Do You Recall Wembley 1988?

Manchester City 3 v Sheffield United 0

FA Cup Semi Final

Saturday 22 April 2023

Played at Wembley

SUFC 2022/23 Game #64

"Have you got any good photos from the pubs on our day out at Wembley, Phil?"

"That one do you?"

I suspect many, many Blades fans will have chosen rocking, lively pubs to experience, but mainly contribute to, the atmosphere. I hope you had a great time. I did.

That final photo of the evening taken in;

The Queen's Head

66 Acton St, London WC1X 8DU

"He starts barking if he's not allowed to sit at the bar…"

Oh. That's alright then. My tale of the tape in there was;

The Kernel Brewery (Southwark), Pale Ale Citra Simcoe Centennial on Keg, served Gelato style, at 5.6%.

Brick Brewery (Lewisham), Table Beer Galaxy/Enigma on Cask, served Dimple style, at 3.3%

But, outstanding beer of the day can go to;

Drop Project (London), Flow, American Pale Ale on Keg at 5.2%

The tastes that made us fall in love with craft keg in the first place. A throwback to the days before pratting about. Bit of peach, icing sugar dancing on the lips, leading into contrasting bitterness, stop the recipes.

"What does Wembley hold for you these days, Phil? Been loads-a-times to see England. And that's now the Blades with empty hands in 1993, 1997, 2009, 2012, 2014 & 2023. Getting sick of it, I bet?"

"I'll tell you, but you'll need to know about the aborted 1988 Sheffield United Wembley Campaign."

"1988? What the fuck you on about? The Blades were relegated from Division Two in 1988. Bury knocked us out of the League Cup that year. And Pompey dicked us in the FA Cup. What 1988 Wembley Campaign? You're losing the plot."

"WRONG - 1988 was the first realistic chance of a Sheffield United team playing at Wembley in my lifetime."

Let me explain. Sheffield United had last played at Wembley in the FA Cup Final of 1936. Football League play off finals were not to be played at Wembley until 1990. The 1991 FA Cup Semi Final between Arsenal and Spurs was, exceptionally, the first to be played at Wembley. The Anglo-Italian Cup Final was not played at Wembley until 1993.

I'm making the point that in the 1980s;

Sheffield United had not played at Wembley for fucking ages,

Very few club games were ever fucking played at Wembley.

There seemed no fucking prospect of us playing there in my lifetime.

In those circumstances, you take what you can fucking get brother. I remember being sat in the Wagon & Horses on Abbeydale Road on a Sunday Dinner, with my Old Man.

"Dad, I wonder whether we'll ever play in the Top Division again. Or even ever play at Wembley. Even in some Mickey fucking Mouse game."

1987/88 was the Centenary of the Football League. A number of events were planned to celebrate that. A Football League XI played a World XI at Wembley. I was at that one. So was Diego Armando Maradona. Everton played Bayern Munich in a challenge match, at a time when English Clubs were banned from Europe. The top eight Division One teams played a one off Football League Centenary Trophy. Won by Arsenal.

But, the thing that sounded the KLAXON for the Carrier Bag Firm was the proposed Football League Centenary Tournament. That was announced as an April weekend at Wembley. Involving all 92 clubs. Playing a six-a-side tournament. With all 92 clubs involved. The clubs, all 92 of them, would play at Wembley over a weekend. Did I mention, all ninety fucking two clubs, including Sheffield fucking United would be playing at Wembley. Que Sera Sera.

We were having that. Large. Be fucking chaos on the terraces an' all. And, I think that was one of the reasons the Football League eventually canned this - the Sheffield United 1988 Wembley Campaign.

In the end, they went conventional 11-a-side, just 16 clubs involved, Twenty minutes each way. Nottingham Forest beat Sheffield Wednesday in the final on Penalties.

Let me get back on track. Yes. From a position of thinking I'd never see Sheffield United play at Wembley. Yes. Having been incredibly excited, then disappointed, by the 92 All In Football League Centenary Tournament. Yes. I will never tire of seeing The Blades play at Wembley. Next year too please.

I'm going to say - it's fine margins. Not as in, we were going to win it. But, as in the game and our enjoyment of it will turn on fine margins. Iliman sticks that really good chance away right at the start. We get some more out of our day in the sun. What a Do that would have been on the terraces if that goes in. Let's see how The Galacticos cope with that for a bit.

And, if Dan The J doesn't make that clumsy challenge. And we go in level. That's the first objective. The team are cheered in to the rafters. And any fucking rafters left are gone as we cheer them out for the second half. Margins.

Sat deep. Sander doubling with Baldock on the right when Grealish has it. See if we can ever get Jebbison on it facing goal as an outlet. I've heard worse game plans. Basham as a Sub, refusing to conform to any known system.

And, as if all that wasn't enough. I have to say. In the real world. With major, industrial beer brands paying for sponsorship and pouring rights in sports stadiums. That Goose Island, Hazy Session IPA on Keg at 4.6%. That's about as good as it gets for major stadium in ground beers. Lovely.

I'd be more than happy to put that in front of Rover.

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