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 1982 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  ENG Edgar Benson[note 1] (guest player from Sheffield FC)
— MF  ENG Joe Brady
— FW  ENG John Brookes[note 2]
— DF  SCO Bob Cain
— MF  ENG Billy Croxon
— FW  ENG Fred Davies
— MF  ENG Samuel Dobson
— FW  SCO John Drummond
— FW  SCO James Duncan
— FW  SCO Hugh Gallacher
— FW  ENG Frank Gamble (guest player from Heeley)
— DF  ENG Harry Gregory[note 3] (guest player from Ecclesfield)
— MF  ENG George Groves
— FW  ENG Harry Hammond
— FW  ENG Harry Hassall[note 4]
— DF  SCO Billy Hendry (captain)
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW  SCO Bob Hill
— DF  ENG Walter Hill
— DF  ENG Rab Howell
— GK  ENG Charlie Howlett
— DF  ENG Harry Lilley
— GK  ENG Will Lilley
— MF  ENG Arthur McCabe
— DF  ENG William Mellor
— DF  ENG Ernest Needham
— FW  ENG Walter Sylvester[note 5] (guest player)
— FW  ENG Sandy Wallace
— DF  ENG George Waller
— FW  ENG Arthur Watson
— DF  ENG Michael Whitham
— DF  ENG Walter Wigmore
— GK  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  ENG Charles Bunyan (guest from Chesterfield Town)
— MF  SCO W. Patterson
No. Pos. Nation Player
— FW  SCO John Scott

Transfers

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

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

League tables

Source: [3]

Football League Second Division
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GR Pts Qualification
1 Small Heath 22 17 2 3 90 35 2.571 36[lower-alpha 1] Division Champions, into a test match
2 Sheffield United 22 16 3 3 62 19 3.263 35[lower-alpha 2] Into a test match
3 Darwen 22 14 2 6 60 36 1.667 30[lower-alpha 3]
4 Grimsby Town 22 11 1 10 42 41 1.024 23
5 Ardwick 22 9 3 10 45 40 1.125 21
Source:
Notes:
  1. Remained in Second Division after losing test match to Newton Heath.
  2. Elected to First Division after winning test match against Accrington.
  3. Elected to First Division after winning test match against Notts County.

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 Edgar Benson 0000000000
MF Joe Brady 1000000010
FW John Brookes 0000000000
DF Bob Cain 271171102070
MF Billy Croxon 3020000010
FW Fred Davies 14685002041
MF Samuel Dobson 9261000031
FW John Drummond 3392061120102
FW James Duncan 0000000000
FW Hugh Gallacher 12594100021
FW Frank Gamble 1000000010
DF Harry Gregory 0000000000
MF George Groves 0000000000
FW Harry Hammond 29221818102183
DF Harry Hassall 0000000000
DF Billy Hendry 312202102080
FW Bob Hill 9674100012
DF Walter Hill 2020000000
DF Rab Howell 322222102070
GK Charlie Howlett 240150102060
DF Harry Lilley 16070001080
GK Will Lilley 11070000040
MF Arthur McCabe 1000000010
DF William Mellor 5020001020
DF Ernest Needham 328205102291
DF Walter Sylvester 0000000000
FW Sandy Wallace 237163000074
DF George Waller 4111000030
FW Arthur Watson 248156102161
DF Michael Whitham 210110102070
DF Walter Wigmore 1000000010
GK Fred Wood 0000000000
Players who left before the end of the season:
GK Charles Bunyan 0000000000
FW W. Patterson 1010000000
FW John Scott 8352000031

Top scorers
Place Nation Position Name League Division Two Test Match FA Cup Northern League Total
1 FW Harry Hammond 18 0 1 3 22
2 FW John Drummond 6 1 0 2 9
3 DF Ernest Needham 5 0 2 1 8
FW Arthur Watson 6 0 1 1 8
4 FW Sandy Wallace 3 0 0 4 7
5 FW Fred Davies 5 0 0 1 6
FW Bob Hill 4 0 0 2 6
6 FW Hugh Gallacher 4 0 0 1 5
7 FW John Scott 2 0 0 1 3
8 FW Samuel Dobson 1 0 0 1 2
DF Billy Hendry 2 0 0 0 2
DF Rab Howell 2 0 0 0 2
9 DF Bob Cain 1 0 0 0 1
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 United4–2Lincoln CityBramall Lane
Hammond  ?', ?', ?'
Wallace  ?'		 Cameron  ?'
Irving  ?'		 Attendance: 4,000
10 September 1892 Bootle2–0Sheffield UnitedHawthorne Road
Law  ?'
Montgomery  ?'		 Attendance: 3,000
17 September 1892 Sheffield United2–0Small HeathBramall Lane
Scott  ?'
Hammond  ?'		 Attendance: 4,000
26 September 1892 Sheffield United2–0Grimsby TownBramall Lane
Unknown  ?'
Needham  ?'		 Attendance: 4,500
1 October 1892 Lincoln City1–0Sheffield UnitedSincil Bank
Cameron  ?' Attendance: 2,000
15 October 1892 Sheffield United2–0DarwenBramall Lane
Scott  ?'
Dobson  ?'		 Attendance: 500
19 November 1892
[note 7] 		Darwen3–1Sheffield UnitedBarley Bank
Aspden  ?'
McKennie  ?'
Entwistle  ?'		 Hendry  ?' Attendance: 3,000
26 November 1892 Sheffield United8–3BootleBramall Lane
Wallace   '
Hammond   ',  ',  ',  ',  '
Davies   ',  '		 Attendance: 1,500
3 December 1892 Small Heath1–1Sheffield UnitedCoventry Road
Wheldon   ' Davies   ' Attendance: 3,500
10 December 1892 Burslem Port Vale0–10Sheffield UnitedWestport Meadows
Drummond   '
Wallace   '
Hammond   ',  ',  ',  '
Watson   ',  '
Davies   ',  '		 Attendance: 1,500
17 December 1892 Sheffield United4–0Burslem Port ValeBramall Lane
Needham   '
Hammond   '
Howell   '
Drummond   '		 Attendance: 1,500
24 December 1892
[note 8] 		Sheffield United2–1
(Abdn. 68)		Burton SwiftsBramall Lane
Unknown   ',  ' Attendance: 2,000
3 January 1893 Sheffield United3–0Walsall Town SwiftsBramall Lane
Hammond   ',  '
Hendry   '		 Attendance: 1,000
23 January 1893 Sheffield United1–1Northwich VictoriaBramall Lane
Needham   ' Attendance: 1,250
6 February 1893 Sheffield United3–1Burton SwiftsBramall Lane
Drummond   '
Gallacher   ',  '		 Attendance: 3,000
18 February 1893 Northwich Victoria1–3Sheffield UnitedDrill Field
Howell   '
Hammond   '
Drummond   '		 Attendance: 2,235
4 March 1893 Ardwick2–3Sheffield UnitedHyde Road
Gallacher   '
Drummond   '
Cain   '		 Attendance: 2,000
18 March 1893 Sheffield United4–0Crewe AlexandraBramall Lane
Watson   ',  '
Hill   ',  '		 Attendance: 2,750
25 March 1893 Sheffield United2–1ArdwickBramall Lane
Needham   ',  ' Attendance: 4,250
31 March 1893 Grimsby Town0–1Sheffield UnitedAbbey Park
Hill   ' Attendance: 6,000
1 April 1893 Burton Swifts0–3Sheffield UnitedPeel Croft
Hill   '
Waller   '
Gallacher   '		 Attendance: 'large'
12 April 1893
[note 9] 		Crewe Alexandra0–4Sheffield UnitedAlexandra Recreation Ground
Watson   ',  '
Hammond   '
Gallacher   '		 Attendance: 2,000
15 April 1893 Walsall Town Swifts1–1Sheffield UnitedThe Chuckery
Drummond   ' Attendance: 1,000

Test match
22 April 1893 Accrington0–1Sheffield UnitedTrent Bridge, Nottingham
Drummond  55' Attendance: 5,000

FA Cup
21 January 1893 Round oneBlackpool1–3Sheffield UnitedRaikes Hall
Needham   ',  '
Hammond   '		 Attendance: 3,000
4 February 1893 Round twoSheffield United1–3SunderlandBramall Lane
Watson   ' Attendance: 14,769

Northern League
24 September 1892 Sheffield United5–1Newcastle East EndBramall Lane
Drummond   '
Scott   '
Wallace   '
Hammond   '
Dobson   '		 Attendance: 4,000
8 October 1892 Sheffield United0–0Middlesbrough IronopolisBramall Lane
Attendance: 2,500
29 October 1892
[note 10] 		Middlesbrough Ironopolis1–0Sheffield UnitedParadise Ground
Attendance: 4,000
24 December 1892 Sheffield United5–0DarlingtonBramall Lane
Drummond   '
Wallace   ',  '
Hammond   ',  '		 Attendance: 2,000
31 December 1892 Middlesbrough2–1Sheffield UnitedLinthorpe Road
Wallace   ' Attendance: 3,000
2 January 1893 Stockton5–0Sheffield United?
Attendance: 2,500
14 January 1893 Newcastle United1–1Sheffield UnitedSt James' Park
Miller   ' (o.g.) Attendance: 2,500
30 January 1893 Sheffield United1–3StocktonBramall Lane
Needham   ' Attendance: 3,500
14 February 1893 Sheffield United2–1MiddlesbroughBramall Lane
Gallacher   '
Watson   '		 Attendance: 5,000
3 April 1893 Darlington2–3Sheffield UnitedFeethams
B. Hill   ',  '
Davies  '		 Attendance: 2,000

Wharncliffe Charity Cup
24 April 1893 FinalThe Wednesday0–0Sheffield UnitedOlive Grove
Attendance: 4,000

Challenge match
9 February 1893
[note 11] 		Grimsby Town0–2Sheffield UnitedTown Cricket Club Ground, Hull
Brady   ',  ' Attendance: 3,000

Friendlies
1 September 1892 Sheffield United1–0 CelticBramall Lane
Hammond   ' Attendance: 4,000
5 September 1892 Everton3–2Sheffield UnitedPriory Road
Hammond   ',  ' Attendance: 6,000
12 September 1892 Sheffield United1–0Woolwich ArsenalBramall Lane
Brady   ' Attendance: 4,000
19 September 1892 Burnley1–3Sheffield UnitedCalder Vale
Scott   ',  '
Hammond   '		 Attendance: 2,000
10 October 1892 Sheffield United4–0Gainsborough TrinityBramall Lane
Scott   ',  '
Davies   '
Cain   '		 Attendance: 2,000
17 October 1892 The Wednesday1–1Sheffield UnitedOlive Grove
Drummond   ' Attendance: 16,500
18 October 1892 Millwall Athletic0–4Sheffield UnitedThe Athletic Grounds
Davies   '
Brady   '
Scott   '
Dobson   '		 Attendance: 2,000
20 October 1892
[note 12] 		Woolwich Arsenal1–0Sheffield UnitedInvicta Ground
Attendance: 3,700
26 October 1892 Gainsborough Trinity0–1Sheffield UnitedThe Northolme
Dobson   ' Attendance: 3,000
31 October 1892 Sheffield United2–6Rotherham TownBramall Lane
Patterson   ',  ' Attendance: 2,000
3 November 1892 Nottingham Forest0–1Sheffield UnitedThe Town Ground
Hammond   ' Attendance: 1,000
5 November 1892 Newcastle East End2–2Sheffield UnitedStanley Street
Howell   '
Hammond   '		 Attendance: 4,500
10 November 1892 Casuals1–2Sheffield UnitedLeyton Cricket Ground
Davies   '
Scott   '		 Attendance: "low"
12 November 1892 Swindon Town0–6Sheffield UnitedThe Croft
Davies   '
Watson   ',  ',  '
Wallace   '
Croxon   '		 Attendance: 3,500
21 November 1892 Sheffield United1–3The WednesdayBramall Lane
Watson   ' Attendance: 11,500
28 November 1892 Sheffield United1–0Bolton WanderersBramall Lane
Davies   ' Attendance: 2,250
19 December 1892 Sheffield United2–0Oxford UniversityBramall Lane
Davies   '
Hammond   '		 Attendance: 1,000
26 December 1892 Liverpool1–0Sheffield UnitedAnfield
Attendance: 4,500
29 December 1892 Sheffield United2–2CasualsBramall Lane
Watson   '
Davies   '		 Attendance: 1,500
11 February 1893 Sheffield United4–3Nottingham ForestBramall Lane
Drummond   ',  '
B. Hill   '
Gallacher   '		 Attendance: 3,250
20 February 1893 Sheffield United0–1BurnleyBramall Lane
Attendance: 2,000
11 March 1893 Middlesbrough Ironopolis1–2Sheffield UnitedParadise Ground
Howell   '
Unknown   '		 Attendance: 1,800
4 April 1893
[note 13] 		Sheffield United2–2Middlesbrough IronopolisBramall Lane
B. Hill   '
Hendry   '		 Attendance: 4,500
8 April 1893 Stoke1–3Sheffield UnitedVictoria Ground
Drummond   '
Hammond   '
B. Hill   '		 Attendance: 1,000
26 April 1893 Everton3–1Sheffield UnitedGoodison Park
Hammond   ' Attendance: 1,500
27 April 1893 Rotherham Town1–2Sheffield UnitedClifton Grove
B. Hill   '
Gallacher   '		 Attendance: 3,000
29 April 1893 Burton Wanderers3–0Sheffield UnitedDerby 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • 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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