1892–93 Sheffield United F.C. season

The 1892–93 season was the fourth in existence for Sheffield United. This was their first season playing in the recently formed Football League Second Division as the club sought to establish itself as a major footballing force. With some members of the football committee unconvinced of the long-term future of the Football League, the club also retained its membership of the Northern League.

Sheffield United
1892–93 season
ChairmanMichael Ellison
SecretaryJoseph Wostinholm
Division Two2nd
(promoted via Test Match)
FA CupSecond round
(eliminated by Sunderland)
Wharncliffe Charity CupFinalists
(trophy shared with The Wednesday)
Top goalscorerLeague: Hammond (18)
All: Hammond (22)
Highest home attendanceLeague: 4,500
(vs Grimsby Town)
FA Cup: 14,769
(vs Sunderland)
Lowest home attendance500 (vs Darwen)

Background

Sheffield United had finished third in the Northern League the previous season.[1] Their ambition, however, was to play in the Football League and in April 1892 their application to join was successful at the second attempt.[2] The club's application had previously been rejected in 1891 but with the league being expanded from 12 to 28 teams United, along with a number of other clubs including local rivals The Wednesday, were elected to play in the Football League for the 1892–93 season.[2] To the annoyance of the club's directors however, whereas The Wednesday were given entry directly into the First Division, United were placed in the newly formed Second Division.[2] Despite their Football League application being successful some members of United's football committee were unconvinced of its long-term future, and so the club elected to retain its membership of the Northern League as well.[3]

Kit

With the club now a member of The Football League, United elected to adopt a new jersey consisting of thick red and white stripes.[4] This replaced the all white jersey they had worn in the previous season and was the first introduction of a strip that has remained (some minor alterations aside) to the present day.[4] United retained their white jersey as a change strip and matched both shirts with blue knickers and socks.[4] The club badge that had also adorned their jerseys the previous season was also dropped.[4]

Season

Pre-season

With United set to play in the newly formed Football League Second Division the club looked to strengthen its squad, as a number of fringe players departed Bramall Lane. Squad players William Getliff and W. Nesbitt were not retained,[5][6] and long-serving defender Ned Stringer retired from playing to take up a scouting post with the club.[7] Billy Bairstow was allowed to join local side Penistone,[8] while Thomas Smith's brief stay with the club came to an end as he was signed by Yorkshire neighbours Barnsley.[9]

Moving in the opposite direction, Walter Wigmore was signed from Worksop Town on 12 June.[10] By July United had added defender William Mellor,[11] and signed striker Arthur McCabe from nearby Rotherham Town on a free transfer.[12] Sheffield born defender George Waller, who had played in the 1890 FA Cup Final for cross–city rivals The Wednesday, was signed from Middlesbrough at the start of August,[13] before the club's pre-season dealings concluded with the arrival of wide player Joe Brady arrived from Renton.[14] Despite this influx of new players, the established first team remained largely unchanged from the previous season, with those players signed during the summer being used mainly as reserves and making relatively few first team appearances.

With the new season about to start, United kicked off their fixture list with a show-piece friendly game against established Scottish side Celtic, beating their visitors 1–0 courtesy of a Harry Hammond goal.[3]

Squad

Source: [3]

First team

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
DF England ENG Edgar Benson[note 1] (guest player from Sheffield FC)
MF England ENG Joe Brady
FW England ENG John Brookes[note 2]
DF Scotland SCO Bob Cain
MF England ENG Billy Croxon
FW England ENG Fred Davies
MF England ENG Samuel Dobson
FW Scotland SCO John Drummond
FW Scotland SCO James Duncan
FW Scotland SCO Hugh Gallacher
FW England ENG Frank Gamble (guest player from Heeley)
DF England ENG Harry Gregory[note 3] (guest player from Ecclesfield)
MF England ENG George Groves
FW England ENG Harry Hammond
FW England ENG Harry Hassall[note 4]
DF Scotland SCO Billy Hendry (captain)
No. Pos. Nation Player
FW Scotland SCO Bob Hill
DF England ENG Walter Hill
DF England ENG Rab Howell
GK England ENG Charlie Howlett
DF England ENG Harry Lilley
GK England ENG Will Lilley
MF England ENG Arthur McCabe
DF England ENG William Mellor
DF England ENG Ernest Needham
FW England ENG Walter Sylvester[note 5] (guest player)
FW England ENG Sandy Wallace
DF England ENG George Waller
FW England ENG Arthur Watson
DF England ENG Michael Whitham
DF England ENG Walter Wigmore
GK England ENG Fred Wood[note 6]

Players leaving before the end of the season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
GK England ENG Charles Bunyan (guest from Chesterfield Town)
MF Scotland SCO W. Patterson
No. Pos. Nation Player
FW Scotland SCO John Scott

Transfers

In

Position Player Transferred from Fee Date Source
DF England Walter Wigmore Kiveton Park Free 12 June 1892 [10]
DF England William Mellor Unattached Free 2 July 1892 [11]
FW England Arthur McCabe Rotherham Town Free 30 July 1892 [12]
DF England George Waller Middlesbrough Free 6 August 1892 [13]
MF England Joe Brady Renton Free 14 August 1892 [14]
MF England Billy Croxon Illford Free 5 November 1892 [21]
FW Scotland Hugh Gallacher Preston North End Free 28 January 1893 [22]
FW Scotland Bob Hill Linfield Free 11 February 1893 [23]

Out

Position Player Transferred to Fee Date Source
FW England Billy Bairstow Penistone Free June 1892 [8]
FW England William Getliff N/A Released June 1892 [5]
DF England W. Nesbitt N/A Released June 1892 [6]
FW England Thomas Smith Barnsley Free June 1892 [9]
DF England Ned Stringer Retired N/A June 1892 [7]
DF Scotland W. Patterson N/A Released December 1892 [24]
FW Scotland John Scott Gainsborough Trinity Free December 1892 [25]

League tables

Source: [3]

Football League Second Division

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Small Heath (C) 22 17 2 3 90 35 2.571 36 Qualification for test matches
2 Sheffield United (O, P) 22 16 3 3 62 19 3.263 35
3 Darwen (O, P) 22 14 2 6 60 36 1.667 30
4 Grimsby Town 22 11 1 10 42 41 1.024 23
5 Ardwick 22 9 3 10 45 40 1.125 21
Source:
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted

Northern League

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts
1 Middlesbrough Ironopolis 10 9 1 0 22 6 +16 19
2 Newcastle United 10 5 1 4 30 19 +11 11
3 Sheffield United 10 4 2 4 18 16 +2 10
4 Middlesbrough 10 4 0 6 17 17 0 8
5 Stockton 10 3 1 6 24 27 3 7
6 Darlington 10 2 1 7 11 37 26 5
Source:

Squad statistics

Source: [3]

Appearances and goals

As of the end of the season
No. Pos Nat Player TotalDivision TwoTest MatchFA CupNorthern League
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
DF England ENG Edgar Benson 0000000000
MF England ENG Joe Brady 1000000010
FW England ENG John Brookes 0000000000
DF Scotland SCO Bob Cain 271171102070
MF England ENG Billy Croxon 3020000010
FW Scotland SCO Fred Davies 14685002041
MF England ENG Samuel Dobson 9261000031
FW Scotland SCO John Drummond 3392061120102
FW Scotland SCO James Duncan 0000000000
FW Scotland SCO Hugh Gallacher 12594100021
FW England ENG Frank Gamble 1000000010
DF England ENG Harry Gregory 0000000000
MF England ENG George Groves 0000000000
FW England ENG Harry Hammond 29221818102183
DF England ENG Harry Hassall 0000000000
DF Scotland SCO Billy Hendry 312202102080
FW Scotland SCO Bob Hill 9674100012
DF England ENG Walter Hill 2020000000
DF England ENG Rab Howell 322222102070
GK England ENG Charlie Howlett 240150102060
DF England ENG Harry Lilley 16070001080
GK England ENG Will Lilley 11070000040
MF England ENG Arthur McCabe 1000000010
DF England ENG William Mellor 5020001020
DF England ENG Ernest Needham 328205102291
DF England ENG Walter Sylvester 0000000000
FW England ENG Sandy Wallace 237163000074
DF England ENG George Waller 4111000030
FW England ENG Arthur Watson 248156102161
DF England ENG Michael Whitham 210110102070
DF England ENG Walter Wigmore 1000000010
GK England ENG Fred Wood 0000000000
Players who left before the end of the season:
GK England ENG Charles Bunyan 0000000000
FW Scotland SCO W. Patterson 1010000000
FW Scotland SCO John Scott 8352000031

Top scorers

Place Nation Position Name League Division Two Test Match FA Cup Northern League Total
1 England FW Harry Hammond 18 0 1 3 22
2 Scotland FW John Drummond 6 1 0 2 9
3 England DF Ernest Needham 5 0 2 1 8
England FW Arthur Watson 6 0 1 1 8
4 England FW Sandy Wallace 3 0 0 4 7
5 Scotland FW Fred Davies 5 0 0 1 6
Scotland FW Bob Hill 4 0 0 2 6
6 Scotland FW Hugh Gallacher 4 0 0 1 5
7 Scotland FW John Scott 2 0 0 1 3
8 England FW Samuel Dobson 1 0 0 1 2
Scotland DF Billy Hendry 2 0 0 0 2
England DF Rab Howell 2 0 0 0 2
9 Scotland DF Bob Cain 1 0 0 0 1
England DF George Waller 1 0 0 0 1
Totals: 60 1 4 17 82

Results

Source: [3]

Key

  Win   Draw   Loss   Void

Division Two

3 September 1892 Sheffield United 4–2 Lincoln City Bramall Lane
Hammond ?', ?', ?'
Wallace ?'
Cameron ?'
Irving ?'
Attendance: 4,000
10 September 1892 Bootle 2–0 Sheffield United Hawthorne Road
Law ?'
Montgomery ?'
Attendance: 3,000
17 September 1892 Sheffield United 2–0 Small Heath Bramall Lane
Scott ?'
Hammond ?'
Attendance: 4,000
26 September 1892 Sheffield United 2–0 Grimsby Town Bramall Lane
Unknown ?'
Needham ?'
Attendance: 4,500
1 October 1892 Lincoln City 1–0 Sheffield United Sincil Bank
Cameron ?' Attendance: 2,000
15 October 1892 Sheffield United 2–0 Darwen Bramall Lane
Scott ?'
Dobson ?'
Attendance: 500
19 November 1892
[note 7]
Darwen 3–1 Sheffield United Barley Bank
Aspden ?'
McKennie ?'
Entwistle ?'
Hendry ?' Attendance: 3,000
26 November 1892 Sheffield United 8–3 Bootle Bramall Lane
Wallace  '
Hammond  ',  ',  ',  ',  '
Davies  ',  '
Attendance: 1,500
3 December 1892 Small Heath 1–1 Sheffield United Coventry Road
Wheldon  ' Davies  ' Attendance: 3,500
10 December 1892 Burslem Port Vale 0–10 Sheffield United Westport Meadows
Drummond  '
Wallace  '
Hammond  ',  ',  ',  '
Watson  ',  '
Davies  ',  '
Attendance: 1,500
17 December 1892 Sheffield United 4–0 Burslem Port Vale Bramall Lane
Needham  '
Hammond  '
Howell  '
Drummond  '
Attendance: 1,500
24 December 1892
[note 8]
Sheffield United 2–1
(Abdn. 68)
Burton Swifts Bramall Lane
Unknown  ',  ' Attendance: 2,000
3 January 1893 Sheffield United 3–0 Walsall Town Swifts Bramall Lane
Hammond  ',  '
Hendry  '
Attendance: 1,000
23 January 1893 Sheffield United 1–1 Northwich Victoria Bramall Lane
Needham  ' Attendance: 1,250
6 February 1893 Sheffield United 3–1 Burton Swifts Bramall Lane
Drummond  '
Gallacher  ',  '
Attendance: 3,000
18 February 1893 Northwich Victoria 1–3 Sheffield United Drill Field
Howell  '
Hammond  '
Drummond  '
Attendance: 2,235
4 March 1893 Ardwick 2–3 Sheffield United Hyde Road
Gallacher  '
Drummond  '
Cain  '
Attendance: 2,000
18 March 1893 Sheffield United 4–0 Crewe Alexandra Bramall Lane
Watson  ',  '
Hill  ',  '
Attendance: 2,750
25 March 1893 Sheffield United 2–1 Ardwick Bramall Lane
Needham  ',  ' Attendance: 4,250
31 March 1893 Grimsby Town 0–1 Sheffield United Abbey Park
Hill  ' Attendance: 6,000
1 April 1893 Burton Swifts 0–3 Sheffield United Peel Croft
Hill  '
Waller  '
Gallacher  '
Attendance: 'large'
12 April 1893
[note 9]
Crewe Alexandra 0–4 Sheffield United Alexandra Recreation Ground
Watson  ',  '
Hammond  '
Gallacher  '
Attendance: 2,000
15 April 1893 Walsall Town Swifts 1–1 Sheffield United The Chuckery
Drummond  ' Attendance: 1,000

Test match

22 April 1893 Accrington 0–1 Sheffield United Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Drummond 55' Attendance: 5,000

FA Cup

21 January 1893 Round one Blackpool 1–3 Sheffield United Raikes Hall
Needham  ',  '
Hammond  '
Attendance: 3,000
4 February 1893 Round two Sheffield United 1–3 Sunderland Bramall Lane
Watson  ' Attendance: 14,769

Northern League

24 September 1892 Sheffield United 5–1 Newcastle East End Bramall Lane
Drummond  '
Scott  '
Wallace  '
Hammond  '
Dobson  '
Attendance: 4,000
8 October 1892 Sheffield United 0–0 Middlesbrough Ironopolis Bramall Lane
Attendance: 2,500
29 October 1892
[note 10]
Middlesbrough Ironopolis 1–0 Sheffield United Paradise Ground
Attendance: 4,000
24 December 1892 Sheffield United 5–0 Darlington Bramall Lane
Drummond  '
Wallace  ',  '
Hammond  ',  '
Attendance: 2,000
31 December 1892 Middlesbrough 2–1 Sheffield United Linthorpe Road
Wallace  ' Attendance: 3,000
2 January 1893 Stockton 5–0 Sheffield United ?
Attendance: 2,500
14 January 1893 Newcastle United 1–1 Sheffield United St James' Park
Miller  ' (o.g.) Attendance: 2,500
30 January 1893 Sheffield United 1–3 Stockton Bramall Lane
Needham  ' Attendance: 3,500
14 February 1893 Sheffield United 2–1 Middlesbrough Bramall Lane
Gallacher  '
Watson  '
Attendance: 5,000
3 April 1893 Darlington 2–3 Sheffield United Feethams
B. Hill  ',  '
Davies  '
Attendance: 2,000

Wharncliffe Charity Cup

24 April 1893 Final The Wednesday 0–0 Sheffield United Olive Grove
Attendance: 4,000

Challenge match

9 February 1893
[note 11]
Grimsby Town 0–2 Sheffield United Town Cricket Club Ground, Hull
Brady  ',  ' Attendance: 3,000

Friendlies

1 September 1892 Sheffield United 1–0 Scotland Celtic Bramall Lane
Hammond  ' Attendance: 4,000
5 September 1892 Everton 3–2 Sheffield United Priory Road
Hammond  ',  ' Attendance: 6,000
12 September 1892 Sheffield United 1–0 Woolwich Arsenal Bramall Lane
Brady  ' Attendance: 4,000
19 September 1892 Burnley 1–3 Sheffield United Calder Vale
Scott  ',  '
Hammond  '
Attendance: 2,000
10 October 1892 Sheffield United 4–0 Gainsborough Trinity Bramall Lane
Scott  ',  '
Davies  '
Cain  '
Attendance: 2,000
17 October 1892 The Wednesday 1–1 Sheffield United Olive Grove
Drummond  ' Attendance: 16,500
18 October 1892 Millwall Athletic 0–4 Sheffield United The Athletic Grounds
Davies  '
Brady  '
Scott  '
Dobson  '
Attendance: 2,000
20 October 1892
[note 12]
Woolwich Arsenal 1–0 Sheffield United Invicta Ground
Attendance: 3,700
26 October 1892 Gainsborough Trinity 0–1 Sheffield United The Northolme
Dobson  ' Attendance: 3,000
31 October 1892 Sheffield United 2–6 Rotherham Town Bramall Lane
Patterson  ',  ' Attendance: 2,000
3 November 1892 Nottingham Forest 0–1 Sheffield United The Town Ground
Hammond  ' Attendance: 1,000
5 November 1892 Newcastle East End 2–2 Sheffield United Stanley Street
Howell  '
Hammond  '
Attendance: 4,500
10 November 1892 Casuals 1–2 Sheffield United Leyton Cricket Ground
Davies  '
Scott  '
Attendance: "low"
12 November 1892 Swindon Town 0–6 Sheffield United The Croft
Davies  '
Watson  ',  ',  '
Wallace  '
Croxon  '
Attendance: 3,500
21 November 1892 Sheffield United 1–3 The Wednesday Bramall Lane
Watson  ' Attendance: 11,500
28 November 1892 Sheffield United 1–0 Bolton Wanderers Bramall Lane
Davies  ' Attendance: 2,250
19 December 1892 Sheffield United 2–0 Oxford University Bramall Lane
Davies  '
Hammond  '
Attendance: 1,000
26 December 1892 Liverpool 1–0 Sheffield United Anfield
Attendance: 4,500
29 December 1892 Sheffield United 2–2 Casuals Bramall Lane
Watson  '
Davies  '
Attendance: 1,500
11 February 1893 Sheffield United 4–3 Nottingham Forest Bramall Lane
Drummond  ',  '
B. Hill  '
Gallacher  '
Attendance: 3,250
20 February 1893 Sheffield United 0–1 Burnley Bramall Lane
Attendance: 2,000
11 March 1893 Middlesbrough Ironopolis 1–2 Sheffield United Paradise Ground
Howell  '
Unknown  '
Attendance: 1,800
4 April 1893
[note 13]
Sheffield United 2–2 Middlesbrough Ironopolis Bramall Lane
B. Hill  '
Hendry  '
Attendance: 4,500
8 April 1893 Stoke 1–3 Sheffield United Victoria Ground
Drummond  '
Hammond  '
B. Hill  '
Attendance: 1,000
26 April 1893 Everton 3–1 Sheffield United Goodison Park
Hammond  ' Attendance: 1,500
27 April 1893 Rotherham Town 1–2 Sheffield United Clifton Grove
B. Hill  '
Gallacher  '
Attendance: 3,000
29 April 1893 Burton Wanderers 3–0 Sheffield United Derby Turn
Attendance: "meagre"

Notes

  1. Edgar C. Benson was a local left back who played for Sheffield Club but was also registered with The Football League by United between August 1892 and June 1895. During that time he only made five appearances for the Blades and his only competitive start came in a Northern League game against Sunderland Albion in 1892.[15]
  2. John Arthur Brookes was an outside right registered by United in 1891 and stayed linked with the club until June 1895. During that period he made only three competitive appearances, his only league game being against South Bank in the Northern League.[16]
  3. Harry Gregory was a half back who played for United as a guest from Ecclesfield FC. Having made one appearance in United's first season, they registered him with The Football League for the 1892–1893 season but he made only one more appearance in a friendly fixture.[17]
  4. Harry Hassall was a left sided forward who was signed by United in the summer of 1892 from Kiveton Park. He spent only one season with United and played only twice for the first team in friendly fixtures before being released for following summer. It was reported in the local press that he had died not long after, in 1894.[18]
  5. Walter Sylvester spent a period on trial towards the end of the season, playing once for the first team in a friendly fixture.[19]
  6. Fred Wood was a Scots Guard who had previously played for Woolwich Arsenal when he was signed by United in November 1892. He made only five appearances for United, all of them in friendly matches.[20]
  7. Michael Whitham played in goal for the second half.
  8. With the score at 2–1, the match was abandoned on 68 minutes due to excessive fog.
  9. Harry Hammond was sent off.
  10. Billy Hendry played in goal for the second half.
  11. Played in Hull under floodlights. Proceeds were given to Hull medical charities.
  12. Bob Cain was sent off but was allowed to return to the field after apologising to the referee.
  13. Bob Hill missed a penalty.

Bibliography

  • Clarebrough and Kirkham (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
  • Clarebrough and Kirkham (1999). A Complete Record of Sheffield United Football Club 1889–1999. Hallamshire Press. ISBN 0-9508588-2-X.

References

  1. Clarebrough and Kirkham 1999, pp. 74–75.
  2. Gary Armstrong and John Garrett (2006). Sheffield United FC – The Biography. Hallamshire Press. p. 43. ISBN 1-874718-65-2.
  3. Clarebrough and Kirkham 1999, pp. 76–77.
  4. "Sheffield United". Historical Football Kits. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  5. Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 133.
  6. Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 241.
  7. Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 307.
  8. Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 39.
  9. Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 300.
  10. Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 347.
  11. Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, pp. 225–226.
  12. Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 210.
  13. Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, pp. 333–334.
  14. Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 63.
  15. Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 51.
  16. Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 67.
  17. Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 370.
  18. Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 372.
  19. Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 382.
  20. Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 386.
  21. Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 94.
  22. Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, pp. 129–130.
  23. Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 160.
  24. Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 252.
  25. Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 284.
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