JOSEPH BECKETT WOSTINHOLM

He was appointed 'Secretary of the Bramall Lane cricket ground' in 1864 (1862 has also been mentioned). A Sheffield man, born in 1836, he was also a stockbroker and estate agent and ran Bramall Lane and the infamy Yorkshire County Cricket Club from his offices in Norfolk Row. His first major tasks were the building of the boundary walls and enclosing the Shoreham Street side of the ground and when this was completed, it meant that the ground had become one of the few enclosures in the country where admittance, and consequently surprised payment, was only possible through gates.

Wostinholm was a cricket enthusiastic and he did perhaps more than any other man, save Lord Hawke, to fashion the success of the County Club. When the decision was taken in March 1889 to form a Football Club at Bramall Lane, Wostinholm automatically became the secretary but he only had mild enthusiasm for the game (which  he had probably never played) and the work appertaining to the new Football Club was essentially done by his assistant, Henry Herbert Stones.

HENRY HERBERT STONES

'Harry' Stones, born in 1860, had played football, was a real enthusiast for the beautiful game and put his heart and soul into the new Football Club. Officially Assistant Secretary to the Bramall Lane Club (and as a consequence, the Yorkshire CCC and quite soon, the Sheffield United Cricket Club), football occasionally referred to as the United Football Club Secretary.

The Football Club was 'managed' by a committee but no club ever 'possessed a finer judge of the football players in the rough' than Stones and he and the committee responsible for football at the Lane, had knowledgeable assistance from the early captains, Hudson, Hendry and Needham and the trainers, Jack Houseley and George Walker. The system seemed to work and Wostinholm and Stones retained positions until United became a limited company in 1899.

JOHN NICHOLSON

John Nicholson was born in Attercliffe and trained for the legal profession as the chief clerk to a Sheffield solicitor. He was secretary to the Attercliffe Football Club, became Assistant secretary of the Sheffield & Hallamshire Football Association and was considered the ideal candidate for the post of Secretary of the Sheffield United Cricket & Football Club when United became a limited company in 1899. So it proved to be as he occupied the post with distinction in the period when the club had its finest years.

He became 'one of the best club secretaries in the League', was 'one of the city's ablest legislators ...and no official did more in the growth and development of Sheffield minor football'. At various times, he honorary treasurer, honorary secretary and President of the powerful Midland League, he remained a member of the council of the local F.A. and in connection with cricket, President of the Yorkshire Council League.

He had an amazing knowledge of Football laws, rules and regulations and was universally admired but he was not a football manager in the modern football sense. He would travel to sign up players and on one occasion, held up the departure of a train in Crewe station to sign future international, Bert Lipsham.

JOHN EDWARD 'TEDDY' DAVISON (1932-52)

Although Davison's height was only 5ft 7n. he became an excellent goalkeeper with the Wednesday, making 424 League and Cup appearances and winning one England Cap. Davison was manager of Chesterfield when they were promoted to the Second Division in 1931 and, one year later, he was appointed as Blades first secretary manager. Under Davison, United were relegated for the first time in 1934, reached the cup final in 1936, and narrowly missed out on promotion in that same season and again in 1938. Davison signed Jimmy Hagan from Derby County in November 1938 and United returned to Division One taking the Second Division Promotion Position by one point from local rivals, Wednesday.

United paid far more attention, during the early years of Davison's period of office, in developing local young players, and the fruits of that policy were particularly evident during the 1945-46 season were United won the League North Championship and also in the following season when United challenged strongly won both League and Cup. That fine team was broken up and Davison made several ill-fated moves in the transfer market. United were relegated again in 1949 but Davison now brought well, and when he decided in 1952 that a younger man was needed at the Lane, he was able to pass on, to his own suggested successor, and excellent team.

REG FREEMAN (1952-55)

Reg Freeman had been a stylish fill-back before becoming a manager with rotherham United. They were promoted to the Second Division for the first time in their history in 1951 and it was something of a surprise when Freeman moved to Bramall lane in August 1952 after more than twenty years at Millmoor.

Freeman was an instant success at the Lane, United winning the Second Division championship at the end of his first season in charge. The illness of Len Browning was a severe blow when Unitedreturned to the First Division, but relegation was averted and Freeman gradually introduced new young players into the team.

The death of the Manager in August 1955 was a tragedy for the club. Football had lost an astute manager but also 'one off nature's gentleman'. Freeman worked closely and quietly with his players, always availed with advice and encouragement and the number of young players that blossomed under his guidance is tribute enough to his warmth and decency.

JOE MERCER, OBE (1955-58)

Joe Mercer was a member of the Everton First Division championship side of 1939 and captain of Arsenal when they won the First Division title in 1948 and 1953 and the FA cup in 1950. He was awarded 5 England caps immediately prior to the outbreak of war in 1939 an captained England on many occasions during the war.

Mercer's football career had been illustrious one but it presented a problem when he accepted the manager's job at the Lane, for he had little experience of less than brilliant players. Another problem was his lack of any managerial experience, and furthermore, those distinguished years with famous clubs were a poor preparation for a club, struggling to survive in the First Division and united were relegated at the end of Mercer's first season.

Mercer made mistakes - the signings of Malcom Barrass is an example - but he admitted his mistakes and gradually learned from them. He was a genial man and had excellent contacts in the game. He bought some fine player to the Lane and worked hard in coaching those players who would listen and learn.

He created and coached the famous United defense that served the club so well in spite of their lack of inches. Hodgkinson, Coldwell and Graham Shaw; Richardson, Joe Shaw and Summers are the names that will be remembered for many a long day. In the end, however, Mercer was impatient: he was looking for a 'big' club and his choice was Villa Park (Aston Villa). In later years, Joe found delight in reminding people that his first season there; also ended in relegation, but of course, more days of glory lay ahead

JOHN HARRIS (1959-68)

John Harris was the son of a famous Newcastle United center forward. He was captain of Chelsea when they won the First Division championship in 1955 and had been the manager of Chester City before moving to Lane. Harris is the longest serving United post war manager although the long spell was broken by the 1968-69 season, even Arthur Rowley acted as team manager with Harris taking a new position of General Manager.

A teetotal, non-smoking, quite bachelor who didn't swear; 'gentleman John' was a fine and well respected manager but perhaps his ambitious, and consequently, his achievements, were more limited than they might have been. Harris inherited an excellent team from Joe Mercer and, in his second season at Lane, after securing the transfers of Keith Kettleborough and Len Allchurch, United gained promotion to the First Division and reached the semi-final stage of the FA Cup. Harris also inherited an excellent assistant and chief scout in Archie Clark.

Gradually Harris was able to introduce into the team young local players that Clark had brought to the Lane and, by mid sixties, the First Division team consisted almost entitle of young home grown players, of whom, perhaps, the best known were Len Badger, Alan Woodward, Mick Jones and Alan Birchinell. Harris made few purchases in the transfer market at this time, Gil Reece, a £10,000 signing from Newport County, being a rare exception. Sadly for United, Archie Clark died early in 1967 and the manager never appeared to make a serious attempt to replace him.

United's gates were disappointing: the supporters wanted fresh faces and headline news of transfer dealings. Money, however, was required to improve the ground and it must have been a shock to Harris when the club sold Jones to Leeds United and Birchinell to Chelsea. Harris signed Willie Carlin and Colin Addison as their immediate replacements, also Tony Currie but United were sadly relegated. The manager admitted that he had kept players too long and that more discipine was needed. Harris suggested that he should become General Manager, seeking new players in the Second, Third and Fourth Divisions and that Andy Beattie would be team manager. The Board, approved the idea, but chose Arthur Rowley.

ARTHUR ROWLEY (1968-69)

Arthur Rowley is the Football League's record goal-scorer. A burley forward with a powerful shot, he scored the bulk of goals with Leicester City and Shrewsbury Town.

The United Board knew 'within a fortnight' taht they had made a mistake in appointing Rowley to be the Team Manager and the players were disapointed with the new man. 'He wasn't positive enough' was a typical comment.

Rowley was sacked after just one year. There was a considerable turnover in players and the newcomers would play a large part in the Club's promotion season of 1970-71. The team, on many occassions, played quite well but the results were disappointing.

JOHN HARRIS (1969-73)

Harris had kept his own council and profiled from Rowley's signings and the team of the early 1970's when Tony Currie and Alan Woodward were at their best is one that most people will remember when Harris name is mentioned. It was a fine team playing exciting, attractive, attacking football but there where no strength in depth. Harris, seemingly, having lost interest developing young players. Harris stepped down in 1973 in favour of a 'track suit' manager and accepted a rather vague title of Senior Executive. He acted as a scout for Sheffield Wednesday from 1977 and died in 1988.

KEN FURPHY (1973-75)

Ken Fuerphy didn't posses the qualities to be a First Division player, but nevertheless, he had a long career playing in the lower divisions of the League. He was a first class coach and managed Wokington, Watford and Balckburn Rovers. He faced very difficult problems at Bramall Lane, taking over an ageing team with poor reserves. Little money was avaible for new players because of financial demands of the new South Stand and this led to the scale of Geoff Salmons. The team did better than expected in his first full season but made a wretched start to that of 1975-76 and he was sacked at the begining of October.

JIMMY SIRREL (1975-77)

United's position in the First Division (present Premier League) when Ken Furphy was dismissed in October 1975 was well nigh hopeless after the disastous start to the campaign. One victory and one draw from the first eleven league fixtures was a shoking record and there where no possible hope of strenghening the team with new players of significance because of the massive amountsa of money that had been borrowed to fund the building of the new South Stand. This attempt to make United a 'top six' club  had been a massive  - and many would say impossible - game that had failed.

There was no doubt, when he came, that Jimmy Sirrel was hard working and enthusiastic, and perhaps for a week or so, he thought he would be able to lift the spirits of the players, and capture the form that had taken then to sixth position the previous season. He was soon disillusioned for only a few draw games punctuated a long list of defeats which included a instant dismisal from the F.A. Cup - and United despretely needed money fromm a good run - and at the hands of the former club, Notts County in a friendly match.

Sadly for all concerned, the players were not impressed by Sirrel as a coach or manager. Training sesions were almost wholly given over to 'pratice matches' or 'five-a-sides' and most of the players complained of the montony of 'the attack v the defence' or 'the first team v reserve team,' particulary as the Central League team usual came out on top.

Serrel was essentially a 'doer' rather a 'talker' and in different cirumstances might have been successful but at Bramall Lane he failed. Only Manchester Utd in 1930-31 had made a worst start to a season than the Blades in 1975 and five points collected in first half of the season was a dismal record. What is worth remembering is the continuing loyalty supporters who continued to turn up long after any hope of avoiding relegation had vanished.

There was little money made avaible for new players. Sirrel signed Paul Garner who would serve well and brought in Jimmy Johnstone, the former Scottish International star who only added to United's problems. Several players left the club and headed straight to NASL in American and this gave his first team opportunity to youngsters such as Kenworthy, Strainrod and Edwards and the end of the season, Currie had to be sold to reduce the debts and interest charges.

United had a much changed and younger squad in the Second Division but it was not successful and Sirrel's additions to the team - the money avaible was very limited - were generally poor and a dismall start to the new 1977-98 season led to his dismissal.

HARRY HASLAM (1978-81)

Harry Haslam was an engaging cheerful character with an eye for raw talent and an excellent reputation for 'wheeling and dealing' in the transfer market. The Club's debts were still enormous and success for Haslam depended on profitable deals.

He set to work with enthusiasm and will always be remembered for signing the Argentinian, Alex Sabella, and also for the well intentioned plan to bring in Martin Peters with the idea that 1966 World Cup star would eventually become manager.

Haslam policies failed at Bramall lane. In the end, he probably had made a small profit on transfer deals but the club had been relegated to the Third Division and, when Peters took over, United were in danger of further demotion.

MARTIN PETERS, MBE (1981)

After a distinguished playing career (with: West Ham Utd, Tottenham and Norwich City) during which he earned 67 England caps, this quite, intelligent player seemed certain to become a first class soccer manager and it appeared to be a astute move of Harry Haslam to bring Peters to Bramall Lane as a player and coach and groom him to take over the managers jon at the Lane.

The immediate aim was promotion but early in October after some poor results and disapointing personal performances. Peters was reporting saying "we have no devine right to go up" and it was difficult for him to "play well in third division" as the players around him "do not play like First Division players". United should not have been relegated but they were. When Peters took over from Haslam. United's position was perilous but far from critical and there was time to make changes and influence the players. He failed and took the honourable step and resigned.

IAN PORTERFIELD (1981-86)

Ian Porterfield will always be a hero in Sundaerland as the scorer of the only goal in the 1973 FA Cup Final but will be remembered by United supporters with mixed feelings.Porterfield came to Bramall Lane from Millmoor after taking Rotherham United into the secod division in his first full season as a manager in the same season that the Blades slip in the opposite direction in into the Fourth Division.

It was United's new chairman, Reg Brealey, who persured Porterfield that there would be far more potential for him at the Lane. Brealey set a target of a return to Division One in five yeards and backed his words with a generous salary and what was said to have been a remarkably long contract.

Porterfield was given money to strenghen the team and signed Keith Waugh (keeper), John McAlle, Paul Ricardson and most important of all, brought Keith Edwards back to Beautiful Down Town Bramall Lane. Later that season Jeff King and Colin Morris was added to the ranks and United carried off the Fourth Division championship with some style.

Promotion had been won but at enourmous cost but Brealey sanctioned additional spending on new players of which the most expensive were Terry Curran and Alan Young. United now had a large and expensive staff but it was a poor season; the blend of players was wrong and morale in the dressing room was low and the rejection of the clubs development plants were a grievous blow to the chairman. Porterfield knew that a season had been wasted. Many players left the Lane and new players, in particular, Paul Stancliffe, Tom Hefferan and Joe Bolton and the return of Arnott and McHale who been out on loan, brought a new spirit in the club. Later that season, Glenn Cockerill was signed and in the tightest of finishes, promotion was again achived and United were back in Football League Division Two.

Sadly for the manager and United, this was the high point of his career at the Lane. The budget was now far more limited and a sencible wage structure was put in hand but Porterfield still believed that a 'massive rebuilding policy' was put i his faith in 'experiance' players; in particular, John Burridge, Phil Thompson, Mel Eves, Peter Withe, Ken McNaught and Ray Lewington and sold Cockerill. The policy failed; the quality of football was poor, the fans and the manager was well aware that oposition frequently looked 'more determind' and attendances slumped. The out come was was inevitable and after poor displays, Ian Portfield was no longer manager of Sheffield United, he was sacked.

BILLY MCEWAN (1986-88)

Ian Porterfield had brought McEwan to the Lane as a coach, with the youth as his particular responsibly, and he had been successful. He took over as caretaker manager when Porterfield was sacked and accepted the full managerial position at the end of the season.

Billy McEwan brought down the average age of the team with new signings but still the quality of the football was a disappointment and the average attendance in the new managers first full season fell below 10,000 for the first time this centuary, other than some war years.

McEwan gradually introduced more of United's own players but attendances continued to fall. Relegation became a serious threat and, at the turn of the year and after three successive defeats, McEwan was sacked.

DAVE 'HARRY' BASSETT (1988-95)

When Dave Bassett was offered the position of manager of Sheffield United, he was aware of the Club's potential but was told that there was no money to buy new players. United were in danger of relegation and he felt he had inherited would not keep the Club in the Second Division. In the short time avaible, his desicision was to sell Martin Khul and to use the money to bring in new players and there was quite remarkable turn over of players. The changes may have been neccessary but United were relegated.

There was however, a toatelly different atmosphere at the Lane. Bassett was an excellant communicator and used the media to the Club's advantage and he also brought tremendous enthusiasm and excitment to the players, staff and spectators at the Lane which had been lacking for many years. More players were sold, the chief of whom was Beagrie, as Bassett continued to put together his own team. United now had provided by United's stirring attcking style of play.

United tried to pen the opposition in their own half and Bassett encouaged early crosses into the penalty area. There was much which could be described as 'long ball' tactics. It was derided by many critics, but it was successful and exciting to watch, and attendances began to rise. United returned to Second Division and twelve months later to the first, with a much larger and stronger squad.

The BBC made the 'United' television series during the 1989-90 season and their luck was in, for there was a happy ending, - the First Division becoming Premier League in 1992 - finishing 13th, 9th and 14th, before being relegated in 1994. The final positions are misleading however, for each eason saw United involved in a relegation battle. The manager has to accept some responsibility for relegation, though it must not be forgotten that the Club, for the first time in years, had some success in Fa Cup, reaching 6th round in 1990, the 5th in 1992 and the semi-final stage in 1993.

In Bassett's defence, the financial constraints that has dogged the club for decades, but which has become critical from about 1973, remained throughout the period when Bassett was at the Lane and no doubt, there was a lot of truth in his grim joke that the only promise that the Chairman and board kept, was that there would be no money.

United were relegated in 1994 on the last day of the season, and the stange circumstances of that day, still remain shrouded in doubts and mystery. Bassett soldiered on, but the continuing financial problems and the lack of progress on the development of the old Hohn Street Stand site had a demoralizing effect on the whole club.

In 1995, Mike McDonald eventually replaced Reg Brealey as the Club Chairman, which gave grounds for a more optimistic outlook, but Bassett felt that it was time to go. He was probably correct.

HOWARD KENDALL (1995-97)

United were in last but one position in the table (relegation zone) when Howard Kendall replaced Dave Bassett as manager. One of his first decisions was to sell Nathan Blake to Bolton Wanderers but it was followed by an amazing number of transfer moves. By the end of the season, United had used a record number of players through the net outlay on transfer fees were small.

Kendall also made an immidate change to the style of play. Gordon Cowans was an influential figure in midfield and for the first time in some years, ripples of applause could be heard from around Bramall Lane in appreciation of accurate passing and midfied play.

The League position remained perilous for some time but the tide turned and United rose rapidly away from danger zone and optimism was understandably high wnen the 1996-97 season began.

The new John Street Stand was opened and attendances rose but, sadly, results didn't match the expectations, Cowans had not been retained and the midfield no longer ran smoothly, and many would argue that this decision of the manager proved fatal.

Kendall was given the green light to stenghen the team. There was a net outlay over the financial year of about three million pounds but the policy - gamble - perhaps - failed. Serious injures to MIchael Vonk, Chris Short, Dane Whitehouse and John Ebrell were also a factor and, although United did reach the play-off final, the expensive plan for promotion failed and Kendall returned to Everton.

NIGEL JAMES SPACKMAN (1997-98)

Nigel Spackman had not played consistently well for Sheffield United. The supporters had been looking for another Gordon Cowans and they were disappointed.

Given the managers job however, Spackman received almost instantaneous praise when the team, which now included a previous reserve, Wayne Quinn (Youth), and new signings, Brian Deane (Leeds United), Paul McGrath (Derby Co), Vasilis Borbokis (Athens) and Nicky Marker (Blackburn Rovers), made a promising start to the new 1997-98 season. Sadly for United and the new manager, the didn't last. A serious injury to Dane Whitehouse and the enforced retirement of McGrath were initial blows but more serious problems lay ahead.

The club had made huge losses and carried a large staff on high wages. Decisions had been taken in the past two years on the assumption that the Blades would be promoted to the Premier League with all its attendant benefits, but now the coat had to be cut according to the cloth. The enforced sales of Carl Tiler (Charlton Ath), Mitch Ward (Everton), Deane (Benfica), Fjortoft and Hutchinson threated to break the morale of the staff, team and supporters and led to Donachie's move to Maine Road and Spackman's resignation.

STEVEN PAUL THOMPSON (1998)

When Nigel Spackman resigned, Steve Thompson was given the position of Team manager until end of the 1997-98 season. The team responded with fine performances against Coventry City in 6th round of FA Cup but were not good enough to overcome Newcastle United in the semi-final. Paul devlin, Ian Hamilton and Chris Wilder were signed before the transfer deadline but faced with a backlog of fixtures, United took only six points from their last seven fixtures and were fortunate to qualify for the play-offs. Facing Sunderland, thje team made a valiant effort but fortune denied them a place in the final and United decided against giving Thompson the position of manager.

Summery of this managers League Record...

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