Our Championship Rivals

ivoralljack

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
Sheffield United: Formed in 1889. Ground Bramall Lane. Capacity 32, 702. Original nickname was The Cutlers but they are now known as The Blades which is a reference to the local steel industry. Manager is Chris Wilder and his assistant is former Swan, Alan Knill. Usual strip is red and white striped shirts, black shorts.
Honours include: The original Football League 1898. FA Cup 1899, 1902, 1915 and 1925. Last season they finished in 10th place with 69 points.
Recent notable players include Kyle Walker, Swan Kyle Naughton, Harry Maguire, Phil Jagielka and current captain Billy Sharp. Older posters might remember the incredible talent that was Tony Currie, Alan Woodward who scored 193 goals and Brian Deane who scored the first ever Premier League goal whilst playing for United in 1992. Swan's connections include former manager, Colin Addison, 26 goals and the great Len Allchurch who scored 37 goals between 1961 and 1965.

I only have one abiding memory of United which was during our cup run to the semi-finals in 1963/64. They were a First Division team (we were Second Division) and we drew 1-1 away in front of 25,572 fans with Eddie Thomas (great player) notching our goal. But we hammered them 4-0 in the replay at the Vetch with 24,109 people in attendance including me! Derek "Didi" Draper scored twice with one apiece from Jimmy McLaughlin and Eddie Thomas. A great night!!
 
ivoralljack

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
Preston North End (PNE): Founded in 1880, one of the original members of the Football League. Ground Deepdale, record attendance 42,684, present seated capacity 23,404. Nickname, Lilywhites and manager is ex Norwich man Alex Neil. Strip is white shirts, black shorts. PNE were the original Invincibles winning their inaugural season in 1889 without losing a game and winning the FA Cup without conceding a goal. They became the first team therefore to achieve "The Double". In 1887, they beat Hyde 26-0 which is a record score in the competition. Honours include: League winners 1888/89 and 1889/90. FA Cup 1889 and 1938. Notable managers include: Bobby Charlton, Nobby Stiles and David Moyes whilst ex players include Bill Shankly, Tommy Docherty and David Beckham (loan).

I have bitter-sweet personal memories of Preston. The first memory ( VERY bitter) was when we played them at Villa Park (1964) in an FA Cup semi-final in front of 68,000 supporters including me. That season we had drawn 3-3 at Preston after having been reduced to 9 men from memory (no subs then) and hammered them 5-1 at the Vetch, so they held no fears for us. The game was played in atrocious conditions on a mud bath of a pitch with driving rain and a howling gale. We deservedly led 1-0 at half time with a goal from Jimmy Mac (McLaughlin) and we were 45 minutes from Wembley. But, as usual, the Gods shit on us. Preston were awarded a dubious penalty and Alex Dawson, ex Manchester United centre forward, equalised. A far more clear cut penalty was denied to us (even then referees were socking it to us) before the Preston centre half, Tony Singleton, scored his first ever goal with an outrageous fluke. He hoofed the ball clear from about 40 yards out and caught keeper Noel Dwyer off his line. The ball sailed into the net and we were out. He later admitted that he was only trying to clear the ball and wasn't even trying to score!! I was behind that net and had a great view of all three goals but two of them have stuck in my craw to this day. Btw, I was stood alongside a couple of Wolves supporters who cheered for us non-stop throughout the game.

 
ivoralljack

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
PNE - PART 2: And so to sweet revenge on May 2nd 1981 at Deepdale. :) It was the final game of the season and we needed 3 points to ensure that we would play in the top flight for the first time in our history. We had already beaten them 3-0 at the Vetch and they were fighting against relegation - a fight they were to lose. Shame!! I had set out, following a last minute decision, from Cardiff where I was living at the time and joined up with over 10,000 Swans' supporters in a crowd of 18,970. I couldn't find any of my mates that day and watched on my own with another ten thousand new 'friends'. But I spared a thought for my good pal Malcolm - the poor sod had been dragged off to a wedding by his wife and it was the only game I can ever remember him missing!!

Anyway, I had a great view behind the goal that Leighton James planted a stunning shot into to get us rolling. What a shot of pure class!! Tommy Craig got another before Preston pulled one back and had us all biting our fingernails to the quick for a few minutes. But then a great move down the right involving the Holy Trio of Curt, Robbie and Charlo, saw Jeremy driving the ball into the net to seal our win and a place in the First Division. I doubt the tyres of my car touched the tarmac of the M6 on my way home and I was flicking from radio station to radio station getting as many reports of the game as I could. This in between sounding my car horn to every Swansea car and coach that I saw. Everyone was doing it and the motorway was a cacophony of jubilant Swansea joy and noise. Unforgettable.


 
Borini

Borini

Key Player
After the promotion game my coach went to a civil service club for a hotpot and a few beers. I commiserated with the barman as we had relegated Preston. He said it is worse than that. They were all Blackburn fans and we had pipped them for promotion on goal difference... Cue loud chorus of bye bye blackbird with new words.. bye bye Blackburn!!! Great times and good memories. I was too young for the semi but my dad went!
 
ivoralljack

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
Birmingham City - Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance. After a number of name changes they adopted their present name in 1943 and have spent over half their history in the top tier of English football. They play at St Andrews Stadium, which has a capacity of 29,409 and the club is owned by Trillion Trophy Asia. They play in blue shirts, white shorts and blue socks. Their manager is someone called G. Monk.

Honours include: Football League Cup in 1963 and 2011. Football League Trophy in 1991 and 1995. They were runners-up in the FA Cup in 1931 and 1956. In the latter game, Manchester City beat them 3-1 and were captained by Roy Paul, the uncle of Swans' legend Alan Curtis. That final was famous for the Citeh keeper, ex POW Bert Trautmann, bravely playing on with what was later diagnosed as a broken neck.

I have no particular memories of games against them other than on 2nd April 1983 when I was at St Andrews to watch a 1-1 draw in a season that saw us relegated from Division One. As usual, it was a late, highly debatable penalty decision that cost us the win. It was so debatable that I overheard one mounted copper on the mound close by, shout to his colleague, "Can you believe that decision? We'll have this lot to deal with now!" He meant us, the Swans' fans of course, but there was no particular trouble. We had become used to such things I think.

Bob Latchford (of course) scored our goal. That season, in a relegated side, Latch scored 20 league goals in 38 games. Next highest was Robbie James with 9 and Curt got 4. Not only that, Latch scored a further 14 goals in 17 various cup cup games. Any wonder why I rate him as the best centre forward I ever saw play for the Swans? (Michu was an AM). Latch wasn't the quickest but, over short distances, he was lightning sharp and, at 6ft tall, he was very strong, two footed, great in the air and he possessed that vital instinct for a striker of seeking out, and finding, goalscoring positions. In 1977/78, whilst at Everton, he won a £10,000 newspaper prize (big money in those days before insanity took over) for being the first striker to notch 30 goals in a single season. He was only awarded 12 caps for England but he still managed 5 goals and I rated him far more than others in front of him. Loved the guy to bits for his football and, like Michu, he was a modest and likeable man.

I know some of you, like me, have seen this clip of his debut game against Leeds, many times. But I never tire of watching it, so no apologies from me for showing it again. And, of course, there was the bonus of THAT goal from Curt, one he particularly wanted to score against his former club. Note the dummy Latch executes for the first goal to get an assist in addition to his hat trick, and that sidestep Curt made to set up his own goal was a thing of beauty. The defender that Curt almost sent down the player's tunnel, was England international, Trevor Cherry. Now I might be wrong about this but I seem to remember that Leeds fielded one player, England winger Peter Barnes, who cost more than the entire Swansea City team. Happy days while they lasted!! :)

 
Borini

Borini

Key Player
My memory of games against Birmingham is watching Ferrie Bodie stop , stand still and put his hand in the air to call the trainer on. Saddest moment at the lib for me. That was the end for one of our best midfielders ever. I agree with your comments on Bob Latchford. Great player... How much would he be worth today?
 
ivoralljack

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
Borini said:
My memory of games against Birmingham is watching Ferrie Bodie stop , stand still and put his hand in the air to call the trainer on. Saddest moment at the lib for me. That was the end for one of our best midfielders ever. I agree with your comments on Bob Latchford. Great player... How much would he be worth today?
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I was at that Bodde game as well and the whole incident seemed so innocuous. Little did we know, eh? As for Latch (who was sold by Birmingham to Everton for BIG money), seeing what some strikers fetch today and other run-of-the-mill players, in today's market, if I was his manager, I wouldn't accept a penny less than £80 million for him and probably get even higher bids from abroad. Imo he WAS that good because, simply, he guaranteed goals.
 
ivoralljack

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
LEEDS UNITED - Formed in 1919 Leeds have a rich heritage and was one of the powerhouse teams of the 1960/1970s. Honours include First Division Champions (3) in 1968/69, 1973/74 and 1991/92. They were runners-up (5) in 1964/65, 65/66, 69/70, 70/71 and 71/72. They won the FA Cup in 1971/72 and beaten finalists in 1964/65, 69/70 and 72/73. They won the Football League Cup in 1967/68 and were beaten finalists in 1995/96 and won the FA Charity Shield in 1969 and 1992.

In Europe, they were beaten finalists in the European Cup losing to Bayern Munich in 1974/75, were beaten finalists in the EUFA Cup Winners Cup in 1972/73 and were Inter-Cities Fairs Cup winners in 1967/68 and 1970/71. They were indeed highly successful in the 1960/70s with most of their triumphs under manager Don Revie. Former notable players are far too many to list here but include household names such as Bremner, Hunter, Jack Charlton, Giles, Madeley, Clarke, Lorimer, the brothers Gray, Jordan, Yorath, Reaney, Rio Ferdinand, Gordon McQueen, Fabian Delph, Tony Currie, Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (Golden Boot winner with them) and many, many others. All were international and highly accomplished players and most of them were equally accomplished in the dark arts of the game. - particularly during the Revie years.

My most abiding memory of a game I attended was when we hammered them 5-1 in our very first game at the top level but I've already covered that game in my Birmingham post. There are a number of players with connections to both sides the most famous and obvious of which is the great John Charles, regarded by many as the greatest all round footballer that ever lived. I wouldn't disagree with that and I won't say more here because he deserves an article devoted entirely to him. Then there was Curt - and keeper Gary Sprake came from Winch Wen born in the same street, I believe, as legendary keeper Jack Kelsey of Arsenal and Wales. Of other less well known players, I have actually played with Colin R and against a young Carl Harries who was a skilful and tricky player on his day.

Leeds play at Elland Road, voted by supporters in July 2018 as the best ground in the Championship, and has a capacity of 37,890. Nicknames include The Peacocks and they finished 13th in last season's table. Under new manager, Marcelo Bielsa they are looking a very dangerous team this season and I strongly tip them for promotion. Tuesday's game will be a stern and true test of the mettle of Potter's young side for sure.
 
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Borini

Borini

Key Player
I will be needing incontinence pants for this one... If we lose 0-4 we will have done well.
If Carroll is on the team sheet make that 0-6.
 
CroJack

CroJack

Key Player
ivoralljack said:
Nicknames include The Peacocks and they finished 13th in last season's table.
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The Peacocks has been obsolate for many years and never really been used by the Leeds fans. The Peacocks nickname stems from the former name of the Elland Road, The Old Peacock Ground, which was in turn named after The Old Peacock pub opposite Elland Road's South Stand and The New Peacock pub which stood behind the North stand.

Leeds fans have always preffered the nickname United. Since they have changed the colours of their kit from blue and old gold (I think their rugby teams still wears it) to white, their second nickname has been The Whites.

Before Don Revie's era Leeds United also had owl badge on their playing kit, but Don Revie, who was very superstitious and deemed birds unlucky, had it removed from the playing kit.
 
ivoralljack

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
CroJack said:
The Peacocks has been obsolate for many years and never really been used by the Leeds fans. The Peacocks nickname stems from the former name of the Elland Road, The Old Peacock Ground, which was in turn named after The Old Peacock pub opposite Elland Road's South Stand and The New Peacock pub which stood behind the North stand.

Leeds fans have always preffered the nickname United. Since they have changed the colours of their kit from blue and old gold (I think their rugby teams still wears it) to white, their second nickname has been The Whites.

Before Don Revie's era Leeds United also had owl badge on their playing kit, but Don Revie, who was very superstitious and deemed birds unlucky, had it removed from the playing kit.
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Thanks @CroJack I was aware of that :) but didn't want to go into all that detail, which is why I said nicknames 'include'. Revie actually changed the colour of the kit to emulate that of Real Madrid, a team he greatly admired - so one version would have it. I can actually remember Leeds in their former blue and old gold strip, which was worn by John Charles with such distinction.
 
ivoralljack

ivoralljack

Grizzled Veteran
Staff member
Stoke City 0 Wigan Athletic 3. Pleased to report that Agents Allen and Williams are working well for us. Joe gave away a penalty from which Wigan scored and Ash got himself sent off for the second time in three games. Keep it going, lads, we need all the help we can get. :love::ROFLMAO:
 
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