It's about right we'll get relegated in the plastic/lego/soul less bowl that is the "mad stad". Sums up most of the teams performance this season.
I hope we play the kids save for a couple of experienced players. Reading should have far too much for us though.
We need to repeat the theme with the kids plus a couple of experienced players next season.
I'm happy to give Adams a chance to build a squad over the summer, although equally, if he left, I would not be particularly disappointed. There are strong,articulate arguments on both sides (Duncan/Deadbat).
If he stays then he has to commit to playing younger/quicker/more dynamic footballers who can give us fans something to get behind. A big problem this season seems to have been (amongst other things) a complete lack of pace in the side.
Hopefully, Adams, with a blank canvess and a little time can put the above into action. He should spend his summer watching videos of Blackpool & Wigan, Holloway and Martinez have really shown the way forward with the way to set out a football team. I worry, despite a superb infrastructure, our football stills belongs in the dark ages.
I'm going to commit to going more often next season as I've only made 10 games this time round due to my location and personal circumstances. There are new grounds to go to and if we have a young pacey team then it could be good fun.
There is no guarantee we will bounce straight back. The pigs "HMS Piss the League" plan demonstrates this and are we any better than them when they went down?
Let us hope that the management can give us a TEAM to be proud of next year, promotion or not...
UTB
Reading Blade
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Are you going today? I've got friends who are reading supporters butnthey live closer to BDTBL and so won't be there. I once had an invitation from Reading FC inviting me to the game when we were both going for promotion - from the 3rd Div I think. They cted the "special relationship" ever since the Wagstaffe brothers moved there.
UTB
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I'm not particularly looking forward to it though.
I don't think there is much of a special relationship anymore. What with Warnock etc.
I've disliked Reading FC since they moved into their "big" stadium. All clubs have part time support but Reading seem to have more than most. Alot of them have one of the big four as their second club.. There are a few genuine fans from their Elm Park days..
UTB
Reading Blade
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I'll be tuned in on the Blades player, hoping for the (almost) impossible.
Had a reply on another forum (ThaiVisa.com) that it would be good if Chris Armstrong could lead both teams out, I think it would really good if this happened.
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Good afternoon.
Not looking forward to this.
Collins.....dear oh dear. Would rather have moved Lowton to the middle and played Kozluk at full back.
Fear the worst.
Collins is going to get run ragged by Long and Co.
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Nothing you can say that's new.Over the past 10 years it seems that Reading and ourselves have been 'neck and neck'. Only a place or a point or two between us. Look at the past 12 months. What a difference.
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Lowery stops playing and they go on and score.
Dreadful and how far we have sunk.
See you in the old third division mate next year.
UTB
PS Wonder how many we will get thumped by today?
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I will second that mate.
I saw a report that were being linked with a forward called Cody McDonald.
Just heard he plays for the Gills being there highest scorer.
Perhaps I ought to go and do a bit of scouting!!!
Their financial position I understand is not clever.
Simeon Jackson not done bad at Norwich,being there last striker sold.(Gills)
If we could win at Reading it would be very interesting,particulary if Leeds win.
Probably dreaming though!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
UTB
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First of all, Kentie, let me wish you a full speedy recovery. You seem to be back to your chirpy self again. That's good news. However, I did almost choke on my lunch at the mention of Arthur Bottom. My father thoroughly enjoyed playing with most of his peers at United (Alf Ringstead being his absolute favourite), but Arthur Bottom was certainly not one of them. Did he come from York as a replacement for Harold Brook? I really cannot remember but it rings a bit of a bell. Strangely, my father also didn't enjoy playing with Jim Iley either who was a very good player. Strange world !!
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Thank you for your good wishes Alpine,yes I am starting to gather pace again.
All I can remember about Arthur Bottom is that my Dad used to moan about him and I remember standing on the old Bramall Lane end with my parents and I think we were playing PNE.
As usual my Dad was moaning and groaning and he suddenly scored at the lane end.In those days most men wore a trilby hat and my Mum was so excited she got hold of the hat and pulled it down over his face.She always said he tried.I do not think he was at the lane long and as you said did Harold Brook not go to Leeds and Bottom moving the other way.
Strange what one remembers really.
As for Alf Ringstead I recall your father used to travel on the bus with him for training at the lane along with Joe Shaw.
Jim Iley is anther that I watched playing.
What a different world from those days compared to players earnings and status now.
UTB
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You are dead right about Joe Shaw and Alf Ringstead. They used to catch the bus from Hollythorpe Rise. I used to stop and have a drink at Alfs house after playing in Meersbrook Park. Joe and Alf used to live next door to each other. My dad used to get on the bus at the next stop (Gladstone Rd. ???). Great memories of my childhood. Can you imagine international footballers(all 3 of them) getting on a public bus?
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When I had a contract at Shell Stanlow, a few years ago, Shell were represented by a nephew of Alf Ringstead. Alas he was an Evertonian!
I believe Alf was signed from Ellesmere Port in the Cheshire League.
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You are dead right, Icthus. He was very Irish but did hail from Ellesmere Port. His wife is still alive and very active and his daughter is an excellent golfer.
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Would that not be Albert Road?
Walk down Lees Hall Road, passing the small grocers shop on the rhs called Jackson's and the first stop after Hollythorpe Rise would be the top of Albert Road if I remember correctly,the very steep road coming up from Rushdale Road where there was a garage opposite,the bottom of Albert Road.
Going further on was a Jam factory on the hill going up to Heeley Green.
If I carry on like this I will have walked to the lane.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Some times it only seems like last year and other times a life time away.
UTB
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You are dead right. You don't remember a shop on the road called Congreave and Stanley do you? I can also remember a shop opposite the Heeley Green picture House which sold hot cordial drinks. I loved that place. Ahhh memories !!!
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I think the shop that I referred to as Jacksons was Congreave and Stanley Alpine.
The one on the right hand side on Lees Hall Road going down to the bus route for the first stop after Hollythorpe Rise.
Did you recall Albert Road and not Gladstone Road?
The shop you mentioned surely would be the nearest to where you lived excluding the Co-op and Davis the newsagents at Hollythorpe.
The Heeley Green cinema I used to go to but cannot recall the shop opposite.
By we must have been very young then!
UTB
ps good to hear Alf,s wife still in good health and his daughter into golf.
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You are dead right, Kentie. It certainly was Albert Road. My dad made me run at full belt down there, with him. He always used to say we would miss the bus. I now know he was just pushing me. We would fly past Congreave and Stanley, and as a kid of about 9 years old. I was scared that I was running so fast as it was so downhill. Where did you live? I was 71, Hollythorpe Rd. I remember Joe and Alf on Bishopscourt Rd, I believe.
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Hi Alpine, what memories we have.
You would have been on the right going down to the bus stop.
We were at 5 Warminster Cresent.
Not the first time I have run down Albert Road to catch the bus at the bottom.
Bishopscourt Road was where Joe Shaw and Alf lived.
The bus was no 34 to Graves Park and no 35 to Hollythorpe Rise.
I did revisit a few years ago and walked up Albert Road and up the estate and did not think it had changed dramatically,except for Graves Park which I thought looked run down and dull.
I remember it when it was full of flowers and a nice pavillion and rose garden,no doubt it has suffered due to council cut backs over the years.
Memories are still clear even after all the years as I left Warminster Crescent when I got married in 1962,going to live for 7 years in Dronfield.
Good to share memories with you.
My father just after the war was a postman,before going onto the clerical side in the Post Office and he told me he had once delivered a package to your father,which was a major talking point naturally as we all admired his football skills at the lane.He was our hero in that era.
Happy memories.
UTB
PS Apologies if Alpine and I are boring you all with our memories of our youth!
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A look into the Clarebrough 'bibles' shows that Bottom played for the Blades from 1947 - 1954 (though he didn't make the 1st team until 1948). His record wasn't great but wasn't quite as bad as is sometimes made out. I seem to recall that he grew up within a stone's throw of Bramall Lane so he was very much a local lad. In modern parlance he would be a squad player since he only made occasional appearances.
His record is:
1948/49 One appearance (at inside right) No goals
1949/50 Two appearances (at inside right) No goals
1950/51 Three league and two FA Cup appearances (at centre-forward). He scored twice in one match.
1951/52 Two appearances (at centre forward) No goals
1952/53 (Promotion year!) 6 league and one FA Cup appearance (at both inside left and centre-forward) 3 league goals (a hat trick!) and 2 Cup goals
1953/54 (inside right, inside left and centre-forward) 10 appearances; 2 goals.
He left after the 1954 season at much the same time as Harold Brook was sold to Leeds.
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I appreciated that info Broomhill,and as you rightly say our memories can play tricks with us on occassions.(I do wish they had a spell checker on this site)
I firmly believe it is very important that ,if I may say so without causing any offence,that the older members,or more mature,keep connected by memories from the past.
As I am sure that I have posted before it has not always been doom and gloom and we have had some first class players at the lane,but not always all at the same time.
I still maintain that we played our best football in the days of gentleman John Harris but I do appreciate the game has dramatically changed now and not always for the better.
UTB
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Ooos. Missed a couple of words out there. Meant to say that anyone who considers Henderson to be the worst centre forward we've ever had has obviously not been following us for very long. But I think KB gathered what I meant, and yes there have been many worse than him. Arguably, some are still at the club now!
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I honestly thought it was all over going 2 down, what a cracking game.
I have also been watching the QPR v Hull game on tv here.
The QPR fans invaded the pitch thinking that the club were unstoppable due to being six points up from Cardiff and a heap on the goal difference.
Trust Swansea to nick all three points at Derby and keep their stay in the Championship a reality for now.
Should have seen the look on Neils face.
Its too far for us now unless there really are some silly scores in the next 2 weeks.
UTB and I'm off to bed.
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