1889–90 Sheffield United F.C. season

September 2012 May 2020 Sheffield United 1889–90 Joseph Wostinholm Secretary Michael Ellison FA Cup Second round(eliminated by Bolton Wanderers) Sheffield Challenge Cup Runners up(beaten by Rotherham Town) Wharncliffe Charity Cup Semi-final(eliminated by Staveley) None Galbraith (4) 3,000(FA Cup vs. Heeley) 2,250 (FA Cup) _collar_buttons_2 FFFFFF FFFFFF FFFFFF 000044 000044 1890–91 The 1889–90 season was the first in existence for Sheffield United. Having not been elected to any organised league at that point they predominantly played friendly fixtures but did enter the FA Cup for the first time as well as locally arranged cup competitions The Sheffield Challenge Cup and the Wharncliffe Charity Cup. The club did not employ a manager in this period; tactics and team selection were decided by The Football Committee and the players were coached by a trainer. J.B. Wostinholm held the position of club secretary, dealing with player transfers and contracts, arranging matches and dealing with the FA. The first season was deemed a reasonable success with steady attendances to home games and progress in the FA Cup although the fluctuating nature of the team meant that consistency was never really achieved. As the season progressed it became obvious that a better standard of player would be required to succeed in League Football and the club began to recruit new players in the spring, notably signing Rab Howell, Mick Whitham and Arthur Watson from nearby Rotherham Swifts who were in financial difficulties. United eventually reached the second round proper of the FA Cup where they were comprehensively beaten by the more experienced Bolton Wanderers and finished the season having been accepted to play in the newly formed Midland Counties League the following term. Background Sheffield United had been formed earlier in 1889 by the organising committee of the Sheffield United Cricket Club in response to the growing popularity of the game. They viewed a football team as a means of generating extra revenue and a greater utilisation of the club facilities, particularly in the winter months.Gary Armstrong and John Garrett Sheffield United FC – The Biography Hallamshire Press 2006 36 1-874718-65-2 The initial plan was to sign a core squad of players and augment them with the best amateur players from the region as guests. The club had duly advertised for players in the local press and in Glasgow as it was considered that Scotland was an untapped pool of talent. Respondents were invited for trials and a basic squad were offered contracts.Gary Armstrong and John Garrett Sheffield United FC – The Biography Hallamshire Press 2006 38 1-874718-65-2 Kit For their first season the team wore a plain white 'jersey' and blue 'knickers' and socks. The club would not adopt its now traditional red and white stripes until the following season. Season overview thumb|alt=JB Wostinholm|upright=0.5|J.B. Wostinholm was the club secretary and responsible for football matters With a team assembled over the summer months, United played their first ever fixture against Notts Rangers on 7 September 1889, a game which they lost 4–1. As they were not part of any organised league the club arranged a series of friendly and exhibition games to fill the schedule of their fledgling club. Their opponents were drawn both from the local area (Sheffield having a number of established teams at this time) and from further afield, particularly the North-West and West Midlands. The establishment of a new, well-financed, football team in the city had caused some consternation amongst the local FA and United undertook a low-key start, not playing their first game at Bramall Lane until the end of September, against Birmingham St. George's.Gary Armstrong and John Garrett Sheffield United FC – The Biography Hallamshire Press 2006 42 1-874718-65-2 The team continued to play regularly and attendances at Bramall Lane steadily increased as interest in the new side grew. The team performed well against local sides but the fluctuating nature of the squad during this period meant there was little consistency in results. By December however, it had become clear that better quality of players would be required if the club was to develop and take on the more established sides playing in the Football League. The initial plan of maintaining a core of players that would be boosted from the ranks of the local amateur game had not borne fruit as the players who appeared were often ageing and past their best. Similarly the players recruited from Scotland had largely failed to impress and so the football committee looked to bring in fresh players to strengthen the team. thumb|left|alt=Hab Howell|upright=0.5|Rab Howell was signed from Rotherham Swifts in March 1890Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 168–169 Ironically, their first two new signings were a Scot, William Calder, and another local amateur, T.B.A. Clarke, who both arrived in December 1889 but the team was beginning to take on a more professional image. The team continued their campaign of friendly fixtures into 1890, with varying degrees of success, whilst competing in the FA Cup for the first time. With the club hoping to be accepted into the newly formed Midland Counties League for the following season the committee made a number of additions to the squad in March, signing Billy Bairstow from local side Sheffield Club but more significantly signing a trio of players from nearby Rotherham Swifts. Rab Howell, Arthur Watson and Michael Whitham would all become stalwarts of the team in the coming seasons, with both Howell and Whitham subsequently going on to represent England. They represented United's first reported entry into the transfer market, arriving for a combined fee of £200, and signalled a new era of full professionalism for the club. FA Cup United made their debut in the FA Cup in an away fixture against Scarborough on 7 October 1889, a game which they comprehensively won 6–1. Required to play a number of qualifying games they went on to play various local sides before reaching the First round proper when they took on Burnley in January 1990. Having dispatched the Clarets, United were drawn against another Lancashire side in the next round – Bolton Wanderers. Giving up home advantage in return for a payment of £40 (a practice that was actually against the rules of the competition) they travelled across the Pennines only to be trounced 13–0, a result that remains United's worst ever cup defeat. Local cup competitions United entered both the Sheffield Challenge Cup and the Wharncliffe Charity Cup during the course of the season. Both competitions were ratified by the Sheffield FA and as such were viewed as fully competitive fixtures within the local area. United progressed through three early rounds of the Challenge Cup, beating Sheffield Exchange, Heeley and Attercliffe before facing Staveley at Bramall Lane in the semi-final. A 2–0 victory was enough to see them progress to the team's first ever 'cup final' where they took on an experienced Rotherham Town side over two legs. United were held to a 0–0 draw in the first fixture at Bramall Lane but succumbed to a single goal in the return leg which was played at the ground of Rotherham Swifts. The Wharncliffe Cup was a smaller affair and The Blades needed only to beat Doncaster Rovers in a home game to progress to the semi-final. They travelled to Staveley but were beaten 2–1 by their hosts. Squad Source: First team yes yes ENG FW Billy Bairstow yes SCO FW William Calder yes ENG FW T.B.A. Clarke yes SCO FW James Duncan yes ENG GK Richard Fenwick guest player from Sheffield Club yes SCO MF Donald FraserFraser was listed as 'Donald' (implying that it was his family name) in match reports for the first half of the season for reasons unknown. yes SCO FW Dugald Galbraith yes SCO DF L. Gilmartin yes ENG DF George Groves guest player from Sheffield Club yes ENG DF Walter Hobson yes yes ENG DF Rab Howell yes ENG GK Charlie Howlett yes ENG DF Jack Hudson captain yes ENG DF J. Jeeves guest player from Sheffield Club yes ENG DF S. Mack yes ENG FW Billy Mosforth yes SCO FW W. Robertson yes ENG DF Ned Stringer yes ENG FW Arthur Watson yes ENG DF Michael Whitham Players leaving before end of the season yes yes ENG MF George AizlewoodGeorge H. Aizlewood was an amateur Sheffield Club forward who had previously played for Park Friendly, Attercliffe and Collegiate. He was United's first substitute as he arrived late for his debut, with Billy Mosforth playing until he arrived.Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 362 note "aizlewood" guest player from Sheffield Club yes SCO DF Robert GordonRobert Gordon was a Scottish full back who was one of the first players signed by United. He had played for Glanfield in Glasgow and captained Northern Glasgow. He played in only one friendly game for United.Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 370 note "gordon" yes yes ENG FW Billy Madin yes MF 'T. Wilson' Other players During this season a number of other players played first team games for United during their various fixtures. They were either triallists who were not retained or local players drawn from neighbouring clubs as 'guests'. The only guest player to feature in a competitive fixture was 'T. Wilson' who played in the FA Cup first round match against Burnley. 'Wilson' was most likely a pseudonym and his true identity remains unknown. Transfers In PositionPlayerTransferred fromFeeDateSourceDFHudson, Jack ENG Jack HudsonUnknownSigned30 May 1889Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 171DFMack, S ENG S. MackGainsborough Trinity ENG Gainsborough TrinitySigned30 May 1889Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 219FWMosforth, Billy ENG Billy MosforthOwlerton ENG OwlertonSigned30 May 1889Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 235FWDuncan, James SCO James DuncanBoys of Dundee SCO Boys of DundeeSigned1 August 1889Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 109–110FWFraser, Donald SCO Donald FraserUnknownSigned1 August 1889Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 127FWGalbraith, Dugald SCO Dugald GalbraithUnknownSigned1 August 1889Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 129DFGilmartin, L SCO L. GilmartinUnknownSigned1 August 1889Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 136DFGordon, Robert SCO Robert GordonUnknownSigned1 August 1889Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 370DFHobson, Walter ENG Walter HobsonOwlerton ENG OwlertonSigned1 August 1889Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 161GKHowlett, Charlie ENG Charlie HowlettGainsborough Trinity ENG Gainsborough TrinitySigned1 August 1889Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 169FWMadin, Billy ENG Billy MadinStaveley ENG StaveleySigned1 August 1889Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 219FWRobertson, W SCO W. RobertsonStrathmore SCO StrathmoreSigned1 August 1889Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 273DFStringer, Ned ENG Ned StringerEcclesfield ENG EcclesfieldSigned1 August 1889Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 307FWCalder, William SCO William CalderUnknownSigned5 December 1899Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 76FWClarke, T.B.A ENG T.B.A. ClarkeWentworthSigned20 December 1899Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 84FWBairstow, Billy ENG Billy BairstowSheffield ENG Sheffield ClubSigned1 March 1890Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 39DFHowell, Rab ENG Rab HowellRotherham Swifts ENG Rotherham Swifts£200 (combined)24 March 1890The three players were initially signed on trial and a full transfer was completed some time later in the season for a combined fee of £200.Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 168–169 note "swifts" Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 168–169DFWatson, Arthur ENG Arthur WatsonRotherham Swifts ENG Rotherham Swifts£200 (combined)24 March 1890Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 337DFWhitham, Michael ENG Michael WhithamRotherham Swifts ENG Rotherham Swifts£200 (combined)24 March 1890Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 344–345 Out PositionPlayerTransferred toFeeDateSourceDFGordon, Robert SCO Robert GordonReleasedFreeSeptember 1889Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 370FWMadin, Billy ENG Billy MadinStaveley ENG StaveleyFree15 April 1890Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 219 Appearances and goals the end of the seasonDenis Clarebrough & Andrew Kirkham A Complete Record of Sheffield United Football Club 1889–1999 Hallamshire Press 1999 70–71 0-9508588-2-X FA Cup SCO FW William Calder 2 0 SCO FW James Duncan 7 1 SCO FW Donald Fraser 5 3 SCO FW Dugald Galbraith 7 4 SCO DF L. Gilmartin 7 0 ENG DF Walter Hobson 7 0 ENG GK Charlie Howlett 7 0 ENG DF Jack Hudson 6 0 ENG DF S. Mack 7 0 ENG FW Billy Madin 3 0 ENG FW Billy Mosforth 4 2 SCO FW W. Robertson 7 2 ENG DF Ned Stringer 7 0 MF 'T. Wilson' 1 1 |} Results Source: Key #CCFFCC Win 1px solid #AAAAAA #FFFFCC Draw 1px solid #AAAAAA #FFCCCC Loss 1px solid #AAAAAA FA Cup First qualifying round 5 October 1889 Scarborough 1–6 Sheffield United Galbraith    Fraser    Robertson  Mosforth   Recreation Ground 'Very good' W Second qualifying round 26 October 1889The tie was originally drawn as an away fixture for United but switched to Bramall Lane. Sheffield United 1–0 Heeley Stokes   o.g. Bramall Lane 3,000 W Third qualifying round 11 November 1889 Sheffield United 3–0 Sheffield Club Fraser  Willey   o.g.Duncan   Bramall Lane 2,000 W Fourth qualifying round 7 December 1889 Rotherham Town 2–2 Sheffield United Galbraith  Unknown   Clifton Lane 1,500 D Fourth qualifying round replay 21 December 1889 Sheffield United 2–1 Rotherham Town Mosforth  Galbraith   Bramall Lane 2,000 W First round 18 January 1890The scorer 'T. Wilson' was a trialist, most likely a pseudonym as it was against the rules of the competition to field non-registered players. Agreement must have been reached with Burnley to allow him to play. There is no indication he ever played for United again under any other name. Sheffield United 2–1 Burnley Robertson  'Wilson'   Bramall Lane 2,000 W Second round 1 February 1890The tie had been drawn to be played at Bramall Lane but was switched to Bolton for a payment of £40, an arrangement against the rules of the competition. There had been heavy rain previously and the pitch was in a bad condition. Anecdotal reports of the time suggest that Howlett, the United goalkeeper who had poor eyesight, lost his glasses early on in the game and spent much of the match searching for them in the muddy goal mouth. Bolton Wanderers 13–0 Sheffield United Pike's Lane 3,750 L Sheffield Challenge Cup First round 19 October 1889 Sheffield United 7–0 Exchange Hudson    Robertson      Fraser  Unknown   Bramall Lane 3,750 W Second round 2 December 1889 Sheffield United 1–0 Heeley Unknown   Bramall Lane 500 W Third round 27 January 1890 Sheffield United 6–0 Attercliffe Calder    Galbraith  Hudson  Duncan  Hobson   Bramall Lane 650 W Semi-final 8 February 1890 Sheffield United 2–0 Staveley Anonymous  Calder   Bramall Lane 4,500 W Final 15 March 1890 Sheffield United 0–0 Rotherham Town Bramall Lane 5,500 D Final replay 22 March 1890Played at the ground of Rotherham Swifts. Robertson was sent off – becoming the first United player ever to be dismissed. Rotherham Town 1–0 Sheffield United W. Robertson 0   The Holmes, Rotherham 5,000 L Wharncliffe Charity Cup First round 26 December 1889 Sheffield United 2–1 Doncaster Rovers Mosforth   Bramall Lane 3,000 W Semi-final 17 March 1990 Staveley 2–1 Sheffield United Mosforth   Recreation Ground, Chesterfield 4,000 L Friendlies 7 September 1889 Notts Rangers 4–1 Sheffield United Robertson   1,000 L 14 September 1889 Heeley 1–2 Sheffield United Duncan  Mack   Sheaf House, Sheffield 2,200 W 21 September 1889 Lincoln City 0–1 Sheffield United Duncan   John O'Gaunts 1,900 W 28 September 1889 Sheffield United 0–4 Birmingham St. George's Bramall Lane 3,000 L 30 September 1889 Sheffield United 3–1 Grimsby Town Mosforth  Fraser  Galbraith   Bramall Lane 1,500 W 3 October 1889 Sheffield United 7–1 King's Own Light Infantry Duncan  Fraser  Robertson    Galbraith  Unknown   o.g. Bramall Lane 300 W 12 October 1889Match consisted of only 30 minutes each way Grimsby Town 3–1 Sheffield United Unknown   Abbey Park Stadium 750 L 14 October 1889 Sheffield United 3–1 Lincoln City Mosforth  Fraser  Robertson   Bramall Lane 2,000 W 21 October 1889 Sheffield United 2–3 Notts County Mosforth  Duncan   Bramall Lane 2,000 L 28 October 1889 Sheffield 1–1 Sheffield United Unknown   ? 'Moderate' D 2 November 1889 Sheffield United 3–0 Doncaster Rovers Galbraith  Robertson  Fraser   Bramall Lane 1,250 W 9 November 1889 Staveley 7–0 Sheffield United ? 'Good' L 16 November 1889 Newton Heath 7–1 Sheffield United Hobson   North Road 2,000 L 18 November 1889The match was floodlit using Wells light. Aizlewood was selected but missed his train and was late arriving. Mosforth played for the first few minutes until Aizlewood had changed and the players were then substituted. This was a considerable time before substitutes were officially allowed during a match. Sheffield United 0–2 Bolton Wanderers Bramall Lane 3,000 L 23 November 1889 Sheffield United 1–1 Rotherham Town Unknown   Bramall Lane 2,200 D 25 November 1889'Jones' the goal scorer was an alias for a Scottish player on trial who, along with a fellow Scot (referred to as 'Smith'), played in this and the previous game. There is no record of who these players were, although 'Jones' may have been William Calder who was signed by the club a few weeks later. Sheffield United 2–0 Nottingham Forest 'Jones'  Duncan   Bramall Lane 500 W 9 December 1889The scorer George Bakewell was on trial from Derby County. Sheffield United 1–6 Everton Bakewell   Bramall Lane 1,000 L 23 December 1889 Casuals 1–0 Sheffield United Kennington Oval 'Small' L 25 December 1889 Lincoln City 5–1 Sheffield United Unknown   John O'Gaunts 3,500 L 27 December 1889 Sheffield United 3–3 Casuals Duncan  Galbraith     Bramall Lane 2,000 D 28 December 1889Match abandoned on 80 minutes due to failing light. Doncaster Rovers 2–0(abnd. 80 mins) Sheffield United Intake Ground 1,000 L 4 January 1890 Sheffield United 2–1 Gorton Villa Clarke  Robertson   Bramall Lane 2,000 W 6 January 1890 Sheffield United 1–3 Corinthians Clarke   Bramall Lane 1,500 L 8 January 1890Played in the evening under floodlights. Everton 5–2 Sheffield United Clarke  Robertson   Anfield 5,000 L 11 January 1890 Derby Midland 2–1 Sheffield United Madin   ? 1,500 L 25 January 1890 Sheffield United 3–1 Derby Midland Duncan    Storer   o.g. Bramall Lane 3,000 W 15 February 1890 Grimsby Town 7–0 Sheffield United Abbey Park Stadium 300 L 22 February 1890 Middlesbrough 6–4 Sheffield United Galbraith  Robertson  Duncan  Calder   Linthorpe Road 3,000 L 24 February 1890 Sheffield United 4–0 Sheffield Galbraith  Robertson       Bramall Lane 'Meagre' W 1 March 1890 Sheffield United 1–2 Nottingham Forest Robertson   Bramall Lane 2,500 L 3 March 1890 Sheffield United 2–1 Newton Heath Galbraith  Robertson   Bramall Lane 1,000 W 8 March 1890 Sheffield United 2–1 Warwick County Calder  Hudson   Bramall Lane 'Good' W 24 March 1890 Sheffield United 1–1 Halliwell Howell   Bramall Lane 1,000 D 29 March 1890 Doncaster Rovers 1–1 Sheffield United Charlton  (Charlton was a trialist) Intake Ground 1,500 D 4 April 1890 Rotherham Town 1–2 Sheffield United Howell  Robertson   Clifton Lane 5,000 W 5 April 1890 Sheffield United 2–1 Staveley Watson  Howell   Bramall Lane 1,000 W 7 April 1890The match was abandoned on 75 minutes following consultation with both teams and the match umpires due to excessive rain Sheffield United 1–1(abnd. 75 min.) Crewe Alexandra Bairstow   Bramall Lane 1,000 W 8 April 1890 Sheffield United 3–2 Stoke Bairstow  Clarke  Watson   Bramall Lane 1,000 W 12 April 1890 Gorton Villa 2–2 Sheffield United Bairstow  Clarke   ? 2,000 D 14 April 1890 Staveley 2–1 Sheffield United Clarke   ? 'Good' L 19 April 1890 Newcastle East End 2–0 Sheffield United Chillingham Road 1,000 L Notes Source: note 2 Bibliography Sheffield United Who's Who Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008 Hallamshire Press 978-1-874718-69-7 Clarebrough and Kirkham A Complete Record of Sheffield United Football Club 1889–1999 Hallamshire Press 1999 0-9508588-2-X References External links Sheffield United F.C.'s official website Category:Sheffield United F.C. seasons Sheffield United