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

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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 1892 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]

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

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Pre-season

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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

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Source: [3]

First team

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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

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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

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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]
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

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Source: [3]

Football League Second Division

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Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GAv Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Small Heath (C) 22 17 2 3 90 35 2.571 36 Qualification for test matches
2 Sheffield United (O, P) 22 16 3 3 62 19 3.263 35
3 Darwen (O, P) 22 14 2 6 60 36 1.667 30
4 Grimsby Town 22 11 1 10 42 41 1.024 23
5 Ardwick 22 9 3 10 45 40 1.125 21
Source: [citation needed]
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal average; 3) Goals scored
(C) Champions; (O) Play-off winners; (P) Promoted

Northern League

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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: [citation needed]

Squad statistics

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Source: [3]

Appearances and goals

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As of the end of the season
No. Pos Nat Player Total Division Two Test Match FA Cup Northern League
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
DF   ENG Edgar Benson 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF   ENG Joe Brady 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
FW   ENG John Brookes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF   SCO Bob Cain 27 1 17 1 1 0 2 0 7 0
MF   ENG Billy Croxon 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
FW   SCO Fred Davies 14 6 8 5 0 0 2 0 4 1
MF   ENG Samuel Dobson 9 2 6 1 0 0 0 0 3 1
FW   SCO John Drummond 33 9 20 6 1 1 2 0 10 2
FW   SCO James Duncan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW   SCO Hugh Gallacher 12 5 9 4 1 0 0 0 2 1
FW   ENG Frank Gamble 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
DF   ENG Harry Gregory 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
MF   ENG George Groves 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW   ENG Harry Hammond 29 22 18 18 1 0 2 1 8 3
DF   ENG Harry Hassall 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF   SCO Billy Hendry 31 2 20 2 1 0 2 0 8 0
FW   SCO Bob Hill 9 6 7 4 1 0 0 0 1 2
DF   ENG Walter Hill 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
DF   ENG Rab Howell 32 2 22 2 1 0 2 0 7 0
GK   ENG Charlie Howlett 24 0 15 0 1 0 2 0 6 0
DF   ENG Harry Lilley 16 0 7 0 0 0 1 0 8 0
GK   ENG Will Lilley 11 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
MF   ENG Arthur McCabe 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
DF   ENG William Mellor 5 0 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 0
DF   ENG Ernest Needham 32 8 20 5 1 0 2 2 9 1
DF   ENG Walter Sylvester 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW   ENG Sandy Wallace 23 7 16 3 0 0 0 0 7 4
DF   ENG George Waller 4 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 3 0
FW   ENG Arthur Watson 24 8 15 6 1 0 2 1 6 1
DF   ENG Michael Whitham 21 0 11 0 1 0 2 0 7 0
DF   ENG Walter Wigmore 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0
GK   ENG Fred Wood 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Players who left before the end of the season:
GK   ENG Charles Bunyan 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW   SCO W. Patterson 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
FW   SCO John Scott 8 3 5 2 0 0 0 0 3 1

Top scorers

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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

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Source: [3]

  Win   Draw   Loss   Void

Division Two

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3 September 1892 Sheffield United 4–2 Lincoln City Bramall Lane
Hammond   ?', ?', ?'
Wallace   ?'
Cameron   ?'
Irving   ?'
Attendance: 4,000
10 September 1892 Bootle 2–0 Sheffield United Hawthorne Road
Law   ?'
Montgomery   ?'
Attendance: 3,000
17 September 1892 Sheffield United 2–0 Small Heath Bramall Lane
Scott   ?'
Hammond   ?'
Attendance: 4,000
26 September 1892 Sheffield United 2–0 Grimsby Town Bramall Lane
Unknown   ?'
Needham   ?'
Attendance: 4,500
1 October 1892 Lincoln City 1–0 Sheffield United Sincil Bank
Cameron   ?' Attendance: 2,000
15 October 1892 Sheffield United 2–0 Darwen Bramall Lane
Scott   ?'
Dobson   ?'
Attendance: 500
19 November 1892
[note 7]
Darwen 3–1 Sheffield United Barley Bank
Aspden   ?'
McKennie   ?'
Entwistle   ?'
Hendry   ?' Attendance: 3,000
26 November 1892 Sheffield United 8–3 Bootle Bramall Lane
Wallace    '
Hammond    ',  ',  ',  ',  '
Davies    ',  '
Attendance: 1,500
3 December 1892 Small Heath 1–1 Sheffield United Coventry Road
Wheldon    ' Davies    ' Attendance: 3,500
10 December 1892 Burslem Port Vale 0–10 Sheffield United Westport Meadows
Drummond    '
Wallace    '
Hammond    ',  ',  ',  '
Watson    ',  '
Davies    ',  '
Attendance: 1,500
17 December 1892 Sheffield United 4–0 Burslem Port Vale Bramall Lane
Needham    '
Hammond    '
Howell    '
Drummond    '
Attendance: 1,500
24 December 1892
[note 8]
Sheffield United 2–1
(Abdn. 68)
Burton Swifts Bramall Lane
Unknown    ',  ' Attendance: 2,000
3 January 1893 Sheffield United 3–0 Walsall Town Swifts Bramall Lane
Hammond    ',  '
Hendry    '
Attendance: 1,000
23 January 1893 Sheffield United 1–1 Northwich Victoria Bramall Lane
Needham    ' Attendance: 1,250
6 February 1893 Sheffield United 3–1 Burton Swifts Bramall Lane
Drummond    '
Gallacher    ',  '
Attendance: 3,000
18 February 1893 Northwich Victoria 1–3 Sheffield United Drill Field
Howell    '
Hammond    '
Drummond    '
Attendance: 2,235
4 March 1893 Ardwick 2–3 Sheffield United Hyde Road
Gallacher    '
Drummond    '
Cain    '
Attendance: 2,000
18 March 1893 Sheffield United 4–0 Crewe Alexandra Bramall Lane
Watson    ',  '
Hill    ',  '
Attendance: 2,750
25 March 1893 Sheffield United 2–1 Ardwick Bramall Lane
Needham    ',  ' Attendance: 4,250
31 March 1893 Grimsby Town 0–1 Sheffield United Abbey Park
Hill    ' Attendance: 6,000
1 April 1893 Burton Swifts 0–3 Sheffield United Peel Croft
Hill    '
Waller    '
Gallacher    '
Attendance: 'large'
12 April 1893
[note 9]
Crewe Alexandra 0–4 Sheffield United Alexandra Recreation Ground
Watson    ',  '
Hammond    '
Gallacher    '
Attendance: 2,000
15 April 1893 Walsall Town Swifts 1–1 Sheffield United The Chuckery
Drummond    ' Attendance: 1,000

Test match

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22 April 1893 Accrington 0–1 Sheffield United Trent Bridge, Nottingham
Drummond   55' Attendance: 5,000

FA Cup

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21 January 1893 Round one Blackpool 1–3 Sheffield United Raikes Hall
Needham    ',  '
Hammond    '
Attendance: 3,000
4 February 1893 Round two Sheffield United 1–3 Sunderland Bramall Lane
Watson    ' Attendance: 14,769

Northern League

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24 September 1892 Sheffield United 5–1 Newcastle East End Bramall Lane
Drummond    '
Scott    '
Wallace    '
Hammond    '
Dobson    '
Attendance: 4,000
8 October 1892 Sheffield United 0–0 Middlesbrough Ironopolis Bramall Lane
Attendance: 2,500
29 October 1892
[note 10]
Middlesbrough Ironopolis 1–0 Sheffield United Paradise Ground
Attendance: 4,000
24 December 1892 Sheffield United 5–0 Darlington Bramall Lane
Drummond    '
Wallace    ',  '
Hammond    ',  '
Attendance: 2,000
31 December 1892 Middlesbrough 2–1 Sheffield United Linthorpe Road
Wallace    ' Attendance: 3,000
2 January 1893 Stockton 5–0 Sheffield United ?
Attendance: 2,500
14 January 1893 Newcastle United 1–1 Sheffield United St James' Park
Miller    ' (o.g.) Attendance: 2,500
30 January 1893 Sheffield United 1–3 Stockton Bramall Lane
Needham    ' Attendance: 3,500
14 February 1893 Sheffield United 2–1 Middlesbrough Bramall Lane
Gallacher    '
Watson    '
Attendance: 5,000
3 April 1893 Darlington 2–3 Sheffield United Feethams
B. Hill    ',  '
Davies   '
Attendance: 2,000

Wharncliffe Charity Cup

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24 April 1893 Final The Wednesday 0–0 Sheffield United Olive Grove
Attendance: 4,000

Challenge match

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9 February 1893
[note 11]
Grimsby Town 0–2 Sheffield United Town Cricket Club Ground, Hull
Brady    ',  ' Attendance: 3,000

Friendlies

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1 September 1892 Sheffield United 1–0   Celtic Bramall Lane
Hammond    ' Attendance: 4,000
5 September 1892 Everton 3–2 Sheffield United Priory Road
Hammond    ',  ' Attendance: 6,000
12 September 1892 Sheffield United 1–0 Woolwich Arsenal Bramall Lane
Brady    ' Attendance: 4,000
19 September 1892 Burnley 1–3 Sheffield United Calder Vale
Scott    ',  '
Hammond    '
Attendance: 2,000
10 October 1892 Sheffield United 4–0 Gainsborough Trinity Bramall Lane
Scott    ',  '
Davies    '
Cain    '
Attendance: 2,000
17 October 1892 The Wednesday 1–1 Sheffield United Olive Grove
Drummond    ' Attendance: 16,500
18 October 1892 Millwall Athletic 0–4 Sheffield United The Athletic Grounds
Davies    '
Brady    '
Scott    '
Dobson    '
Attendance: 2,000
20 October 1892
[note 12]
Woolwich Arsenal 1–0 Sheffield United Invicta Ground
Attendance: 3,700
26 October 1892 Gainsborough Trinity 0–1 Sheffield United The Northolme
Dobson    ' Attendance: 3,000
31 October 1892 Sheffield United 2–6 Rotherham Town Bramall Lane
Patterson    ',  ' Attendance: 2,000
3 November 1892 Nottingham Forest 0–1 Sheffield United The Town Ground
Hammond    ' Attendance: 1,000
5 November 1892 Newcastle East End 2–2 Sheffield United Stanley Street
Howell    '
Hammond    '
Attendance: 4,500
10 November 1892 Casuals 1–2 Sheffield United Leyton Cricket Ground
Davies    '
Scott    '
Attendance: "low"
12 November 1892 Swindon Town 0–6 Sheffield United The Croft
Davies    '
Watson    ',  ',  '
Wallace    '
Croxon    '
Attendance: 3,500
21 November 1892 Sheffield United 1–3 The Wednesday Bramall Lane
Watson    ' Attendance: 11,500
28 November 1892 Sheffield United 1–0 Bolton Wanderers Bramall Lane
Davies    ' Attendance: 2,250
19 December 1892 Sheffield United 2–0 Oxford University Bramall Lane
Davies    '
Hammond    '
Attendance: 1,000
26 December 1892 Liverpool 1–0 Sheffield United Anfield
Attendance: 4,500
29 December 1892 Sheffield United 2–2 Casuals Bramall Lane
Watson    '
Davies    '
Attendance: 1,500
11 February 1893 Sheffield United 4–3 Nottingham Forest Bramall Lane
Drummond    ',  '
B. Hill    '
Gallacher    '
Attendance: 3,250
20 February 1893 Sheffield United 0–1 Burnley Bramall Lane
Attendance: 2,000
11 March 1893 Middlesbrough Ironopolis 1–2 Sheffield United Paradise Ground
Howell    '
Unknown    '
Attendance: 1,800
4 April 1893
[note 13]
Sheffield United 2–2 Middlesbrough Ironopolis Bramall Lane
B. Hill    '
Hendry    '
Attendance: 4,500
8 April 1893 Stoke 1–3 Sheffield United Victoria Ground
Drummond    '
Hammond    '
B. Hill    '
Attendance: 1,000
26 April 1893 Everton 3–1 Sheffield United Goodison Park
Hammond    ' Attendance: 1,500
27 April 1893 Rotherham Town 1–2 Sheffield United Clifton Grove
B. Hill    '
Gallacher    '
Attendance: 3,000
29 April 1893 Burton Wanderers 3–0 Sheffield United Derby Turn
Attendance: "meagre"

Notes

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  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

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  • Clarebrough and Kirkham (2008). Sheffield United Who's Who. Hallamshire Press. ISBN 978-1-874718-69-7.
  • Clarebrough and Kirkham (1999). A Complete Record of Sheffield United Football Club 1889–1999. Hallamshire Press. ISBN 0-9508588-2-X.

References

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  1. ^ Clarebrough and Kirkham 1999, pp. 74–75.
  2. ^ a b c Gary Armstrong and John Garrett (2006). Sheffield United FC – The Biography. Hallamshire Press. p. 43. ISBN 1-874718-65-2.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Clarebrough and Kirkham 1999, pp. 76–77.
  4. ^ a b c d "Sheffield United". Historical Football Kits. Retrieved 23 March 2013.
  5. ^ a b Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 133.
  6. ^ a b Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 241.
  7. ^ a b Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 307.
  8. ^ a b Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 39.
  9. ^ a b Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 300.
  10. ^ a b Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 347.
  11. ^ a b Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, pp. 225–226.
  12. ^ a b Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, p. 210.
  13. ^ a b Clarebrough and Kirkham 2008, pp. 333–334.
  14. ^ a b 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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