Sheffield United vs Tottenham Hotspur

48 UTB
BLAST FROM THE PAST
Each week PAUL HOLLAND looks back on a prominent game
from the past between the Blades and our opponents…
SHEFFIELD UNITED 3-1 TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
SATURDAY 29th FEBRUARY 1936
Heavy snow
contributed to a
low attendance of
22,295 spectators as
Second Division United
took on Tottenham, also in
the second tier, in
the FA Cup.
This quarter-final
encounter saw United beat
their London counterparts
3-1, but the Blades would
eventually fall to Spurs’
North London rivals,
Arsenal, 1-0 in the final.
The weather conditions
may have been a driving
factor in a low turnout.
68,287 had packed
into Bramall Lane in the
previous round against
Leeds United. Snow,
which had turned to sleet
made the pitch difficult
and, perhaps, this would
not have been played in
today’s modern game.
United turned in a strong
performance from the off
which Spurs simply failed
to contend with. Spurs did
frustrate the Blades during
the opening quarter, but
United took the lead on
31 minutes following good
work down the left by Jack
Pickering which resulted
in Bobby Barclay giving
the hosts the advantage.
Tottenham were prevented
from equalising moments
later, as United defender
Tom Johnson did
enough to keep George
Hunt at bay.
Tottenham started
the second half well
with both Hunt and Hall
keeping Jack Smith
busy in the Blades’ goal.
After weathering the
storm, the hosts doubled
the advantage. After
collecting a pass from
Eddie Boot on the edge
of the area, Jock Dodds
steadied himself before
beating Allan Taylor.
Dodds then added his
second of the match and
put the game beyond
Spurs when good play
drew Arthur Rowe and Bill
Whitley to the right as he
shot past an unsighted
Taylor. The visitors did
not abandon all hope of
salvaging something from
this tie. With moments
remaining Johnny Morrison
scored from close-range
to earn a consolation
for Spurs.
United went on to beat
Fulham 1-0 at Molineux
before losing to Arsenal in
the final.
SHEFFIELD UNITED vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR