SUFC - Worst League One XI

[Weasel]

1. Conroy
2. Casey
3. Garner
4. Houston
5. MacPhail
6. Trusson
7. Matthews
8. Givens
9. Tibbott
10. Hatton
11. Ryan
Sub. Neville

The side that managed to snatch relegation from safety on the final day of 1980-1 and thus consign us to the fourth division for the first (and so far only) time in our history.

I look at that team and wonder how in the hell did we manage to get relegated to div 4 ??? OK I know that that really is a shit side and was a disgrace to the club but if you go through that team one by one there were a few who werent actually total bullshit.

Conroy wasn't a bad young keeper, Garner steady (fkin reight ugly though), Trusson was OK, bottler Matthew was also half decent on his day (scored a belting volley direct from a corner kick v Barnsley in a night match to get a late leveller a month before we went down), Givens had had a decent career and was still half useful, Hatton was a good player still, and Ryan could hit a decent ball. The centre backs were gash though and a liability each. That team was w*nk but should never have been down where they were. Peters has a lot to answer for the useless cockney dickwipe.

 

[BushBlade]

I look at that team and wonder how in the hell did we manage to get relegated to div 4 ??? OK I know that that really is a shit side and was a disgrace to the club but if you go through that team one by one there were a few who werent actually total bullshit.

Conroy wasn't a bad young keeper, Garner steady (fkin reight ugly though), Trusson was OK, bottler Matthew was also half decent on his day (scored a belting volley direct from a corner kick v Barnsley in a night match to get a late leveller a month before we went down), Givens had had a decent career and was still half useful, Hatton was a good player still, and Ryan could hit a decent ball. The centre backs were gash though and a liability each. That team was w*nk but should never have been down where they were. Peters has a lot to answer for the useless cockney dickwipe.

Macfail wasn't that bad with someone better than Houston alongside him.

 

[coolhandluke]

No Leon Clarke or James Hanson ...... are you sure ?

Possibly the worst players we've ever had .

Just ask DronnieBlade . He'll put you silly fuckers right

 

[oldblade]

A lot of those were also in next season's championship winning side. And kept us back in the third the season after. So, shit players or shit manager?

The only players from that side who played for the majority of the season back in the third division after promotion were Garner, Trusson and Houston.

Conroy played in 18 league games, MacPhail only played in 11 league games, Hatton played in 6 matches (3 of which were as a substitute), and Matthews may have still been on the books but did not feature in any league matches at all, nor did Neville. Ryan, Casey, Givens and Tibbott had gone.

It wasn't until Conroy, MacPhail and Hatton no longer featured that we began to get comfortably clear of relegation and that was mainly down to a run of 9 straight home wins.

But a mid table third division finish hardly covers the side in glory. Much of that season was a struggle, and particularly away from home some of the performances were very poor. Had we ever got sucked into a relegation I would have feared for us.

 

[oldblade]

I look at that team and wonder how in the hell did we manage to get relegated to div 4 ??? OK I know that that really is a shit side and was a disgrace to the club but if you go through that team one by one there were a few who werent actually total bullshit.

Conroy wasn't a bad young keeper, Garner steady (fkin reight ugly though), Trusson was OK, bottler Matthew was also half decent on his day (scored a belting volley direct from a corner kick v Barnsley in a night match to get a late leveller a month before we went down), Givens had had a decent career and was still half useful, Hatton was a good player still, and Ryan could hit a decent ball. The centre backs were gash though and a liability each. That team was w*nk but should never have been down where they were. Peters has a lot to answer for the useless cockney dickwipe.

Not just Peters. We were well and truly on the slide with Haslam.

As you say, on paper it looked a decent third division outfit, but the defence always caused a lot of nervous tension. In my humble opinion we missed Kenworthy on that particular day, and significantly, he was an ever present in the division 4 season. We also signed John McAlle in the centre of defence and whilst he was hardly a world beater, he seemed to add a bit of solidity and steadiness. Also I think John Ryan played in defence rather than midfield. So, if memory serves me right the defence at the start of the division 4 season comprised of Kenworthy, Houston, McAlle and Ryan.

The player I feel sorry for from the relegation season is Bob Hatton. Obviously in the twilight of his career, but still a good player and one that you could never accuse of not giving 100%.

 

[BushBlade]

The only players from that side who played for the majority of the season back in the third division after promotion were Garner, Trusson and Houston.

Conroy played in 18 league games, MacPhail only played in 11 league games, Hatton played in 6 matches (3 of which were as a substitute), and Matthews may have still been on the books but did not feature in any league matches at all, nor did Neville. Ryan, Casey, Givens and Tibbott had gone.

It wasn't until Conroy, MacPhail and Hatton no longer featured that we began to get comfortably clear of relegation and that was mainly down to a run of 9 straight home wins.

But a mid table third division finish hardly covers the side in glory. Much of that season was a struggle, and particularly away from home some of the performances were very poor. Had we ever got sucked into a relegation I would have feared for us.

I thought I'd seen more of MacPhail than that, funny how the mind plays tricks. Who played in central defence then? I think Kenworthy did a stint there and was it Gary West?

 

[oldblade]

I thought I'd seen more of MacPhail than that, funny how the mind plays tricks. Who played in central defence then? I think Kenworthy did a stint there and was it Gary West?

We signed Mick Henderson during the close season and was one of the full backs. I'm not 100% sure, but I think Garner also played in defence for a lot of that season. MacPhail played the first part of the season in the centre of defence and then I think West replaced him. Kenworthy was probably the other central defender.

 

[davidblade]

A tricky one to answer this!

GK - Simmonsen
RB - Westlake
CB - Alcock
CB - McEveley
LB - Williams
RW - Brandy
CM - Lappin
CM - Hammond
LW - Woolford
FW - Higdon
FW - Sammon

It makes me a bit ill, looking at that XI.

And off course managed by Adkins...

 

[davidblade]

Boganovic? John Egan? Jordan Slew? Jordan Chappell? John Cofie? Paul Gallagher? Dave McAllister? Febian Brandy? Ryan Hall? Joe Ironside? Jasper Johns? Simon Lappin? Sean McGinty? Aidan White? Stee Davies? Paddy McCarthy? James Wallace? Craig Alcock?
The stuff of nightmares. No wonder we've been down here for 6 years.

Your dead right never mind one team we've had enough shite players to make a whole league of shite teams , decisions , decisions

 

[davidblade]

I thought I'd seen more of MacPhail than that, funny how the mind plays tricks. Who played in central defence then? I think Kenworthy did a stint there and was it Gary West?

McPhail scored against the pigs so I d take him offf this list so that alone.

 

[Jehovah]

I can't believe how many picked Simonsen above Long. When Simmo had a bad spell he was dropped for Long. After 2 games Simmo was recalled as it was clear Long was far more abysmal.

 

[Valleyblade]

Mcginty, Mcginn, Maguire and Flynn, McDonald, O'Connell and Clough.

Not a bad team, but a satisfying rhyme.

Sorry.

 

[BushBlade]

Mcginty, Mcginn, Maguire and Flynn, McDonald, O'Connell and Clough.

Not a bad team, but a satisfying rhyme.

Sorry.

Anyone else now thinking of Trumpton?

 

['Doc' Pace my hero]

If you ever needed confirmation of how well Chris Wilder has done this season,just read this thread,it has made me feel physically sick seeing the list of absolute shit we have endured these last few years !!

 

[Valleyblade]

We've got...

Freeman, Jake Wright, O'Connell and Lafferty.....Duffy, John Fleck, Billy Sharp and Lavery.....

Hanson, Simon Moore, Alan knill and tufty, and

COOTS.....there it is.

Again sorry. Not really on topic.

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

How the f**k is Brandy getting mentioned in the worst XIs, he was head and shoulders above everyone else in the disastrous Weir reign.

 

[Silent Blade]

Matthews may have still been on the books but did not feature in any league matches at all

Matthews was freed in summer 1982. Went to Mansfield

 

[TBW57]

Matthews was freed in summer 1982. Went to Mansfield

He did, indeed, and was an integral part of Chesterfield's 4th division title-winning side in 1985.

 

[Silent Blade]

He did, indeed, and was an integral part of Chesterfield's 4th division title-winning side in 1985.

I remember going to Sean O'Neill's testimonial match and the squad paraded the 4th division trophy before the match. A player called Ferguson (I think) had a career ending injury in that match

 

[TBW57]

I remember going to Sean O'Neill's testimonial match and the squad paraded the 4th division trophy before the match. A player called Ferguson (I think) had a career ending injury in that match

That's right, SB. Brian Ferguson was the player. He had been an unsuccessful midfield player converted into a right back but he never recovered from his injury. He was given the trainer's job at Saltergate but when the League brought in a rule that every team had to employ a qualified physiotherapist he had to be let go.

 

[Elsecar_Blade]

McEveley at left back - apart from him cant think of many horrific others we've had (Harris and Francois weren't that bad).

*McFadzean could be in with a shout.

Marcus Williams says, "Hello!" - so does Andy Taylor.

 

[ReeceofBDTBL]

So, it looks like we've finally served our time in League One, and we have suffered some dark days, bad players and worse managers - but what is the worse XI since being down here.

4-4-2

GK

RB
LB
CB
CB

LW - Martyn Woolford
RW
CM - Dean Hammond
CM

ST - Conor Sammon
ST

Subs:

Manager:

Ive took the liberty of completing three absolute shoe-ins.

Lets start by discussing the keeper...Long? Simmonsen? Howard? Any keeper that isn't Moore?

Simonsen

Westlake. Alcock. Mcginty. Williams


Woolford. Hammond. Mcginn. Lappin


O'Halloran. Sammon.




Vomits*

Christ we've had some shite. 'Goal a game Simonsen', the worst keeper in my lifetime.
Alcock at centre back, fuck me.

Michael O'Halloran, the thickest footballer I've ever seen.

Dean Hammond? In his defence he try his best and I do think he cared, but his legs had completely gone and ultimately he was a huge disaster of a signing. Although he's still a cunt for taking up that extra year with a club who didn't want him and who's fans couldn't stand the sight of him.

Martin Woolford. Irredeemably shite

Connor Sammon, absolute car crash of a centre forward. 6 foot 3 and can't head a fucking ball. He has literally conned football clubs out of millions.

Thank God for Chris Wilder

UTB

 

[Revolution]

The only players from that side who played for the majority of the season back in the third division after promotion were Garner, Trusson and Houston.

Conroy played in 18 league games, MacPhail only played in 11 league games, Hatton played in 6 matches (3 of which were as a substitute), and Matthews may have still been on the books but did not feature in any league matches at all, nor did Neville. Ryan, Casey, Givens and Tibbott had gone.

It wasn't until Conroy, MacPhail and Hatton no longer featured that we began to get comfortably clear of relegation and that was mainly down to a run of 9 straight home wins.

But a mid table third division finish hardly covers the side in glory. Much of that season was a struggle, and particularly away from home some of the performances were very poor. Had we ever got sucked into a relegation I would have feared for us.

Neville and Hatton both went to other third tier clubs (Cardiff and Exeter) and did well.

The relegation in 1981 was a gigantic fluke. Just the sort of thing that happens to us.

 

[oldblade]

Neville and Hatton both went to other third tier clubs (Cardiff and Exeter) and did well.

The relegation in 1981 was a gigantic fluke. Just the sort of thing that happens to us.

Hatton was one of the few players in that relegation side to do well for us. 18 goals in 44 appearances in a relegated side is a pretty good achievement, and was a better strike rate than he managed at Cardiff (9 goals in 30 appearances). If everyone had performed to Hatton's standard we would not have gone down.

 

[Grappler]

Mcginty, Mcginn, Maguire and Flynn, McDonald, O'Connell and Clough.

Not a bad team, but a satisfying rhyme.

Sorry.

 

[Grappler]

Simmo has to be a shoe-in for the keeper slot.

Marlon "C**t" King would be challenging Sammon, maybe coming off the bench.

Hammond - naturally

David Weir managing (of course) with Mickey Adams assisting.

 

[BLADES1988]

Boganovic? John Egan? Jordan Slew? Jordan Chappell? John Cofie? Paul Gallagher? Dave McAllister? Febian Brandy? Ryan Hall? Joe Ironside? Jasper Johns? Simon Lappin? Sean McGinty? Aidan White? Stee Davies? Paddy McCarthy? James Wallace? Craig Alcock?
The stuff of nightmares. No wonder we've been down here for 6 years.

"The" John Egan?

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

Simmo has to be a shoe-in for the keeper slot.

Marlon "C**t" King would be challenging Sammon, maybe coming off the bench.

Hammond - naturally

David Weir managing (of course) with Mickey Adams assisting.

Goalkeeper and I use that term very loosely would for me have to be Derek Richardson and the manager, who I class as the worst in our history would be 'Sloppy' Harry Haslam, ably assisted by Martin Stamford Peters. There would be a strong case just to name the XI who trotted out at the sty on Boxing Day 1979 (harsh on Kenworthy, MacPhail, Speight and Sabella i guess)

 

[SUFC Handsworth]

I wish I hadn't read this thread now ... certain names are spring into my head and it's not good ... Butlin and Bourne, Dougie Brown, Len de Goey, Pedro Verde, Tony Moore, the aforementioned Derek Richardson, Stewart Houston, I'm sure there's more but thankfully something is blanking it out for me.

The recent mob in the lower leagues at least got to the play-offs three times, FA Cup semi-final and LC semi final (ie they weren't that bad), that lot in 79 to 81 were truly abysmal.

 

[VwBlade]

Boganovic? John Egan? Jordan Slew? Jordan Chappell? John Cofie? Paul Gallagher? Dave McAllister? Febian Brandy? Ryan Hall? Joe Ironside? Jasper Johns? Simon Lappin? Sean McGinty? Aidan White? Stee Davies? Paddy McCarthy? James Wallace? Craig Alcock?
The stuff of nightmares. No wonder we've been down here for 6 years.

God we signed some shite