Sheffield United vs Tottenham Hotspur

68 UTB
▲ Alan Hodgkinson didn’t play in the
game, despite Chris shouting his name
chanting “Hodgkinson,
Hodgkinson, Hodgkinson”,
especially when he was
in the goal nearest to us.
The folly of this particular
chanting only materialised
on the following Monday!
I also remember
cheering our goals as they
went in – and quite a few
did – we won 6-1! I peaked
early: this is the best result
I have ever witnessed,
although the 2008 5-2
victory over Charlton
Athletic came close.
The match report
in Monday’s Sheffield
Telegraph was headed
up ‘Only Sheffield were
United’. Imagine my
embarrassment on
reading that Thompson
was in goal for us as
Hodgkinson was injured.
So much for my helpful
chanting. Funny how you
can still feel embarrassed
years after the event!
Of course, there have
been ups (Jagielka’s
goal v Leeds, Jones and
Birchenall in harness, the
Wilder years, 100 points v
Chesterfield) and downs
(John Lundstram not
cutting his toenails for
VAR at Spurs, incessant
play-offs and semi-finals
not going to plan) but it’s
the downs that prove the
strength of support.
When we were
relegated to the Fourth
Division two moments
stand out. The first was
that I heard the result
driving along Dawlish
sea front (I was living
and working in the West
▲ Jones and Birchenall pictured centrally in this image with Tony Wagstaff and Len Badger
alongside boss John Harris. Their departures one of Chris’ United lows
S HEFFIELD UNITED vs TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR