1914–15 Sheffield United F.C. season
| 1914–15 season | ||
|---|---|---|
 The FA Cup winners | ||
| Chairman | Tom Bott | |
| Manager | None (John Nicholson acted as club secretary) | |
| Stadium | Bramall Lane | |
| Division One | 6th | |
| FA Cup | Winners | |
| Top goalscorer | League: Kitchen (12) All: Kitchen (16) | |
| Highest home attendance | 32,000 (vs Blackburn Rovers) | |
| Lowest home attendance | 5,000 (vs Burnley) | |
| Average home league attendance | 14,947 | |
|
| ||
The 1914–15 season was the 26th season in existence for Sheffield United, during which they played in Division One. At this time the club did not employ a manager, with the team being selected by the Football Committee although the club secretary, John Nicholson, undertook many of the duties now associated with a team manager. The club continued to establish itself as one of the top sides in the country, finishing sixth in the First Division and beating Chelsea 3–0 in the final to become winners of the FA Cup.
Season overview
[edit]After a solid end to the previous season there was an amount of optimism for what the club could achieve in the coming term. Reserve players Bob Barnshaw, Bert Pearson and Sam Bagnall were allowed to leave during the close season but it was thought that only a few good additions to the squad would turn the side into genuine contenders for the league title.
The football committee duly signed Harry Pantling and Jack Thompson but it was the signing of Wally Masterman for £800 from Gainsborough Trinity that proved their most astute purchase.
The season was played under the shadow of war from the European continent and attendances dwindled as the country moved onto a war footing. The team's pre-season optimism was dealt a massive blow in their first game when star player Billy Gillespie broke his leg and did not feature again that term.[1] This loss unsettled the team and they made a miserable start, winning only three games up until the start of December.
The loss of Gillespie had an unforeseen effect however, as it allowed other players to come into their own. Joe Kitchen was the main goal threat but David Davis and particularly Masterman began to score regularly.
The change in fortune came in December from when the team embarked on an impressive run of form, losing only once more until the start of April. During this time the club also had another successful run in the FA Cup. Beaten semi-finalists the season before, this time round they reached the final at Old Trafford where they beat Chelsea 3–0 to lift the cup for the third time.
Unfortunately the hoped for challenge for the championship never really materialised. Ironically the team's success in the cup would begin to have a detrimental effect on their league form as the resulting fixture pile up meant that they were required to play nine competitive games during April 1915, including the FA Cup Final, and results suffered accordingly. This, coupled with their poor start, saw the side eventually finish sixth in the table in what turned out to be the final season before the league and cup competitions were abandoned whilst the country was at war.
Players
[edit]Squad
[edit]Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Squad statistics
[edit]- As of the end of the season[1]
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Division One | FA Cup | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| GK |  ENG
|
Ernest Blackwell | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Bill Brelsford | 37 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Bill Cook | 44 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| FW |  WAL
|
David Davies | 25 | 7 | 22 | 7 | 3 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Jack English | 34 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Robert Evans | 38 | 1 | 32 | 1 | 6 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Stan Fazackerley | 30 | 8 | 25 | 6 | 5 | 2 | |
| FW |  EIR
|
Billy Gillespie | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| GK | ENG
|
Harold Gough | 43 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 6 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Harry Hall | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Fred Hawley | 25 | 1 | 23 | 1 | 2 | 0 | |
| GK | ENG
|
Ted Hufton | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Joe Kitchen | 36 | 16 | 29 | 12 | 7 | 4 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Wally Masterman | 32 | 11 | 26 | 9 | 6 | 2 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Harry Pantling | 6 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF | ENG
|
Tom Richardson | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Jimmy Revill | 11 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| FW | ENG
|
Jimmy Simmons | 44 | 11 | 37 | 9 | 7 | 2 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Albert Sturgess | 43 | 1 | 36 | 1 | 7 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
Jack Thompson | 8 | 2 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| MF | ENG
|
George Utley | 44 | 2 | 37 | 1 | 7 | 1 | |
Transfers
[edit]In
[edit]| Position | Player | Transferred from | Fee | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FW | Wally Masterman
|
Gainsborough Trinity
|
£800 | 2 May 1914 | [2] |
| MF | Harry Pantling
|
Watford
|
£850 | 3 May 1914 | [3] |
| MF | Jack Thompson
|
Scunthorpe & Lindsey United
|
Free | 8 July 1914 | [4] |
Out
[edit]| Position | Player | Transferred to | Fee | Date | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FW | Bob Barnshaw
|
Watford
|
£50 | 20 May 1914 | [5] |
| FW | Sam Bagnall
|
South Liverpool
|
Free | 1 July 1914 | [6] |
| MF | Bert Pearson
|
Port Vale
|
Free | 1 July 1914 | [7] |
League table
[edit]
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GAv | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | Burnley | 38 | 18 | 7 | 13 | 61 | 47 | 1.298 | 43 |
| 5 | Manchester City | 38 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 49 | 39 | 1.256 | 43 |
| 6 | Sheffield United | 38 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 49 | 41 | 1.195 | 43 |
| 7 | The Wednesday | 38 | 15 | 13 | 10 | 61 | 54 | 1.130 | 43 |
| 8 | Sunderland | 38 | 18 | 5 | 15 | 81 | 72 | 1.125 | 41 |
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
Matches
[edit]League
[edit]| 2 September 1914 | Sunderland | 3–2 | Sheffield United | Roker Park |
| 15:00 | Simmons  'David Davies ' |
Attendance: 12,200 |
| 5 September 1914 | Sheffield United | 0–2 | The Wednesday | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Attendance: 27,500 |
| 12 September 1914 | West Bromwich Albion | 1–1 | Sheffield United | The Hawthorns |
| 15:00 | Fazackerley ' |
Attendance: 6,481 |
| 19 September 1914 | Sheffield United | 1–0 | Everton | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | David Davies ' |
Attendance: 18,000 |
| 26 September 1914 | Chelsea | 1–1 | Sheffield United | Stamford Bridge |
| 15:00 | David Davies ' |
Attendance: 18,000 |
| 3 October 1914 | Sheffield United | 1–1 | Bradford City | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Fazackerley ' |
Attendance: 20,000 |
| 10 October 1914 | Burnley | 1–2 | Sheffield United | Turf Moor |
| 15:00 | Fazackerley ' Kitchen ' |
Attendance: 18,000 |
| 17 October 1914 | Sheffield United | 1–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Thompson ' |
Attendance: 20,000 |
| 24 October 1914 | Newcastle United | 4–3 | Sheffield United | St James' Park |
| 15:00 | Simmons ' Sturgess ' 'Thompson ' |
Attendance: 27,500 |
| 31 October 1914 | Sheffield United | 0–1 | Middlesbrough | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Attendance: 11,000 |
| 7 November 1914 | Manchester City | 0–0 | Sheffield United | Hyde Road |
| 15:00 | Attendance: 25,500 |
| 14 November 1914 | Aston Villa | 1–0 | Sheffield United | Villa Park |
| 15:00 | Attendance: 14,000 |
| 21 November 1914 | Sheffield United | 2–1 | Liverpool | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Simmons ', ' |
Attendance: 11,500 |
| 28 November 1914 | Bradford Park Avenue | 2–0 | Sheffield United | Park Avenue |
| 15:00 | Attendance: 8,000 |
| 5 December 1914 | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Oldham Athletic | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Simmons ' Masterman 'David Davies ' |
Attendance: 8,500 |
| 12 December 1914 | Manchester United | 1–2 | Sheffield United | Old Trafford |
| 15:00 | Simmons ' (pen.) Masterman ' |
Attendance: 7,500 |
| 19 December 1914 | Sheffield United | 3–1 | Bolton Wanderers | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Simmons ' Kitchen 'Masterman ' |
Attendance: 5,500 |
| 26 December 1914 | Sheffield United | 1–2 | Blackburn Rovers | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Masterman ' |
Attendance: 32,000 |
| 28 December 1914 | Sheffield United | 1–0 | Notts County | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Simmons ' |
Attendance: 15,000 |
| 1 January 1915 | Blackburn Rovers | 1–2 | Sheffield United | Ewood Park |
| 15:00 | Hawley ' Kitchen ' |
Attendance: 10,000 |
| 2 January 1915 | The Wednesday | 1–1 | Sheffield United | Hillsborough Stadium |
| 15:00 | Davies ' |
Attendance: 31,500 |
| 16 January 1915 | Sheffield United | 2–0 | West Bromwich Albion | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | David Davies ', ' |
Attendance: 14,500 |
| 23 January 1915 | Everton | 0–0 | Sheffield United | Goodison Park |
| 15:00 | Attendance: 18,000 |
| 6 February 1915 | Bradford City | 1–1 | Sheffield United | Valley Parade |
| 15:00 | Masterman ' |
Attendance: 18,000 |
| 13 February 1915 | Sheffield United | 1–0 | Burnley | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Kitchen ' |
Attendance: 5,000 |
| 27 February 1915 | Sheffield United | 1–0 | Newcastle United | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Kitchen ' |
Attendance: 17,500 |
| 8 March 1915 | Sheffield United | 1–0 | Chelsea | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Fazackerley ' |
Attendance: 5,750 |
| 17 March 1915 | Middlesbrough | 2–2 | Sheffield United | Ayresome Park |
| 15:00 | Masterman ' Kitchen ' |
Attendance: 5,000 |
| 20 March 1915 | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Aston Villa | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Masterman ' Kitchen ', ' |
Attendance: 16,750 |
| 29 March 1915 | Sheffield United | 0–0 | Manchester City | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Attendance: 10,000 |
| 2 April 1915 | Notts County | 3–1 | Sheffield United | Meadow Lane |
| 15:00 | Kitchen ' |
Attendance: 9,300 |
| 3 April 1915 | Sheffield United | 3–2 | Bradford Park Avenue | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Simmons ' Kitchen 'Masterman ' |
Attendance: 10,500 |
| 5 April 1915 | Sheffield United | 1–1 | Sunderland | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Fazackerley ' |
Attendance: 21,000 |
| 10 April 1915 | Oldham Athletic | 3–0 | Sheffield United | Boundary Park |
| 15:00 | Attendance: 10,354 |
| 17 April 1915 | Sheffield United | 3–1 | Manchester United | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Utley ' Evans 'Masterman ' |
Attendance: 14,000 |
| 19 April 1915 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1–1 | Sheffield United | White Hart Lane |
| 15:00 | Fazackerley ' |
Attendance: 7,750 |
| 26 April 1915 | Bolton Wanderers | 0–1 | Sheffield United | Burnden Park |
| 15:00 | Kitchen ' |
Attendance: 13,500 |
FA Cup
[edit]| 23 January 1915 Round 1 | Blackpool | 1–2 | Sheffield United | Bloomfield Road |
| 15:00 | Masterman ?', ?' |
Attendance: 9,462 |
| 30 January 1915 Round 2 | Sheffield United | 1–0 | Liverpool | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Kitchen ?' |
Attendance: 26,754 |
| 20 February 1915 Round 3 | Sheffield United | 1–0 (a.e.t.) | Bradford Park Avenue | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Crozier ?' (o.g.) |
Attendance: 30,032 |
| 6 March 1915 Round 4 | Oldham Athletic | 0–0 (a.e.t.) | Sheffield United | Boundary Park |
| 15:00 | Attendance: 18,419 |
| 13 March 1915 Round 4r | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Oldham Athletic | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Kitchen ?', ?' Fazackerley ?' |
Attendance: 43,157 |
| 13 March 1915 Semi Final | Sheffield United | 2–1 | Bolton Wanderers | Ewood Park |
| 15:00 | Simmons ?' Utley ?' |
Attendance: 22,404 |
| 24 April 1915 Final | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Chelsea | Old Trafford |
| 15:00 | Simmons ?' Fazackerley ?'Kitchen ?' |
Attendance: 49,557 |
Friendlies
[edit]| 5 October 1914 | The Wednesday | 2–0 | Sheffield United | Hillsborough Stadium |
| Attendance: 5,500 |
References
[edit]- ^ a b Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (1999). A Complete Record of Sheffield United Football Club 1889-1999. Sheffield United. pp. 121–122. ISBN 0-9508588-2-X.
- ^ Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 223. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
- ^ Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 249. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
- ^ Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 315. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
- ^ Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 43. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
- ^ Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 38. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
- ^ Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 253. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.