1891–92_Sheffield_United_F.C._season

1891–92 Sheffield United F.C. season

1891–92 Sheffield United F.C. season

Sheffield United 1891–92 football season


The 1891–92 season was the third in existence for Sheffield United. This was their first season playing in the recently formed Northern League as the club sought to establish itself as a major footballing force. The Blades had a reasonably successful season, finishing third in the league, and registering some comprehensive victories along the way. They improved on the previous season by reaching the second round proper of the FA Cup and were victorious in the local cup competitions, winning both the Sheffield Challenge Cup and the Wharncliffe Charity Cup for the first time.

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Under the stewardship of Joseph Wostinholm, United continued to recruit more experienced players. Bob Cain was signed from Bootle and Harry Hammond arrived from Everton, both players cementing their place in United's first team for several years to come. Most significant however was the emergence of a young Ernest Needham who made his United debut in the early part of the season and would go on to be one of the club's greatest ever players and ultimately captain England. The season did see the first United players to gain international caps with both Harry Lilley and Michael Whitham appearing for England on 5 March, (although in different matches as England played two different games concurrently on that day.)

Background

J.B. Wostinholm was the club secretary and responsible for football matters

Football was developing and match referees were introduced for the first time for the 1891–92 season. Previously both sides had provided an umpire who jointly officiated the game and consulted with a third official should they be unable to agree. Penalty kicks were also introduced to penalise fouls made within eighteen yards of the goal, and United used nets in the goals at Bramall Lane for the first time.[1]

The previous season had been a mixed one, with an improvement in the quality of players and increasing attendances for home games, but a mid–table finish in the Midland Counties League had been the result.[2] Under the guidance of club secretary J.B. Wostinholm, the football committee still wanted to improve the standard of matches played by United and so opted to leave the Midland Counties League and seek election to The Football League instead.[3] They were unsuccessful in their attempt, amidst accusations that local rivals The Wednesday had voted against their acceptance and had even petitioned other clubs to vote against their entry.[3] Instead United joined the newly formed Northern League which comprised mainly teams from the north–east, meaning that their nearest away match in the league was at Darlington, some 85 miles away from Sheffield.[3]

Despite now being focussed on league football, the club also arranged a large number of friendly fixtures throughout the season which resulted in a congested fixture list and United playing 75 first team games in the space of eight months.[1] This season also saw the introduction of an official reserve side for United, dubbed The Sheffield Strollers, who played a number of fixtures in addition to those played by the first team.[1]

Kit

United dropped the thin red vertical stripes that had been introduced the previous season, reverting to a plain white shirt along with blue shorts and socks.[4] This season saw the introduction of a club crest (or badge) on the shirts for the first time, utilising a red heraldic shield emblazoned with three sheaves of wheat and a lions head, along with the letters SUFC.[5]

Season overview

Northern League

1891-92 Sheffield United F.C. first team. Pictured (left to right) – Rear: Fred Davies, Harry Stones (assistant secretary), John Scott, Will Lilley
Middle: W. Patterson, Rab Howell, Bob Cain, Charlie Howlett, Billy Hendry, Harry Lilley, W. Nesbitt, Fred Housley (trainer)
Front: Charles Stokes (football committee chairman), Sandy Wallace, Samuel Dobson, Harry Hammond, Arthur Watson, John Drummond, Michael Whitham

United continued with a sizable turnover of playing staff but were now focusing on using their financial position to target experienced professionals rather than relying on the untried talents of previous seasons.[3] Bob Cain and Harry Hammond arrived in August, recruited from Bootle and Everton respectively,[6][7] while previous stalwarts like Edward Cross, Billy Bridgewater and W. Robertson were allowed to leave.[8][9][10] A young Ernest Needham was promoted to the first team and began to feature regularly as the season progressed; he would eventually go on to make over 450 league appearances for the Blades and to captain England during his career.

The league season started well as United registered a 4–2 away victory over Sunderland Albion followed by two comprehensive home wins; beating Darlington 7–1 and South Bank 6–0.[1] It was not until early November that the Blades dropped points, suffering a 3–0 home defeat by Middlesbrough before a 2–0 reverse at the hands of struggling Darlington.[1]

United continued to add to the squad, signing keeper Will Lilley from Staveley,[11] before registering a string of victories until the end of the year, culminating in a 6–0 win over Stockton at the end of December.[1] The league then took a winter break of almost three months, not resuming until almost the end of March. The club continued to strengthen their attacking options by recruiting three additional forwards from Scotland; Sandy Wallace,[12] John Scott[13] and resigning former player James Duncan.[14] William Calder and Harry Munro were both allowed to join Gainsborough Trinity,[6][15] before United resumed their league campaign with a 4–3 loss away at Newcastle West End who were struggling at the bottom of the table.[1] This signalled a down–turn in form and inconsistent results until the end of the season meant that United lost touch with the top of the table and eventually finished third.[1]

Bob Cain joined United from Bootle in August 1891[6]

United's growing reputation was such that their players were beginning to come to the attention of the FA and both Michael Whitham and Harry Lilley received an England call–up in March 1892. Both players made their debut on 5 March, Whitham in a Home Championship game against Ireland in Belfast,[16] and Lilley in a friendly against Wales.[17][note 1]

The club's organising football committee were still determined to gain entry to The Football League and applied for election for the second year in succession. On this occasion however United were successful and were given entry into the newly formed Second Division for the 1892–93 season.[3] Cross–town rivals The Wednesday had also been accepted into the Football League, but had been placed in the First Division, much to the annoyance of United's board of directors. United asked to review the ballot papers upon which this decision had been based but were told that they had been destroyed, angering the club's directors still further.[3]

FA Cup

As in previous years United had to play a number of qualifying rounds against local opposition before they gained entry to the FA Cup proper. Lincoln City were dispatched 4–1 at Bramall Lane,[1] before much closer games against Grimsby and Gainsborough Trininty saw the Blades reach the first round proper.[1] United travelled to Blackpool in the First Round, coming away comfortable 3–0 winners to secure a place in Round Two for only the second time.[1] They met an experienced Wolverhampton Wanderers side at Molineux Stadium but were to progress no further, losing 3–1 to their Midlands opponents.[1]

Local cups

As football in the area developed, so the standing of the local cups diminished amongst the area's leading sides. United entered the Sheffield Challenge Cup at the third round stage and comfortably saw off Doncaster Rovers 4–0 at Bramall Lane.[1] The semi-final saw an away trip to Kilnhurst, who the Blades beat by the same 4–0 scoreline to secure a place in the final for the second year in succession.[1] United faced local rivals The Wednesday at Bramall Lane, but the opposition had fielded their reserve side during the competition and as such a largely second–string United side beat the Wednesday Wanderers 2–1 to lift the club's first ever trophy.[1]

The Wharncliffe Charity Cup garnered even less attention this season and United were given an automatic place in the final where they faced Attercliffe at the Olive Grove ground, beating them 2–0 at the end of March to win their second trophy in a month.[1]

Friendlies

As in the previous two seasons, the football committee filled the fixture list by arranging a large number of friendlies and exhibition games throughout the year. The results of these games were mixed and mirrored the team's performance in the league; starting promisingly in the Autumn but tailing off after the turn of the year. United began the programme well, gaining victories against emerging Woolwich Arsenal, and the established Notts County and Bolton Wanderers, in the early part of the season.[1] From October onwards the results became less consistent with the Blades suffering heavy defeats at the hands of Grimsby Town and Birmingham St. George's.[1] It wasn't until February that United's form improved, beating Burnley and Everton twice in consecutive games, running out 5–0 victors over the Merseyside club at Bramall Lane.[1] Another run of poor results followed until the Blades registered their most comprehensive victory of the season at the end of March, beating Burnley 8–1.[1]

For the second season in succession the highlights of the fixture list were the games against local rivals The Wednesday, with a record 22,900 supporters attending Bramall Lane to see the Blades record a 5–0 victory at the end of October.[1] Just under a month later United lost the return fixture at Olive Grove 4–1 in front of a more modest crowd of just under 12,000.[1]

Squad

Source:[1]

First team

Rab Howell was a mainstay of the United defence throughout the season.[1]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

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Players leaving before the end of the season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

More information No., Pos. ...

Transfers

In

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Out

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League table

More information Pos, Team ...
Source: [1]

Squad statistics

Appearances and goals

As of the end of the season[1]
More information No., Pos ...

Results

Source:[1]

Key

  Win   Draw   Loss

Northern League

12 September 1891
[note 4]
Sunderland Albion 2–4 Sheffield United Blue House Field, Sunderland
Thomas  '
Watson  ',  '
Drummond  '
Attendance: 3,000
26 September 1891 Sheffield United 7–1 Darlington Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Watson  ',  '
Dobson  ',  '
Hammond  '
Needham  '
McGregor  ' (o.g.)
Attendance: 7,500
10 October 1891
[note 5]
Sheffield United 6–0 South Bank Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Hammond  '
Drummond  ',  '
Dobson  ',  '
Needham  '
Attendance: 2,500
17 October 1891 Middlesbrough 1–2 Sheffield United Linthorpe Road, Middlesbrough
Drummond  '
Hammond  '
Attendance: 4,000
7 November 1891 Sheffield United 0–3 Middlesbrough Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Attendance: 6,000
21 November 1891 Darlington 2–0 Sheffield United Feethams, Darlington
Attendance: 2,000
28 November 1891 South Bank 0–5 Sheffield United Normanby Road, Middlesbrough
Dobson  ',  '
Hammond  ',  '
Anderson  ' (o.g.)
Attendance: 500
19 December 1891 Sheffield United 5–1 Newcastle West End Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Scott  '
Drummond  '
Needham  '
Dobson  ',  '
Attendance: 3,000
26 December 1891 Newcastle East End 1–2 Sheffield United Stanley Street, Newcastle upon Tyne
Drummond  '
Wallace  '
Attendance: 3,500
29 December 1891 Sheffield United 6–0 Stockton Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Unknown  '
Hammond  ',  '
Dobson  ',  ',  '
Attendance: 7,750
26 March 1892 Newcastle West End 4–3 Sheffield United St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne
Scott  '
Watson  ',  '
Attendance: 1,000
2 April 1892 Sheffield United 2–2 Middlesbrough Ironopolis Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Hammond  '
Drummond  '
Attendance: 6,500
11 April 1892 Sheffield United 2–1 Sunderland Albion Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Wallace  '
Hammond  '
Attendance: 2,000
16 April 1892 Sheffield United 3–0 Newcastle East End Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Duncan  '
Hammond  '
Dobson  '
Attendance: 3,000
18 April 1892 Stockton 1–1 Sheffield United ?, Stockton-on-Tees
Hammond  ' Attendance: 2,700
30 April 1892 Middlesbrough Ironopolis 2–1 Sheffield United Paradise Ground, Middlesbrough
Drummond  ' Attendance: 3,000

FA Cup

24 October 1891 Second qualifying round Sheffield United 4–1 Lincoln City Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Needham  '
Watson  '
Hammond  '
Neill  ' (o.g.)
Attendance: 10,000
14 November 1891 Third qualifying round Grimsby Town 1–2 Sheffield United Abbey Park, Grimsby
Hammond  '
Dobson  '
Attendance: 4,500
5 December 1891 Fourth qualifying round
[note 6]
Sheffield United 1–0 Gainsborough Trinity Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Dobson  ' Attendance: 7,000
16 January 1892 First Round Blackpool 0–3 Sheffield United Raikes Hall, Blackpool
Scott  '
Wallace  ',  '
Attendance: 2,800
30 January 1892 Second Round Wolverhampton Wanderers 3–1 Sheffield United Molineux Stadium, Wolverhampton
Dobson  ' Attendance: 5,000

Sheffield Challenge Cup

23 January 1892 Third Round Sheffield United 4–0 Doncaster Rovers Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Dobson  ',  '
Watson  '
Scott  '
Attendance: 2,500
27 February 1892
[note 7]
Semi Final
Kilnhurst 0–4
(Abdn. 61)
Sheffield United ?, Carbrook
Billy Bairstow  '
Scott  ',  '
Smith  '
Attendance: 600
12 March 1892
[note 8]
Final
Sheffield United 2–1 Wednesday Wanderers Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Scott  ',  ' Attendance: 5,000

Wharncliffe Charity Cup

31 March 1892 First round Sheffield United 2–0 Attercliffe Olive Grove, Sheffield
Billy Bairstow  '
Dobson  '
Attendance: 2,000

Friendlies

1 September 1891 Sheffield United 5–1 Middlesbrough Ironopolis Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Langley  ' (o.g.)
Watson  ',  '
Thomas  '
Drummond  '
Attendance: 3,000
3 September 1891 Millwall Athletic 0–2 Sheffield United The Athletic Ground, London
Hammond  '
Drummond  '
Attendance: 1,500
5 September 1891 Woolwich Arsenal 0–2 Sheffield United Invicta Ground, London
Watson  '
Drummond  '
Attendance: 11,000
7 September 1891 Sheffield United 4–1 Notts County Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Dobson  '
Thomas  '
Hammond  ',  '
Attendance: 4,000
15 September 1891 Bootle 1–3 Sheffield United Hawthorne Road, Bootle
Watson  ',  '
Dobson  '
Attendance: 2,000
19 September 1891 Middlesbrough Ironopolis 2–2 Sheffield United Paradise Ground, Middlesbrough
Hammond  '
Drummond  '
Attendance: 3,000
21 September 1891 Sheffield United 4–3 Bolton Wanderers Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Hammond  ',  '
Watson  ',  '
Attendance: 3,500
28 September 1891 Sheffield United 1–2 Preston North End Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Watson  ' Attendance: 8,700
3 October 1891 Burton Swifts 0–2 Sheffield United Peel Croft, Burton upon Trent
Unknown  '
Watson  '
Attendance: 'good'
12 October 1891 Sheffield United 3–0 Grimsby Town Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Watson  ',  '
Hammond  '
Attendance: 6,000
19 October 1891 Sheffield United 4–2 Canadians Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Dobson  ',  '
Whitham  '
Watson  '
Attendance: 3,000
26 October 1891 Sheffield United 5–0 The Wednesday Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Brandon  ' (o.g.)
Hammond  ',  '
Dobson  ',  '
Attendance: 22,900
29 October 1891 Grimsby Town 5–1 Sheffield United Abbey Park, Grimsby
Watson  ' Attendance: 3,000
31 October 1891 Casuals 3–0 Sheffield United Kennington Park Oval, London
Attendance: 2,000
2 November 1891 Sheffield United 4–1 Derby County Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Drummond  '
Dobson  ',  '
Hammond  '
Attendance: 3,500
5 November 1891 Sheffield United 1–3 Bootle Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Bairstow  ' Attendance: 2,000
16 November 1891 The Wednesday 4–1 Sheffield United Olive Grove, Sheffield
Needham  ' Attendance: 11,500
23 November 1891 Sheffield United 3–2 Newton Heath Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Hammond  ',  '
Watson  '
Attendance: 3,000
12 December 1891 Walsall Town Swifts 2–0 Sheffield United ?, Walsall
Attendance: 550
25 December 1891
[note 9]
Sheffield United 3–0
(abdn. 75 min)
Woolwich Arsenal Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Scott  '
Hammond  '
Howell  '
Attendance: 2,000
30 December 1891 Sheffield United 7–2 Casuals Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Hendry  '
Dobson  ',  '
Hammond  '
Scott  ',  ',  '
Attendance: 2,500
1 January 1892 Sheffield United 4–3 Rotherham Town Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Duncan  '
Davies  '
Needham  ',  '
Attendance: 2,500
2 January 1892 Bolton Wanderers 3–3 Sheffield United Pikes Lane, Bolton
Dobson  '
Watson  ',  '
Attendance: 900
4 January 1892 Sheffield United 3–0 Burton Swifts Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Hammond  ',  '
Watson  '
Attendance: 5,250
9 January 1892 Birmingham St Georges 8–2 Sheffield United ?, Birmingham
Davies  '
Wallace  '
Attendance: 200
1 February 1892 Sheffield United 2–4 Aston Villa Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Dobson  '
Drummond  '
Attendance: 3,500
4 February 1892 Woolwich Arsenal 1–4 Sheffield United Invicta Ground, London
Rankin  ' (o.g.)
Watson  '
Scott  '
Wallace  '
Attendance: 3,000
6 February 1892 Chatham 1–0 Sheffield United Maidstone Road Ground, Chatham
Attendance: 3,250
8 February 1892 Sheffield United 3–1 Staveley Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Scott  '
Hendry  '
Watson  '
Attendance: 2,500
13 February 1892 Sheffield United 0–0 Notts County Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Attendance: 5,500
15 February 1892 Sheffield United 2–2 Sunderland Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Hammond  '
Dobson  '
Attendance: 2,000
20 February 1892 Sheffield United 0–1 Preston North End Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Attendance: 4,700
22 February 1892 Burnley 0–1 Sheffield United Turf Moor, Burnley
Jeffrey  ' (o.g.) Attendance: 'fair'
27 February 1892 Everton 0–2 Sheffield United Anfield, Liverpool
Watson  ',  ' Attendance: 7,000
29 February 1892 Sheffield United 5–0 Everton Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Scott  ',  '
Watson  '
Davies  '
Needham  '
Attendance: 4,000
5 March 1892 Gainsborough Trinity 0–1 Sheffield United The Northolme, Gainsborough
Davies  ' Attendance: 2,000
7 March 1892 Sheffield United 3–1 Walsall Town Swifts Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Whitham  '
Watson  '
Scott  '
Attendance: 3,000
12 March 1892 Derby County 3–2 Sheffield United Racecourse Ground, Derby
Watson  '
Dobson  '
Attendance: 3,000
14 March 1892 Chesterfield 4–3 Sheffield United Saltergate, Chesterfield
Watson  '
Scott  '
Bairstow  '
Attendance: 2,000
17 March 1892 Notts County 2–0 Sheffield United Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Attendance: 2,500
18 March 1892 Sheffield United 2–2 Lincoln City Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Dobson  '
Scott  '
Attendance: 5,000
21 March 1892 Rotherham Town 3–0 Sheffield United Clifton Lane, Rotherham
Attendance: 3,500
28 March 1892 Sheffield United 8–1 Burnley Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Scott  ',  ',  ',  ',  '
Wallace  '
Watson  ',  '
Attendance: 1,000
4 April 1892
[note 10]
Newton Heath 2–1 Sheffield United North Road, Manchester
Hammond  ' Attendance: 3,000
9 April 1892 Sheffield United 3–1 Accrington Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Unknown  '
Dobson  '
Wallace  '
Attendance: 1,000
15 April 1892 Sheffield United 3–0 Millwall Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Dobson  '
Scott  ',  '
Attendance: 3,500
19 April 1892 Sheffield United 3–0 West Bromwich Albion Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Dobson  '
Scott  '
Needham  '
Attendance: 7,500
21 April 1892 Sheffield United 1–3 Casuals Bramall Lane, Sheffield
Hammond  ' Attendance: 800
24 April 1892 Lincoln City 2–2 Sheffield United John O'Gaunts, Lincoln
Dobson  '
Wallace  '
Attendance: 1,100

Notes

Source:[1]

  1. England played two games concurrently against different opposition, splitting the squad between the two.
  2. Edgar C. Benson was a local left back who played for Sheffield Club but was also registered with The Football League by United between August 1892 and June 1895. During that time he only made five appearances for the Blades and his only competitive start came in a Northern League game against Sunderland Albion in 1892.[18]
  3. John Arthur Brookes was an outside right registered by United in 1891 and stayed linked with the club until June 1895. During that period he made only three competitive appearances, his only league game being against South Bank in the Northern League.[19]
  4. This game saw the first ever penalty kick awarded against United. The referee awarded the goal during the game, completing the match at 3–4, but afterwards decided that the infringement had not taken place within the penalty area and so rescinded the goal retrospectively. Some newspaper reports carried the 3–4 scoreline.
  5. This was the first game at Bramall Lane to use goal nets.
  6. United had been drawn as the away side for this fixture but it was switched to Bramall Lane.
  7. The Kilnhurst side left the pitch in protest on 61 minutes, unhappy with the referee. The game was not re-started and the win was awarded to United.
  8. The Wednesday entered their reserve team (Wednesday Wanderers) in the competition. United had entered their first team but the player selected for the final were largely a second string side.
  9. Match abandoned on 75 minutes due to fog.
  10. Only 40 minutes were played in each half.

Bibliography

  • Clarebrough and Kirkham (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
  • Clarebrough and Kirkham (1999). A Complete Record of Sheffield United Football Club 1889–1999. Hallamshire Press. ISBN 0-9508588-2-X.

References

  1. Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (1999). A Complete Record of Sheffield United Football Club 1889–1999. Hallamshire Press. pp. 74–75. ISBN 0-9508588-2-X.
  2. Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (1999). A Complete Record of Sheffield United Football Club 1889–1999. Hallamshire Press. pp. 73–74. ISBN 0-9508588-2-X.
  3. Gary Armstrong and John Garrett (2006). Sheffield United FC – The Biography. Hallamshire Press. p. 43. ISBN 1-874718-65-2.
  4. Matthews, Clarebrough and Kirkham (2003). The Official Encyclopaedia of Sheffield United. Britespot. p. 61. ISBN 1-904103-19-7.
  5. "Sheffield United". Historical Football Kits. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  6. "Michael Whitham". Englandstats.com. Retrieved 2 February 2013.
  7. "Harry Lilley". Englandstats.com. Retrieved 2 February 2013.

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