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DoDTS

The PL League Boss⭐⭐
Joined
Apr 28, 2006
Messages
10,841
Location
PL Headquarters Hullbridge
I've always had a bit of a soft spot for Sheffield United. We are both SUFC of course, but I certainly don't have the same feelings for Scunny. I must have been to Brammall Lane about 20 times (not all against Southend of course), my first in the late 60s, standing at the Shoreham Street end, drinking in the pub opposite (which was a converted house) I sat in the front room but was told they didn't do food but that my beer would be quite safe while I went to the beer-off (off licence) next door, I bought my food there but eat it in the Pub. I also remember a "youth section" trip with Huddersfield v Sheffield United in the afternoon and York v Southend in the evening.

Anyway I digress as my little tribute to the fixture I thought I would do a trilogy of posts on the cup ties in 1920, 1935 and 1952 the first below, the other two to follow in a day or two.

1919-20
Southend United were in the Southern League (only two divisions then) and they had a bye to the 6th Qualifying round of the English Cup (F.A.Cup), others only to the 5th Qualifying round so a hastily arranged friendly was arranged.

Saturday 22nd November 1919
Southend United 3-1 Gillingham Friendly.

As the Blues had a bye to the 6th Qualifying round of the Cup they had a free Saturday and a friendly was arranged with Gillingham visiting the Kursaal with a 2.45 kick off, but the crowd was very disappointing only a few hundred attending, the reality was that Friendlies, however attractive the opposition do not go down well spectators and the attendances are generally less than reserve games. The gate receipts were just £20 which couldn’t have covered the cost of expenses. The game gained some energy as Gillingham scored first although against the run of play, and that was the only goal of the first half. All three Southend goals were scored in the second half at the Pavilion end of the ground. Southend soon equalised when a perfect pass to Cox, a new player from Clapton, who had the easiest job to redirect the ball into the net. The second goal was a penalty but despite the infringement the ball had already entered the net from Cox so a penalty shouldn’t have been awarded. J Young made no mistake with the spot kick, and the lively Cox added the third. Team: Hill; Evans and Marshall; R. Young, Bollington and Popplewell; Newman, Frost, Cox, Burrill and , J. Young

In the 6th Qualifying round Southend who were in a lower mid-table position were drawn at home to Watford.

Saturday 19th December 1919
SOUTHEND UNITED 1-0 WATFORD
F.A. Cup 6th Qualifying Round

Watford were currently second in the league to Portsmouth, having won twelve drawn three and lost four of their nineteen games., Watford whose nickname at the time was the Brewerymen played in black and white striped shirts and black shorts, so Southend played in their Blue shirts for a change. Watford brought down a goodly number of spectators with them, sporting their colours of black and white and they had the inevitable bells which they rang with great vigour at the outset. Those bells where brought to ring out peels of joy for the goal which never came. It was a hard fought game with little to choose between the sides, however after eighteen minutes Young scored the all important goal for Southend. Team: Leahy; Reid and Marshall; Wileman, Bollington and, Evans; Bellamy, Burrill, Upex, Jones and J. Young.

The significance of the win came when the Blues were drawn at home to the current cup holders Sheffield United in the next round. A lot of pressure was put on Southend to switch the tie to Sheffield, which they weren’t opposed to provided the deal was right, but as the days went by no agreement was reached. Bramall Lane could hold over 50,000, the Kursaal had barely been tested above 5,000.

There was a lot of debate at Christmas time about the venue. Rumours were rife as well as suggestions, with enraged supporters demanding that the tie be played at the Kursaal, while other suggesting that Arsenal, Tottenham or West Ham could be suitable replacement for the Kursaal. The only official response was that their had only been one offer, from Sheffield United and that the offer was being considered, although it was also stated that the long term finances of the club had also to be considered.

With a week to go nothing had been decided and Southend Travelled to Portsmouth;

Saturday 3rd January 1920
PORTSMOUTH 0-1 SOUTHEND UNITED
SOUTHERN LEAGUE

It was fine weather in Southend but as the team left the capitol heavy rain began to fall and the further into the countryside that they ventured the soaked fields told their own story. At arrival at Fratton Park drizzling rain made it an unpleasant afternoon. And the ball was wet and greasy. Portsmouth were playing in their usual blue shirts but Southend were quite happy to change to what had become their lucky black and white striped shirts. Portsmouth were top of the league and only lost four of their twenty three games and they expected an easy win but it was not to be. In the first half Southend matched the naval men throughout and it was Upex who only had to put the easiest of touches to convert a Walden cross. The second half saw continual pressure playing at one time eight forwards but the striped defence stood fast and never looked like they would be breached. The tactics of a couple of Portsmouth defenders was dubious and in all honesty at least one of them should have been sent off, but this wonderful win sounded out a warning to the United team of Sheffield. Team: Emblem; Evans and Marshall; Bollington, Sands and Woodward; Walden, Allen, Upex; Burrill, Bridgeman.

It was a fine performance and one which persuaded the Blades to up their offer and the tie was transferred to Sheffield.

The Southend team travelled up to Sheffield Friday night accompanied by five directors and about twenty other enthusiasts including some ladies. They went to the Sheffield Hippodrome on Friday Night to see the “splinters”. They had been quietly training at home all the week and turned out as fit as fiddles, in fact they finished the game much fresher than the Blades.
From the Southend Standard 15th January 1919

Saturday 10th January 1920
SHEFFIELD UNITED 3-0 SOUTHEND UNITED
F.A. Cup Round One

Sheffield United were the current Cup Holders and a good first division side, earlier in the season they had a couple of weeks at second in the table, dropped to 5th for a month or so but then had settled down to a mid table position. They had an excellent ground (for the time) with stands on three sides, but it was a ground which they shared with Yorkshire cricket club. Sheffield were extremely please to hold the tie, it was the first home cup tie for five years with excitement high in the town. The team travelled up on the Friday and it snowed quite heavily, this turned to rain but during the day the ground staff worked hard and the pitch looked in excellent condition but as kick off approached the drizzle turned to downpours. Undoubtedly the conditions put many off going the attendance was 39,700 but Sheffield officials stated with good weather they would have expected 50,000. It was however the second largest of the day, and the largest crowd that Southend had ever played in front of. As the game got under way the pitch turned into a quagmire, we fell a goal behind within four minutes, but then recovered well until a second just before half time settled the result. In the second half Sheffield United were awarded a dubious penalty, which was parried by the goalkeeper but he was powerless to stop the rebound going in. Team: Leahy; Reid and Marshall; Wileman; Bollington and Sands; Bridgeman; Burrill, Frost, Jones and J. Young.

HOW THE NEWS WAS RECEIVED
A large crowd of enthusiast supporters gathered in Cliff Town Road, Southend on Saturday afternoon to watch the progress of the game in the windows of the Southend Standard Office. There was evident disappointment at the fact that Sheffield United got an early goal against Southend, but still the crowd hoped up until the third goal sent them home rather comfortless. So well had the arrangements been made that the half time and final scores were known within five minutes of the respective whistles being blown at Brammall Lane.
From the Southend Standard 15th January 1920.

Their was a lot of critiscm of transferring the Cup game from the Kursaal to Sheffield, but looking at the attendance at Brammall game it was obviously the right decision and the cash that was made was enough to clear our debts, the Southend Standard reported we had been beaten but in no way disgraced, but the general feeling was that if the game had been played at the Kursaal we would have had a good chance of beating them.


FROM BANKRUPTCY TO SUCCESS
At the start of the season the only worry and priority had been to survive as a club, and this we certainly did. The ground had been the biggest obstacle, but the one year lease had guaranteed the survival of the season, The cup game at Sheffield and the sale of three payers had balanced the books and we had ended the season in a quite healthy financial situation. The general opinion of the team was that they were an average side but with a good spirit, this good spirit had to be down to the manager, but we had lost him to QPR a month before the end of the season, so there was a lot of uncertainty on the pitch for the future.

Two other problems had manifested during the season, firstly the extension of the lease on the Kursaal and secondly the behaviour of the fans. It seems strange that the leasing arrangement which seemed so amicable at start of the season, was suddenly a matter of contention six months later. Perhaps it was a feeling that better gates would be obtained in a more central location or a ground which was not so bleak in winter conditions. Thankfully these problems were overcome, a further move would have been expensive and put the club back further.

The behaviour of the fans which got such a bad press, was probably a commonplace occurrence with the world and attitudes having changed with the traumas of the First world War. When our “Enthusiasts” were described as the worst in the country, I wonder how many grounds the writer had visited post war. The Upper classes were desperately trying to maintain standards, but the working masses expected more, and needed, then as now, the outlet to let their emotions (and language) out in the escapism of football.


To my loyal fan(s) I hope you enjoyed it, I'll post the 1935 tie in a day or two.
 
my dad had a season ticket for both Sheffield teams,about 12 years United,then only went to Wednesday,about 25 years.So have seen us play there a few times and quite a few other teams.
I think it was Chris Guthrie who went from us toSheff.utd....my dad thought he was the worst number 9 he had ever seen....Very harsh,i thought he was good
 
Only been to Sheffield United once to see us lot.

We won 1-0.

Also saw Arsenal win 5-0 there in the FA Cup.

Thought the atmosphere there was something else!
 
So here's the second little joust with Sheffield United.

1934-35
Hopes were high in 1934 we had moved to a new ground and had a new manager in David Jack, brought up in Southend when his father was Southend's first manager. He was a national hero, had scored the first goal at Wembley in a cup final, basically it would be like signing David Beckham now. However a good player doesn't necessarily mean a good manager and the Blues were struggling at the bottom of the Third Division (South) table but then there was the cup:

Sat. 24th November 1934
Southend United 10-1 Golders Green
F.A. Cup Round One

Southend United hadn’t reached double figures since their first year of existence but twenty eight years later this was achieved with a 10-1 score against Golders Green, in front of a pleasing crowd of 8,500. Those present witnessed a plucky fight by the amateurs despite the score and up to the first goal the exchanges were even, but once behind it was only a matter of how many the Blues would score, and with the Londoners gradually deteriorating, they were outplayed, outpaced and outstayed. The game started in sensational style with a penalty for the United in the first minute but the usually dependable Lane put in a week shot which was saved by the goalkeeper. The first goal came after twenty four minutes when Cheesmur with his back to the goal flicked the ball between the backs for Johnson to run on and score. Two minutes later Cheesmur scored the second and just before half time Deacon headed home a cross from Lane. The second half started with another penalty which was entrusted to Carr and although his shot was weak it was enough to beat the goalkeeper. The fifth goal was scored by Lane but he literally stood still and the ball hit him and rebounded into the net. Johnson added the sixth and the seventh while Cheesmur headed the eighth. With the Blues pressing forward they left gaps at the back and inevitably Golders Green broke away and scored with a fine cross drive, but then Johnson completed the romp by scoring the ninth and tenth. Even the most optimistic of the large crowd of North Londoners present did not expect the Green to win but they did believe they would give their hosts a good game.
Team: Moore; Morfitt & Kelly: Mackay, J. Wilson & Carr; Lane, Johnson, Cheesmur, Deacon & Oswald.

Sat. 8th December 1934
Wimbledon 1-5 Southend United
F.A. Cup Round Two

As was generally anticipated Southend proved too strong for the last amateur club left in the competition and won by the score of five goals to one. The Blues (or to be more precise the Reds as they donned Arsenal style jerseys for the day) did not impress their supporters and for periods in the second half were hard pressed. The attendance of 10,869 (receipts of £637) was as many as could have been expected at the Stadium and included over 300 reserved seat holders from Southend, to say nothing of the scores who were on the banks and in the south stand. Also present was Stanley Rous secretary of the Football Association. It was a defensive slip which allowed Johnson to open the score after fifteen minutes, ten minutes later Cheesmur added a second and then Deacon added a third two minutes later. Cheesmur added the fourth and also the fifth which was the best of his three, after good work by Johnson.
Team: Moore; Morfitt & Kelly: Mackay, J. Wilson & Carr; Lane, Johnson, Cheesmur, Deacon & Oswald.

So having scored 15 goals in the first two cup-ties hopes were high as they went into the third round draw.

THE CUP DRAW
In the Third Round Cup draw, Southend were drawn with home advantage against Sheffield United. The clubs had previously been paired together in 1920 the clubs first year at the Kursaal but the ground at that time was a very crude affair and in exchange for cash compensation the match was played at Brammall Lane in front of 40,000 spectators. However the F.A. had become a lot stricter regarding changing grounds and the venue remained at the Stadium. Mr. David Jack said of the draw that he was “very well satisfied” and added “Sheffield United are a far better side than their League position suggests”.

CUP TIE TICKETS
Applications for seats for the Sheffield United cup-tie have already been twice in excess of the number available. In view of the demand the Southend United directors have decided to erect two or three rows of temporary seats in front of the present first row.
From the Southend Standard 20th December 1934

UNITED GROUND PROBLEM
The terrible condition of the Southend Stadium football pitch over the Christmas holidays which was intensified by the almost continuous rains during the past week presented a serious problem for the United directors. They secured the advice of Mr. W.M. Campbell the Southend Corporation Parks Superintendent and Mr Pratt of Fossetts Farm Prittlewell who decided that the only thing to do was to herringbone drain the land, this meant dividing the pitch into quarters and running through them four main drains with branch drains like the bones of a herring. Miles of piping were ordered and in the depressing rain on Wednesday a start was made on the work in order to get in done in time for Saturdays game, over 3,000 land drains are being put in and portions of the ground be returfed. Southend have not been used to a heavy pitch for the Kursaal ground was one of the finest in the country due to the fact it was made on a bed of ashes.
From the Southend Standard 3rd January 1935

SHEFFIELD PERTURBED
The Sheffield papers were showing great concern about the state of the Stadium pitch with exaggerated reports painting a gloomy picture. As a result “it was agreed that Mr. J.E. Davidson the secretary-manager of Sheffield United should visit Southend on Monday to inspect the pitch” and a representative from the F.A. invited to attend. They were well received and well looked after, and it was stated that Southend felt the match would be playable. On his return Mr. Davidson stated that their was no ill feeling and that Southend were doing all they could, but that the ground was a mess at the moment. They have drained one side of the pitch from goal to goal. The soil has been replaced but the turf has yet to be re-laid where the trenches have been cut. On the other side they have cut several trenches and they are putting in the pipes. In his opinion a lot will depend on the weather but that he had grave doubts. Some even thought ahead to the game and it was stated that “Southend must go all out for a goal at the earliest possible moment” stated the Standard

Sat. 12th January 1935
Southend United 0-4 Sheffield United
F.A. Cup Round Four

Most of the Southend supporters thought they had seen the Blues at their worst this season but after the pitiful exhibition at the Stadium that opinion had to undergo revision. True it was a side at the bottom of the Third Division playing a side halfway up the Second Division with a long tradition of first class football, but the truth was that after Sheffield opened the scoring after six minutes, and from then on the Blues seemed to accept the result as a formality and their only aim seemed to keep the score down. 13,712 spectators were present, paying £1,177 3s 3d in admission and they must have looked on the price of admission as poor reward for an afternoon which brought no satisfaction whatsoever from the home point of view. The second goal was scored after defensive blunders a third was scored before the interval and the fourth added just four minutes after the restart. After this Sheffield United slackened off somewhat with the game already won.. Mr. Jack’s post match comments summed the situation up well, “In all my experience of football I have never seen a team which has recently shown so much improvement, collapse to the extent that Southend did. It is always disappointing to lose a cup-tie but if we had gone down fighting it would have been some compensation, but the truth of it is we did not make a fight of it from the kick off”.
Team: Moore; Smith & Robinson: Carr, J. Wilson & Morfitt; Barrow, Cheesmur, Stevens, Deacon & Oswald.

A sad end to a promising cup run, worse was to follow as Mr Jacks Southend side finished bottom but one ad had to apply for re-election.


Third episode to follow in a day or two.
 
For those that prefer a happy ending:

Sat. 12th January 1935
Southend United 5-4 Sheffield United
F.A. Cup Round Four

Most of the Southend supporters thought they had seen the Blues at their worst this season but after the pitiful exhibition at the Stadium that opinion had to undergo revision. True it was a side at the bottom of the Third Division playing a side halfway up the Second Division with a long tradition of first class football, but the truth was that after Sheffield opened the scoring after six minutes, and from then on the Blues seemed to accept the result as a formality and their only aim seemed to keep the score down. 13,712 spectators were present, paying £1,177 3s 3d in admission and they must have looked on the price of admission as poor reward for an afternoon which brought no satisfaction whatsoever from the home point of view. The second goal was scored after defensive blunders a third was scored before the interval and the fourth added just four minutes after the restart. After this Sheffield United slackened off somewhat with the game already won
. It was then that a supporter ran on to the pitch, believed to be a Mr Reginald Simpkins of Sutton Road who ran up to Billy Barrow the United winger and ex-Margate player and yelled "where is your pride?" Billy turned to his fellow players and said he's right "Play up United" and they all returned the cry. Southend suddenly had a purpose about them and it was the Blades on the defensive. In less than a minute, Stevens and Oswald combined well passed to Cheesmur in the centre who’s shot took a deflection into the net. The atmosphere was electric now, eight minutes later a back heel by Deacon set Stevens up to score on the volley. With five minutes to go Blues were still two goals down, but then Barrow entered the score sheet and Stevens converting a Clark corner to pull the scores level. With everyone expecting the final whistle at any time Stevens scored the winner although he looked suspiciously offside. The crowd went wild and Reggie Simpkins was carried shoulder high from the ground Mr. Jack’s post match comments summed the situation up well, “In all my experience of football I have never seen a team which has recently collapsed and then shown so much improvement to the extent that Southend did. Team: Moore; Smith & Robinson: Carr, J. Wilson & Morfitt; Barrow, Cheesmur, Stevens, Deacon & Oswald.

It was an excellent cup run, in the fourth round Southend went to West Brom and won 7-1. and then a 5-0 win at Stockport in the fifth round. The sixth was a tense affair at the Stadium beating Preston 1-0. The semi-final was against Bolton at leeds in front of over 52,000 but ended in a 1-1 draw, but in the replay at Stoke Southend won 2-0. The final at Wembley in front of 93,000 saw the Blues defeat the other Sheffield side Wednesday 4-2. Southend remain the only club in the country to score 40 goals in the cup in one season and Reggie Simpkins was given the MBE for his services to deprived supporters.

Southend full of confidence went from the bottom of the table to win the Championship and promotion to the Second Division,
Mr Jack left Southend after the Cup Final and went on to join Sheffield United who were duly relegated, Mr Jack eventually decided he was better suited to be a Bank Manager than a Football Manger.
 
Was present the last time we visited Bramall Lane. Awful 96/97 Season where we got trounced most away games. One of the better ones this at only 3-0.
 
This is the third Cup-tie against Sheffield United, I was there behind the goal, well actually behind the goal, across the road and in an upstairs flat 23 days old, but anyone that came into the bedroom could look out over a good view of the pitch and the match.

1951-52
Southend had progressed to fifth round thanks to four home draws but in these games they had disposed of Bournemouth 6-1, Oldham 5-0, Southampton 3-0 and Bristol Rovers 2-1, scored 16 goals conceding 2 and were rewarded with a fifth home tie.

A crowd of over 20,000 is expected at the Fifth Round Cup game against Sheffield United. Although there was not a feverish demand for tickets when business commenced on Sunday, there is not a ticket left in the place. The 2,000 allocation for Sheffield has also been sold but there will be room for approximately 12,000 behind the two goals. Admission to these parts of the ground will be through the turnstiles and no tickets will be required. A Westcliff man started queuing at 11 p.m. on Saturday night and he was rewarded by Harry Warren when he was first through the turnstiles with a £1 note to cover the costs of his tickets. Supporters from Sheffield will be travelling overnight for the match and various catering establishments will be opening early to provide them with breakfasts.

F.A.Cup Round 5
Saturday 23rd February 1952
Southend United 1-2 Sheffield United.

Sheffield United were skippered by International Jimmy Hagen but Blues won the toss and United kicked off on a pitch which had rolled out well but that was sticky in the middle. The opening exchanges were extremely fast but it soon became clear that the Blues half back line was sufferring from nerves with the usually reliable Jimmy Lawler fumbling clearances. Southend probaly had difficulty in adjusting their game to the pitch but they did create chances, the Sheffield football was nice to watch but for vigour and speed you had to hand it to the Blues. The game was 26 minutes old when Loughran pushed the ball through to Wakefield who flicked the ball over his head and put the ball past the advancing goalkeeper. Blues had a lucky escape seven minutes later but Wakefield missed a glorious chance two minutes from the interval. The first fifteen minutes of the second half proved fatal as sheffield took full advantage of a lack of concentration by the Blues defence, equalised and then scored what proved to be the winner. After this Blues threw everything at Sheffield to try and get back on level terms but without success. Sheffield United progressed to the last eight of the F.A. Cup, Blues had been let down by faulty marking and lacksadasical football. Team: Morton; Loughran and Anderson; French, Sheard and Lawler; Sibley, McAlinden, Wakefield, Grant and Stubbs.

TWO HOUR QUEUES formed outside the ground for up to two hours before the gates opened, and many supporters waited as much as four hours for the game to start. United supporters were enthusiastic in their support of the Blues and the enterprising Roarites had giant copies of their signature tune “All Pull Together” prepared for the occasion. They even persuaded the usually undemonstrative seat holders in the west stand to join in and sing. Financially Blues have netted about £3,500 from their rin in the Cup. Out of this figure must come £1,000 plus compensation to Bristol City and the extra expense incurred in cup-tie training and administrative expenses. Despite the importance of the match it attracted a crowd of only 21,887 of which well over 2,000 came from Sheffield


Incidentally I think my first visit to Sheffield United v Southend was in 1988 when we gained an unexpected 2-1 victory. It was my daughters first Southend match sadly she cannot see what all this football malarkey is all about. I was there of course with DtS and met the late great Keithie (Gus) Summers there who was combining the match with his annual visit to Yorkshire to record "Carol Singing"
 
Incidentally I think my first visit to Sheffield United v Southend was in 1988 when we gained an unexpected 2-1 victory. It was my daughters first Southend match sadly she cannot see what all this football malarkey is all about. I was there of course with DtS and met the late great Keithie (Gus) Summers there who was combining the match with his annual visit to Yorkshire to record "Carol Singing"

I hope she sang nicely.

To say it was unexpected is an understatement.

Dave Bassett's Sheffield United with free scoring Brian Deane and Tony Agana were to be promoted whilst we were relegated.
 
Sheffield United - they broke my 10 year old heart when in 84 they won 1-0 at Roots Hall. I recall sitting on the old Kop with my dad and we had a guy in net called Phil Pritchard whom was a great keeper on loan from Stoke.

Bobby Moore (RiP) was our manager and that defeat pretty much sent us down from the old third division into division 4. I do recall also Blades fans invading the pitch in celebration as that win I think sent them up.

23 years later I moved to the Steel City and I don't think I have ever quite forgiven the Blades for that day, it was my third Southend match ever and also the first time I'd seen us lose.
 
my dad had a season ticket for both Sheffield teams,about 12 years United,then only went to Wednesday,about 25 years.So have seen us play there a few times and quite a few other teams.
I think it was Chris Guthrie who went from us toSheff.utd....my dad thought he was the worst number 9 he had ever seen....Very harsh,i thought he was good

I believe we once stopped in South Yorkshire for a beer with your dad? All was not calm!!
 
Thats right Kev,i think we were going to Scunthorpe..do you remember Lerch...my dad thought he looked a right "looney",but he was as good as gold...remember my dad gave me a "good few quid",to get the boys in the bus a beer...good days,sad they have gone so quick
 
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