouse v Port Vale. The terrible challenge by Gareth Ainsworth which ended his career. I've never known Blades fans have such a grudge for a player who had never played for Wednesday. Like Wilder and Sharp, Whitehouse was 'one of our own', such a committed player. We missed him when he broke his leg in 1993, but to see his career end was a huge blow.
3. John Ebbrell v Reading. He became a bit of a joke, the £1 million signing who only played one half (and made the goal in a 1-0 win.) But Kendall intended him to be a key player for us in the middle and had spent a huge amount to get him.
4 John Bayford v Swindon. Had been a cult figure during our cup run in 2013 and his signing lifted the club. He never really recovered from the injury, maybe with him playing at Swindon we could have won the game?
5. Paul Mcgrath1997. Part of one of the best Blades sides I have seen. Could hardly run, but always seemed to be where the ball was. Typical Blades luck, after years of his dodgy knees holding out they finally fail three months after joining us. He was a vital player in Spackman's system and we weren't able to replace him.
6. Simon Webster v Mansfield 1988.A limited player, but in the third tier a useful defensive midfielder for us, who grew in popularity with the fans. We wondered who would replace him when he broke his leg halfway through our promotion campaign. In this instance Bassett was able to sign a man who would become a cult hero, Bob Booker!

Bert was at Mansfield when Webster broke his leg, you could hear the crack as it snapped from the terrace.

 

[Revolution]

Brian Smith vs Preston, 1989. Broken leg that finished his career. Horrible.

 

[Pollingtonblade]

Simon Tracey v Liverpool that dirty bastard Ian Rush

 

[Bladepicker]

Steve Kabba against Wigan I think. He was absolutely ripping teams apart up to that injury.

 

[sitwell]

Trevor hockey broken leg v man city
Tom macallister broken leg v man city
John mcgeady broken leg v man city

 

[Guesty]

Trevor hockey broken leg v man city
Tom macallister broken leg v man city
John mcgeady broken leg v man city

My Dad rates McAlister as the best Blades Goalkeeper he's seen, never mind what he could have achieved if not for Marsh.

He also tells that when he cam back to the Lane (with Blackpool?) the Kop chanted his name for about 25 minutes straight!

 

[super_pig]

didn't john flynn break his leg when we got relegated in 75 (was it? can't remember)

 

[Bert]

Didn't Currie once drop a bottle of sauce on his foot and cut it?

Silent Blade will know if it was tomato or brown sauce.

 

[Esablade]

Dean Hammonds unseen injury which hampered his Blades career no end...I couldn’t watch that again...

 

[Punk Blade]

Steve Kabba against Wigan I think. He was absolutely ripping teams apart up to that injury.

Was that the leg break? I think that was his first game back after a long injury layoff (maybe tendonitis), but honestly I can’t remember when and against whom he picked up his injuries, didn’t he get three completely unrelated long term injuries in succession with only one first team appearance and one reserve appearance before breaking down each time?

 

[Gretsch Blade]

Was at the Bridge when Hulse* broke his leg... He was playing well, scoring in the top tier and all was good to be a blade, then that happened.
We all had that sinking feeling...
Due to the current/recent state of football, recovery and funding, high wages and asset sales this was in my view one of the ‘worst’ timed injuries from a club perspective (*Not ideal for Hulse either in fairness, who never returned to the same standards following the injury).

Let’s hope the Coutts break doesn’t have a similar impact, however I’d like to think the club have learnt a lot over the last decade and with this terrific team and management at the helm the owners will support Sir Chris and Knilly in January when it matters. UTB
Ps. Get well soon Couttsy

 

[Roygbiv]

Was at the Bridge when Hulse* broke his leg... He was playing well, scoring in the top tier and all was good to be a blade, then that happened.
We all had that sinking feeling...
Due to the current/recent state of football, recovery and funding, high wages and asset sales this was in my view one of the ‘worst’ timed injuries from a club perspective (*Not ideal for Hulse either in fairness, who never returned to the same standards following the injury).

Let’s hope the Coutts break doesn’t have a similar impact, however I’d like to think the club have learnt a lot over the last decade and with this terrific team and management at the helm the owners will support Sir Chris and Knilly in January when it matters. UTB
Ps. Get well soon Couttsy

If there is any positive to take then it's that we aren't far from January whereas Hulses leg break came after the deadline.

 

[Silent Blade]

didn't john flynn break his leg when we got relegated in 75 (was it? can't remember)

October 1976 at Charlton. Derek Hales broke Flynn's leg. Eddie Colquhoun was furious with Hales and went straight to him after the match pointing at him and shouting "I will see you at Bramall Lane". Hales moved to Derby County some weeks later

 

[Bladepicker]

Was that the leg break? I think that was his first game back after a long injury layoff (maybe tendonitis), but honestly I can’t remember when and against whom he picked up his injuries, didn’t he get three completely unrelated long term injuries in succession with only one first team appearance and one reserve appearance before breaking down each time?

Yes that's why Insaid I thought it was Wigan but wasn't sure.

I meant his first leg break that set off this run of injuries. Wigan may have been his second major injury I can't remember.

 

[blade too long]

morgans ligament cost us big time

 

[Captain]

Trevor hockey broken leg v man city
Tom macallister broken leg v man city
John mcgeady broken leg v man city

Trevor Hockey would have played in with a broken leg!

 

[Bayingblade]

Peter Duffields at Swindon always makes me wince

 

[Revolution]

Yes that's why Insaid I thought it was Wigan but wasn't sure.

I meant his first leg break that set off this run of injuries. Wigan may have been his second major injury I can't remember.

Wigan was the second one, in his first game back. He crumpled after coming on as sub. His only appearance between May 2003 and February 2005. I always wondered whether they rushed him back before he was ready.

 

[Silent Blade]

Didn't Currie once drop a bottle of sauce on his foot and cut it?

Silent Blade will know if it was tomato or brown sauce.

The night before the League Cup replay against Arsenal in November 1971 he accidentally spilled a pan of boiling water on his foot at home. He hobbled to the telephone box in his street to phone John Harris about his accident. The Star rated him doubtful for the match. The fans who arrived at the Lane early for the replay were able to see John Harris giving TC a fitness test behind the Lane end goal before he go the go ahead to play.

I believe he was out injured for a number of matches in the 1968-69 season. On the evening after our 2-0 defeat at Spurs in March 1972 he suffered facial injuries in a car crash at Eyre Street and was ruled out from playing in the next 4 games. He suffered a knee injury in March 1974 and needed a knee operation which would have ruled him out from playing in the 1974 World Cup had England qualified

 

[Dnblade]

Didn't Currie once drop a bottle of sauce on his foot and cut it?

Silent Blade will know if it was tomato or brown sauce.

A boiling kettle wasn't it.

Sorry SB..posted at the same time.

 

[Silent Blade]

Peter Duffields at Swindon always makes me wince

He scored and broke his leg at the same time

 

[Bladepicker]

Wigan was the second one, in his first game back. He crumpled after coming on as sub. His only appearance between May 2003 and February 2005. I always wondered whether they rushed him back before he was ready.

Cheers Revo - I thought it might be that when Punk Blade jogged my memory. Remember thinking his legs looked like pins and he just didn't look ready.

When did he break his leg?

 

[1973Blade]

Brian Smith vs Preston, 1989. Broken leg that finished his career. Horrible.

I was going to mention that but couldn't remember the details. In contrast to now, in the 80s few players came up from the juniors, so it was refreshing that the Smith brothers were getting into the side. A pity that Brian's career ended so soon.

 

[Dnblade]

First one I remember was Gil Reece v Blackpool...I was only about 6,but it just stuck in my mind,and we were right in line with it on the JSWT.

 

[iBlade.]

Tom Mcalister the worst I can remember. He was a very highly rated up and coming keeper. Rodney Marsh was chasing down a through ball but Mcalister looked to have got there just before him, as Mcalister dived down to collect the ball Marsh ran straight into him with Mcalisters leg taking the impact. The ball then obviously spilled loose and Marsh tapped it into the goal which was given. It was obvious that Mcalister was very seriously injured, you could see his leg was misshapen. It was broken in 2 places. Woody went into goal for the remainder of the game. After a very lengthy absence Mcalister came back but was never the same.

 

[sitwell]

My Dad rates McAlister as the best Blades Goalkeeper he's seen, never mind what he could have achieved if not for Marsh.

He also tells that when he cam back to the Lane (with Blackpool?) the Kop chanted his name for about 25 minutes straight!

tell your Dad I agree with him

 

[DifferentClass]

Trevor hockey broken leg v man city
Tom macallister broken leg v man city
John mcgeady broken leg v man city

Fucking Citeh.

Thanks for Brooks though

 

[Silent Blade]

Tom Mcalister the worst I can remember. He was a very highly rated up and coming keeper. Rodney Marsh was chasing down a through ball but Mcalister looked to have got there just before him, as Mcalister dived down to collect the ball Marsh ran straight into him with Mcalisters leg taking the impact. The ball then obviously spilled loose and Marsh tapped it into the goal which was given. It was obvious that Mcalister was very seriously injured, you could see his leg was misshapen. It was broken in 2 places. Woody went into goal for the remainder of the game. After a very lengthy absence Mcalister came back but was never the same.

It was Denis Law who tapped in the loose ball

 

[Punk Blade]

Wigan was the second one, in his first game back. He crumpled after coming on as sub. His only appearance between May 2003 and February 2005. I always wondered whether they rushed him back before he was ready.

Cheers Revo - I thought it might be that when Punk Blade jogged my memory. Remember thinking his legs looked like pins and he just didn't look ready.

When did he break his leg?

That Wigan game he wasn’t right mentally either. He was far too desperate to get involved after so long out and was throwing himself into all sorts of crazy tackles. I think he did it to himself.

Odd thing about that game - we’ve sat on John St since about ‘99, but my visual memory of that game is from South Stand and I don’t remember us moving for one game.