EARLY YEARS WITH SHEFFIELD UNITED
— Ernest Needham | 07/06/1912 —

My early days with Sheffield United are now so far away that it rather taxes the memory to recall incidents and individuals of that time. Still there are plenty standing out, and naturally I have not forgotten signing on for United. This was after a match between Staveley and United, one Shrove Tuesday. Mr. Stones, who was then assistant secretary, spoke to me before the match, and was to have seen me against after it was over. He didn't, but that made no difference, for he sent me on the papers, which I signed, so that I was on United's list some months before I ever played for them.

With Staveley, like most of the others, I had drawn no pay, except recompense for broken time from work. United, however, gave me 30s. a week — in the winter only. It was also agreed that there were to be bonuses for certain matches. We drew those bonuses immediately after the matches in which we gained them. Giving my opinion, for what it is worth, I think bonuses are a good thing for football. Bonuses don't affect the genuinely-keen player, but they do affect some.

AT CENTRE-FORWARD.

However, that is by the way. Season 1891-2 was one of the busiest United ever had. We used to play a tremendous lot of friendly games in those days and so much was thought of a win over a First League side that we drew 1 extra each when we managed it. In the Northern League, the English Cup, and friendly matches, United that season played 71 matches, winning 42 and drawing nine. At first I assisted the "United Strollers," as the reserves were then called, playing half-back. On a Southern tour Hammond got hurt in a match with Millwall, so it came about that I originally played for United's first string at centre-forward, against Woolwich Arsenal — the Royal Arsenal as they were then called. My first appearance for United at Bramall Lane was on September 21st, 1891, against Bolton Wanderers.

Then and for some time afterwards I played outside-right, principally I reckon because they'd nobody else for the berth. Neither then, nor at any time, have I been fast.

United had not been beaten in that season, when Preston North End came along on September 28, and defeated us 2—1. But one of their goals ought not to have counted. There were no goal nets then, and a fast shot sailing just outside deceived the referee.

Goal nets, however, came along very shortly, and it was very amusing to see the custodians described as resembling prize poultry, strutting about their "pens."

FIRST MATCH WITH WEDNESDAY.

Our matches with Wednesday really need t ohave a chapter to themselves. But I might mention here the first in which I took part. We played Wednesday at Bramall Lane in the October, and we had a very jolly day, for we won by 5—0. Wednesday had Jim Smith in goal, a player associated with the club for many years. There was Tom Brandon, of Blackburn Rovers, at back, and acting as captain, partnered. by Darroch; the halves were H. Brandon, "Billy" Betts, the old Sheffield favourite — who never did any training except what he got in the way of his ordinary work at the gasworks — and T. E. Cawley, father of Wednesday's present lad of that name; while the forwards were Gemmell, Mumford, Thompson, Woolhouse, and the great Fred Spiksley.

On our side we had Howlett, the goalkeeper, who wore spectacles — a very funny way he had with ground shots; he used to lean down and fist them away right off the turf — with Cain, who had just come from Bootle, one of the best Scottish players we ever had, alongside the late Harry Lilley, of Staveley, at back. Harry got his cap against Wales the same season, and was a wonderfully clean kick, but lacked speed. Then there was "Gipsy" Howell at right-half back. A regular terror for his size was Rab, and especially a terror to Fred Spiksley, whom he would never leave on the field. I doubt whether Howell weighed above 8 1/2 stone at the time.

OLD UNITED STARS.

Hendry, the centre-half, was one of the greatest players of his day. It was a big slice of luck for United to get him from Preston North End, along with Jack Drummond, in the middle of the previous season. On the left was "Mick" Whitham, who won his cap against Ireland the same season. I played outside-right, Sammy Dobson was inside, Hammond (the old Everton player) at centre, Arthur Watson inside-left, and Drummond outside. There was a very big crowd for those days, and a lot of excitement of course. The "Telegraph" said the betting was six to four on United. What I chiefly remember was some magnificent shooting by Sammy Dobson. He had been deputy for Jimmy Ross at Preston, and he was one of the best shots I ever saw. I ought to mention that in the return match that season Wednesday beat us 4—1.

In the January I paid my first visit to Scotland, mas a member of the Sheffield team against Glasgow, at the old Hampden Park, there were so many Scots in the Sheffield teams that it was a bit of a job to raise a side, and Mumford, the Wednesday forward, played back with Lilley. There was some snow on the ground, and we lost 4—2. My first experience of Scottish football certainly opened my eyes, for the Glasgow team played wonderfully well. They had the great Dan Doyle, previously of Grimsby, at back, Kelly, the International, just then at his best, was among the halves, and McMahon, absolutely full of tricks, at inside left. One of the half-backs was big Willie Maley, who acted as linesman in this year's match at Bramall Lane.

AWAY IN THE NORTH.

The Northern League provided us with some good matches, but we didn't like the late travelling involved by visits to teams like Darlington, Stockton, South Bank, Sunderland Albion, Newcastle and Middlesbrough. George Waller, the United trainer, played with Middlesbrough at that time; so did Dennis, afterwards a League referee, and Phil Bach, now the club chairman; while Ambrose Langley and George Miller were with the Ironopolis team. Fine sides the Middlesbrough clubs had then, too. Newcastle East End, I remember, played on the same ground as their successors, the United, do now, but in those days there was no end of a slope on it, and needless to say the accommodation was slightly different.

In the Cup in 1891-2 we had to share in the qualifying round, and curiously enough we knocked out all the Lincolnshire clubs — Grimsby, Gainsborough, and Lincoln City. We were finally overthrown by Wolverhampton Wanderers at Wolverhampton. For that match I was reserve. I had lost my place at outside right to "Sandy" Wallace, in the middle of the season. In February, however, a fresh opportunity came. Mick Whitham got hurt, and United wanted a left halfback. The berth was given to me, and there I stayed from that time onwards, except for an occasional appearance elsewhere in an emergency. When "Mick" recovered he retired to full back.

HURRICANE SCORING.

So much for the first season. In the next, that of 1892-3. United really began to move. Wednesday had been elected to the First Division of the League, but we had to fight our way through the Second Division, and a rare struggle it was. I am not going through the whole programme. We won most of our matches, however, and several of them by very big margins — the most remarkable being that at Burslem. We won 10—0 against a full team, scoring six goals in the first twenty or twenty-five minutes. Up till then Harry Lilley, our back, hadn't touched the ball, while I myself never got a kick till we were four goals up. The ground was several inches deep in snow, and the ball stuck where it fell. Under conditions like this a forward line sometimes gets going and the defence can't stop them.

Hammond had a pretty lively turn as the result of one of the League matches at Northwich, against the Victoria. He was sent off by the referee, and the crowd went for him. To save his life he clambered over the fence round the ground, and ran for all he was worth, taking refuge at the station. There we turned up later with his clothes, and Hammond changed in the train.

THE GOAL WHICH WON PROMOTION.

A little feat of my own in the same campaign was the scoring of both goals for United from half-back, when we beat the old Ardwick team by 2—1. However, the great outstanding individual performance of the season was that of Jack Drummond, for he scored the goal which landed us into the First Division. We had finished second to Small Heath in the Second Division, and both of us had to meet First League teams in Test Matches, with the knowledge that if we could beat them we took the place they occupied in the upper circle. United had to meet Accrington, and after a tough battle we came out on top — by the only goal of the match. But we were very lucky to win, in reality, for we had gone rather stale, and it was only a superb effort by Drummond, a great run down the left wing and a glorious shot, that enabled us to do so. Drummond was the outstanding player, and it was poetic justice that gave him such a goal.

Meantime, poor old Small Heath, in whose ranks the redoubtable Caesar Jenkyns figured at that time, were beaten in their Test, and had to stay in the Second League. Needless to say, I am no advocate of Test Matches to decide matters of elevation and relegation. The test of a full season's campaign is quite good enough.

A NEW YEAR'S TALE.

Our career in the English Cup was short and none too sweet that year, seeing that after meeting Blackpool in the first round we lost to Sunderland in the second, notwithstanding a most brilliant exhibition of back play in the second half by my old friend, Mick Whitham, who is now training the Huddersfield team. We had another experience up North that same season, I remember. We were staying at Redcar, from the Saturday, prior to a New Year's match at Stockton, and following a game at Middlesbro'. On the Sunday we all set out to walk to Saltburn, and a heavy snowstorm came on. Before we could get back we were completely soaked, so our clothes had to be taken off to dry when we reached the hotel, while we changed into the only other "togs" we'd got — our football kit! A pretty Sunday party we must have looked. too. In addition to this, as I say, it was New Year, and there were various Scots in the party. They, of course, had to celebrate the event, and I suppose we didn't want to be out of it. Anyhow — Stockton beat us 5—0.

It was in this season of 1892-3 that the first outside distinctions came to me. I played in the International Trial match for the Professionals against the Amateurs, the wing I had to face being R. Topham, of Wolverhampton Wanderers and the Casuals, and R. C. Gosling, the Old Etonian and Corinthian. They were both heavy-weights, and make not such a bad handful for a little chap like me. I was told I didin't do badly, though, but anyway I got no cap that year. However, I was picked for the English League team against the Scottish League, and played among such stars as Rowley, the famous old Stoke goalkeeper; Clare, of Stoke; and Howarth, of North End and Everton; Reynolds and Perry, of West Bromwich, the Cupholders; Bassett, Geary (Everton), Southworth, the Blackburn Rover, Harry Wood, of the Wolves, and Schofield, of Stoke. All except myself were at that time getting on in years, but we managed to beat the Scots 4—3 at Celtic Park.