Really good piece David.. Remember playing on Warminster Road a fair bit over the years and really enjoyed it having watched the first team train on it in earlier years. Wasn’t aware of some of the earlier sites so fair play for putting this together 👏🏻👏🏻
That was absolutely fascinating and so well researched, especially from your personal experience. Not being from Sheffield, and only knowing a little about the City from being a Blades’ supporter, it was really interesting seeing all these different places, their locations and how they were put to use. The post codes were very useful (to use at Google Maps!) and it’s marvellous that you were actually able to see various great footballers in their early or training days.
The Abbeydale site history was intriguing, especially the arguments between the Club, the Council and the residents! And although I’ve read about Shirecliffe on numerous occasions and watch the training videos, I had no idea it was so near Hillsborough!
Amazing to think it has a slope, though! (Sounds like our old hockey pitch at school!!) Presumably the first team don’t use that particular pitch – or maybe they do, which might account for all the muscle injuries! Let’s hope for a new place at some stage in the future.
A really good Sheffield geography lesson as well as some fascinating insights; thank you.
Thats a fantastic piece David, really informative, Warnocks been valuable to United, and John Warnock. Some brilliant history there, Ball Inn etc. Had a trial up there with my mate Graham Ward 1969-70 , both of us from Pitsmoor.(Believe it or not we wrote in to the club) Remember seeing Harry Latham , John Short ,Cec Coldwell etc up there. Great memories as well , thanks Brian
Really good piece David.. Remember playing on Warminster Road a fair bit over the years and really enjoyed it having watched the first team train on it in earlier years. Wasn’t aware of some of the earlier sites so fair play for putting this together 👏🏻👏🏻
Thanks, David
That was absolutely fascinating and so well researched, especially from your personal experience. Not being from Sheffield, and only knowing a little about the City from being a Blades’ supporter, it was really interesting seeing all these different places, their locations and how they were put to use. The post codes were very useful (to use at Google Maps!) and it’s marvellous that you were actually able to see various great footballers in their early or training days.
The Abbeydale site history was intriguing, especially the arguments between the Club, the Council and the residents! And although I’ve read about Shirecliffe on numerous occasions and watch the training videos, I had no idea it was so near Hillsborough!
Amazing to think it has a slope, though! (Sounds like our old hockey pitch at school!!) Presumably the first team don’t use that particular pitch – or maybe they do, which might account for all the muscle injuries! Let’s hope for a new place at some stage in the future.
A really good Sheffield geography lesson as well as some fascinating insights; thank you.
Sue.
Thats a fantastic piece David, really informative, Warnocks been valuable to United, and John Warnock. Some brilliant history there, Ball Inn etc. Had a trial up there with my mate Graham Ward 1969-70 , both of us from Pitsmoor.(Believe it or not we wrote in to the club) Remember seeing Harry Latham , John Short ,Cec Coldwell etc up there. Great memories as well , thanks Brian
Agree on Warnock - his impact on the bricks and mortar gets forgotten sometimes.
Thank you, David, for recounting the history of the Blades training grounds, a brilliant article.
I was a teacher at Hurlfield School back in the day and remember dropping in at Ball Inn to see the lads training.
What comes through your article is the consistent failure of the club to provide suitable training facilities for elite players.
Maybe back in the 70s it was how things were but in the modern game it really makes us look like a second-rate club.
As you say, a prolonged stay in the Premier League may change things. Let’s hope so.