Wednesday fan on Joe Shaw

[Isaw Joeshaw]

I watched last night's footie in a bar in Spain, and sitting next to me was a life long Wednesday fan aged 80 plus.

At one stage, the commentator remarked on how well a certain defender was playing at which point the Wednesday fan turned to me and said " You lot had the best defender I've ever seen, Joe Shaw ."

Respect.

 

[Silent Blade]

Before Don Revie's first match as L**ds manager against the Blades in March 1961, he put Jack Charlton (6 feet 3 inches) up front so that he would win a lot of the balls in the air against Joe Shaw. In that match Shaw was comfortable playing against him because of his excellent anticipation and timing. Jack said of that match "I remember Joe Shaw of Sheffield United laughing at me, I was making such a mess of it"

 

[Bladesthorpe]

I watched last night's footie in a bar in Spain, and sitting next to me was a life long Wednesday fan aged 80 plus.

At one stage, the commentator remarked on how well a certain defender was playing at which point the Wednesday fan turned to me and said " You lot had the best defender I've ever seen, Joe Shaw ."

Respect.

He knows his stuff, if he comes in the bar tonight get him a pint. He's an unusual Owl in the fact that he knows what he's talking about.

 

[Dalelane01]

He knows his stuff, if he comes in the bar tonight get him a pint. He's an unusual Owl in the fact that he knows what he's talking about.

A bright owl a very rare breed

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

I watched last night's footie in a bar in Spain, and sitting next to me was a life long Wednesday fan aged 80 plus.

At one stage, the commentator remarked on how well a certain defender was playing at which point the Wednesday fan turned to me and said " You lot had the best defender I've ever seen, Joe Shaw ."

Respect.

Very impressive to get that statement. I don't know whether it was just a kids' thing, but I spent years arguing about whether Joe Shaw or Swan was the better centre-half (and, of course, Hodgy v Springett). I don't remember once getting one of them to recognise the truth. Are you sure you hadn't got your hands round his throat at the time?

 

[Seanshoreham]

As a kid I was at the game when they put the 600 (games) not out for Joe on the cricket scoreboard - quite a few blokes around me (including my dad) got quite emotional, he was well loved was Joe
Can't remember who we played though?

 

[Fulwood Blade]

I worked in Leeds for 6 years and got on well with an older geezer who was originally a boro fan - probably born in the 30's. His dad used to take him to many football games all over and he always waxed lyrics about Joe Shaw.

It's these "neutrals" that can tell you so much about football of old.

UTB

 

[Groucho Blade]

He played 632 league games for us.

Six hundred and thirty two.

Imagine that.

Mind blowing.

 

[HodgysBrokenThumb]

As a kid I was at the game when they put the 600 (games) not out for Joe on the cricket scoreboard - quite a few blokes around me (including my dad) got quite emotional, he was well loved was Joe
Can't remember who we played though?

600th league game was v West Ham, Feb 6, 1965. We won 2-1, goals from Jones and Birchenall. I can't remember the scoreboard detail.

 

[Grizzly blade]

He played 632 league games for us.

Six hundred and thirty two.

Imagine that.

Mind blowing.

Never to be repeated. Not just us, at any club.

If they played 50 games a season, it would take over 12 years without injury to get close to that. No player these days is firstly gonna be close to playing that number of games young enough to stand a chance, or hang around at one club long enough.

 

[Willie Carlin]

Before Don Revie's first match as L**ds manager against the Blades in March 1961, he put Jack Charlton (6 feet 3 inches) up front so that he would win a lot of the balls in the air against Joe Shaw. In that match Shaw was comfortable playing against him because of his excellent anticipation and timing. Jack said of that match "I remember Joe Shaw of Sheffield United laughing at me, I was making such a mess of it"

Bobby Smith the England and Spurs centre also said Joe was the best centre half he’d ever played against.

 

[Elsecar_Blade]

Hope David Brooks manages to break that record!

My Grandad told me all about Joe Shaw when I was 7. We’d been footballing and I tackled him. When I was smiling about it, my Grandad said I could grow up to be the next Joe Shaw. Had no idea who he meant so he told me - had a proper twinkle in his eye talking about him.

 

[snootyfenooty]

Very impressive to get that statement. I don't know whether it was just a kids' thing, but I spent years arguing about whether Joe Shaw or Swan was the better centre-half (and, of course, Hodgy v Springett). I don't remember once getting one of them to recognise the truth. Are you sure you hadn't got your hands round his throat at the time?

Joe Shaw was a better CH than Swanny, but then again I'm biased. Forget about the betting scandal, you wouldn't get a slap on the wrist for that these days, Swanny was a class act and would have played for England in '66. Sorry if this upsets a few people.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Hope David Brooks manages to break that record!

Not possible. He's already too old.

 

[PeterNdlovu081]

Never to be repeated. Not just us, at any club.

Ryan Sessegnon could.

He's only 17 and has played nearly 60 league matches already.

Still highly unlikely though because he'll end up in the Premier League playing 38 game seasons.

 

['Doc' Pace my hero]

It hurts to admit that if it was not for the magnificent Spurs double winning side then Wednesday would have won the first division championship in 60/61,they never recovered from the loss of Swan,Layne and Kay.I really believe that if Joe Shaw had the physique of Peter Swan he would have been an England regular for years,even though he was small for a centre half he was a real class act,probably the best i have ever seen.

 

[Rawnblade]

Both sets of fans appreciated and respected the better players of the other side in those days. Whilst there was always friendly banter, it wasn't venomous and hateful like it is now. Suppose that reflects the changes in society, generally, in some way. But that's another subject altogether.
Joe was a marvellously cultured player, especially for a defender. And one of my boyhood heroes.

 

[Longtimesupporter]

I watched last night's footie in a bar in Spain, and sitting next to me was a life long Wednesday fan aged 80 plus.

At one stage, the commentator remarked on how well a certain defender was playing at which point the Wednesday fan turned to me and said " You lot had the best defender I've ever seen, Joe Shaw ."

Respect.

Definitely my favourite player.

 

[Groucho Blade]

Never to be repeated. Not just us, at any club.

Ryan Giggs will probably be the last one. Whatever you think of him; it’s an awesome achievement especially when you consider the trophies and silverware he won as well.

 

[Isaw Joeshaw]

Both sets of fans appreciated and respected the better players of the other side in those days. Whilst there was always friendly banter, it wasn't venomous and hateful like it is now. Suppose that reflects the changes in society, generally, in some way. But that's another subject altogether.
Joe was a marvellously cultured player, especially for a defender. And one of my boyhood heroes.

That's a very good point and one that I think social media has a lot to answer for.

 

[Blackheath Blade]

Joe Shaw was a better CH than Swanny, but then again I'm biased. Forget about the betting scandal, you wouldn't get a slap on the wrist for that these days, Swanny was a class act and would have played for England in '66. Sorry if this upsets a few people.

My late father said exactly the same about Peter Swan, Snooty.

 

[Kentblade]

One thing I recall was that Joe was called up to be an England reserve and Billy Wright withdrew at the last minute.
We all thought this was Joe's chance but then instead of using him they brought in a tall centre half and that was the end of a deserved international career that never got started.
Was always along with Jimmy Hagan my favourite player at the time, what performers and skill they had.
Coincidence both came from the North East.

UTB

 

[Sid1978]

Never to be repeated. Not just us, at any club.

If they played 50 games a season, it would take over 12 years without injury to get close to that. No player these days is firstly gonna be close to playing that number of games young enough to stand a chance, or hang around at one club long enough.

Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher?

 

[Brian Blessed]

Carragher notched up an impressive 737 in all competitions, Neville 602. Giggs had 963 which as an attacking player is even more remarkable.

Shaw's would all have been starts though, no subs back then.

 

[BushBlade]

Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher?

I think it's still possible for players at the biggest teams, if they can come through the youth team and cement a place in the first team, to get to those sort of numbers but it's unlikely it will happen at clubs like ours. The best ones end up going to the big clubs.
There wasn't a massive gap in wages between the top two divisions so even if a club like ours got relegated from Div 1 to Div 2 it could afford to keep most of its players and the old contract rules meant players had to do what they were told, they couldn't force a move.

 

[Davalon]

Grew up listening to my Dad tell me about Joe Shaw, who was his favourite United player.

Sadly he passed away far too young during our promotion season in 89/90. He would have loved the statue in the car park.