1914–15 Sheffield United F.C. season

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.

Sheffield United
1914–15 season
ChairmanTom Bott
ManagerNone
(John Nicholson acted as club secretary)
StadiumBramall Lane
Division One6th
FA CupWinners
Top goalscorerLeague: Kitchen (12)
All: Kitchen (16)
Highest home attendance32,000
(vs Blackburn Rovers)
Lowest home attendance5,000
(vs Burnley)
Average home league attendance14,947

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.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK  ENG Ernest Blackwell
— DF  ENG Bill Brelsford
— DF  ENG Bill Cook
— FW  WAL David Davies
— DF  ENG Jack English
— MF  ENG Robert Evans
— FW  ENG Stan Fazackerley
— FW  EIR Billy Gillespie
— GK  ENG Harold Gough
— DF  ENG Fred Hawley
— FW  ENG Harry Hall
No. Pos. Nation Player
— GK  ENG Ted Hufton
— FW  ENG Joe Kitchen
— FW  ENG Wally Masterman
— MF  ENG Harry Pantling
— MF  ENG Jimmy Revill
— DF  ENG Tom Richardson
— MF  ENG Jimmy Simmons
— MF  ENG Albert Sturgess
— FW  ENG Jack Thompson
— MF  ENG George Utley (captain)

Squad statistics
As of the end of the season[1]
No. Pos Nat Player TotalDivision OneFA Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
GK Ernest Blackwell 000000
DF Bill Brelsford 37031060
DF Bill Cook 44037070
FW David Davies 25722730
DF Jack English 34028060
MF Robert Evans 38132160
FW Stan Fazackerley 30825652
FW Billy Gillespie 101000
GK Harold Gough 43037060
FW Harry Hall 000000
DF Fred Hawley 25123120
GK Ted Hufton 201010
FW Joe Kitchen 3616291274
FW Wally Masterman 321126962
MF Harry Pantling 606000
DF Tom Richardson 000000
MF Jimmy Revill 11010010
FW Jimmy Simmons 441137972
MF Albert Sturgess 43136170
MF Jack Thompson 828200
MF George Utley 44237171

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 GR Pts Qualification or relegation
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 FA Cup Winners
7 The Wednesday 38 15 13 10 61 54 1.130 43
8 Sunderland 38 18 5 15 81 72 1.125 41
Source:

Matches

League
2 September 1914 Sunderland3–2Sheffield UnitedRoker Park
15:00 Simmons   '
David Davies   '		 Attendance: 12,200
5 September 1914 Sheffield United0–2The WednesdayBramall Lane
15:00 Attendance: 27,500
12 September 1914 West Bromwich Albion1–1Sheffield UnitedThe Hawthorns
15:00 Fazackerley   ' Attendance: 6,481
19 September 1914 Sheffield United1–0EvertonBramall Lane
15:00 David Davies   ' Attendance: 18,000
26 September 1914 Chelsea1–1Sheffield UnitedStamford Bridge
15:00 David Davies   ' Attendance: 18,000
3 October 1914 Sheffield United1–1Bradford CityBramall Lane
15:00 Fazackerley   ' Attendance: 20,000
10 October 1914 Burnley1–2Sheffield UnitedTurf Moor
15:00 Fazackerley   '
Kitchen   '		 Attendance: 18,000
17 October 1914 Sheffield United1–1Tottenham HotspurBramall Lane
15:00 Thompson   ' Attendance: 20,000
24 October 1914 Newcastle United4–3Sheffield UnitedSt James' Park
15:00 Simmons   '
Sturgess   '
Thompson   '		 Attendance: 27,500
31 October 1914 Sheffield United0–1MiddlesbroughBramall Lane
15:00 Attendance: 11,000
7 November 1914 Manchester City0–0Sheffield UnitedHyde Road
15:00 Attendance: 25,500
14 November 1914 Aston Villa1–0Sheffield UnitedVilla Park
15:00 Attendance: 14,000
21 November 1914 Sheffield United2–1LiverpoolBramall Lane
15:00 Simmons   ',   ' Attendance: 11,500
28 November 1914 Bradford Park Avenue2–0Sheffield UnitedPark Avenue
15:00 Attendance: 8,000
5 December 1914 Sheffield United3–0Oldham AthleticBramall Lane
15:00 Simmons   '
Masterman   '
David Davies   '		 Attendance: 8,500
12 December 1914 Manchester United1–2Sheffield UnitedOld Trafford
15:00 Simmons   ' (pen.)
Masterman   '		 Attendance: 7,500
19 December 1914 Sheffield United3–1Bolton WanderersBramall Lane
15:00 Simmons   '
Kitchen   '
Masterman   '		 Attendance: 5,500
26 December 1914 Sheffield United1–2Blackburn RoversBramall Lane
15:00 Masterman   ' Attendance: 32,000
28 December 1914 Sheffield United1–0Notts CountyBramall Lane
15:00 Simmons   ' Attendance: 15,000
1 January 1915 Blackburn Rovers1–2Sheffield UnitedEwood Park
15:00 Hawley   '
Kitchen   '		 Attendance: 10,000
2 January 1915 The Wednesday1–1Sheffield UnitedHillsborough Stadium
15:00 Davies   ' Attendance: 31,500
16 January 1915 Sheffield United2–0West Bromwich AlbionBramall Lane
15:00 David Davies   ',   ' Attendance: 14,500
23 January 1915 Everton0–0Sheffield UnitedGoodison Park
15:00 Attendance: 18,000
6 February 1915 Bradford City1–1Sheffield UnitedValley Parade
15:00 Masterman   ' Attendance: 18,000
13 February 1915 Sheffield United1–0BurnleyBramall Lane
15:00 Kitchen   ' Attendance: 5,000
27 February 1915 Sheffield United1–0Newcastle UnitedBramall Lane
15:00 Kitchen   ' Attendance: 17,500
8 March 1915 Sheffield United1–0ChelseaBramall Lane
15:00 Fazackerley   ' Attendance: 5,750
17 March 1915 Middlesbrough2–2Sheffield UnitedAyresome Park
15:00 Masterman   '
Kitchen   '		 Attendance: 5,000
20 March 1915 Sheffield United3–0Aston VillaBramall Lane
15:00 Masterman   '
Kitchen   ',   '		 Attendance: 16,750
29 March 1915 Sheffield United0–0Manchester CityBramall Lane
15:00 Attendance: 10,000
2 April 1915 Notts County3–1Sheffield UnitedMeadow Lane
15:00 Kitchen   ' Attendance: 9,300
3 April 1915 Sheffield United3–2Bradford Park AvenueBramall Lane
15:00 Simmons   '
Kitchen   '
Masterman   '		 Attendance: 10,500
5 April 1915 Sheffield United1–1SunderlandBramall Lane
15:00 Fazackerley   ' Attendance: 21,000
10 April 1915 Oldham Athletic3–0Sheffield UnitedBoundary Park
15:00 Attendance: 10,354
12 April 1915 Liverpool2–1Sheffield UnitedAnfield
15:00 Kitchen   ' Attendance: 4,000
17 April 1915 Sheffield United3–1Manchester UnitedBramall Lane
15:00 Utley   '
Evans   '
Masterman   '		 Attendance: 14,000
19 April 1915 Tottenham Hotspur1–1Sheffield UnitedWhite Hart Lane
15:00 Fazackerley   ' Attendance: 7,750
26 April 1915 Bolton Wanderers0–1Sheffield UnitedBurnden Park
15:00 Kitchen   ' Attendance: 13,500

FA Cup
23 January 1915 Round 1Blackpool1–2Sheffield UnitedBloomfield Road
15:00 Masterman  ?',  ?' Attendance: 9,462
30 January 1915 Round 2Sheffield United1–0LiverpoolBramall Lane
15:00 Kitchen  ?' Attendance: 26,754
20 February 1915 Round 3Sheffield United1–0
(a.e.t.)		Bradford Park AvenueBramall Lane
15:00 Crozier  ?' (o.g.) Attendance: 30,032
6 March 1915 Round 4Oldham Athletic0–0
(a.e.t.)		Sheffield UnitedBoundary Park
15:00 Attendance: 18,419
13 March 1915 Round 4rSheffield United3–0Oldham AthleticBramall Lane
15:00 Kitchen  ?', ?'
Fazackerley  ?'		 Attendance: 43,157
13 March 1915 Semi FinalSheffield United2–1Bolton WanderersEwood Park
15:00 Simmons  ?'
Utley  ?'		 Attendance: 22,404
24 April 1915 FinalSheffield United3–0ChelseaOld Trafford
15:00 Simmons  ?'
Fazackerley  ?'
Kitchen  ?'		 Attendance: 49,557

Friendlies
5 October 1914 The Wednesday2–0Sheffield UnitedHillsborough Stadium
Attendance: 5,500

References
  1. 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.
  2. Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 223. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
  3. Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 249. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
  4. Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 315. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
  5. Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 43. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
  6. Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 38. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
  7. Denis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. p. 253. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
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