1914–15 Sheffield United F.C. season
Sheffield United 1914–15 football 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 | |
| ||
← 1913–14 1915–16 → | ||
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
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
Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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Squad statistics
- 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
In
| 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
| 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
| 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 |
Source: World Football
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
Matches
League
Sunderland v Sheffield United
| 2 September 1914 | Sunderland | 3–2 | Sheffield United | Roker Park |
| 15:00 | Simmons  'David Davies ' | Attendance: 12,200 |
Sheffield United v The Wednesday
| 5 September 1914 | Sheffield United | 0–2 | The Wednesday | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Attendance: 27,500 |
West Bromwich Albion v Sheffield United
| 12 September 1914 | West Bromwich Albion | 1–1 | Sheffield United | The Hawthorns |
| 15:00 | Fazackerley ' | Attendance: 6,481 |
Sheffield United v Everton
| 19 September 1914 | Sheffield United | 1–0 | Everton | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | David Davies ' | Attendance: 18,000 |
Chelsea v Sheffield United
| 26 September 1914 | Chelsea | 1–1 | Sheffield United | Stamford Bridge |
| 15:00 | David Davies ' | Attendance: 18,000 |
Sheffield United v Bradford City
| 3 October 1914 | Sheffield United | 1–1 | Bradford City | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Fazackerley ' | Attendance: 20,000 |
Burnley v Sheffield United
| 10 October 1914 | Burnley | 1–2 | Sheffield United | Turf Moor |
| 15:00 | Fazackerley ' Kitchen ' | Attendance: 18,000 |
Sheffield United v Tottenham Hotspur
| 17 October 1914 | Sheffield United | 1–1 | Tottenham Hotspur | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Thompson ' | Attendance: 20,000 |
Newcastle United v Sheffield United
| 24 October 1914 | Newcastle United | 4–3 | Sheffield United | St James' Park |
| 15:00 | Simmons ' Sturgess ' 'Thompson ' | Attendance: 27,500 |
Sheffield United v Middlesbrough
| 31 October 1914 | Sheffield United | 0–1 | Middlesbrough | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Attendance: 11,000 |
Manchester City v Sheffield United
| 7 November 1914 | Manchester City | 0–0 | Sheffield United | Hyde Road |
| 15:00 | Attendance: 25,500 |
Aston Villa v Sheffield United
| 14 November 1914 | Aston Villa | 1–0 | Sheffield United | Villa Park |
| 15:00 | Attendance: 14,000 |
Sheffield United v Liverpool
| 21 November 1914 | Sheffield United | 2–1 | Liverpool | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Simmons ', ' | Attendance: 11,500 |
Bradford Park Avenue v Sheffield United
| 28 November 1914 | Bradford Park Avenue | 2–0 | Sheffield United | Park Avenue |
| 15:00 | Attendance: 8,000 |
Sheffield United v Oldham Athletic
| 5 December 1914 | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Oldham Athletic | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Simmons ' Masterman 'David Davies ' | Attendance: 8,500 |
Manchester United v Sheffield United
| 12 December 1914 | Manchester United | 1–2 | Sheffield United | Old Trafford |
| 15:00 | Simmons ' (pen.) Masterman ' | Attendance: 7,500 |
Sheffield United v Bolton Wanderers
| 19 December 1914 | Sheffield United | 3–1 | Bolton Wanderers | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Simmons ' Kitchen 'Masterman ' | Attendance: 5,500 |
Sheffield United v Blackburn Rovers
| 26 December 1914 | Sheffield United | 1–2 | Blackburn Rovers | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Masterman ' | Attendance: 32,000 |
Sheffield United v Notts County
| 28 December 1914 | Sheffield United | 1–0 | Notts County | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Simmons ' | Attendance: 15,000 |
Blackburn Rovers v Sheffield United
| 1 January 1915 | Blackburn Rovers | 1–2 | Sheffield United | Ewood Park |
| 15:00 | Hawley ' Kitchen ' | Attendance: 10,000 |
The Wednesday v Sheffield United
| 2 January 1915 | The Wednesday | 1–1 | Sheffield United | Hillsborough Stadium |
| 15:00 | Davies ' | Attendance: 31,500 |
Sheffield United v West Bromwich Albion
| 16 January 1915 | Sheffield United | 2–0 | West Bromwich Albion | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | David Davies ', ' | Attendance: 14,500 |
Everton v Sheffield United
| 23 January 1915 | Everton | 0–0 | Sheffield United | Goodison Park |
| 15:00 | Attendance: 18,000 |
Bradford City v Sheffield United
| 6 February 1915 | Bradford City | 1–1 | Sheffield United | Valley Parade |
| 15:00 | Masterman ' | Attendance: 18,000 |
Sheffield United v Burnley
| 13 February 1915 | Sheffield United | 1–0 | Burnley | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Kitchen ' | Attendance: 5,000 |
Sheffield United v Newcastle United
| 27 February 1915 | Sheffield United | 1–0 | Newcastle United | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Kitchen ' | Attendance: 17,500 |
Sheffield United v Chelsea
| 8 March 1915 | Sheffield United | 1–0 | Chelsea | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Fazackerley ' | Attendance: 5,750 |
Middlesbrough v Sheffield United
| 17 March 1915 | Middlesbrough | 2–2 | Sheffield United | Ayresome Park |
| 15:00 | Masterman ' Kitchen ' | Attendance: 5,000 |
Sheffield United v Aston Villa
| 20 March 1915 | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Aston Villa | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Masterman ' Kitchen ', ' | Attendance: 16,750 |
Sheffield United v Manchester City
| 29 March 1915 | Sheffield United | 0–0 | Manchester City | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Attendance: 10,000 |
Notts County v Sheffield United
| 2 April 1915 | Notts County | 3–1 | Sheffield United | Meadow Lane |
| 15:00 | Kitchen ' | Attendance: 9,300 |
Sheffield United v Bradford Park Avenue
| 3 April 1915 | Sheffield United | 3–2 | Bradford Park Avenue | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Simmons ' Kitchen 'Masterman ' | Attendance: 10,500 |
Sheffield United v Sunderland
| 5 April 1915 | Sheffield United | 1–1 | Sunderland | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Fazackerley ' | Attendance: 21,000 |
Oldham Athletic v Sheffield United
| 10 April 1915 | Oldham Athletic | 3–0 | Sheffield United | Boundary Park |
| 15:00 | Attendance: 10,354 |
Liverpool v Sheffield United
| 12 April 1915 | Liverpool | 2–1 | Sheffield United | Anfield |
| 15:00 | Kitchen ' | Attendance: 4,000 |
Sheffield United v Manchester United
| 17 April 1915 | Sheffield United | 3–1 | Manchester United | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Utley ' Evans 'Masterman ' | Attendance: 14,000 |
Tottenham Hotspur v Sheffield United
| 19 April 1915 | Tottenham Hotspur | 1–1 | Sheffield United | White Hart Lane |
| 15:00 | Fazackerley ' | Attendance: 7,750 |
Bolton Wanderers v Sheffield United
| 26 April 1915 | Bolton Wanderers | 0–1 | Sheffield United | Burnden Park |
| 15:00 | Kitchen ' | Attendance: 13,500 |
FA Cup
Blackpool v Sheffield United
| 23 January 1915 Round 1 | Blackpool | 1–2 | Sheffield United | Bloomfield Road |
| 15:00 | Masterman ?', ?' | Attendance: 9,462 |
Sheffield United v Liverpool
| 30 January 1915 Round 2 | Sheffield United | 1–0 | Liverpool | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Kitchen ?' | Attendance: 26,754 |
Sheffield United v Bradford Park Avenue
| 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 |
Oldham Athletic v Sheffield United
| 6 March 1915 Round 4 | Oldham Athletic | 0–0 (a.e.t.) | Sheffield United | Boundary Park |
| 15:00 | Attendance: 18,419 |
Sheffield United v Oldham Athletic
| 13 March 1915 Round 4r | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Oldham Athletic | Bramall Lane |
| 15:00 | Kitchen ?', ?' Fazackerley ?' | Attendance: 43,157 |
Sheffield United v Bolton Wanderers
| 13 March 1915 Semi Final | Sheffield United | 2–1 | Bolton Wanderers | Ewood Park |
| 15:00 | Simmons ?' Utley ?' | Attendance: 22,404 |
Sheffield United v Chelsea
| 24 April 1915 Final | Sheffield United | 3–0 | Chelsea | Old Trafford |
| 15:00 | Simmons ?' Fazackerley ?'Kitchen ?' | Attendance: 49,557 |
Friendlies
The Wednesday v Sheffield United
| 5 October 1914 | The Wednesday | 2–0 | Sheffield United | Hillsborough Stadium |
| Attendance: 5,500 |
References
- ^ 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.
