JJ Sefton
Live, Laugh, Love
Bearing in mind United’s abysmal recent record in the Cup and the fact that their first round opponents, Newcastle United, had won the trophy in 1910 and reached the final in 1905, 1908 and 1911, it is not hard to see why United were such rank outsiders as they faced the Magpies at St James’s Park on January 10th. Jimmy Revill was standing in on the left wing for the injured Bob Evans and was up against one of the most highly rated defenders of the day, Irish international Bill McCracken. Before the match McCracken told Revill that he had made a wasted journey but Revill replied “I've been greased all over today Bill, and you’ll never catch me. I shall give you the biggest doing of your life”.
As it was luck was on United’s side for once as, with United 1-0 up, Newcastle lost their centre forward through injury just before half time. Soon after the break Goodwill, Newcastle’s left half, collided with Brelsford and went off the pitch unconscious. With United 5-0 up against the nine men the home sides’ keeper, Wilson, had to leave the field after a clash with United centre forward Stan Fazackerly. United’s last goal was scored by Jimmy Revill, who had more than delivered on his promise to the bamboozled McCracken.
The second round drew United at home to Bradford Park Avenue and 51,000 turned up, a record for a football match in Sheffield. In fact the crowd was in excess of what the Lane could reasonably hold and fans were crowded onto the cricket pitch. To the Independent this was “stronger proof than we have ever seen before of the disadvantage of the same ground having to be used for football and cricket”. Utley had missed the Newcastle game through injury but gave a classy display which he capped with two goals with another from Jimmy Simmons as the Blades eased through 3-1.
A trip to London followed as United faced a Millwall side managed by Bert Lipsham in the third round on February 21st. Again, Utley was outstanding and found the net twice after Kitchen had put United ahead from the spot after 15 minutes. The long period in between was dominated by a spirited Millwall side and considering that United won 4-0 it is amazing that the excellent Gough was man of the match.
United had not been in the fourth round of the Cup since 1902, the last occasion they had won it, and they were drawn away against Manchester City. Predictably perhaps they were cagey affairs dominated by the defences and two matches finished 0-0. It was only in extra time in the second replay that Jimmy Revill set up Jimmy Simmons for the winner and United were in the semi final.
Unfortunately the match against Burnley at Old Trafford on 28th March 1914 was another fairly tedious, goalless game. United came close when Burnley’s post was rattled and the ball looked to have crossed the line before their keeper scrambled the ball away. One writer commented that “The curse of modern cup football is the belief that defence is not just the best policy but the only policy”. He finished with a dig at Utley; “This is Barnsley playing in red and white stripes”. In the replay at Goodison Park four days later it was Utley’s old Barnsley team mate Tommy Boyle who scored the goal that sent Burnley into the final.
Despite the heavy outlay on players the Cup run had been good business for United. Football had brought in over £17,700 and profits were £3,000 but while the outlook for the football team was bright prospects generally took a dark turn in the summer of 1914. The assassination of an Austrian Duke in Bosnia in June had, by August, led to war.
The outbreak of war was greeted with something approaching euphoria in Sheffield as elsewhere. R A Sparling described the lines of volunteers
“£500 a year business men, stockbrokers, engineers, chemists, metallurgical experts, University and public school men, medical students, journalists, schoolmasters, craftsmen, shop assistants, secretaries, and all sorts of clerks”
These eager, ordinary men were formed into an infantry battalion, the 12th Yorks and Lancs. The wide open spaces of Bramall Lane were eagerly utilised for drilling the battalion but the club soon became concerned about the damage this was doing to the pitch and the ‘Sheffield Pals’ moved to Redmires to the west of the city.
There was a widespread belief that the war would be short encapsulated in the famous phrase ‘over by Christmas’. Another phrase, ‘business as usual’, reflected the idea that the war would have very little effect on national life and, controversially, it was decided to persist with the football season. Understandably, with hundreds of thousands of men fighting and dying in the war, there were some who were outraged that able bodied men should be at home earning a living playing football. The Sheffield Telegraph fumed that United and Wednesday were “bringing shame on themselves and the city” by playing while the war in the trenches raged on.
1914 - 1915 was another middle of the road season in the League a huge blow coming in the opening game when Gillespie broke his leg and missed the rest of the season. But as the Cup had proved a real money spinner United chose to focus their efforts there. The Cup campaign kicked off at Blackpool on January 9th. Wally Masterman, Gillespie’s replacement, had such an impressive game that it was dubbed ‘Masterman’s Match’. He gave United the lead before their Second Division opponents equalised. In the second half however, Masterman put paid to a brave effort from the Seasiders who had hit the bar, when he scored the winner. One newspaper commented that “Masterman is rightly named from a football point of view”.
In the fourth round United came up against fellow First Division side Liverpool at the Lane. It was played at a frantic pace but was still goalless after 85 minutes when United sent in a corner and Joe Kitchen rose to head it home. The fifth round match was different; a drab, dour slugfest against Bradford on February 20th. After ninety goalless minutes the match went into extra time and Kitchen, who had been effectively smothered by the Bradford defenders, was shunted out to the right to give him more space. It paid off as he took the ball near the corner flag, advanced towards the goal and knocked the ball into the penalty box. The cross hit the leg of Crozier and deflected into the net giving United the win.
The Blades travelled to Oldham on March 6th for the quarter final but were put under intense pressure by the Latics who were top of the First Division. The Lancashire side hit the post and the game went into extra time but United’s defence held out and earned a replay at Bramall Lane. When the match was played a week later the ground was crammed with 43,157 fans but Oldham were a disappointment and were easily beaten 3-0 as Kitchen kept up his impressive scoring record in the Cup with two goals and Fazackerly added a third.
Confidence was high for the semi final against struggling Bolton at Ewood Park and it brought a crowd of over 22,000. Like the Liverpool game it was a furious end to end affair and Jimmy Simmons broke the deadlock to score for the Blades from a tight angle. Just before the half time whistle,
“Utley was challenged by Glendenning & Jennings, but he coolly and cleverly evaded the attentions of both, and then having run nearly 30 yards, he steadied himself in front of Edmonson and with the utmost deliberation drove the ball into the net. It was a glorious goal, and quite the outstanding feature of the match.”
Bolton pulled a goal back, but the Blades were through to the final where they would face Chelsea.
The final was usually played at Crystal Palace in south London but that ground was being used for war work and so it was moved to Old Trafford. April 24th 1915 was a miserable day in Manchester with thick fog and constant drizzle. One slightly pretentious observer likened the scene to a “Whistlerian Monotone in grey”. The game entered history as the ‘Khaki Cup Final’ as the crowd of 49,557 was full of servicemen, some wounded, who came in their uniforms. When Lord Derby arrived he “received a very hearty welcome, which the band, having just concluded a selection, mistook as an appreciation of their efforts”.
“Chelsea were the first to take the field. They were cordially cheered, but the roar which saluted them was as nothing compared with that which greeted Sheffield United a moment or so later”
Utley leads the Blades out
Despite impressive Cup wins away at Manchester City and Newcastle Chelsea had been poor all season and afterwards one journalist noted that “it was not their day at any time.” United came out at a blistering pace and used the tactic of long passes from one wing to another which had the effect of pulling the Chelsea defence all over the place. The Sunday Pictorial said
“Sheffield United played fast, robust football, keeping the ball always on the move and, as a matter of fact, showing considerably more combination than the Londoners front line”.
Nevertheless, despite all the attacking possession, it was only after 36 minutes that the Blades broke through.
“Nine minutes from the interval, the Sheffielders took the lead, which on the run of play they thoroughly deserved, though it was the result of a ‘mix up’ on the part of the Chelsea defence. Evans bore down the left wing and crossed. Harrow should have cleared but failed. Molyneux had relied on the back, and advanced to try to get the ball. He was too late and Simmons gaining possession sent the leather crashing into the net”.
In the crowd Simmons uncle, Bill Foulke, exclaimed “I didn’t know the little beggar had it in him!”
Ford then Halse mustered a couple of efforts for Chelsea in the remaining minutes of the first half but in the second United were just as dominant and Kitchen had a goal disallowed for offside. Like the first half however, the Chelsea defence held out bravely despite constant pressure until the 83rd minute when
“Utley struck the crossbar with a splendid shot. The ball rebounded to Fazackerly who had just previously enabled Molyneux to make a glorious save by cutting out a header following a corner, and Fazackerly banged it into the net.”
This second goal, scored in the fading light, triggered a pitch invasion which took a few minutes to calm down. When play restarted with only a couple of minutes left, Joe Kitchen rounded the game off with a remarkable goal. He got the ball
“near the half way line and in making a straight dash for goal, he kept Bettridge off, drew Molyneux out of his fortress, and placed the ball in the net after a dribble of 40 yards at least.”
The Chelsea captain admitted that “We lost to the better team on the day. They gave us no rest and little chance”. The Green ‘Un claimed that “if United had won by five goals they would not have been flattered”. The Athletic News said that “United simply brushed Chelsea aside as if they were novices.”
As Lord Derby handed the Cup to Utley he said “you have played against one another for the Cup, play with one another for England now”. Understandably due to the grim situation on the western front the jubilation was not widely shared. On their return to Sheffield the players were ushered out of the station, not through the usual crowd of cheering fans, but through a side door. Charles Clegg was unhappy and claimed that “There has been some talk of disgrace being attached to winning the Cup this year, but I do not hold with that opinion. I take the victory to be an honour to Sheffield.” The Telegraph was optimistic.
“Given the final triumph of the Allies, and the resumption of football next season, there would be no reason whatever why the present United team…should not remain one of the foremost in the League”.
As it was luck was on United’s side for once as, with United 1-0 up, Newcastle lost their centre forward through injury just before half time. Soon after the break Goodwill, Newcastle’s left half, collided with Brelsford and went off the pitch unconscious. With United 5-0 up against the nine men the home sides’ keeper, Wilson, had to leave the field after a clash with United centre forward Stan Fazackerly. United’s last goal was scored by Jimmy Revill, who had more than delivered on his promise to the bamboozled McCracken.
The second round drew United at home to Bradford Park Avenue and 51,000 turned up, a record for a football match in Sheffield. In fact the crowd was in excess of what the Lane could reasonably hold and fans were crowded onto the cricket pitch. To the Independent this was “stronger proof than we have ever seen before of the disadvantage of the same ground having to be used for football and cricket”. Utley had missed the Newcastle game through injury but gave a classy display which he capped with two goals with another from Jimmy Simmons as the Blades eased through 3-1.
A trip to London followed as United faced a Millwall side managed by Bert Lipsham in the third round on February 21st. Again, Utley was outstanding and found the net twice after Kitchen had put United ahead from the spot after 15 minutes. The long period in between was dominated by a spirited Millwall side and considering that United won 4-0 it is amazing that the excellent Gough was man of the match.
United had not been in the fourth round of the Cup since 1902, the last occasion they had won it, and they were drawn away against Manchester City. Predictably perhaps they were cagey affairs dominated by the defences and two matches finished 0-0. It was only in extra time in the second replay that Jimmy Revill set up Jimmy Simmons for the winner and United were in the semi final.
Unfortunately the match against Burnley at Old Trafford on 28th March 1914 was another fairly tedious, goalless game. United came close when Burnley’s post was rattled and the ball looked to have crossed the line before their keeper scrambled the ball away. One writer commented that “The curse of modern cup football is the belief that defence is not just the best policy but the only policy”. He finished with a dig at Utley; “This is Barnsley playing in red and white stripes”. In the replay at Goodison Park four days later it was Utley’s old Barnsley team mate Tommy Boyle who scored the goal that sent Burnley into the final.
Despite the heavy outlay on players the Cup run had been good business for United. Football had brought in over £17,700 and profits were £3,000 but while the outlook for the football team was bright prospects generally took a dark turn in the summer of 1914. The assassination of an Austrian Duke in Bosnia in June had, by August, led to war.
The outbreak of war was greeted with something approaching euphoria in Sheffield as elsewhere. R A Sparling described the lines of volunteers
“£500 a year business men, stockbrokers, engineers, chemists, metallurgical experts, University and public school men, medical students, journalists, schoolmasters, craftsmen, shop assistants, secretaries, and all sorts of clerks”
These eager, ordinary men were formed into an infantry battalion, the 12th Yorks and Lancs. The wide open spaces of Bramall Lane were eagerly utilised for drilling the battalion but the club soon became concerned about the damage this was doing to the pitch and the ‘Sheffield Pals’ moved to Redmires to the west of the city.
There was a widespread belief that the war would be short encapsulated in the famous phrase ‘over by Christmas’. Another phrase, ‘business as usual’, reflected the idea that the war would have very little effect on national life and, controversially, it was decided to persist with the football season. Understandably, with hundreds of thousands of men fighting and dying in the war, there were some who were outraged that able bodied men should be at home earning a living playing football. The Sheffield Telegraph fumed that United and Wednesday were “bringing shame on themselves and the city” by playing while the war in the trenches raged on.
1914 - 1915 was another middle of the road season in the League a huge blow coming in the opening game when Gillespie broke his leg and missed the rest of the season. But as the Cup had proved a real money spinner United chose to focus their efforts there. The Cup campaign kicked off at Blackpool on January 9th. Wally Masterman, Gillespie’s replacement, had such an impressive game that it was dubbed ‘Masterman’s Match’. He gave United the lead before their Second Division opponents equalised. In the second half however, Masterman put paid to a brave effort from the Seasiders who had hit the bar, when he scored the winner. One newspaper commented that “Masterman is rightly named from a football point of view”.
In the fourth round United came up against fellow First Division side Liverpool at the Lane. It was played at a frantic pace but was still goalless after 85 minutes when United sent in a corner and Joe Kitchen rose to head it home. The fifth round match was different; a drab, dour slugfest against Bradford on February 20th. After ninety goalless minutes the match went into extra time and Kitchen, who had been effectively smothered by the Bradford defenders, was shunted out to the right to give him more space. It paid off as he took the ball near the corner flag, advanced towards the goal and knocked the ball into the penalty box. The cross hit the leg of Crozier and deflected into the net giving United the win.
The Blades travelled to Oldham on March 6th for the quarter final but were put under intense pressure by the Latics who were top of the First Division. The Lancashire side hit the post and the game went into extra time but United’s defence held out and earned a replay at Bramall Lane. When the match was played a week later the ground was crammed with 43,157 fans but Oldham were a disappointment and were easily beaten 3-0 as Kitchen kept up his impressive scoring record in the Cup with two goals and Fazackerly added a third.
Confidence was high for the semi final against struggling Bolton at Ewood Park and it brought a crowd of over 22,000. Like the Liverpool game it was a furious end to end affair and Jimmy Simmons broke the deadlock to score for the Blades from a tight angle. Just before the half time whistle,
“Utley was challenged by Glendenning & Jennings, but he coolly and cleverly evaded the attentions of both, and then having run nearly 30 yards, he steadied himself in front of Edmonson and with the utmost deliberation drove the ball into the net. It was a glorious goal, and quite the outstanding feature of the match.”
Bolton pulled a goal back, but the Blades were through to the final where they would face Chelsea.
The final was usually played at Crystal Palace in south London but that ground was being used for war work and so it was moved to Old Trafford. April 24th 1915 was a miserable day in Manchester with thick fog and constant drizzle. One slightly pretentious observer likened the scene to a “Whistlerian Monotone in grey”. The game entered history as the ‘Khaki Cup Final’ as the crowd of 49,557 was full of servicemen, some wounded, who came in their uniforms. When Lord Derby arrived he “received a very hearty welcome, which the band, having just concluded a selection, mistook as an appreciation of their efforts”.
“Chelsea were the first to take the field. They were cordially cheered, but the roar which saluted them was as nothing compared with that which greeted Sheffield United a moment or so later”
Utley leads the Blades out
Despite impressive Cup wins away at Manchester City and Newcastle Chelsea had been poor all season and afterwards one journalist noted that “it was not their day at any time.” United came out at a blistering pace and used the tactic of long passes from one wing to another which had the effect of pulling the Chelsea defence all over the place. The Sunday Pictorial said
“Sheffield United played fast, robust football, keeping the ball always on the move and, as a matter of fact, showing considerably more combination than the Londoners front line”.
Nevertheless, despite all the attacking possession, it was only after 36 minutes that the Blades broke through.
“Nine minutes from the interval, the Sheffielders took the lead, which on the run of play they thoroughly deserved, though it was the result of a ‘mix up’ on the part of the Chelsea defence. Evans bore down the left wing and crossed. Harrow should have cleared but failed. Molyneux had relied on the back, and advanced to try to get the ball. He was too late and Simmons gaining possession sent the leather crashing into the net”.
In the crowd Simmons uncle, Bill Foulke, exclaimed “I didn’t know the little beggar had it in him!”
Ford then Halse mustered a couple of efforts for Chelsea in the remaining minutes of the first half but in the second United were just as dominant and Kitchen had a goal disallowed for offside. Like the first half however, the Chelsea defence held out bravely despite constant pressure until the 83rd minute when
“Utley struck the crossbar with a splendid shot. The ball rebounded to Fazackerly who had just previously enabled Molyneux to make a glorious save by cutting out a header following a corner, and Fazackerly banged it into the net.”
This second goal, scored in the fading light, triggered a pitch invasion which took a few minutes to calm down. When play restarted with only a couple of minutes left, Joe Kitchen rounded the game off with a remarkable goal. He got the ball
“near the half way line and in making a straight dash for goal, he kept Bettridge off, drew Molyneux out of his fortress, and placed the ball in the net after a dribble of 40 yards at least.”
The Chelsea captain admitted that “We lost to the better team on the day. They gave us no rest and little chance”. The Green ‘Un claimed that “if United had won by five goals they would not have been flattered”. The Athletic News said that “United simply brushed Chelsea aside as if they were novices.”
As Lord Derby handed the Cup to Utley he said “you have played against one another for the Cup, play with one another for England now”. Understandably due to the grim situation on the western front the jubilation was not widely shared. On their return to Sheffield the players were ushered out of the station, not through the usual crowd of cheering fans, but through a side door. Charles Clegg was unhappy and claimed that “There has been some talk of disgrace being attached to winning the Cup this year, but I do not hold with that opinion. I take the victory to be an honour to Sheffield.” The Telegraph was optimistic.
“Given the final triumph of the Allies, and the resumption of football next season, there would be no reason whatever why the present United team…should not remain one of the foremost in the League”.
