Balham
S24SU Seer
Sheffield United 1-0 Coventry City
Sunday 13th December, 2015
A game memorable for two things: Jay McEveley's "tackle" on Ruben Lameiras (https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/10098915/should-mceveley-have-seen-red) and Billy Sharp breaking a barren spell but knowing absolutely nothing about it as the ball went in off his back
GK 25 George Long: Academy product who made 123 appearances but became a lightening rod for fans’ criticism. Made 31 appearance in the shambolic 2015/16 season but only four more appearances following the Wilder revolution, he moved to Wimbledon on loan in 2017/18 after spending the rest of the 2016/17 season on the bench. Left permanently for Hull in the summer of 2018 before moving to Millwall and then to Norwich in the summer of 2023. Has become a solid Championship keeper, as one sage poster predicted back in 2016 https://www.s24su.com/forum/threads/senseless-abuse-of-george-long.48442/post-1080067
DR 5 John Brayford: talismanic full-back whose purchase held us back more than his subsequent knee injury. Last United appearance ended with a 0-3 home defeat to Southend, paid up by United he moved to Burton three days later. Retired in July 2024 after 7 years at Brewers and is now a first team coach there
DC 34 David Edgar: came through the ranks at Newcastle but his heart never seemed to be in it and he bounced around North American football after his season on loan at United with spells at Vancouver Whitecaps, Nashville, Ottawa Fury and Forge FC (with three months at Hartlepool in 2019 thrown in for good measure!). Has been assistant manager at Canadian PL side Forge FC since 2021
DC 15 Neill Collins: ended up exiled by Clough who preferred anyone else at centre half, a decision which culminated in the ridiculous 5-5 draw at Swindon in the 2014/15 playoffs. Outlasted his nemesis by half a season before moving to Tampa Bay Rowdies in the second tier of US football, initially as a player but then as manager from 2018-23. An unsuccessful spell of just less than a season as Barnsley’s manager (probably Harry Maguire’s fault) was followed by a 3-month stint at Raith Rovers before he was tempted back Stateside by Sacramento Republic in December 2024.
DL 19 Jay McEveley: that tackle was the whole reason for this WATN. McEveley signing from Swindon epitomised where we were as a club in 2014; Madkins making him captain in 2015 was the cherry on top. Released at the end of his contract in 2016, he went on to have single seasons at Ross County and Tranmere before retiring in August 2018. In a true hark back moment, after a short time working in Everton's academy McEveley has become a Telecoms Engineer specialising in fibre optics
MR 8 Paul Coutts: joined United under Clough in January 2015 and flattered to deceive for his first 18 months. Transfer-listed by Chris Wilder at the start of the 2016/17 season he fought back to become irreplaceable and would have led us to a double promotion had he not had his leg horribly broken by a cowardly Marvin Sordell challenge at Burton. He never regained his form or place in United's team and was released at the end of the 2018/19 season, joining Joey Barton's Fleetwood. Two years later, after a half season loan at Salford, Coutts joined Barton again, this time at Bristol Rovers. Moved back to his native Scotland in the summer of 2023 to Highland League side Inverurie Loco Works where he's still playing and coaching now
MC 35 Dean Hammond: the master of the unseen work and last recipient of a player-triggered option to sign permanently, Hammond was paid off immediately by Wilder. He failed to gain another professional deal and ended his career at Worthing without making an appearance for the club, moving into coaching there.
MC 6 Chris Basham: club legend, forced into retirement by a horrible leg injury received at Fulham last season. Has done some media work since finishing playing.
ML 17 Martyn Woolford: left United midway through a 2-year deal as another one paid off as part of the Wilder revolution, joining Fleetwood for 2016/17 then Grimsby for two seasons. Ended his playing career in 2021 after short spells at Hyde, Boston, Gainsborough and Frickley and is now a property investor, possibly utilising his Civil Engineering degree.
AMC 14 Matt Done: a relatively big-money signing by Clough in February 2015, Done fell out of favour under Wilder, becoming a perennial substitute. Left United in the summer of 2017 after the League One promotion campaign and returned for a third spell at Rochdale which lasted until his retirement from playing in 2022. Now U18s lead coach at Port Vale.
FC 18 Conor Sammon: a figure of fun during his time at the Lane, Sammon's loan wasn't turned permanent and instead he joined Hearts on a three-year deal in the summer of 2016 after agreeing to terminate his Derby contract. He spent the majority of his time at Hearts out on loan: half a season at Kilmarnock followed by full seasons at Partick Thistle and Motherwell before joining Falkirk on a free transfer. After two years at the Bairns he dropped down a division to join Alloa Athletic where he's still playing while studying for his coaching badges.
Subs
16 Stefan Scougall (for Woolford, 55): diminutive midfielder who was another lightweight Clough signing from north of the border, joining from Livingston for £150k in January 2014. Left United for St Johnstone at the end of the 2016/17 season and is now at Alloa Athletic (playing alongside Conor Sammon) having crossed back into England to spend the second half of the 2019/20 season with Carlisle.
10 Billy Sharp (for Sammon, 65): nothing I could write about Billy Sharp would do the man justice. Passionate Blades fan who left the Club after promotion in 2023 with a short spell at LA Galaxy followed by half a season at Hull City. Joined Doncaster in the summer to lead their attempts to gain promotion from League Two.
7 Ryan Flynn (for Done, 84): Lightweight Scottish winger who flattered to deceive despite coming having a spell in the Liverpool academy. Joined United from boyhood club Falkirk and made over 150 appearances in red and white, scoring some critical goals including the winner at Villa in the FA cup run. Another who left United in the summer of 2016, he joined Oldham but left there in 2018 to join St Mirren where he became a firm fans' favourite. Now at Scottish League One toppers Arbroath after leaving the Saints last summer.
Unused: 1 Mark Howard (GK): Came through the youth ranks at Arsenal but didn’t make a senior appearance for the Gunners. Joined United from Blackpool in February 2012, initially as backup for Steve Simonsen but became first choice after Simonsen’s release in the summer of 2012. Injured at Leyton Orient in the October, Howard lost his place to George Long before reclaiming the spot in February 2014 for the FA Cup win at Fulham. Informed by Chris Wilder that he wouldn’t be first choice Howard left United in July 2016, joining Bolton and playing against us twice in the following League One season. Two seasons at the Trotters were followed by spells at Blackpool, Scunthorpe and Carlisle before he dropped into non-league with Disney+ FC. Lost his place there to 41 year old Ben Foster for the National League run in and is now backup to Arthur Okonkwo in League One.
22 Louis Reed: Little Louis Reed, still the youngest player to represent United in league football, Reed never really broke though and joined Peterborough in 2018. Released at the end of his contract at Posh he joined crisis-hit Swindon for 18 months before being bought by Mansfield in January 2023.
30 Kieran Wallace: joined Matlock after being released by United in 2017. Picked up by his old mentor Nigel Clough at Burton in October 2018 where he played fairly regularly until an ACL injury ruled him out for 9 months of the 2020/21 season. Wallace has dropped through the leagues progressively since (York to Burton to Mansfield (under Clough!) to Hartlepool to Tamworth) and can now be found at Peterborough Sports in the National League North.
32 Harrison McGahey: brought in ostensibly to replace Harry Maguire but patently not good enough, McGahey nonetheless made a career at L1/L2 level with 2-3 year spells at Rochdale (2017-19), Scunthorpe (2019-21) and Oldham Athletic (2021-24). Moved to Welsh football last summer, signing a one-year deal at The New Saints.
Sunday 13th December, 2015
A game memorable for two things: Jay McEveley's "tackle" on Ruben Lameiras (https://www.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/10098915/should-mceveley-have-seen-red) and Billy Sharp breaking a barren spell but knowing absolutely nothing about it as the ball went in off his back
GK 25 George Long: Academy product who made 123 appearances but became a lightening rod for fans’ criticism. Made 31 appearance in the shambolic 2015/16 season but only four more appearances following the Wilder revolution, he moved to Wimbledon on loan in 2017/18 after spending the rest of the 2016/17 season on the bench. Left permanently for Hull in the summer of 2018 before moving to Millwall and then to Norwich in the summer of 2023. Has become a solid Championship keeper, as one sage poster predicted back in 2016 https://www.s24su.com/forum/threads/senseless-abuse-of-george-long.48442/post-1080067
DR 5 John Brayford: talismanic full-back whose purchase held us back more than his subsequent knee injury. Last United appearance ended with a 0-3 home defeat to Southend, paid up by United he moved to Burton three days later. Retired in July 2024 after 7 years at Brewers and is now a first team coach there
DC 34 David Edgar: came through the ranks at Newcastle but his heart never seemed to be in it and he bounced around North American football after his season on loan at United with spells at Vancouver Whitecaps, Nashville, Ottawa Fury and Forge FC (with three months at Hartlepool in 2019 thrown in for good measure!). Has been assistant manager at Canadian PL side Forge FC since 2021
DC 15 Neill Collins: ended up exiled by Clough who preferred anyone else at centre half, a decision which culminated in the ridiculous 5-5 draw at Swindon in the 2014/15 playoffs. Outlasted his nemesis by half a season before moving to Tampa Bay Rowdies in the second tier of US football, initially as a player but then as manager from 2018-23. An unsuccessful spell of just less than a season as Barnsley’s manager (probably Harry Maguire’s fault) was followed by a 3-month stint at Raith Rovers before he was tempted back Stateside by Sacramento Republic in December 2024.
DL 19 Jay McEveley: that tackle was the whole reason for this WATN. McEveley signing from Swindon epitomised where we were as a club in 2014; Madkins making him captain in 2015 was the cherry on top. Released at the end of his contract in 2016, he went on to have single seasons at Ross County and Tranmere before retiring in August 2018. In a true hark back moment, after a short time working in Everton's academy McEveley has become a Telecoms Engineer specialising in fibre optics
MR 8 Paul Coutts: joined United under Clough in January 2015 and flattered to deceive for his first 18 months. Transfer-listed by Chris Wilder at the start of the 2016/17 season he fought back to become irreplaceable and would have led us to a double promotion had he not had his leg horribly broken by a cowardly Marvin Sordell challenge at Burton. He never regained his form or place in United's team and was released at the end of the 2018/19 season, joining Joey Barton's Fleetwood. Two years later, after a half season loan at Salford, Coutts joined Barton again, this time at Bristol Rovers. Moved back to his native Scotland in the summer of 2023 to Highland League side Inverurie Loco Works where he's still playing and coaching now
MC 35 Dean Hammond: the master of the unseen work and last recipient of a player-triggered option to sign permanently, Hammond was paid off immediately by Wilder. He failed to gain another professional deal and ended his career at Worthing without making an appearance for the club, moving into coaching there.
MC 6 Chris Basham: club legend, forced into retirement by a horrible leg injury received at Fulham last season. Has done some media work since finishing playing.
ML 17 Martyn Woolford: left United midway through a 2-year deal as another one paid off as part of the Wilder revolution, joining Fleetwood for 2016/17 then Grimsby for two seasons. Ended his playing career in 2021 after short spells at Hyde, Boston, Gainsborough and Frickley and is now a property investor, possibly utilising his Civil Engineering degree.
AMC 14 Matt Done: a relatively big-money signing by Clough in February 2015, Done fell out of favour under Wilder, becoming a perennial substitute. Left United in the summer of 2017 after the League One promotion campaign and returned for a third spell at Rochdale which lasted until his retirement from playing in 2022. Now U18s lead coach at Port Vale.
FC 18 Conor Sammon: a figure of fun during his time at the Lane, Sammon's loan wasn't turned permanent and instead he joined Hearts on a three-year deal in the summer of 2016 after agreeing to terminate his Derby contract. He spent the majority of his time at Hearts out on loan: half a season at Kilmarnock followed by full seasons at Partick Thistle and Motherwell before joining Falkirk on a free transfer. After two years at the Bairns he dropped down a division to join Alloa Athletic where he's still playing while studying for his coaching badges.
Subs
16 Stefan Scougall (for Woolford, 55): diminutive midfielder who was another lightweight Clough signing from north of the border, joining from Livingston for £150k in January 2014. Left United for St Johnstone at the end of the 2016/17 season and is now at Alloa Athletic (playing alongside Conor Sammon) having crossed back into England to spend the second half of the 2019/20 season with Carlisle.
10 Billy Sharp (for Sammon, 65): nothing I could write about Billy Sharp would do the man justice. Passionate Blades fan who left the Club after promotion in 2023 with a short spell at LA Galaxy followed by half a season at Hull City. Joined Doncaster in the summer to lead their attempts to gain promotion from League Two.
7 Ryan Flynn (for Done, 84): Lightweight Scottish winger who flattered to deceive despite coming having a spell in the Liverpool academy. Joined United from boyhood club Falkirk and made over 150 appearances in red and white, scoring some critical goals including the winner at Villa in the FA cup run. Another who left United in the summer of 2016, he joined Oldham but left there in 2018 to join St Mirren where he became a firm fans' favourite. Now at Scottish League One toppers Arbroath after leaving the Saints last summer.
Unused: 1 Mark Howard (GK): Came through the youth ranks at Arsenal but didn’t make a senior appearance for the Gunners. Joined United from Blackpool in February 2012, initially as backup for Steve Simonsen but became first choice after Simonsen’s release in the summer of 2012. Injured at Leyton Orient in the October, Howard lost his place to George Long before reclaiming the spot in February 2014 for the FA Cup win at Fulham. Informed by Chris Wilder that he wouldn’t be first choice Howard left United in July 2016, joining Bolton and playing against us twice in the following League One season. Two seasons at the Trotters were followed by spells at Blackpool, Scunthorpe and Carlisle before he dropped into non-league with Disney+ FC. Lost his place there to 41 year old Ben Foster for the National League run in and is now backup to Arthur Okonkwo in League One.
22 Louis Reed: Little Louis Reed, still the youngest player to represent United in league football, Reed never really broke though and joined Peterborough in 2018. Released at the end of his contract at Posh he joined crisis-hit Swindon for 18 months before being bought by Mansfield in January 2023.
30 Kieran Wallace: joined Matlock after being released by United in 2017. Picked up by his old mentor Nigel Clough at Burton in October 2018 where he played fairly regularly until an ACL injury ruled him out for 9 months of the 2020/21 season. Wallace has dropped through the leagues progressively since (York to Burton to Mansfield (under Clough!) to Hartlepool to Tamworth) and can now be found at Peterborough Sports in the National League North.
32 Harrison McGahey: brought in ostensibly to replace Harry Maguire but patently not good enough, McGahey nonetheless made a career at L1/L2 level with 2-3 year spells at Rochdale (2017-19), Scunthorpe (2019-21) and Oldham Athletic (2021-24). Moved to Welsh football last summer, signing a one-year deal at The New Saints.
